2018 Volkswagen TIGUAN

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Volkswagen TIGUAN has 446 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (17% of all complaints), specifically: the safety alert that stops your car in case of a collision stops my car with none or thing in front or on the side of it. my backup camera stays on consistently when driving forward. the electronic middle console constantly freezes up and won't allow me to do anything or goes completely black. this. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 3 crash reports 14 injuries

446

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

77 complaints

17%

• THE SAFETY ALERT THAT STOPS YOUR CAR IN CASE OF A COLLISION STOPS MY CAR WITH NONE OR THING IN FRONT OR ON THE SIDE OF IT. MY BACKUP CAMERA STAYS ON CONSISTENTLY WHEN DRIVING FORWARD. THE ELECTRONIC MIDDLE CONSOLE CONSTANTLY FREEZES UP AND WON'T ALLOW ME TO DO ANYTHING OR GOES COMPLETELY BLACK. THIS
• WHEN THE AUTO START/STOP FEATURE IS DISABLED BY TOGGLING THE BUTTON ON THE CENTER CONSOLE, THE CAR DRIVES VERY ROUGH, ESPECIALLY AT SLOW SPEEDS. IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING GEARS.
• THIS CAR HAS A NEW "FEATURE" CALLED AUTO START/STOP WHICH, WHEN IS ENABLED BY DEFAULT. IF NOT DISABLED, THIS FEATURE WILL TURN OFF THE CAR WHEN IT'S AT A STANDSTILL AND CONSUMING LITTLE POWER, THEN TURN BACK ON WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS. MEANT AS A FUEL CONSUMPTION MECHANISM, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. A FE

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

“THE SAFETY ALERT THAT STOPS YOUR CAR IN CASE OF A COLLISION STOPS MY CAR WITH NONE OR THING IN FRONT OR ON THE SIDE OF IT. MY BACKUP CAMERA STAYS ON CONSISTENTLY WHEN DRIVING FORWARD. THE ELECTRONIC MIDDLE CONSOLE CONSTANTLY FREEZES UP AND WON'T ALLOW ME TO DO ANYTHING OR GOES COMPLETELY BLACK. THIS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

51 complaints

11%

• INTERMITTENT ONGOING RATTLE IN THE B PILLARS BEHIND SEAT BELTS..
• CONSISTENT RATTLING NOISE FROM B PILLAR AREA. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF RESOLVING THE ISSUE WITH VOLKSWAGEN, THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE OR FIX. THE RATTLE OCCURS DURING REGULAR DRIVING CONDITIONS, BUT PRIMARILY WHEN DRIVING ON BUMPY SURFACES.
• WE BOUGHT A VW TIGUAN 4 MOTION SEL 2018 WITH PANORAMIC SUNROOF, ON JAN 20,2018. FROM THE SAME NIGHT WE TOOK THE CAR OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP WE HEARD A RATTLING NOISE IN THE B PILLAR CONSTANTLY. STARTING FROM JAN 26, 2018 THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE VW SERVICE STATION TWICE ALREADY (STILL THERE), IN TOTAL

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

“INTERMITTENT ONGOING RATTLE IN THE B PILLARS BEHIND SEAT BELTS..”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

49 complaints

11%

• THE CAR DOES NOT GET MORE THAN 316 MILES TO A FULL TANK. IT ALSO FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS JERKING YOU FORWARD WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO BE REALLY SLUGGISH. THIS IS ALSO DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT ON A BUSY STREET. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DROVE IT CAME BACK AND TOLD ME I SHOUL
• WHEN I'M GIVING GAS/ ACCELERATING, THERE IS A "HISSING-SOUND" COMING FROM OUTSIDE AND MORE CLEARER AND LOUDER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE PERSON POSITION. CAN HEAR IT EVEN CLEAR IF I ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS. SOUND STARTS COMING ANYWHERE FROM 0 - MAX MPH NO MATTER WHICH ROADS I DRIVE IN. DON'T KNOW FOR SURE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE MADE A RATTLING SOUND. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VOLKSWAGEN OF ABILENE (1350 S CLACK ST, ABILENE, TX 79605, (325) 673-4663) AND WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS

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

“THE CAR DOES NOT GET MORE THAN 316 MILES TO A FULL TANK. IT ALSO FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS JERKING YOU FORWARD WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO BE REALLY SLUGGISH. THIS IS ALSO DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT ON A BUSY STREET. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DROVE IT CAME BACK AND TOLD ME I SHOUL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

42 complaints

• THE SAFETY ALERT THAT STOPS YOUR CAR IN CASE OF A COLLISION STOPS MY CAR WITH NONE OR THING IN FRONT OR ON THE SIDE OF IT. MY BACKUP CAMERA STAYS ON CONSISTENTLY WHEN DRIVING FORWARD. THE ELECTRONIC MIDDLE CONSOLE CONSTANTLY FREEZES UP AND WON'T ALLOW ME TO DO ANYTHING OR GOES COMPLETELY BLACK. THIS
• THERE IS A RECALL FOR SUNROOF LIGHTING: FROM VW WEBSITE: HIGH HUMIDITY IN THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF AMBIENT LIGHTING BAR LED MODULE (CAUSED BY ENVIRONMENT OR BY LEAVING THE SUNROOF OPEN) COULD LEAD TO A LOCAL SHORT CIRCUIT. IF THIS HAPPENS, THERE IS A RISK OF A FIRE. SO, I BOUGHT HIGHER MODEL BECAUS
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE SEEN COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY BURNT AND DESTROYED WHEN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

39 complaints

• THE DRIVERS SIDE B PILLAR CONSISTANTLY MAKES AGRESSIVE AND LOUD CRACKING NOISES WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE INITIATED A LEMON LAW SUIT WITH VOLKSWAGEN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THE CONCERN HAS NOT YET BEEN RECTIFIED. ADDITIONALLY THE DRIVERS SIDE B PILLER FLEXES AND
• PURCHASED THE 2018 TIGUAN ON SEPTEMBER 16TH, ENTERED SERVICE ON OCTOBER 10TH WITH TWO B PILLAR RATTLES, EXCESSIVE WIND NOISE FROM DRIVERS DOOR AND A SCREEN FLICKER WITH THE BACK-UP CAMERA. CAR HAS REMAINED IN SERVICE FOR 21 DAYS AND NO RESOLUTION FROM VOLKSWAGEN.
• INTERMITTENT ONGOING RATTLE IN THE B PILLARS BEHIND SEAT BELTS..

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

“THE DRIVERS SIDE B PILLAR CONSISTANTLY MAKES AGRESSIVE AND LOUD CRACKING NOISES WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE INITIATED A LEMON LAW SUIT WITH VOLKSWAGEN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THE CONCERN HAS NOT YET BEEN RECTIFIED. ADDITIONALLY THE DRIVERS SIDE B PILLER FLEXES AND”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 446 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: THE SAFETY ALERT THAT STOPS YOUR CAR IN CASE OF A COLLISION STOPS MY CAR WITH NONE OR THING IN FRONT OR ON THE SIDE OF IT. MY BACKUP CAMERA STAYS ON CONSISTENTLY WHEN DRIVING FORWARD. THE ELECTRONIC MIDDLE CONSOLE CONSTANTLY FREEZES UP AND WON'T ALLOW ME TO DO ANYTHING OR GOES COMPLETELY BLACK. THIS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: INTERMITTENT ONGOING RATTLE IN THE B PILLARS BEHIND SEAT BELTS..
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: THE CAR DOES NOT GET MORE THAN 316 MILES TO A FULL TANK. IT ALSO FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS JERKING YOU FORWARD WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO BE REALLY SLUGGISH. THIS IS ALSO DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT ON A BUSY STREET. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DROVE IT CAME BACK AND TOLD ME I SHOUL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THE SAFETY ALERT THAT STOPS YOUR CAR IN CASE OF A COLLISION STOPS MY CAR WITH NONE OR THING IN FRONT OR ON THE SIDE OF IT. MY BACKUP CAMERA STAYS ON CONSISTENTLY WHEN DRIVING FORWARD. THE ELECTRONIC MIDDLE CONSOLE CONSTANTLY FREEZES UP AND WON'T ALLOW ME TO DO ANYTHING OR GOES COMPLETELY BLACK. THIS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)