Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 167 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 167 · page 1 of 7
The car keeps throwing sensors (camshaft, crank sensors, throttle body etc) and the ECM needs to be updated. It keeps turning over. I checked the recall list of VINs and mine is within the range, however there aren't any recalls listed.
Intermittent AC working issues, air conditioning does not cool or the cooling is weak
Power steering goes out randomly after cold weather, even while driving. There is no warning before the power steering goes out. I have almost crashed into another car several times because of this. Many people have had this exact problem with this make and model.
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond and seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V235000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 189,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil pressure warning light illuminated and a message to stop the vehicle immediately was displayed. AAA arrived on the scene and diagnosed the vehicle with oil sensor failure. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic and the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was vibrating while driving back to the residence. The vehicle stalled upon arrival at the residence in the driveway. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer and diagnosed with timing chain and timing sensor failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 84,092. The contact stated that VW of America was notified of the failure. The vehicle was taken to another dealer for a second opinion and all of the issues were confirmed. It was strongly recommended that the engine be replaced as well.
The engine reached 100k miles in the second week of April 2022. After that, I tried to turn on the vehicle, and the engine did not respond. I took my car to the mechanic, and he told me that the car needed an engine replacement. This is very strange since the vehicle had an excellent maintenance schedule, and I usually, this type of car last longer. That engine issue could have caused a severe accident on the road, and fortunately, it never happened. The timing belt might have an issue there, but I had very little information from the engine codes since I did not have an indicator earlier. It just appeared like that. I feel that this type of issue is unfair. After having more than four cars with way more miles, this has never happened, and on average, a Tiguan engine should last at least 150k miles according to the statistics of the vehicle model and year. I feel upset and disappointed with this vehicle model since the cost of replacing the engine cost around 6000$, and I am an international student with no money to do that repair. I feel helpless, and VW told me the only way to get a recall of this car is through a report from the NHTSA, which would be fair given the circumstances I have been through. The only thing I request is to generate a recall for this vehicle if possible. I hope some reads this, and I appreciate the work you do. Thanks
Problems start with ABS and Steering warning lights with EPIC warning on dash, flickering of lights and radio shut off by loosing power steering and rough acceleration and idling. Has been in to VW dealership 5 times now with repairs "fixing" problem for a few days - a week before returning again. This is a safety issue because this happens very quickly and without warning. Once I was on a highway and had to carefully move to side of the road and limp to a safe area (luckily I was in the right lane already).
THE STEERING WHEEL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE STEERING GETS HARD AND IT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENING WHILE MY WIFE DRIVES IT. PLEASE GIVE ME SOME INFORMATION ON WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE HAPPENING OR IF U GUYS CAN LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON IT. I KNOW YOUR BUSY BUT PLEASE GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS YOU CAN
AIR BAG LIGHT ALL OF A SUDDEN CAME WITHOUT BUMPING - THE ENGINE IDLE WERE NOT NORMAL HIGH AND LOW - ELECTRICAL PROBLEM FROM THE STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER BROTHER WHOM OWNED A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER BROTHER WAS DRIVING HE WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE FRONT DRIVER'S AIR BAG EXPLODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHEMICAL POWDER FROM THE AIR BAG WENT INTO THE DRIVER'S MOUTH AND INTO HIS LUNGS. THE POWDER HAS CORRODED HIS TEETH, CAUSING ALL HIS TEETH TO BE EXTRACTED. HIS LUNGS WERE COMPROMISED AND HE ALSO SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS FINGERS AND WRISTS, INCLUDING CHRONIC INFECTIONS ON HIS BODY AND UPPER LEFT SHOULDER AND NECK DUE TO THE SEAT BELT. THE DRIVER HAS RECEIVED EXTENSIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT SINCE THE VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT HER BROTHER'S CURRENT HEALTH ISSUES WERE DUE TO THE AIR BAGS CHEMICAL COMPONENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED AWAY BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE COOLANT HOSE WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED MY RADIO GOES BLANK TO WHERE I CAN'T SEE MY BACK UP CAMERA ! THIS VEHICLE HAS TO MANY ELECTRICAL ISSUES! *TR
I CRASHED DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE ON 10.31.2019. I MADE A RIGHT TURN FROM A LIGHT. TRAFFIC CAME TO A STOP. I PUSHED THE BREAK AND IT DID NOT HOLD. IT FELT BUMPY. BREAKS DID NOT HOLD EVEN WHEN I PUSHED IT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I ENDED UP REAR ENDING THE CAR INFRONT OF ME GOING 15MPH. WHAT'S GOING ON THERE? SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THAT ASAP.
