RoadVitals

2011 Volkswagen Tiguan Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Jul 26, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 160 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Jul 26, 2024

My Tiguan randomly shuts down or stalls while driving. I have come very close to accidents because It is in the middle of the road where I can't pull over, people coming around a curve behind me that may not have time to brake, specifically RV's and Semi-trucks. It is terrifying. I have maintained my vehicle meticulously and payed thousands in repairs only to be told by dealerships and VW corporate offices that there is nothing they will or can do and that there are no recalls and out of warranty. However...There WAS one in 2014 citing DANGEROUS to drive because of stalling. According to KBB. I don't know what else to do and I am not able to get a new vehicle.

NHTSA ID
11604747
Incident
Jul 26, 2024
EngineFuel system
Filed Dec 1, 2020

THE VEHICLE STARTED SPUTTERING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY TOLD ME TO PUT GAS TREATMENT IN SEE IF THAT FIXES PROBLEM. IT SEEMED TO HELP A BIT FOR A WEEK BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON. THEN ONE MORNING I GOT UP AND TIRED TO START CAR IT HESITATED TO START ALMOST DIED AND STARTED. I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING IT TO VOLKSWAGEN AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THANK GOD I WAS JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM MY HOUSE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF IT DIED ON HIGHWAY. ONE OF THE RECALLS ON THIS MODEL IS DESCRIBING WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE. BUT WHEN I LOOK IT UP THE SCORE TELLS ME THE RECALLS WERE FIXED. WHICH I KNOW THIS IS NOT TRUE. MY MOTHER TRIED TO GET VOLKSWAGEN TO FIX THE AIRBAG RECALL THEY JUST DISMISSED HER SAYING YOUR VEHICLE IS NOT ONE ON RECALL. NOW THEY WANT ME TO PAY TO FIX VEHICLE THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND UNACCEPTABLE! NOT A HAPPY CUSTOMER.

NHTSA ID
11377267
Incident
Nov 24, 2020
Mileage
75,278 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Aug 22, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL PUMP MODULE, THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER OR LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,200.

NHTSA ID
11018866
Incident
Aug 15, 2017
Mileage
99,200 mi
Fuel systemExterior lighting
Filed Aug 16, 2016

ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE CAR HAS LOST POWER WHILE IN DRIVE ON CITY STREETS. FIRST OCCASION APRIL 23 2014 THE COOLANT/WATER PUMP FAILED AS DID FUSE. MAY 23 FUEL PUMP FAILED AND FUEL PUMP PANEL. JULY 28 CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING DUE TO FAULTY FUEL INJECTOR. YESTERDAY AUG 15 2016 CAR AGAIN LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND HAD TO BE TOWED (FOURTH TIME WITH LESS THAN 50K MILES) TO DEALER. I AM AWAITING DIAGNOSIS BUT NO LONGER FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE. TWICE I WAS FORTUNATE THAT POLICE OFFICERS SHOWED UP AND WERE ABLE TO PUSH MY CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC AND TO SAFETY BUT AT THIS POINT I BELIEVE VW SHOULD TAKE ACTION TO REPLACE THE CAR AS IT HAS CLEARLY PROVEN A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10896424
Incident
Aug 15, 2016
Mileage
49,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 7, 2015

THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE FREEWAY DOING 70MPH AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN KNOCKING AND COULD NOT SUSTAIN HIGHWAY SPEEDS. HAD TO STOP BY THE SIDE AND THEN SLOWLY TAKE THE NEXT EXIT. ON TAKING IT TO THE DEALER, THE MENTIONED THE IGN COILS & SPARK PLUGS WERE FAULTY AND I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THEM REPLACED WITH NEW PART NUMBER. VEHICLE HAD ONLY 55K MILES ON IT AND HAD ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON IT.

NHTSA ID
10789005
Incident
Oct 15, 2015
Mileage
55,486 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 7, 2014

