2010 Volkswagen Tiguan Engine Problems

Vehicle sometimes displays red check engine light on dash with alarm sounding. Check engine light goes away after the vehicle is stopped briefly and restarted. Oil level is normal. Mechanic found no diagnostic codes when scanned with OBD scanner. Mechanic changed oil pressure sensor, replaced oil, checked oil pan. There is no leaking. But the check engine light still comes on with alarm. It does not seem to be related to miles driven, speed driven, road conditions, or external temperature. Consumer is afraid to drive the car, or sell car. Mileage is 61,000, one owner.

NHTSA ID

11616682

Incident

Aug 1, 2024

Timing chain/extensioner broke My car suddenly started jerking or jumping when I was idling. I pulled into a parking lot and ended up having to have it towed. It does not run now and I was told it needed a new engine. I was told that there was a known issue and class action lawsuit with the timing chain but that I had passed the extended warranty. My care only has 50,000 miles on it so a timing chain should not fail so soon. I am sure that there extended warranty left a lot of engine failures out.

NHTSA ID

11536564

Incident

Jul 30, 2023

Timing chain tensioner broke. Loss of power

NHTSA ID

11533954

Incident

Jul 12, 2023

The contact's mother owns a 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle made a loud popping sound coming from the passenger’s side engine compartment. Additionally, the service engine warning light became illuminated. The vehicle was veered to the side of the road and failed to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle had exceeded the recall remedy timeframe. The failure mileage was 180,000.

NHTSA ID

11515567

Incident

Oct 8, 2022

Mileage

180,000 mi

The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated while reversing out of the driveway at approximately 3 mph, the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the timing chain failed causing the engine to seize and valves to bend. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the manufacturer had extended the warranty on the vehicle however, the warranty had expired in April 2020. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the vehicle extended warranty expired and the vehicle was not eligible for a free repair. The contact was referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 90,666.

NHTSA ID

11420012

Incident

May 28, 2021

Mileage

90,666 mi

BACKGROUND: 2015 (70,733 MI), ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON & I BROUGHT IT TO VWHARTFORD. THEY FOUND FAULT FOR SYSTEM TO LEAN FOUND REAR MAIN SELA IS LEAKING OIL WHICH IS CAUSING FUEL TRIM FAULTS. OIL CAP IS LEAKING OIL & THE UPPER TIME CHAIN COVER IS LEAKING OIL BUT THE MAIN OIL LEAK IS COMING FROM THE REAR SEAL. THEY REMOVED THE TRANS & REPLACED THE MAIN SEAL & OIL CAP ($877). IN 2016 (94,999 MI), CAR FAILED EMISSIONS DUE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD. VW REPLACED THIS AND IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SUGGESTION - TO GET A CARBON CLEANING FOR THE VALVES DUE TO BUILD UP ($290). JUNE '18 (118,239 MI): MY COOLANT LIGHT WENT ON. VW SAID MY COOLANT WAS NOT LOW - WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING. THEY RESEALED VALVE COVER & UPPER TIMING CHAIN DUE TO OIL LEAKS. THEY R AND R VALVE COVER CLEANING & RESEALED, INSTALLED UPPER TIMING CHAIN SEALS AND SIDE OF ENGINE BLOCK OF OIL & INSTALLED NEW WATER PUMP. I ASKED IF THIS WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY OR PREVIOUS WORK & WAS TOLD NO. I ASKED IF THIS WOULD PROLONG THE LONGEVITY & WAS TOLD YES ($1800). 8/19/19 (133,449 MI): ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON - COULD NOT LOOK AT FOR A COUPLE DAYS, BUT OK TO DRIVE AS LONG AS THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT BLINKING. RESULT: SYSTEM LEAN AT IDLE, BREATHER IS LEAKING AIR CAUSING HESITATION. THEY INSTALLED NEW BREATHER. ASKED IF IT WAS COVERED THEY SAID NO. ASKED IF IT WOULD IMPROVE THE LONGEVITY OF MY CAR, I WAS TOLD YES ($480). ISSUE 9/4/19: ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. THIS WAS AFTER TRAVELING FOR LABOR DAY (360 MILES). ON MAIN ST. IN WHART, THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE & BOUNCE AT 2 STOP LIGHTS. WENT 2 BLOCKS HOME. TOWED IT - WAS TOLD TIMING CHAIN WENT & IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER THE TC RECALL. QUOTE - USED ENGINE $6500+. TOLD IT WAS WORTHLESS & NOT WORTH FIXING ($125 FOR DIAG) TOWED THE CAR TO ANOTHER PLACE - THEY FIXED IT FOR LESS THAN $3400. I HAVE TOLD VW AND VWHART THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL, BUT I AM IGNORED.

