2012 Volkswagen Tiguan Electrical Problems

Sunroof lets water in and floods in car causing electrical problems, mold, rust, ruining roof interior and carpets. The air bag and horn stopped working and clock spring needs to be replaced. I had no prior warning of that these problems would occur. I have spent thousands of dollars in repairs for electrical trying to figure out why the car stopped working and also how water was getting into car when there is no leaks around the sunroof. This puts the safety of my family as well as others on the road when my car breaks down. I wasn't able to drive my car for months during the winter because the area around the fuel tank froze from rain water sitting in area unknown.

NHTSA ID

11576555

Incident

Oct 10, 2022

I made a report on 11/1/19 about issues with my vehicle due to a manufactures defect that the panoramic roof drains did not drain properly and water leaked throughout the vehicle. Please refer to ODI# 41277589 and Ref.# 238025. This is a known issue with these vehicles and should have been recalled by volkswagon. On September 18, 2023 my daughter got into an accident because the vehicle shut off and couldn't stop. Air bags never went off either. It has officially been determined that there was in fact an electrical short.

NHTSA ID

11546885

Incident

Sep 18, 2023

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel display turned on and turned off intermittently. The contact continued driving at an unknown speed. The contact had since experienced failures related to the electrical system, with the interior and exterior lights not working as needed, the door open indicator malfunctioning, and the infotainment unit not working as needed. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 154,000.

NHTSA ID

11534376

Incident

Sep 15, 2022

Mileage

154,000 mi

While making a uturn my neighborhood with steering wheel turned to the left I started to hear and feel a "clicking and grinding" noise in steering wheel. Moments later, the airbag error light illuminated on dash and has not turned off. Front driver airbag error, airbag will not deploy in the event of a collision. Horn no longer works. Steering wheel controls do not work. Airbag error warning light displayed on dash and alarms during vehicle ignition. Clock spring seems to be defective and complete power steering failure has happened on multiple occasions, in very dangerous and inconvenient situations (i.e getting on the freeway). Once the engine and computer is powered down and restarted, no longer power steering failure for the time being. No active recall but all sources say this is the recall that has been covered previously. Car is unsafe to drive.

NHTSA ID

11521270

Incident

Apr 1, 2023

WATER IS LEAKING FROM THE SUNROOM ON THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE WHEN IT RAINS. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE IT IS SOAKING THE AREA AROUND THE ELECTRONICS, AND HAS FLOODED THE FOOTWELLS OF THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, NOW THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HVAC SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND I CANNOT DE-FOG THE ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS ALSO SIGNIFICANT MOLD BUILD UP FROM THE DAMP AREAS, AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO BREATHE THAT IN. WATER DRIPS AND SOAKS THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN STATIONARY OR IN MOTION IN THE RAIN. LEAK HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

NHTSA ID

11377561

Incident

Nov 30, 2020

Mileage

190,000 mi

WE ALREADY HAD A PRIOR COMPLAINT IN ABOUT THE MANUFACTURERS DEFECT OF THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN THIS VEHICLE ODI# 412775589 REF# 238025. WE SAID IT WAS AFFECTING THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE CAR. TODAY WE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION STARTER BUTTON DUE TO THE CONDENSATION. WE HAVE ALSO CONTACTED VOLKSWAGON PRIOR TO THIS, BUT THEY JUST IGNORE THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11340966

Incident

Jul 22, 2020

Mileage

74,000 mi

I'VE ONLY OWNED THE VW TIGUAN 2012 FOR 6 MONTHS, JANUARY 2020 AND THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS OFF, ALL POWER LOST AND HAS TO BE RESTARTED. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 8 TIMES IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS, 2 TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK, IT SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND YESTERDAY JULY 20,2020 WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION.

NHTSA ID

11340620

Incident

Jul 20, 2020

Mileage

97,500 mi

MY CAR ONLY HAS 50K MILES ON IT. THE COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON EVERY MONTH OR SO. WHEN I CHECK THE COOLANT THE LEVER IS SEVERELY LOW. THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH A DEFECTIVE PART ON THE VW TIGUAN WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN THE ISSUE HERE? THANKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

11321359

Incident

Apr 16, 2020

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PANORAMIC SUN ROOF WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, CERTAIN ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE AFFECTED, SUCH AS THE GEAR LIGHTS AND VANITY LIGHTS. ALSO, THE PUSH START ENGINE BUTTON WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUSH THE BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: [XXX]. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 50,000. *DT *TR CONSUMER STATED CAR IS DEVELOPING MOLD INSIDE WHERE IT IS LEAKING.*DT CONSUMER ALSO STATED AIRBAG GOES ON AND OFF, BUT FOR NOW DUE TO CONDENSATION IT IS STAYING ON.*DT ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).')*JB*JB THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AND WOULDNT STOP, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11277589

