2012 Volkswagen TIGUAN

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Volkswagen TIGUAN has 214 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (24% of all complaints), specifically: while slowly rolling to a stop the brakes locked up and did not engage. i had to apply severe force to the brake pedal. when i applied the force the brake pedal resisted and popped back twice before the vehicle finally stopped. prior to this incident i have reported to vw and taken the vehicle in.

15 crash reports 7 injuries

214

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

52 complaints

24%

• WHILE SLOWLY ROLLING TO A STOP THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND DID NOT ENGAGE. I HAD TO APPLY SEVERE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN I APPLIED THE FORCE THE BRAKE PEDAL RESISTED AND POPPED BACK TWICE BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT I HAVE REPORTED TO VW AND TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE EPC AND ALTERNATOR WARNING INDICATORS. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER TEN MINUTES. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAK
• I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN ON A RED LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF ALMOST MID TURN, FORCING AN INCOMING CAR TO SWERVE QUICKLY TO THE NEXT LANE. THIS STALLING HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 4-5 TIMES IN A 6 MONTH TIME LAPSE. MAINLY IT HAS HAPPENED WHEN I'VE BEEN MOVING SLOW IN TRAFFIC, GOING THROUGH SPEED BUMPS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“WHILE SLOWLY ROLLING TO A STOP THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND DID NOT ENGAGE. I HAD TO APPLY SEVERE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN I APPLIED THE FORCE THE BRAKE PEDAL RESISTED AND POPPED BACK TWICE BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT I HAVE REPORTED TO VW AND TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

34 complaints

16%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ABRUPTLY INTO THE CONTACT'S FACE AND ARMS. AS A RESULT, THE MANUFACTURING SYMBOL WAS PERMANENTLY BRANDED INTO THE CONTACT'S LEFT ARM. THERE WERE NO FURTHER
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED INTO AN INTERSECTION AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A
• THE CAR WAS TOTALED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH THREE PASSENGERSAND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, THERE WAS NO INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWING AIRBAG DYSFUNCTION PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE INFORMATION THAT VW PROVIDED ABOUT THE AIRBAG RECALL SEEMS INCOMPLETE AND TO UNDERSTATE THE SERIOUSNES

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 7 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ABRUPTLY INTO THE CONTACT'S FACE AND ARMS. AS A RESULT, THE MANUFACTURING SYMBOL WAS PERMANENTLY BRANDED INTO THE CONTACT'S LEFT ARM. THERE WERE NO FURTHER ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

23 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED ABNORMALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY WARNING LIGHT AND CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT TH
• SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING MY SUV MANY FAILURE INDICATOR LIGHTS INDICATING EPC FAILURE, TIRE MONITORING SYSTEM FAILURE, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT NOT WORKING, LEFT TURN SIGNAL NOT WORKING, BRAKES LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP, ESC NOT FUNCTIONING. TRUNK ALSO WILL NOT UNLOCK. IT SEEMED LIKE EVERY SYSTEM WARNING
• WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN A MERGING LANE, CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ANY FURTHER. CARS WERE SPEEDING BY AND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. EPC LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO GET OFF HIGHWAY AND HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED ABNORMALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY WARNING LIGHT AND CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

20 complaints

• CAME TO A STOP, TURNED CAR OFF, DECIDED TO MOVE IT UP A BIT. NO POWER STEERING, SOLID RED WARNING LIGHT. TURNED CAR OFF, TRIED AGAIN, SAME RESULT, NO POWER STEERING, SOLID LIGHT. TURNED CAR OFF, WAITING 30 SECONDS, RESTARTED POWER STEERING BACK, NO LIGHT. VERY CONCERNED THAT I AM IN EFFECT, REB
• THE CAR ENGINE AND POWER HAS SHUT DOWN 5 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. FOUR TIMES ON SIDE STREETS AS WELL AS ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THIS OCCURS THE CAR MUST BE PLACED INTO PARK TO RESTART VEHICLE. THE CAR LOOSES ALL POWER EXCEPT RADIO STAYS ON. HIGHWAY INCIDENT THE BRAKES HAD TO BE PUMPED. WE HAVE TAKEN T
• THE CAR PULLED TWICE TO THE LEFT THEN SECONDS LATER I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL TO STEER THE CAR. APPROXIMATELY 200+ FEET OF SKID MARKS WERE LEFT ON THE HWY. WHILE WAITING ON A TOW TRUCK MULTIPLE EMERGENCY LIGHTS CAME ON. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERED MULTIPLE TIMES. WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT OFF

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“CAME TO A STOP, TURNED CAR OFF, DECIDED TO MOVE IT UP A BIT. NO POWER STEERING, SOLID RED WARNING LIGHT. TURNED CAR OFF, TRIED AGAIN, SAME RESULT, NO POWER STEERING, SOLID LIGHT. TURNED CAR OFF, WAITING 30 SECONDS, RESTARTED POWER STEERING BACK, NO LIGHT. VERY CONCERNED THAT I AM IN EFFECT, REB”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

20 complaints

• THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. HAVING COME TO A MOMENTARY STOP, FOR EXAMPLE IN AN INTERSECTION AWAITING ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO CLEAR BEFORE PROCEEDING TO TURN LEFT, WHEN AGAIN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR LAGS FOR 1-2 SECONDS BEFORE FINALLY BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE. VERY UNN
• WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. I TRIED TO RE-START THE ENGINE AND IT DID NOT START. THE VEHICLE CAME TO FULL STOP. IT TOOK A WHILE TO RE-START THE ENGINE. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS REPAIRED BY A VW DEALER, BUT I NEVER GOT A CLEAR EXPLANATION OF WHAT HAPPENED.
• THE BLUETOOTH IN MY 2012 VW TIGUAN HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. VW SAID THAT THE BLUETOOTH IS FAULTY AND THAT I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $700 TO FIX MY BLUETOOTH.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. HAVING COME TO A MOMENTARY STOP, FOR EXAMPLE IN AN INTERSECTION AWAITING ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO CLEAR BEFORE PROCEEDING TO TURN LEFT, WHEN AGAIN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR LAGS FOR 1-2 SECONDS BEFORE FINALLY BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE. VERY UNN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 214 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: WHILE SLOWLY ROLLING TO A STOP THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND DID NOT ENGAGE. I HAD TO APPLY SEVERE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN I APPLIED THE FORCE THE BRAKE PEDAL RESISTED AND POPPED BACK TWICE BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT I HAVE REPORTED TO VW AND TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ABRUPTLY INTO THE CONTACT'S FACE AND ARMS. AS A RESULT, THE MANUFACTURING SYMBOL WAS PERMANENTLY BRANDED INTO THE CONTACT'S LEFT ARM. THERE WERE NO FURTHER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED ABNORMALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY WARNING LIGHT AND CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: CAME TO A STOP, TURNED CAR OFF, DECIDED TO MOVE IT UP A BIT. NO POWER STEERING, SOLID RED WARNING LIGHT. TURNED CAR OFF, TRIED AGAIN, SAME RESULT, NO POWER STEERING, SOLID LIGHT. TURNED CAR OFF, WAITING 30 SECONDS, RESTARTED POWER STEERING BACK, NO LIGHT. VERY CONCERNED THAT I AM IN EFFECT, REB
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)