Is the 2023 Volkswagen TIGUAN reliable?

The 2023 Volkswagen TIGUAN has 84 complaints filed with NHTSA (0.5x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: excellent. Most common issue: ENGINE problems.

What are common problems with the 2023 Volkswagen TIGUAN?

Top problems: ENGINE (20 complaints, avg repair $500); OTHER (13 complaints, avg repair $500); DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS (12 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2023 Volkswagen TIGUAN?

Yes, there are 1 recall(s): BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE. Contact any Volkswagen dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2023 Volkswagen TIGUAN?

The 2023 Volkswagen TIGUAN gets 26 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $1846. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2023 Volkswagen TIGUAN?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2023 Volkswagen TIGUAN is approximately $1,654/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2023 Volkswagen TIGUAN

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2023 Volkswagen TIGUAN has 84 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 174. The most common issue is engine problems (24% of all complaints), specifically: when i click the button to start the car and then quickly reverse, the system locks up. it's a safety hazard. it's happened to me 4 times. twice on 7-14-23 and another two times within the last 3 weeks.. There is 1 recall issued for this model year.

2 crash reports 2 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

4/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ENGINE

20 complaints

24%

• When I click the button to start the car and then quickly reverse, the system locks up. It's a safety hazard. It's happened to me 4 times. Twice on 7-14-23 and another two times within the last 3 weeks.
• The vehical when engine is cold. Has delays and lags. I didn't think much of it when I first bought it, I assumed the computer was trying to learn. Well car has 12000 miles on it and still does it I've been to the dealer several times. They have told me this is normal?. Until I went to a different
• 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 a

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

“When I click the button to start the car and then quickly reverse, the system locks up. It's a safety hazard. It's happened to me 4 times. Twice on 7-14-23 and another two times within the last 3 weeks.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Recalls (1)

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE12/02/2025

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Tiguan, 2023 Arteon, and 2024-2025 Audi Q3 vehicles. An error may occur in the camera control unit at vehicle startup, resulting in the rearview camera image not displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will update the camera control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed to Audi owners April 3, 2024, and Volkswagen owners November 18, 2025.Volkswagen owners will receive a second notice once remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Volkswagen) 91NY and (Audi) 90AV.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2023 Volkswagen TIGUAN

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$1,847

Per month

$154

Per mile

15.4¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,087/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,600/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2023 Volkswagen TIGUAN

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,654

Full coverage / month

$138

Liability only / year

$598

vs US avg

-1%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating0.98x

× vehicle age1.05x

= Full coverage estimate$1654

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Volkswagen TIGUAN Service Intervals

Oil change

10K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

10K mi

Brake fluid

24 months

Transmission fluid

40K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

60K mi

Cabin air filter

20K mi

Engine air filter

40K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

40K mi

TSI turbo engines require VW-approved 502/504 spec synthetic oil. DSG transmission service (if equipped) every 40K miles.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Volkswagen New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

4 yr / 50K mi

Powertrain

4 yr / 50K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

7 yr / 100K mi

Roadside assistance

3 yr / 36K mi

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 84 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: When I click the button to start the car and then quickly reverse, the system locks up. It's a safety hazard. It's happened to me 4 times. Twice on 7-14-23 and another two times within the last 3 weeks.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: On 2/8/2023 When starting my vehicle my digital instrument cluster did not display anything. (No Speedometer, tachometer, etc) While the cluster is not working, the Red "Level 1 Warning" light is displayed which tells you not to drive the vehicle. The issue was NOT resolved with restarting the veh
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: On [XXX], I took this vehicle to Galpin VW for service on the collision warning system which began to malfunction on a daily basis and would spontaneously come on multiple times throughout the day, without any other vehicles in front of me nor around me. The service advisor at this service center,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: There is a caution light that keeps coming on and the dealer can't tell me why
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 1 recall have been completed — free at any Volkswagen dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)