NHTSA ID

11258827

Incident

Sep 4, 2019

Mileage

1 mi

WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY THE CAR DIED THANKFULLY I WASN'T GOING MORE THAN 25 MPH. ICOASTED TO THE SHOULDER AND HAD THE TIGUAN TOWED TO THE VOLKESWAGEN DEALERSHIP. THE TIMING GOING CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE HEADS AND VALVES ON THE MOTOR. VOLKESWAGEN DEALSHIP REDID THE MOTOR. AT THE COST OF $5700.00

NHTSA ID

11234272

Incident

May 29, 2019

Mileage

101,000 mi

07/05/19, WAS DRIVING AT APPROX 3:30 PM WEST ON I-90 AT THE 68 MILE MARKER WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING DIED. THE NEXT DAY I WAS INFORMED BY A AAA MECHANIC THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD MOST LIKELY BEEN THE CULPRIT AND ACCORDINGLY TO SAME, DESTROYED THE ENGINE REQUIRING A NEW ENGINE. I FOUND OUT LATER THAT THERE HAD BEEN A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST SAME THAT HAD BEEN SETTLED BETWEEN VW AND THE CLAIMANTS THOUGH I HAD TRAVELED 100,020 MILES WHEN THIS OCCURRED AND WAS ENTITLED TO "0". I BELIEVE THAT THIS OCCURRENCE HAS HAPPENED TO NUMEROUSLY, AND LIKE MYSELF, MANY WOULD NOT BE APPRISED OF THE POTENTIAL ISSUE SINCE MOST WOULD NOT HAVE ANY REASON TO THINK OTHERWISE. HOWEVER, I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH AND IN THE MIDDLE OF A FOUR OR FIVE LANE FEDERAL INTERSTATE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC - AND IN THE CHICAGO VICINITY - HAD I HAD LESS FORETHOUGHT A TERRIBLE CALAMITY COULD HAVE OCCURRED. I BELIEVE THAT VW SHOULD RECALL EVERY ENGINE WITH THIS MALADY - AND SHOULD DO SO DESPITE SETTLING WITH A BUNCH OF LAWYERS. [SEE HTTPS://TIMINGCHAINLITIGATION.COM/]. I AM OUT THE ENTIRETY OF MY INVESTMENT AND STILL WITH 6K LEFT TO PAY ON THE CAR [I BOUGHT IT USED] OVER THE NEXT 2.5 YEARS. SAYING THAT, I AM WRITING TO YOU TO URGE YOU TO CONSIDER TAKING ACTION AGAINST THIS ENGINE FAULT AND PRODUCED BY VW. MY CAR IS NOW A BIG DOORSTOP IN A GARAGE IN SHAUMBERG ILL. I HAD TO POP FOR TWO ONE WAY TICKETS FOR ME AND MY WIFE TO GET BACK HOME TO KANSAS CITY. YES, PRECIOUS CARGO [MY WIFE] WAS ALSO IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT STOPPED DEAD GOING 70 MPH ON A FEDERAL INTERSTATE! THANKS YOU - [XXX]

NHTSA ID

11230871

Incident

Jul 5, 2019

Mileage

100,020 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND PROCEEDING TO MAKE A TURN, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. IN ADDITION, WHILE MAKING THE RIGHT TURN, FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND WITHIN MINUTES THE HOOD OPENED RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE LOST OF POWER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE FIRE REACHED THE BATTERY WAS WHEN SHE WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH IT WAS STILL IN MOTION. WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE FIRE BURNED ALL OF THE TIRES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A POLICE LOT AND THEN TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11220837