Incident

Oct 1, 2019

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHILE RIDING ON THE EXPRESSWAY WITH MY WIFE DRIVING, EVERYTHING ON THE DASHBOARD AS WELL AS THE RADIO STARTED FLICKERING ON AND OFF THEN WE LOST POWER STEERING. JUST ABOUT EVERY CODE LITE UP FROM THE ENGINE LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT AND GOT A MESSAGE SAYING EPC & ABS FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11258339

Incident

Sep 21, 2019

Mileage

89,000 mi

ON THIS JULY 4TH HOLIDAY, THE ENGINE OF OUR 2012 TIGUAN (LESS THAN 52K MILES, FIRST OWNER) BEGAN TO STUTTER ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH. THIS OCCURRED AT 70 MPH IN THE FAST LANE OF A 6-LANE FREEWAY AT A MERGE (I-85 AT THE MERGE WITH GA-400 SOUTHBOUND). EVEN AS THE VEHICLE DRAMATICALLY LOST SPEED, WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO PULL OVER INTO THE SLOWER LANES SAFELY. TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND FAST THAT AFTERNOON. I PROMPTLY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE VW DEALERSHIP (NALLEY VW OF ROSWELL) FOR THE FOLLOWING MORNING, ANXIOUS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN RAN DIAGNOSTICS ON THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED ME THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR IGNITION COILS AND SPARK PLUGS. I WAS INFORMED THAT CYLINDER 2 WAS MISFIRING. I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT COILS WOULD FAIL AT AS LOW A MILEAGE AND HAD CREATED AN UNSAFE SITUATION FOR US. IT APPEARS THERE ARE NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF COIL FAILURE FOR THIS VEHICLE. I CONTACTED AND INFORMED VW OF THE ISSUE. THEY DECLINED TO TAKE ANY ACTION TO COMPENSATE ME FOR SUCH PREMATURE COMPONENT FAILURE, LET ALONE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE FAILURE MADE FOR AN UNSAFE CONDITION ON THE ROAD. THE VW SERVICE CENTER REPLACED ALL FOUR COILS AND SPARK PLUGS THE FOLLOWING DAY, CORRECTING THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11122353

Incident

Jul 4, 2018

Mileage

52,000 mi

CLOCK SPRING FAILURE IN MOTION WHILE TURNING ON A CITY STREET WITH A LITTLE OVER 40K MILES ON VEHICLE. THIS VIN NUMBER DID NOT APPEAR ON 15V-483 RECALL. RECOMMEND INCLUSION OF THIS COMPLAINT ON THE RQ 17-009 INVESTIGATION TO WIDEN THE RECALLED VIN'S. REPAIR DONE BY OKC VOLKSWAGEN AT A COST OF $600

NHTSA ID

11111866

Incident

Jul 1, 2018

Mileage

40,000 mi

CLOCK SPRING IN STEERING COLUMN BROKE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. AS A RESULT, AIRBAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING AN AIRBAG FAULT. AIRBAG ERROR ALSO INDICATED ON THE DASHBOARD INFORMATION SCREEN. IN ADDITION, ALL STEERING WHEEL BUTTONS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. UPON RESEARCHING, THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE, AND ALSO A RECALL ITEM. IN CALLING THE LOCAL DEALER, I WAS REFERRED TO VW OF AMERICA FOR ASSISTANCE. THEY LOOKED INTO MY VIN, SND INFORMED ME THAT MY VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN IN UNDER RECALL TO HAVE THE CLOCK SPRING REPLACED (2016), AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY FURTHER WORK RELATED TO THIS ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE. IT IS MY OPINION THAT VOLKSWAGEN, UNDER THE ORIGINAL RECALL, REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING WITH THE SAME, OR EVEN A MORE INFERIOR QUALITY PART. THUS LEADING TO AN UNSAFE CONDITION, IN AN AIRBAG SYSTEM FAULT. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO RECTIFY ANY 'SUPPOSED" PRIOR FIXES THE VW HAD DONE, AS SO MANY ARE HAVING ISSUES AFTER HAVING THE RECALL WORK DONE.

NHTSA ID

11097685

Incident

May 2, 2018

Mileage

56,700 mi

WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, I HEARD A CRACK FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. AN ERROR: AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE HORN AND STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS STOPPED WORKING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A CLOCK SPRING FAILURE. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THIS PART, AND IT WAS PROBABLY REPLACED UNDER PREVIOUS OWNERSHIP. WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE DEALER ASAP.

NHTSA ID

11063961

Incident

Jan 21, 2018

Mileage

93,600 mi

I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR BEGAN TO STALL AND VIBRATE. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND TOOK THE CAR IN AND THE REPORTED THAT THE IGNITION COIL WAS BAD.