I WAS APPROACHING MY DRIVEWAY IN MY 09 VW TIGUAN WHEN THE RED POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT CAME AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I COULD NOT TURN THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT DRIVING FAST OR I COULD HAVE BEEN IN AND ACCIDENT OR WORSE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THE YELLOW LIGHT, THE RED CAME ON AND THAT WAS IT. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE FEATURE ON THE VOLKSWAGEN THAT CAN KILL SOMEONE. I HAVE THE VEHICLE IN MY DRIVEWAY, WAITING TO BE TOWED AND REPAIRED.
THE TURBO BLEW CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE BLOWN TURBO CAUSED METAL TO GO INTO MY FUEL SYSTEM AND OIL. THE AIR BAG SENSORS ARE FAULTY. THEY CANNOT SENSE SOMEONE IN THE SEATS. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO A AUTO SHOP. DUE TO THE BLOWN TURBO, IT WILL COST $5,500 TO FIX.
THE HEAD LIGHTS DO NOT SHINE BRIGHT AT ALL ALMOST NON EXISTTENT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT
VW TIGUAN 09 PURCHASED AS NEW. ONLY 50K MILES ON IT WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ENCOUNTERED. SOON AFTER (LAST WEEK, NOV 25 2019), ENGINE STALLED WHILE ACCELERATING OUT OF SECOND GEAR AND WAS SEIZED. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SAID IT WOULD COST 5,800 TO REBUILD ENGINE. WHILE DOING MY OWN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH, DISCOVERED THE COMPLAINTS HERE DETAILING PRECISELY THE SAME ISSUE (TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE) THAT WAS DESCRIBED TO ME BY MY MECHANIC. THEN DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT REIMBURSEMENT (HTTPS://TIMINGCHAINLITIGATION.COM/) FOR THIS ISSUE THAT I AM NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR BECAUSE JAN 25 2019 FILING DEADLINE WAS NOT MET - KEEP IN MIND THAT MY ENGINE FAILED ONE WEEK AGO (11/25/2019) WITH ONLY 50K MILES ON IT. I TOO, NEVER RECEIVED A CLASS ACTION NOTICE IN THE MAIL. AFTER CALLING THE CLASS ACTION HOTLINE, I WAS TOLD TO SEND AN EMAIL TO THE LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT ADMINISTRATOR REQUESTING A FILING DEADLINE EXCEPTION. UNLIKELY THAT ANY OF THIS WILL WORK IN MY FAVOR. BUT I TOO, LIKE MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN UNNECESSARILY BURDENED BY VOLKSWAGEN'S NEGLIGENT HANDLING OF THIS MAJOR DEFECT. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT CUSTOMERS LIKE MYSELF ARE NOW SADDLED WITH THIS COMPLETE LOSS.
CAR STOPPED AND WOULD NOT START DUE TO TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FUALT WITH CODE P0016. CAUSED COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE AND THE NEED TO COMPLETELY REBUILD THE TOP END OF THE ENGINE. THIS WAS VERIFIED AFTER A COMPLETE LOSS OF COMPRESSION DUE TO THE VALVES BEING DESTROYED ON THE ENGINE.
MY 2009 VW TIGUAN ENGINE FAILED AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK 35 MPH, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, OUT OF NOWHERE MY CAR ENGINE MADE SCARY CRUMBLY NOISE AND SUDDENLY DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRAFFIC; COMPLETELY DEAD. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH AND IF I DIDN'T REACT FAST TO PUT EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON, I COULD HAVE BEEN PLOWED BY A BIG TRUCK BEHIND ME. THERE WERE CARS PARKED ON EACH SIDE OF THE STREET, AND NO PLACE TO PULL OVER. I WAS CLOSE TO WORK BUT WAS STRANDED ON THE STREET WITH HIGH TRAFFIC BECAUSE I COULDN'T MOVE THE CAR. I TRIED TO TURN IT ON BUT AGAIN SAME RUMBLING SOUND AND DEAD AGAIN. I CALLED A FRIEND TO HELP ME PUSH THE CAR TO MY EMPLOYER'S PARKING LOT SO I COULD BE SAFE. AFTER WORK I CALLED AAA FOR ASSISTANCE AND THEY COULDN'T START THE CAR SO IT WAS THEN TOWED TO THE PLACE I LIVE. THEY ALSO CONCLUDED THAT THE ENGINE IS THE PROBLEM. THAT IS WHEN I STARTED RESEARCHING ABOUT IT AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS A SETTLEMENT FOR TIMING CHAIN THAT I WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT AND MY VIN GOT MATCHED. I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON 07/31/2018, IT WAS WELL MAINTAINED SINCE THEN AND NO ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE SINCE I HAD NO PRIOR WARNING AND COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE OR SOMEONE COULD HAVE KILLED ME IN THE ACCIDENT. I AM ASKING YOU TO HELP ME FIGURE THIS OUT AND HELP FIX THE ENGINE PROBLEM ON MY VEHICLE. I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH HOW SCARED AND CONCERNED I AM SINCE THEN ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT I DRIVE IN THIS SAME CAR AND I THOUGHT THIS CAR IS SAFE FOR THEM AND MYSELF AND EVERYONE AROUND ME WHEN I'M IN TRAFFIC. I LOVE THIS CAR BUT NOW NEITHER I CAN DRIVE IT NOR I FEEL SAFE ANY LONGER IN IT. THIS CAR IS EVERYTHING TO ME AND WITHOUT IT I CAN'T GO TO WORK AND MAKE MONEY OR GO TO PICK UP GROCERIES. I'M A SINGLE MOM AND NO FAMILY AROUND AND I ENTIRELY DEPEND ON THIS CAR TO MAKE THE LIFE FOR MY CHILDREN AS STABLE AS POSSIBLE.