Incident

May 31, 2019

Mileage

90,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2010 TIGUAN ON A MINNEAPOLIS CITY STREET AT AROUND 25 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STARTING RUNNING ROUGH AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT THEN PROCEEDED TO START BLINKING. AT THIS POINT BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE LIGHT AND PERFORMANCE ISSUE, I LOOKED FOR A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER AND SHUT IT OFF. AFTER I SAFELY PULLED OVER AND SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE, APPROXIMATELY AFTER 1/3 OF A MILE FROM THE INITIAL WARNING LIGHTS & VEHICLE FAILURE STARTED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AT THIS POINT AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND MY SITUATION. WESTSIDE VOLKSWAGEN, THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, TOLD ME NOT TO TRY AND DRIVE THE CAR BUT GET IS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED AND FOUND THE TIMING HAD JUMPED AND CYLINDERS WERE DAMAGED- RECOMMENDATION WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP OR VW WOULD CLAIM ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE EVEN THOUGH IT'S A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. SINCE THIS WAS A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM, I BELIEVE VW/WESTSIDE VW SHOULD COMPENSATE ME FOR THIS REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

11208268

Incident

Oct 6, 2018

Mileage

130,415 mi

PURCHASED OCTOBER 2017 AND IN JANUARY STARTED TO HEAR RATTLING SOUNDS. TOOK BACK TO SUBARU SERVICE WHERE PURCHASED AND THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. IN JUNE 2018 CAR STARTED TO SPUTTER AND MAKE SOUNDS WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT ADJUST RPMS WHEN DRIVING. COULD NOT GO FASTER WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL ON THE HIGHWAY. THREE DAYS LATER, CAR WOULD START BUT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR AND HAD TO BE TOWED FROM A RESTAURANT PARKING LOT. MECHANIC GAVE AN ESTIMATE OF OVER $6,000 BECAUSE TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND ENGINE FAILED. ENGINE LIGHT HAD NOT GONE ON BEFORE THAT INCIDENT. POSSIBLE DEFECT BY VOLKSWAGEN WHEN LEARNING ABOUT CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND MY CAR IS SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL OF ONES IN LAWSUIT.

NHTSA ID

11110088

Incident

Jun 24, 2018

Mileage

99,000 mi

MY CAR WAS DRIVEN TO A RESTAURANT AND PARKED. UPON RETURNING TO THE CAR, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. IT WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND RUINED THE ENGINE BY BENDING PARTS OF THE VALVES. THE ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED AND USED ENGINES HAVE A STARTING PRICE AROUND $6000.00.

NHTSA ID

11102530

Incident

Jun 15, 2017

Mileage

86,000 mi

DEALERSHIP INFORMED US TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND MANIFOLD WOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER REPLACING TIMING CHAIN, THEY NOTIFIED US MANIFOLD WAS ALREADY REPLACED ON VEHICLE AND IT ALSO NEEDED NEW VALVES DUE TO BEING BENT FROM BAD TIMING CHAIN. MANY OTHER VW OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED TIMING CHAIN ISSUES. THESE ISSUES STARTED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND WHILE DRIVING LED TO EXTREME SHAKING AND NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS. VEHICLE FELT VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WAS PROMPTLY TAKEN TO DEALER.

NHTSA ID

11101664

Incident

May 18, 2018

Mileage

115,000 mi

AT 37,500 MILES THE WATER PUMP ON MY VEHICLE CRACKED AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF COOLANT REQUIRING TOW FOR REPLACEMENT OF FUEL PUMP ON 04/19/17. ON 2/28/18 AT 42,770 MILES A BROKEN MANIFOLD PLUG CLIP RESULTED IN DISPLACEMENT OF COOLANT TEMP SENSOR, AGAIN WITH LOSS OF COOLANT AND TOW FOR REPAIR. BOTH OF THESE EPISODES WERE NOTED AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE FOLLOWING A SHORT CITY DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11076090

Incident

Feb 25, 2018

Mileage

40,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING CAR ENGINE SHUT DOWN, HAD TO COAST TO A STOP BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO DEALER FOUND OUT MOTOR WAS BLOW DUE TO TIMING BELT ISSUE

NHTSA ID

11072836

Incident

Nov 21, 2017

Mileage

92,000 mi

ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON

NHTSA ID

11065327

Incident

Jan 14, 2018

Mileage

75,000 mi

ON DECEMBER 7 2017 THE ENGINE STARTED MISS-FIRING, ON NEXT RESTART THE ENGINE DESTROYED ITSELF, CAUSED BY 'JUMPED TIMING' DO TOO A DEFECTIVE CHAIN TENSIONER.

