2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
4/5
Safety Rating
432
Owner Complaints
13
Recalls
98
Service Bulletins
2
Investigations
Overview of the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN
The 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN has received a total of 432 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 14 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with STRUCTURE:BODY, STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING. 98 technical service bulletins have been issued by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (76 complaints), Power Train (48 complaints), and Unknown Or Other (48 complaints).
Recalls for the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN
NHTSA has recorded 14 recalls for the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN, potentially affecting up to 223,522 vehicles.
Recall 22V226000 — STRUCTURE:BODY
| 6,553 vehicles affected
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan and 2018-2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. Due to incorrect installation instructions, the accessory rear hatch spoiler may be insufficiently attached to the vehicle.
Consequence: An insufficiently attached spoiler may separate from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the spoiler, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66N5.
View full details →Recall 21V732000 — STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
| 2 vehicles affected
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan vehicles. During the repair of roof damage, an incorrect roof reinforcement assembly may have been installed.
Consequence: The incorrect roof reinforcement may decrease the roof's structural integrity or impact deployment of the side curtain air bags, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will be replace the roof reinforcement, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 51H5.
View full details →Recall 20V724000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
| 10,835 vehicles affected
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan LWB vehicles. In the event of a crash, one or both of the front seat belt's webbing may tear.
Consequence: A torn seat belt may not adequately restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat belts and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 13, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is...
View full details →Recall 20V724000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
| 10,835 vehicles affected
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan LWB vehicles. In the event of a crash, one or both of the front seat belt's webbing may tear.
Consequence: A torn seat belt may not adequately restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat belts and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 13, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is...
View full details →Recall 19V679000 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
| 113 vehicles affected
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause...
Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number...
View full details →Recall 19V188000 — SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
| 56,173 vehicles affected
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, 2015-2019 Golf, and 2018-2019 Tiguan vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
Consequence: If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began April 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42J5.
View full details →Recall 18V824000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
| 73,549 vehicles affected
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with...
Consequence: If the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the risk of vehicle theft or crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 90L3 and 90L4.
View full details →Recall 18V467000 — VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
| 45,457 vehicles affected
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles. The LED module for the panoramic sunroof ambient light bar may short circuit.
Consequence: A short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the power supply for the panoramic sunroof LED module, free of charge, until a future service action can safely reactivate the feature. The recall began July 24, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen...
View full details →Recall 18V375000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
| 821 vehicles affected
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan vehicles. In the event of a crash, the passenger frontal air bag may tear or not properly unfold during deployment.
Consequence: If the air bag were to tear or unfold incorrectly during deployment, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69W8, and 69W9.
View full details →Recall 18V102000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
| 3,768 vehicles affected
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Tiguan Limited vehicles. The front driver air bag installed on these vehicles may not be intended for use in vehicles sold in the United States. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: In the event of a crash, the incorrect air bags may not protect the driver as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel and front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is...
View full details →Recall 18V262000 — SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
| 7,430 vehicles affected
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan long wheelbase (LWB) vehicles. A lower loop of a rear shock absorber may separate from its base due to an incorrect welding process
Consequence: If the lower loop of the rear shock absorber detaches, there may be a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear shock absorbers, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42i7.
View full details →Recall 18V324000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
| 2,473 vehicles affected
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan and Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The nut that holds the lower ball joint of the front wheel on each side of the vehicle may be loose or improperly tightened.
Consequence: A loose or improperly tightened ball joint nut can result in the separation of the lower ball joint causing steering, traction or other stability issues, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will replace the nut on the lower ball joint and, as necessary, clean the thread in the ball joint, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service...
View full details →Recall 18V159000 — ENGINE
| 4 vehicles affected
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The engine support bolts on these vehicles may not have been properly tightened.
Consequence: If the engine support bolts were not properly tightened, an unexpected engine breakdown or loss of engine power may occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace engine support bolts, free of charge. The recall began March 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 10F7.
View full details →Recall 17V662000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
| 5,509 vehicles affected
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The back-up lights in the taillight assemblies may not be bright enough. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: If the back-up lights are not bright enough, other drivers may not see the vehicle reversing, or the driver may back into an obstacle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected inner taillight assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94J9.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN
432 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
The contact's daughter owns a 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shook and decelerated abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the vehicle should not be driven because the drive belt needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder with no ETA. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
I own a 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan with approximately 70,000 miles. The vehicle requires a full cylinder head replacement due to faulty valve seals. I have been having to add engine oil frequently between oil changes. The repair has been confirmed by an authorized Volkswagen dealership. The required cylinder head part is currently on manufacturer backorder with no estimated time of arrival. Dealership told me to check in every 2-3 months, as no additional cylinder heads can be ordered due to excessive backorder. Dealership charges $6,000+ for this repair. Volkswagen has not provided a solution or timeline for repair with this ongoing issue. There were no warning lights prior to the issue, and the vehicle has been routinely maintained. A major engine component failure at this mileage raises concerns about a potential defect rather than normal wear. This situation creates a safety and reliability concern, with no reasonable repair timeframe due to parts unavailability as well as no communication from Volkswagen regarding this ongoing issue.
