2015 Volkswagen Tiguan Steering Problems

We are experiencing a recurring safety issue with our 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan. Upon startup, the power steering warning light consistently illuminates and remains on for 5 to 30 minutes. During this time, the vehicle has no functional power steering, making it extremely difficult and unsafe to drive—particularly in residential areas or parking lots where maneuverability is essential. Once the light goes out, steering returns to normal. This occurs regardless of outside temperature or driving conditions and is now happening daily. This presents a serious safety concern, especially if immediate vehicle use is required or if it occurs in traffic.

NHTSA ID

11659481

Incident

May 7, 2025

Our 2015 Tiguan has consistently had issues with the clock spring. We are now needing a third clock spring only 6 months from the last warranty repair. Yes the vehicle is available for inspection. This issue is serious due to the airbag being non operational until we get this fixed. Additionally, the horn ceases to work as well, which although its not as serious as our airbag not working, its still nice to have it as a safety tool to indicate your presence to other drivers on the road. I'm not sure if the component has been inspected by the manufacturer or anyone else. We have had a warranty repair on it through the dealership so they verified this was an issue that needed replacing. Until the issue occurs there are no warning lights or anything to notify you from the cars system. There is however an audible "clicking" sound as you turn the steering wheel. The sound usually occurs sporadically for a short while before the clock spring breaks again. Upon breaking, you can hear a slightly louder click or pop and a notification/indicator comes up on the dash to indicate that the airbag is not operational.

NHTSA ID

11587904

Incident

May 9, 2024

I have a 2015 VW Tiguan, VIN: [XXX]. The Steering Wheel Clock Spring has gone bad causing multiple failure lights to come on and has also caused the car to be difficult to drive. Especially the steering. Most of the systems themselves are not failing, it is just the Clock Spring giving faulty readings to the car's computer. The lights that are on are the Green Break light, the Yellow Airbag and safety belt pretensioner system malfunction, and the Yellow Steering Wheel System light. The cause of this Clock Spring failure was because the car battery died. After we replaced the battery, the warning lights came on. The dealer had said it was the Steering Wheel Clock Spring that is causing all the system lights to come on. The dealer made me pay for the replacement ahead of time because he said that there was a long waiting list for the part that was being manufactured in Ukraine (?). [XXX]i is the service manager that made me pay for the future warranty repair. The local VW dealership in Waipio has made it extremely difficult to get this repaired under warranty or by a recall. I did get a notice for a class action lawsuit opened against VW and this issue. There is also an extended warranty repair, except my VW had too many miles (88K), and they said this year was skipped over for some reason. The Lawsuit is Water Pump Settlement 7577, PO Box 2636, Faribault, MN, 55021-9636. The attorney handling the case is [XXX]. I did not sign up for this lawsuit because again the year 2015 Tiguan was excluded for some reason that I do not understand. Please note that in Europe the very same part on this year VW Tiguan has been recalled. Why haven't they recalled the it here in the United States? INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11490073

Incident

Jan 1, 2022

While driving steering became very stiff and I could not turn the car. The red steering icon lit up on the dashboard and a gurgling sound was coming out from underneath the dash. The car only has 50,000 miles and I have never experienced a steering problem the car was nearly underivable. I took it to the dealer and they stated there was a 50851 Fault Torque Sensor Reading out of range and the steering rack had to be replaced with updated harness tierods and related hardware

NHTSA ID

11470899

Incident

Jun 16, 2022

While driving in a congested area of Jacksonville, FL a small child pulled bike from behind another vehicle, I attempted to sound my horn in an attempt to get the child’s attention or that of the other driver. The horn failed. I continued to try and nothing. I noticed the airbag light on. I called the VW dealership and was told this is a problem with the clock spring in the steering wheel behind the airbag. This part controls all the functions of the steering wheel. He also mentioned NHTSA has several complaints and the warranty was extended to 120,000 miles. This is relatively a low threshold as more and more people are keeping cars longer with cost. I have 121,190 miles on my Tiguan and am told this is an $800 fix. It is only a miracle this child was not killed. I would be curious how many have been injured, or killed, and the faulty spring has not been pinpointed. I believe this is and immediate threat to safety as one cannot be sure if the airbag will work nor can you summons help with the panic feature as the horn does not work. I believe an immediate recall should be issued regardless of mileage.

NHTSA ID

11461165

Incident

Apr 18, 2022

POWER STEERING FAILURE. LESS THAN 80K MILES. WENT TO THE GAS STATION. CAME OUT AND THE POWER STEERING WENT ON VEHICLE. POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. VERY HARD TO STEER. WAS RUNNING FINE BEFOREHAND. THIS IS A SAFETY RISK

NHTSA ID

11395058

Incident

Feb 6, 2021

Mileage

75,500 mi

AIRBAG ERROR LIGHT ON, CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL, HORN STOPPED WORKING, BUTTONS ON RIGHT SIDE OF STEERING WHEEL STOPPED WORKING, DISPLAY STUCK ON BLUETOOTH PHONE CONNECTION

NHTSA ID

11291131

Incident

Dec 17, 2019

Mileage

63,500 mi

STEERING WHEEL HAS CONTROLS THAT NO LONGER FUNCTION, THE HORN IS NON-FUNCTIONING AND CAN NOT BE USED TO ALERT A CAR WHEN DANGER IS EMINENT, SUCH AS BACKING UP WITH BYPASSING CARS, CARS IMPROPERLY CHANGING LANES OR DRIFTING INTO LANE, ALSO THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND THE CAR DISPLAYS ERROR AIRBAG MESSAGE.

NHTSA ID

11267220

Incident

Aug 9, 2019

Mileage

65,500 mi

OCT 19TH, 2017 CLOCK SPRING BROKE, WHILE EXITING OUT OF PARKING LOT, FOLLOWED BY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT APPEARING ON DASHBOARD, ALONG WITH ALARM SOUND. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE ON SIDE STREET, I WAS NOT ABLE TO USE MY HORN AS ANOTHER STARTED TO ENTER MY LANE. UPON RETURN TO PARKING LOT, WHILE CAR WAS IN DRIVE, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO MY DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS THAT NEXT MORNING (10/20) MARCH 15TH, 2018 THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED FOR 2ND TIME, SO I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS (AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SAME AS BEFORE) AND YESTERDAY MAY 14TH, 2018 THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED FOR 3RD TIME. I REQUESTED A TOW TRUCK TO TRANSPORT THE CAR TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP, AS I DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE AT THIS TIME. IT IS CURRENTLY BEING SERVICED TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING.

NHTSA ID

11093986

Incident

Oct 19, 2017

Mileage

40,000 mi