ON ENGINE START UP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER DRIVING IT A SHORT WHILE, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. HAD IT TOWED TO A QUALIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED AND THE ENGINE JUMPED TIME, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE CYLINDER HEAD AND PISTONS. MECHANIC ESTIMATED A REPAIR COST OF APPROXIMATELY $6000.00 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A USED ONE. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 100K MILES BUT THE REPAIR WOULD HAVE COST MORE THAN IT WAS WORTH. VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR, EVEN THROUGH A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT WAS SETTLED AGAINST THEM FOR THIS ISSUE, SINCE THE DEADLINE FOR APPLYING WAS 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT.
WHILE DRIVING (REGARDLESS OF SPEED), THE CAR WILL RANDOMLY UNLOCK AND LOCK ITSELF. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS IN RAPID SUCCESSION 2-3 TIMES'IN OTHER INSTANCES, IT'LL HAPPEN JUST ONCE....WHICH IS TO SAY THEY'LL UNLOCK ONLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I WILL LOCK THE DOOR AGAIN, AND IT'LL UNLOCK AGAIN. IT HAPPENS TO BOTH THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I HAVEN'T NOTICED THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE CAR IS PARKED AND THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO CONSISTENCY TO IT. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS RANDOMLY AND I JUST RECENTLY THOUGHT TO REPORT IT.
SUNROOF HAD DEFECTED DRAIN TUBES. DUE TO THE DRAIN TUBES BEING DEFECTED, IT CAUSED A MAJOR LEAK IN THE SUNROOF AND ENDED UP FLOODING THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. DUE TO THE FLOODING, IT SHORTED OUT MY PASSENGER AIR BAG. MY PASSENGER AIR BAG IS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. ALSO, THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON EVEN AFTER THE PROBLEMS ARE FIXED. THE ENGINE HAS BEEN FIXED NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE PROBLEMS STILL COME BACK. THE ENGINE IS FAULTY. PROBLEMS KEEP ARISING WITH THE ENGINE IN GENERAL. I HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT NUMEROUS TIMES AND ITS ALWAYS THE SAME PROBLEM BEING FIXED
DRAIN TUBES IN THE SUNROOF WERE CORRODED AND LEAKING INTO THE CAR. THE WATER LEAK CAUSES MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING SHORT CIRCUITING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THE WATER LEAK IS ALSO CAUSING LIGHTING ISSUES ON INSIDE OF CAR. THERE IS ALSO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE ESC LIGHT COMING ON JUST AFTER IT BEING SERVICED. THE ESC LIGHT WILL COME ON WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN AND WONT LET YOU ACCELERATE.
PANORAMIC SUNROOF IS LEAKING. CAUSING FLOODING IN THE CAR AND IS AFFECTING SOME ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT IN THE CAR. PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS AFFECTED AS WELL DUE TO THE FLOODING. THE LEAKING FROM THE SUNROOF HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP POSITION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO VAN HORN NISSAN OF SHEBOYGAN (5515 RACETRACK RD, SHEBOYGAN, WI 53081, (920) 457-8844) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND CYLINDERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,082.
WAS SITTING IN CAR DRIVING, FELT UNCOMFORTABLE WARMING SENSATION UNDER MY BUTT ON SEAT. FIGURED IT WAS NOTHING, KEPT DRIVING. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE AND BURNING SMELL COMING THROUGH AIR VENTS. WOULD CHECK WHEN HOME. GOT HOME, GOT OUT OF CAR, LOOKED DOWN, BURNT/MELTED HOLES IN THE CAR SEAT. HEATING FROM THE INSIDE SEAT WARMER SLIGHTLY HAD BURNED UP THROUGH THE OUTSIDE SEAT.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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