This vehicle experienced a rear shock spring failure identical to the symptoms noted in VW recall 42i7. We paid out of pocket for the springs to be repaired, and VW corporate along with the dealer reported this VIN does not qualify for the recall. They are unable to tell me why our particular VIN does not, other than it simply wasn't on the list. It seems unlikely the exact year/model/failure occurred on our vehicle as what was stated in the recall but somehow it didn't qualify I would expect VW to cover the spring replacement and required alignment
On [XXX] I discovered water in my car. ~2.5 inch front passenger and back driver and passenger side. Condensation on the sunroof. My sunroof was not opened/completely shut. I called VW service was advised my car was not covered under the class action or warranty and advised to report to my insurance. I did not want to report and risk my insurance rate increasing. I have never filed a claim in the 20+ years of having the car. After researching and taking my call for repairs I discovered that my vehicle should be covered on the extended warranty IF the recall 60E5/60E2 was repaired. I am in Ohio where the damage was discovered my regular service dealer is in Illinois. 1)The service dealer in Illinois did complete the 60E5/60E2 recall. 2) the extend warranty % coverage should cover my car however I was told my VIN was not apart of the class action although the recall was performed an no record in the system with VW and if it were I would not be covered because I am 5 months out of the in service date. 3) the damage is ~ 3000.00 and increasing because now the sunroof switch doesn’t work and the screen is damaged from water. There is mold in my car which is a health hazard. I have exhausted trying to navigate through this issue! If my car was not apart of the class action it should have been. The insurance minus my deductible does not cover the cost of repairs. I have been without a call since this incident. This is a health hazard consumer driving hazard and should be investigated ASAP. I have attached the initial estimate which will be supplementally adjusted, the service 60E5 document . Please advise if this should be reported to the attorney general office and or what my next course of action should be. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
1)My sunroof/window is leaking. This has caused internal damage. My car had 2-2.5 inches of water that has damaged by carpeting and pads the 60E5 was performed. ~72,500 miles 2018 Tiguan. 2) dealer service has advised of service:REPLACE SET OF (4) FUEL INJECTOR O-RINGS DUE TO FUEL LEAK AT FUEL RAIL-INCLUDE INTAKE MANIFOLD GAKET AND THROTTLE BODY GASKET.
Safety Rating for the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN
The 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. has issued 98 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
SM 07-2024 VWGoA — ENGINE
This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed and only order the successor parts going forward.
VWP-23-06_V2 — VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
This Document informs dealers on the Sunroof Class Action Limited Warranty Extension revision. Revised to include info on how to proceed with vehicles not applicable to the 60E2/60E5.
DCV09B3Closure — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Dealer Letter to announce the closure of Service Action 09B3.
V9119032056716_6 — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT
Update programming for Infotainment System Malfunctions. Updated to include additional labor operation & time units in warranty table.
VWP-22-16 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
This Document informs dealers on VWP-22-16
TT 37 20 01_2 — STEERING
Steering wheel control module replacement. Update to step 2 scan tool navigation.
TT 61 21 01 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Republication of archived technical tip for water leak testing fixture.
TT 55 20 01_4 — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
Rear Lid operation, text update to accommodate component naming change in scan tool.
UMHomelink — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Prism mirror Owner's manual
V5119012020753_6 — STRUCTURE
B-Pillar noise repair, update headliner =labor operation numbers per SAGA updates.
Showing 10 of 98 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN
NHTSA has opened 2 investigations into potential safety defects in the 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN.
Other Model Years of the VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN
- 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN — 226 complaints
- 2014 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN — 125 complaints
- 2015 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN — 106 complaints
- 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN — 145 complaints
- 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN — 95 complaints
- 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN (current)
- 2019 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN — 253 complaints
- 2020 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN — 186 complaints
- 2021 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN — 149 complaints
- 2022 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN — 356 complaints
- 2023 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN — 71 complaints
Other VOLKSWAGEN Models
- VOLKSWAGEN JETTA — 13,715 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — 10,288 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE — 3,613 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS — 2,635 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN GOLF — 1,991 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN GTI — 1,916 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN ID.4 — 1,568 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN CC — 1,356 total complaints