CAR LOST POWER AND LURCHED, ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE OVER 20-30 MPH. WAS ABLE TO PULL CAR OVER OFF OF 2-LANE ROAD. COULD NOT START CAR. HAD TO HAVE A TOW. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THERE HAS BEEN A FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM PROBLEM AND THE FIRST HAPPENED ALMOST A YEAR AGO. THE FUEL PUMP WAS "BAD" ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. CAR WAS REPAIRED, ALONG WITH A REPLACED FUEL INJECTOR (2ND TIME). PICKED UP CAR AND PROCEEDED TO LEAVE THE DEALER. CAR WAS DRIVING LIKE A TRUCK AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 30 MPH. ENGINE LIGHT REPEATEDLY FLASHING, BAD FUMES IN CAR. WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC AND TURN AROUND AND MAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. TODAY IT'S THE COIL. AND "THIS IS A FLUKE" AND CAN HAPPEN AT ANYTIME. THEY ARE REPLACING THE COIL, BUT NOW WHEN WILL THE NEXT ONE HAPPEN? THIS 2011 TIGUAN HAS HAD NUMEROUS FUEL PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. ALSO, I DID EXPERIENCE THE EXTERNAL LIGHTS RECALL ISSUE AND THIS WAS FIXED EARLIER THIS YEAR. SEEMS THERE IS A LOT WRONG WITH THIS CAR AND NOW I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE NEXT ISSUE WILL HAPPEN AND WHERE I WILL BE WHEN THAT HAPPENS! *TR

NHTSA ID
10653409
Incident
Nov 4, 2014
Mileage
54,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 6, 2014

2011 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL REPAIR ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE FAILURE HE EXPERIENCED, WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL # 14V441000. *JB

NHTSA ID
10640996
Incident
Sep 8, 2014
EngineFuel system
Filed Mar 29, 2014

THIS CAR DOES NOT FEEL SAFE. SEVERAL TIMES THE CAR HAS JUST STOPPED. STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND STARTED TO GO AND CAR JUST DIED. NO LIGHTS, NO WARNING. I START UP THE CAR, MOVE FORWARD AND GET READY TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND CAR JUST DIES. VW SAID THEY NEED TO HAVE WARNING LIGHTS OR SOMETHING SO THEY CAN GET THE INFORMATION FROM THE COMPUTER AND SINCE THERE ARE NONE, IT WON'T TELL THEM ANYTHING. EVEN IN HIGH-SPEED DRIVING IT SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE THERE IS A LULL OR THAT FUEL IS NOT BE INJECTED. CAR DOES NOT FEEL SAFE. I ONLY USE PREMIUM GAS AND KEEP IT ABOVE 1/4 OF A TANK AS WELL. I DO NOT TRUST THIS CAR. UNFORTUNATELY, I CANNOT CHANGE IT OUT AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10575523
Incident
Nov 26, 2013
Mileage
35,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Dec 20, 2013

WHEN TRYING TO LEAVE A PARKING SPOT, CAR STALLED. WAS ABLE TO PUT CAR IN PARK AND RESTART CAR. TOOK TO DEALER AND A FUEL SENDING RELAY WAS REPLACED. HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP 6 MONTHS PRIOR FOR THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE REPORTED MULTIPLE TIMES ON THIS MODEL. DEALER SAID THEY REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN. CAR RETURNED TO SHOP AND THIS TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP AGAIN. THANKFULLY THIS DID NOT OCCUR ON HIGHWAY AS OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED, BUT NOW DON'T HAVE FAITH IN THIS VEHICLE. VW WOULD NOT HELP REPAIR COSTS AS CAR IS NOW (THIRD INCIDENT) OVER THE WARRANTY MILEAGE. WOULD NOT PURCHASE AGAIN! *TR

NHTSA ID
10556781
Incident
Sep 16, 2013
Mileage
28,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Nov 19, 2013

I BOUGHT A NEW 2011 TIGUAN SE AND IT STALLS OUT AT AROUND 5 MPH. THIS IS VERY DANGERS IN PARKING LOTS ( ROLLED INTO LIGHT POST). VW SERVICE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IT IN TOLD ME IT WAS DUE TO A BAD FUEL INJECTOR WHICH THEY REPLACED , WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN JUST THIS PAST NOVEMBER THEY SAID IT WAS A MELTED FUSE BOX ON TOP OF MY LIGHTS GOING OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10552906
Incident
Apr 3, 2013
Mileage
40,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 9, 2013

TRAVELING NORTH/WEST BOUND ON INTERSTATE 94 IN MAPLE GROVE, MN. CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER, STARTED STUTTERING, AND THEN SHUT OFF. WAITED 2 HOURS FOR A TOW ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY WITH A 3 YEAR OLD IN 90 DEGREE HEAT. *TR WAS TOWED TO LUTHER WEST SIDE VW DEALER AND THEY FOUND A FAILURE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. THERE HAS BEEN ONGOING ISSUES WITH THESE PUMPS IN PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS 2009 AND 2010. THOSE YEARS WERE INVESTIGATED BY THE NTSB PREVIOUSLY AND THE VW WARRANTY FOR THE PART WAS EXTENDED AS A RESULT. BUT AS OF NOW VW IS REFUSING TO FIX THE PART UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10542745
Incident
Aug 30, 2013
Mileage
44,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .