2013 Volkswagen TIGUAN

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Volkswagen TIGUAN has 227 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen tiguan. the contact heard a chime sound coming from the vehicle and the abs warning indicator illuminated. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 5,500. updated 10/29/14*lj the cons. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 4 crash reports 1 injury

227

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

64 complaints

28%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT HEARD A CHIME SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500. UPDATED 10/29/14*LJ THE CONS
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND THAT CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. ALL OF THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO WORK, INCLUDING THE HORN, AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PO
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AS THE HORN AND THE FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO OPERATE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ALSO FAILED TO FUNC

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT HEARD A CHIME SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500. UPDATED 10/29/14*LJ THE CONS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

35 complaints

15%

• THERE ARE 2 SEPARATE INCIDENTS. FIRST INCIDENT APPROX. NOV. 26. PROCEEDING UP A STEEP HILL WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED. PRESSING ON GAS PEDAL DID NOT RESULT IN INCREASED SPEED. NEEDED TO SHIFT TO MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. SECOND INCIDENT ON DEC. 27. PROCEEDIN
• WE RENTED THE VEHICLE FROM HERTZ AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. WHEN WE PARKED THE CAR TO GO TO A RESTAURANT, WE COULD NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS AND THUS COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. WE PHONED HERTZ AND WERE TOLD WE COULD EXCHANGE THE CAR FOR A DIFFERENT CAR AT THE AIRPORT. ON THE WAY TO THE AIR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER UNEXPECTEDLY AND THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER W

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

“THERE ARE 2 SEPARATE INCIDENTS. FIRST INCIDENT APPROX. NOV. 26. PROCEEDING UP A STEEP HILL WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED. PRESSING ON GAS PEDAL DID NOT RESULT IN INCREASED SPEED. NEEDED TO SHIFT TO MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. SECOND INCIDENT ON DEC. 27. PROCEEDIN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

29 complaints

13%

• MY FIRST ISSUE WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 1 MONTH INTO MY 3+ YEAR LEASE WITH UNDER 1,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE TO DRIVE, AS THEY COULDN'T FIT ME IN FOR SERVICE WITH A LOANER FOR 2 WKS!! THE LIGHT EVENTUALLY WENT OFF IN 2 DAYS WITHOUT AN ISSUE. HOWEVER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THAT VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NO
• VEHICLE CUT OUT, AND ENGINE DIED. SOMETIMES THE EPC LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, OTHER TIMES IT IS SIMPLY A LOSS OF POWER AND THEN ENGINE CUT OFF. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. OFTEN DURING ACCELERATION INTO TRAFFIC. *TR

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

“MY FIRST ISSUE WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 1 MONTH INTO MY 3+ YEAR LEASE WITH UNDER 1,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE TO DRIVE, AS THEY COULDN'T FIT ME IN FOR SERVICE WITH A LOANER FOR 2 WKS!! THE LIGHT EVENTUALLY WENT OFF IN 2 DAYS WITHOUT AN ISSUE. HOWEVER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

27 complaints

12%

• I PURCHASED A 2012 VW TIGUAN AND STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES WHEN THE FUEL PUMP AND MODULATOR WENT BAD.. AFTER THAT I WENT THROUGH 2 OR 3 MORE FUEL PUMPS ON THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED. UNSATISFIED WITH THE CARS PERFORMANCE I VOICED MY OPINION TO THE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND THAT CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. ALL OF THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO WORK, INCLUDING THE HORN, AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PO
• WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE IT WILL GET UP TO 40 SPEED AND NOT ABOVE AND STALL OUT TO 0 MPH. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE AND STALL FOR DURATION OF TIME, THEN IT WILL DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED UNDER 10-20MPH. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, I MADE IT KNOWN TO THE BRANDON VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP, FIDELITY BANK AND VOLKSWA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I PURCHASED A 2012 VW TIGUAN AND STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES WHEN THE FUEL PUMP AND MODULATOR WENT BAD.. AFTER THAT I WENT THROUGH 2 OR 3 MORE FUEL PUMPS ON THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED. UNSATISFIED WITH THE CARS PERFORMANCE I VOICED MY OPINION TO THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

18 complaints

• VEHICLE CUT OUT, AND ENGINE DIED. SOMETIMES THE EPC LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, OTHER TIMES IT IS SIMPLY A LOSS OF POWER AND THEN ENGINE CUT OFF. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. OFTEN DURING ACCELERATION INTO TRAFFIC. *TR
• AFTER TURNING MOTOR ON, AND BACKING UP, THE CAR IS UNRESPONSIVE WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE,. ON 4 OCCASIONS NOW I HAVE HAD TO RESTART THE CAR AND TRY AGAIN. THE ACCELERATOR SEEMS PROGRESSIVELY UNRESPONSIVE. YESTERDAY, THE CAR STAYED IN GEAR, AND ON LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC AND THEN DIED.
• I PURCHASED A 2012 VW TIGUAN AND STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES WHEN THE FUEL PUMP AND MODULATOR WENT BAD.. AFTER THAT I WENT THROUGH 2 OR 3 MORE FUEL PUMPS ON THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED. UNSATISFIED WITH THE CARS PERFORMANCE I VOICED MY OPINION TO THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“VEHICLE CUT OUT, AND ENGINE DIED. SOMETIMES THE EPC LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, OTHER TIMES IT IS SIMPLY A LOSS OF POWER AND THEN ENGINE CUT OFF. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. OFTEN DURING ACCELERATION INTO TRAFFIC. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 227 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT HEARD A CHIME SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500. UPDATED 10/29/14*LJ THE CONS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THERE ARE 2 SEPARATE INCIDENTS. FIRST INCIDENT APPROX. NOV. 26. PROCEEDING UP A STEEP HILL WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED. PRESSING ON GAS PEDAL DID NOT RESULT IN INCREASED SPEED. NEEDED TO SHIFT TO MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. SECOND INCIDENT ON DEC. 27. PROCEEDIN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: MY FIRST ISSUE WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 1 MONTH INTO MY 3+ YEAR LEASE WITH UNDER 1,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE TO DRIVE, AS THEY COULDN'T FIT ME IN FOR SERVICE WITH A LOANER FOR 2 WKS!! THE LIGHT EVENTUALLY WENT OFF IN 2 DAYS WITHOUT AN ISSUE. HOWEVER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: I PURCHASED A 2012 VW TIGUAN AND STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES WHEN THE FUEL PUMP AND MODULATOR WENT BAD.. AFTER THAT I WENT THROUGH 2 OR 3 MORE FUEL PUMPS ON THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED. UNSATISFIED WITH THE CARS PERFORMANCE I VOICED MY OPINION TO THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)