NHTSA ID

11061597

Incident

Dec 7, 2017

Mileage

107,057 mi

TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGON RUATUAN ----VEHICLE DOES HAVE RECALL BUT CONTACT STATED VOLKSWAGON STATED VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL... CONTACT CALLED DEALERSHIP AND DEALERSHIP STATED EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE HAS SAME PROBLEMS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ... ENGINE TURNS OFF WITH KEY IN IGNITION AND IGNITION BECOMES LOOSE KEY TURNS TO OFF POSITION AND CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING..CONTACT GIVEN NUMBER TO VOLKSWAGON. CB .0RECALLSASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN

NHTSA ID

11056567

Incident

Jul 16, 2017

Mileage

102,000 mi

TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT 77,000 MILES. A NEWER MODEL OF TIMING BELT TENSIONER HAS BEEN USED SINCE DECEMBER 2011. EST. $5000 REPAIR BILL.

NHTSA ID

11055787

Incident

Dec 13, 2017

Mileage

77,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE STALLING, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING TO THE DEALER (MOLLE VOLKSWAGEN, 808 W 103RD ST, KANSAS CITY, MO 64114, (816) 941-9500) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIMING BELT FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE AND TURBO CHARGER TO BE DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS IRREPARABLY DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID

11033856

Incident

Sep 28, 2017

Mileage

98,000 mi

ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE WELL KNOWN, WELL DOCUMENTED, AND PRONE TO FAILURE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER

NHTSA ID

11025182

Incident

Sep 23, 2017

Mileage

130,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY 2010 VW TIGUAN A YEAR AGO. AT 10K MILES AS REQUESTED I DID THE OIL CHANGE. A MONTH LATER OR SO OIL STARTED TO LEAK. ONE DAY I DROVE MY CAR TO A STORE AND LEFT THE ENGINE RUNNING BECAUSE I WAS ONLY THERE FOR A FEW MINS. CAME BACK AND MY ENGINE DIED. MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AND STATED IT WAS THE TIMING BELT THAT WENT. A LOT OF OF PEOPLE HAS BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT OIL LEAK IN GENERAL WITH THIS VEHICLE. WISH I KNEW SOONER I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT THIS CAR.

NHTSA ID

11015634

Incident

Jul 7, 2017

Mileage

76,000 mi

TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILURE WITHOUT NOTICE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING FROM PARKING LOT CHAIN SKIPPED BECAUSE OF CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED CAUSING CHAIN TO SKIP A TOOTH MAKING THE TIMING ISSUES. TOWED TO MECHANIC

NHTSA ID

11010963

Incident

Jul 27, 2017

Mileage

105,000 mi

OUR TIGUAN STARTED SHAKING AND MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE WHEN OUR 20 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER ATTEMPTED TO START DRIVING. SHE NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A CITY ROAD- PRESENTING A DANGER TO HER AS SHE COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR AND WAS NOT IN A SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD. SHE HAD TO WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK. AT THE REPAIR SHOP, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER WERE BAD SO THEY WERE REPLACED. AFTER THIS REPAIR THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT RUN SO IT WAS TOWED TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP. THEY TORE DOWN THE ENGINE AND DETERMINED THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST AT THE FIRST REPAIR SHOP WAS NEARLY $1600 AND THE COST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IS NEARLY $9000.

NHTSA ID

11005323

Incident

Jun 14, 2017

CAR HAD 90,000 MILES AND STARTED HAVING TICKING ENGINE NOISES. VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE TECHNICIANS DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A TURBO WASTE GATE NOISE ("NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT AT THIS TIME"). TWO DAYS LATER THE ENGINE STARTS TO ACT LIKE IT'S MISFIRING ALMOST BUCKING THEN WITHIN MINUTES THE ENGINE GOES(WON'T START, TRYING TO START ENGINE JUST 'SPINS'). TOWED BACK TO SERVICE. INTERNAL INSPECTION FROM THEIR TECHNICIANS CONFIRMED BENT PARTS, ETC - $8,000 TO REPLACE ENGINE. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE 2.0T TSI TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE AS LISTED IN NHTSA SERVICE BULLETIN #TB-15-12-01 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10045560. CERTAINLY THE RESULTS INDICATE THAT WAS THE ACTUAL PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE TSB IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ACROSS MANY VW MODELS/YEARS. WHY OWNERS ARE NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS POTENTIAL ISSUE AND GIVEN A CHANCE TO TAKE ACTION TO FIX IT BEFORE SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC HAPPENS IS DISHEARTENING.

NHTSA ID

11003630

Incident

Jun 15, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi