2019 Volkswagen TIGUAN

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2019 Volkswagen TIGUAN has 282 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: the car stopped accelerating unexpectedly in the middle of the freeway while i was driving about 60mph. all kinds of emergency lights came up for no apparent reason, and the car blocked. the gear was locked and wouldn't respond to restarting the car. the car had to the towed, and after getting it in. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 8 crash reports 7 injuries

282

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

54 complaints

19%

• THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING UNEXPECTEDLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH. ALL KINDS OF EMERGENCY LIGHTS CAME UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON, AND THE CAR BLOCKED. THE GEAR WAS LOCKED AND WOULDN'T RESPOND TO RESTARTING THE CAR. THE CAR HAD TO THE TOWED, AND AFTER GETTING IT IN
• FRONT COALITION SENSON AND WARNING LIGHT GOES ON FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED DISABLELING THE SENSON. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TO 6 TIMES ON VARIOUS DATES WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY AND I HAVE TO STOP TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON IN ORDER TO RESET THE COMPUTER BY ITSELF. SOMETIMES IT WILL T
• PURCHASED CAR JUNE 30, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON WAY HOME FROM DEALER. NEXT DAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OFF, BRAKE POWER BOOST FAILURE FLICKER ON SCREEN, AUTO START/STOP NOT FUNCTIONING, RESTART CAR ALL GONE. NEXT TRIP TIRE PRESSURE WARNING, UNABLE TO RESET. HAD TO GO TO AN APPOINTMENT A

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

“THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING UNEXPECTEDLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH. ALL KINDS OF EMERGENCY LIGHTS CAME UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON, AND THE CAR BLOCKED. THE GEAR WAS LOCKED AND WOULDN'T RESPOND TO RESTARTING THE CAR. THE CAR HAD TO THE TOWED, AND AFTER GETTING IT IN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

38 complaints

13%

• THE FIRST DAY I DROVE MY NEW 2019 TIGUAN SEL HOME, I OPENED THE PASSENGER DRIVER-SIDE DOOR AND THE HANDLE GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT GO BACK IN...MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR 2-DAYS LATER TO GET THIS FIXED. DURING THE 2-DAY WAITING PERIOD, I WAS STOPPED IN A TURNING LANE ON A FOUR-LANE, LIGHTED ROAD TO M
• MY BRAND NEW 2019 VW TIGUAN FWD NEXT DAY AFTER BUYING SHOWED MULTIPLE PROBLEMS THAT RELATED TO TRANSMISSION AND BREAKING AND A UNKNOWN SOURCE OF RATTLING SOUND. I NOTICED WHEN I COLD START THE TIGUAN AND LET IT IDLE FOR 3-4 MINUTES THE NORMAL ENGINE SOUND SLOWLY GOES DOWN BUT A LOUDER AND MORE N
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, THE EPC, OIL, AND SYSTEM/POWER WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CAPISTRANO VOLKSWAGE

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

“THE FIRST DAY I DROVE MY NEW 2019 TIGUAN SEL HOME, I OPENED THE PASSENGER DRIVER-SIDE DOOR AND THE HANDLE GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT GO BACK IN...MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR 2-DAYS LATER TO GET THIS FIXED. DURING THE 2-DAY WAITING PERIOD, I WAS STOPPED IN A TURNING LANE ON A FOUR-LANE, LIGHTED ROAD TO M”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

36 complaints

13%

• THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING UNEXPECTEDLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH. ALL KINDS OF EMERGENCY LIGHTS CAME UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON, AND THE CAR BLOCKED. THE GEAR WAS LOCKED AND WOULDN'T RESPOND TO RESTARTING THE CAR. THE CAR HAD TO THE TOWED, AND AFTER GETTING IT IN
• UPON DRIVING MY NEW 2019 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN THIS PAST WINTER. IT WAS A VERY COLD WINTER DAY, WHEN STARTING MY CAR IT WOULDN'T GO IN REVERSE. , THEN STARTED TO GO, IN REVERSE . I PUT IT INTO D DRIVE .. I WOULD PUTT ( GO AND STOP) LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS . THERE WAS PLENTY OF GAS IN IT . IT CONT
• MY BRAND NEW 2019 VW TIGUAN FWD NEXT DAY AFTER BUYING SHOWED MULTIPLE PROBLEMS THAT RELATED TO TRANSMISSION AND BREAKING AND A UNKNOWN SOURCE OF RATTLING SOUND. I NOTICED WHEN I COLD START THE TIGUAN AND LET IT IDLE FOR 3-4 MINUTES THE NORMAL ENGINE SOUND SLOWLY GOES DOWN BUT A LOUDER AND MORE N

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

36 complaints

13%

• 2019 VOLSKWAGEN TIGUAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT ASSIST AND ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT ASSIST SYSTEMS MAY FAIL IF THE VEHICLE GOES OUT OF ALIGNMENT AS LITTLE AS 1/1OOTH OF AN INCH. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE THRUSTS FORWARD. *JS
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2019 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, WHEN A VEHICLE IN FRONT SUDDENLY STOPPED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO REAR END THEIR VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S FORWARD COLLISION PREVENTION SYSTEM HAD FAILED TO ALERT THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN FRON
• DOOR LATCH MALFUNCTIONS REQUIRED MULTIPLE VISITS TO MECHANIC TO DIAGNOSE. LOCKED AND UNLOCKED RANDOMLY. AS IN WOULD LOCK ME OUT OR IN THE VEHICLE REQUIRING I USE AN ALTERNATE DOOR (NOT DRIVER DOOR) TO EXIT MY VEHICLE. EMERGENCY BREAK ASSIST ENGAGES IN GUTTERS AND DRIVEWAYS. ESSENTIALLY ANYTHING

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“2019 VOLSKWAGEN TIGUAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT ASSIST AND ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT ASSIST SYSTEMS MAY FAIL IF THE VEHICLE GOES OUT OF ALIGNMENT AS LITTLE AS 1/1OOTH OF AN INCH. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE THRUSTS FORWARD. *JS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

24 complaints

• PURCHASED CAR JUNE 30, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON WAY HOME FROM DEALER. NEXT DAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OFF, BRAKE POWER BOOST FAILURE FLICKER ON SCREEN, AUTO START/STOP NOT FUNCTIONING, RESTART CAR ALL GONE. NEXT TRIP TIRE PRESSURE WARNING, UNABLE TO RESET. HAD TO GO TO AN APPOINTMENT A
• THE CARS BREAKING ASSISTANCE BRINGS THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP AT ANY SPEED. IT WILL BREAK WHEN NOTHING IS AROUND, WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY, AND PULLING OUT ONTO THE ROAD.
• MY WIFE WASDRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET NO CARS IN FRONT OR BEHIND. THE AUTONOMOUS BRAKES ACTIVATED AND BROUGHT CAR TO FULL STOP FOR NO REASON.

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

“PURCHASED CAR JUNE 30, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON WAY HOME FROM DEALER. NEXT DAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OFF, BRAKE POWER BOOST FAILURE FLICKER ON SCREEN, AUTO START/STOP NOT FUNCTIONING, RESTART CAR ALL GONE. NEXT TRIP TIRE PRESSURE WARNING, UNABLE TO RESET. HAD TO GO TO AN APPOINTMENT A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 282 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING UNEXPECTEDLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH. ALL KINDS OF EMERGENCY LIGHTS CAME UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON, AND THE CAR BLOCKED. THE GEAR WAS LOCKED AND WOULDN'T RESPOND TO RESTARTING THE CAR. THE CAR HAD TO THE TOWED, AND AFTER GETTING IT IN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: THE FIRST DAY I DROVE MY NEW 2019 TIGUAN SEL HOME, I OPENED THE PASSENGER DRIVER-SIDE DOOR AND THE HANDLE GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT GO BACK IN...MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR 2-DAYS LATER TO GET THIS FIXED. DURING THE 2-DAY WAITING PERIOD, I WAS STOPPED IN A TURNING LANE ON A FOUR-LANE, LIGHTED ROAD TO M
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING UNEXPECTEDLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH. ALL KINDS OF EMERGENCY LIGHTS CAME UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON, AND THE CAR BLOCKED. THE GEAR WAS LOCKED AND WOULDN'T RESPOND TO RESTARTING THE CAR. THE CAR HAD TO THE TOWED, AND AFTER GETTING IT IN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: 2019 VOLSKWAGEN TIGUAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT ASSIST AND ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT ASSIST SYSTEMS MAY FAIL IF THE VEHICLE GOES OUT OF ALIGNMENT AS LITTLE AS 1/1OOTH OF AN INCH. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE THRUSTS FORWARD. *JS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)