Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 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.
The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words
As of Aug 2025, my car keeps having issues of stalling/ bucking, even though my mechanic has changed the points/plugs twice now. Now the overheat light comes on ,off and on.. sometimes clears up once the car is shut off and then turned back on.. some times has to sit for a while, then clears up
1 of the 2 water pumps has been repaired twice. On this 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan between the years of 2022-2024. Upon the last repair of water pumps the vehicle just cut off while driving. No overheating indication notice was alarmed or visual indication of smoke / overheating from radiator. The vehicle failed to restart after putting approximate solution /liquid in the radiator/ engine coolant resvior. The vehicle has been out of commission and mobility of the vehicle to inspect or have repaired is impossible due to being locked up will not even go into neutral. The immediate loss of power and inability to maneuver any steering options posed an immediate danger n risk to health and safety. There have been no notices sent to us about recalls on this vehicle only a class action lawsuit settlement that we should know about concerning the turbocharger. We have had car checked and repairs for engine oil leaks as well. No repairs done have remied the improvement or functionality of this vehicle. On a separate incident the front two front tires wore down tread all the way across in less than 6 months( brand new tires) resulting in the repurchase of two more tires and no mechanical explanation or fix could explain this occurrence. We had vehicle alignment assessment performed and nothing indicated a reason or explanation.
My engine shut off my battery as I was driving. This forced my car to stop in the middle of the road. There wasn’t a battery sign or engine light on until after the event. This could’ve caused a wreck, especially if it would’ve happened on the highway. I also have a problem with my gas not registering. It doesn’t show how much gas I have left in my tank. I have had other electrical issues, and problems when starting my car.
After filling up one day I was heading home and started to smell gas from my ac vents when I turned it on I didn’t pay much attention until I got nauseous and a huge headache. Later that day my boyfriend tried to get to work and the car said “engine off” and turned off on the side of the highway if wouldn’t start. We figured maybe a battery l got it towed home afterwards and just let it sit for a day bought a new battery it didn’t start then noticed there was no gas in it suddenly I just had a full tank the day prior. When I cranked it up the next morning after going to get more gasoline it all just started spraying from under the engine and it smelled like gas. I’m to scared to move it far and it blows up or something.
The turbo cracked with low mileage and regular maintenance destroying many engine components and causing the car to stop while driving. This is the 3rd instance my shop had seen with a Tiguan’s turbocharger cracking and destroying the engine for no clear reason.
The coolant pump started to leak Then there were heating issues that still have not been fixed after that the engine ran out of oil from combusting it. while I was driving at the engine started shaking the vehicle did not want to move I took it to a mechanic to put oil in it so I could get it off of the road and in my driveway I have taken it to multiple mechanics and they have all said the engine failed and it's burning oil and shooting the gas and oil up through the engine cylinders. I've had to get multiple spark plugs replaced because they keep being burnt
The engine light went on due to a timing chain failure and then a leak on the water pump. Coolant leaked and needed to be refilled to keep the coolant light from blinking and beeping. Mechanic both needed to be replaced for ~$4000. Mileage at ~66,000.
Loss of power created by stuck waste gate actuator arm attached to the turbo. Lack of boost limited the vehicle's power while on the interstate which caused panic, but I was able to pull over and there was not an accident. Check engine light illuminated and the dealer informed me the turbo would need to be rebuilt and the price for that service is just above $3,000.
Engine boost stopped working around 40,000 miles. No recalls, no repair under vehicle warrantee. Check engine light is on.
NO POWER WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET HAD TO HAVE THE TURBOCHARGER PUT IN CAR ONLY HAS 65600 MILES
3 YEARS AGO THE VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS WITH SENSORS, THIS YEAR THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP WORKER CHECKED THE CAR AND DESCRIBED THAT TURBOCHARGER IS LEAKING AIR, THEY OFFER ME TO IT REPLACE FOR $3000. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION IN CITY STREET WHEN THE LIGHT PUMP UP. EXCEPT OF THE LIGHT THE CAR IS DRIVING AS USUALLY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOUCHER VOLKSWAGEN OF FRANKLIN LOCATED AT 6420 S. 108TH ST, FRANKLIN, WI 53132, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TURBO CHARGER AND REAR OIL SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 153,000.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE EPC LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND SLOW DOWN AS I WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE STRUGGLES TO GET POWER AND EVEN CHANGING THE SPARK PLUGS AND COILS HAS NOT WORKED AS THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME THING.
AFTER DEALER REPAAIR AIRBAG TWICE OIL PRESSURE COME ON AND OFF
I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN MY ENGINE FAILED. MY YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL NUMBER IS LISTED IN THE VW TIMING CHAIN SETTLEMENT, BUT MY VIN # IS NOT IN THEIR DATABASE, SO THEY WILL NOT HELP ME. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED WITH THE CAR, WHICH WAS USED, ON 5/12/17, EXPIRES AT 121,000 MILES. I AM OVER THE MILEAGE BY APPROX. 7,800 MILES, SO THEY WILL NOT HONOR IT. *JS
THE CAR LOSES POWER WHEN ACCELERATING AND EPC LIGHTS AND OIL PRESSURE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AND DISAPPEAR SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS AND I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO THIS IS HAPPENING TO
THE CAR STALLED, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STARTED AGAIN AND THEN RAN POORLY. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD IT TOWED TO THE GARAGE. THE TIMING CHAIN SLIPPED, CAUSING A MISFIRE IN ALL FOUR CYLINDERS. MECHANIC FOUND IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. VW REPLACED THIS TENSIONER IN NEW CARS AS OF JULY OF 2012, MY CAR WAS BUILT IN JUNE OF 2012. AS THE RESULT OF A LAWSUIT, VW EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON MODELS THROUGH 2012, BUT DID NOT INCLUDE 2013 EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME FAULTY PART NUMBER. CAR IS STILL IN THE GARAGE 10 DAYS LATER, BUT I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE $1,500-$2,000 REPAIR.
