2023 Volkswagen TIGUAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
61 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
35,086 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2023 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 61 complaints (36.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 7 | 11.5% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 11.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 4.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 22 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
Engine: 22; Electrical System: 11; Unknown Or Other: 10; Power Train: 8; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Service Brakes: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 55 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 15 |
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2025 | 15 |
| 2026 | 14 |
2023: 15; 2024: 17; 2025: 15; 2026: 14
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11532406 · 2023-07-14 (July 14, 2023)
Malfunction with power delivery/transmission: I often experience inconsistent acceleration/power while driving at low speeds, the loss of power and jerks feel very similar to an engine misfire. Safety Risk: This behavior is very dangerous as we instinctively push down gas pedal to overcome lack of power and it causes the car to rocket forward as too high throttle has been opened and one can easily lose control and crash. Occurance: I feel this loss/inconsistent power situation happens at cold start and once the car is warmed up it doesn't oc…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11532406 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11540554 · 2023-08-24 (August 24, 2023)
From a cold start, the vehicle seems to have an issue with fuel/acceleration. When pressing the gas through an intersection, the vehicle seems starved for gas and does not accelerate and almost stalls. This is very dangerous in a city environment, as the gaps between cars is sometimes small. There are no warning signs, just reports from several of my drivers experiencing the same issue with the same vehicle. We just purchased 13 of the same vehicle.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11540554 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11566375 · 2024-01-18 (January 18, 2024)
I purchased this vehicle brand new in 2023. At 12,000 miles, the brakes started squeaking very clearly and loudly and the right rotor would make noises as well. These noises from both the brakes, on both sides, and the rotor happen simultaneously, and instantly, and do so every time I brake or attempt to brake. I immediately took it to the dealership where I purchased it. They told me that the company is using different material for brake pads than they used to use. They also stated that the rotors are a much thinner type of rotors than these …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11566375 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11589565 · 2024-05-19 (May 19, 2024)
The Automatic Emergency Braking, also called Front Assist, activates for no reason. No cars or elements in front of the vehicle. I'm trying not to use cruise control for fear that the Automatic Emergency Braking system might fail and cause an accident. My vehicle was inspected twice by a Volkswagen dealerhsip located in Michigan, and on both occasions, they told me they didn't find any faults, but while I'm driving the alarm keeps activating suddenly every 2 or 3 weeks. On the other hand, I've noticed that sometimes I approach another vehicle …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11589565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11542407 · 2023-09-03 (September 3, 2023)
Acceleration fails or hesitates on acceleration from zero mph. This has occurred every day since new (June 2023) and only happens for 5 minutes after start up. It feels like it is going to stall out, but so far it has not. Each time I accelerate for the first time, my car makes a jerky start. It usually goes away after I've been driving a bit. I've tried letting it warm up a couple minutes, but that does not seem to matter. I took it to the dealer at 3,000 miles and they said they could not duplicate the problem (but the car had warmed up by th…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11542407 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11578927 · 2024-03-22 (March 22, 2024)
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the odor of fuel was present. Upon inspection, the contact discovered a fuel leak underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who discovered a small hole in the seam of the fuel tank. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 10,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11578927 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11687590 · 2025-09-16 (September 16, 2025)
I own a 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan (EA888 2.0L). The Check Engine Light has repeatedly illuminated, and multiple scans show recurring EVAP/emissions and network communication faults: P04F0 (EVAP purge line A performance) and P0451 (fuel tank pressure sensor range/performance), along with U1111 00 (“function limitation due to missing message”) and U1123 00 (“databus error value received”). While drivability may seem normal at times, these faults persist and clear/recur, raising concerns about fuel-vapor containment/emissions compliance and potential…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11687590 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11755378 · 2026-08-06 (August 6, 2026)
The vehicle has experienced multiple intermittent electrical and safety-related malfunctions that have become more frequent over time. The most serious issue involves the Automatic Emergency Braking system activating unexpectedly while the vehicle is slowly reversing out of a residential driveway. The brakes suddenly apply with significant force even when there is no visible obstacle behind the vehicle. This causes the vehicle to stop abruptly, jerks all occupants forward, and creates a risk of being struck by other vehicles because the sudden…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11755378 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11714478 · 2026-01-30 (January 30, 2026)
Within 2 minutes into my drive, accelerating from stopped to merging onto a road moving up to about 50mph, the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel (speedometer, fuel gauge, etc) completely turned off and went black for 20 seconds before turning back on. It was only the instrument cluster - the infotainment screen did not turn off. Over the past year or so though, the infotainment center has turned off/reset itself a few times. This is a 3 year old car, nothing like that should be happening and is a serious safety hazard. Researching t…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11714478 at NHTSA ↗