NHTSA ID

11061244

Incident

Jan 7, 2018

Mileage

62,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO A FUEL STATION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, AFTER PLACING FUEL IN THE FUEL TANK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT SLIPPED AND CAME OUT OF TIMING. THE FAILURE CAUSED ALL THE PISTONS TO FIRE AT ONCE AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. UPDATED 07/18/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID

10971946

Incident

Apr 4, 2017

Mileage

107,000 mi

WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE J519 POWER CONTROL UNIT IN ORDER TO FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10938954

Incident

May 4, 2015

Mileage

47,300 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. I TRIED TO RE-START THE ENGINE AND IT DID NOT START. THE VEHICLE CAME TO FULL STOP. IT TOOK A WHILE TO RE-START THE ENGINE. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS REPAIRED BY A VW DEALER, BUT I NEVER GOT A CLEAR EXPLANATION OF WHAT HAPPENED. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED LAST SUNDAY ON A HIGH TRAFFIC LOCAL ROAD AT ABOUT 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND AGAIN CAME TO A FULL STOP. IT WILL NOT RE-START.

NHTSA ID

10776567

Incident

Apr 12, 2013

Mileage

20,000 mi

ENGINE STALLED APPROACHING STOP-SIGN REAR ENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH A STALLING ISSUE NOT ACCIDENT, SEEMS TO BE AT LOWER (UNDER 30MPH) SPEED OFTEN AS YOU START TO SLOW FOR A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT. IT NOW HAS HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY EXITING AN AUTOMATED CAR WASH. HAVE TAKEN IT TO VOLKSWAGEN THREE TIMES, ONCE THEY CHANGED THE ELECTRONIC (BRAIN) BOX THEY SAID BUT NO FAILURES OR CODES WERE RECORDED, SO THEY WERE JUST TRYING SOMETHING, AFTER DOING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH IT SEEMS THERE MAY BE SOME ISSUE WITH FUEL PUMPS/ FUEL PRESSURE TO ME. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN VOLKSWAGEN ONCE WE HAD AN ACCIDENT THEY NO LONGER WANTED TO TALK TO US ABOUT THE ISSUES. I WILL NOT PURCHASE A VOLKSWAGEN AGAIN. WE HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH A 2009 FORD ESCAPE WITH A THROTTLE BODY ISSUE THAT TURNED INTO FORD EXTENDING AND REPLACING THE PART AT NO CHARGE, FORD WAS VERY PROACTIVE/HELPFUL UN LIKE VOLKSWAGEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10562493

Incident

Oct 15, 2012

Mileage

9,000 mi

I WAS PULLING OUT ONTO A MAJOR ROAD. THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR AT LEAST 30+ MINUTES. I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO THE MIDDLE LANE. THE CAR DIED AND I WAS HALFWAY INTO THE LANE. I WAS UNABLE TO GET IT RESTARTED FOR A FEW MINS. IT EVENTUALLY STARTED AGAIN. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNS. THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OAKLAND CA VW SERVICE AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL FILTER WAS CHANGED. "SORRY, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT, THERE ARE NO FAULTS SHOWING BUT IF IT KEEPS HAPPENING BRING IT BACK." AGAIN, I WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE CAR SHUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THERE WAS NO SPUTTERING, NO WARNING LIGHTS - NOTHING. AGAIN THE CAR CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. I WAS KIND OF EXPECTING ANOTHER OCCURRENCE SO I LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. I WILL BE TAKING THE CAR BACK INTO VW OF OAKLAND. I AM DUE TO LEAVE THE STATE FOR VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON AND THEN DRIVE TO PENNSYLVANIA. AT THIS POINT THE PROBLEM IS A CAUSE FOR MAJOR CONCERN OVER THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND MYSELF. I AM TOO WORRIED THAT THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN INTERSTATE WHICH CAN/COULD RESULT IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561497

Incident

Jan 20, 2014

Mileage

34,250 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN A MERGING LANE, CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ANY FURTHER. CARS WERE SPEEDING BY AND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. EPC LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO GET OFF HIGHWAY AND HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10549659

Incident

Oct 26, 2013

Mileage

27,000 mi

SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING MY SUV MANY FAILURE INDICATOR LIGHTS INDICATING EPC FAILURE, TIRE MONITORING SYSTEM FAILURE, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT NOT WORKING, LEFT TURN SIGNAL NOT WORKING, BRAKES LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP, ESC NOT FUNCTIONING. TRUNK ALSO WILL NOT UNLOCK. IT SEEMED LIKE EVERY SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT THIS CAR HAS CAME ON SHOWING SYSTEM FAILURES. EVERYTIME THIS HAS HAPPENED MY CAR LOSES POWER AND BARELY WANTS TO MOVE OR STALLS ALL TOGETHER HAVING THE AUTOMOBILES BEHIND ME ALMOST REAR END MY SUV. THIS SUV WITH THESE PROBLEMS IS A ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN & SOMEONE IF NOT ME DRIVING THESE SUV'S WILL GET INTO AN ACCIDENT IF VW DOESN'T FIND THE RIGHT PROBLEM TO CORRECT THIS SAFETY ISSUE SO MANY OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS I READ ONLINE PLUS THE ONES WHO HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT ALREADY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10497900

Incident

Feb 2, 2013

Mileage

12,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED ABNORMALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY WARNING LIGHT AND CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,300.

NHTSA ID

10445014

Incident

Nov 1, 2011

Mileage

4,000 mi