ON JUNE 7TH, 2018...I TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR COOLANT LEAK REPAIR. REPAIR WAS FINISHED HOWEVER THE DEALER SUGGESTS TO HAVE A MAJOR ENGINE OIL LEAK REPAIR TO PREVENT OIL LEAKS, BECAUSE OF KNOWN CASES WITH OTHER SIMILAR VW TIGUAN MODEL CARS. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1700.00. THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE SEALANT USED ORIGINALLY IN MANUFACTURING THE CAR WAS NOT THE CORRECT SEALANT, AND THE SEALANT WOULD EVENTUALLY FAIL AND CAUSE MAJOR DAMAGE TO MANY PARTS OF THE ENGINE. LATER ON A MAILER WAS SENT TO MY HOUSE STATING THE SUGGESTED REPAIR AND THAT SAFETY WOULD BE AN ISSUE IF THIS REPAIR WAS NOT PERFORMED. I AM NOT ONLY WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MYSELF DRIVING MY CAR, I'M ALSO WORRIED THAT I DON'T HAVE FUNDS FOR THIS UNEXPECTED REPAIR...$1700.00.
MILEAGE: 38,000 MILES. DATE: 9/5/2016. UPON ENGINE STARTUP FIRST THING IN THE MORNING I NOTICED A MOMENTARY RATTLING NOISE WHICH I RECOGNIZED AS TIMING CHAIN NOISE. (I'M A CERTIFIED AUTO MECHANIC.) THE NOISE WENT AWAY IN ABOUT ONE SECOND WHICH IS TYPICAL FOR A HYDRAULIC TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. I RESEARCHED THE NET AND FOUND QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION ON FAILING HYDRAULIC TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS ON VW TSI ENGINES. THE TIMING CHAIN NOISE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME ON 9/23/2016, ALSO FIRST THING IN THE MORNING SUBSTANTIATING A FAILING TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER LEAKING DOWN OVER NIGHT. ON 10/2/2016 I SPENT $256.63 TO BUY THE PARTS FOR REPLACING THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER MYSELF.
WHEN YOU ARE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE CAR, THE CAR STOPS COMPLETELY. EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN. NEED TO PLACE THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART CAR. THE CAR RESTARTS. HOWEVER, THE SHUTDOWN CAN HAPPEN MORE THAN ONCE DURING THE SAME TRIP EACH TIME THE CAR STOPS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN WILL GO OFF. THIS STARTED HAPPENING IN AUG 2015 @ 27000 MILES. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES. THEY RUN DIAGNOSTICS AND CLEAR FAULT IF THE LIGHT IS ON AT THE TIME. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BOOST PRESSURE SENSOR IN JUNE 2016 BUT THE PROBLEM HAS STARTED AGAIN. SINCE THE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF, IT IS HARD TO KNOW IF THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. SO FAR IT HAS STALLED ON SIDE ROADS OR PARKING LOTS. IF THIS SHOULD HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WOULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IN 2014, THE CAR WAS PART OF A FUEL PUMP RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER UNEXPECTEDLY AND THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,500.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD, STALLED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V441000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CENTRAL WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,997.
I WAS ONE THE HIGH WAY 1, AND I DROVE ABOUT 10 MINUTES. ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR DIED. THE WHEEL WAS EVEN LOCKED. BASICALLY, I WAS STOCKED ON THE HIGHWAY! THEN, I RESTARTED MY CAR ON THE HIGH WAY 1, AND IT WORKED AGAIN. THE DEALER CAN NOT FIND ANY ISSUE, AND THE SAME ISSUES HAPPENED TO ME TWICE WITH TWO MONTHS. NOW, I HAVE TO REPORT THIS IN ORDER TO PROTECT MYSELF.
CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC WITH ME AND A TWO YEAR OLD STRAPPED IN HER SEAT. MOST HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE IN MY WHOLE 48 YEARS OF LIFE. YOUR DEALER DID NOTHING AND SAID IT'S ALL IN MY HEAD. CAR WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES EVER SINCE FOR STALLING WHILE ME DRIVING! WILL START CLASS ACTION SUIT THROUGH AN ORLANDO LAW FIRM OF DEBAUBIEN, KNIGHT, MANZARIS, SIMMONS AND NEAL UNLESS CAR IS REPLACED. *TR
2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIXED POINT OF THE ENGINE'S DUST COVER HAD A FRACTURE. REASON: THE THICKNESS OF THE FIXED POINT WAS TOO THIN. OIL WAS BURNING IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, WHICH WAS A CONTINUOUS PROCESS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, DUE TO THE OIL SEPARATOR WHICH HAD A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW. OIL LEAKED OUT FROM THE END COVER FOR THE CAMSHAFT, BECAUSE THE FIXED BOLTS WERE NOT ENOUGH AND NOT SEALED. THE IDLE SPEED WAS NOT STABLE AND THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM HAD A FAULT.
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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