NHTSA Complaint #11666960 — 2023 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN

The vehicle experiences intermittent (but daily) accelerator lag or failure to respond when the gas pedal is pressed from a stop. There is a significant delay—sometimes several seconds—before the car begins to move, even when the accelerator is fully depressed. This appears to be related to the power train and/or engine system. The hesitation in acceleration has created multiple unsafe situations, including near-miss accidents while turning left across traffic or entering intersections, when the car failed to respond as expected. This hesitation could easily result in a collision, particularly in high-traffic areas. The issue has been reported to the dealership on multiple occasions and while they have been able to reproduce the problem, it isn't every time and they turn the vehicle back over to us unresolved. Video documentation of the malfunction has been submitted to the service department, and they have acknowledged the issue is being reviewed by VW engineers. The vehicle has been inspected multiple times by the authorized Volkswagen dealership service department. Engineers from the manufacturer have reportedly been involved in the review, though we have not yet received a confirmed diagnosis. There are no warning lamps, dashboard messages, or error indicators associated with the accelerator issue. The first noticeable delay in acceleration from a stop occurred at least 6 months ago and has continued intermittently since.