2017 Volkswagen Tiguan Steering Problems

I am filing this complaint to seek a full buyback and debt cancellation for a 2017 VW Tiguan (VIN: [XXX] ) sold to me by Carvana for $40,000. Summary of Deception: Carvana sold this vehicle as "Certified" with a "150-Point Inspection" guarantee. This was a fraudulent misrepresentation. Within six months, the vehicle required 45+ mechanical services, including a full internal teardown that revealed catastrophic wiring corrosion caused by a long-term sunroof leak. These were latent defects present at the time of sale. The vehicle has has 2 Turbos: one recalled (now currently being recalled again) and one replaced 3 months into ownership. The vehicle slowed down on [XXX] traffic and I had to make an emergency exit and take to the dealership. This make and model were completely overhauled engine and externally after my model 2017. 45 mechanical services in 12 months justifies a recall and an exchange, Safety & Financial Hardship: As a high-level executive commuting from [XXX] to [XXX] , I required a reliable vehicle. Instead, this car decelerated dangerously on [XXX] , nearly causing a collision. Despite active steering and turbo recalls, Volkswagen mechanics have deemed the car "unsafe for road use" since January 2025. I am warned that any further driving will void my warranties due to engine damage risk. Bad Faith Negotiations: I have attempted to resolve this with Carvana and Volkswagen Executive Care. Carvana offered a mocking $500 gesture for a $40k total loss, while their supervisors were condescending and dismissive. They have refused to provide the original inspection report. Impact: I have lost tens of thousands in wages, rental costs, and storage fees while my credit and mental health suffer under $19,000 of debt for a "shell. " I am seeking an immediate buyback at their expense to resolve this matter and restore my ability to work safely. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11729125

Incident

Jan 8, 2025

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Steering rack and pinion, yes. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? There is no power steering and unable to make a quick turn to maneuver the car around a potential hazard in the road. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, two independent service centers. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Just a power steering light when it failed.

NHTSA ID

11693994

Incident

Oct 2, 2025

Steering rack and pinion failed. Lost power steering while driving. Failed part is inside no way to change part without changing whole steering rack and pinion.

NHTSA ID

11669391

Incident

Jun 12, 2025

Power Steering assist is completely disabled. No power steering. Intermittent problem increasing in frequency. Diagnosed as defective rack'n'pinion steering gear and related electrical components. 63,000 mi. 2017. Tiguan. After many restarts or left over night steering assist may return.

NHTSA ID

11647835

Incident

Mar 9, 2025

the power steering system fails sometimes. that happens most of the time when you start the vehicle. A red symbol comes on for the power steering locking the steering. When you turn off the vehicle after some minutes you can start the vehicle. sometimes works and sometimes not. you have to try couple times to make it work.

NHTSA ID

11638690

Incident

Jan 26, 2025

I started to get an "airbag error" message on the dash and then noticed that my horn no longer works, and neither do any of the buttons on either side of the wheel that control the dash menus and sound/phone system. I was able to determine this is a clock spring failure. From what I read, this is not a part that is supposed to wear out or fail from the age of the car and is expected to last the life of the car. Unfortunately, I now have no horn and possibly no airbags and I can't change any view on my dash to look up anything else.

NHTSA ID

11558514

Incident

Nov 20, 2023

Steering column locks upon start up. The light is red on the dashboard. You can not power steer the car thus making the car unusable. The code that comes up is to replace the steering rack. This is a $2k part rebuilt and a $3k part new. This is happening on many many VWs. Ours failed at 130k miles and 6 years old. I’ve heard of others failing at 80k miles, etc. this is absurd that this is happening! a car is supposed to move and steer that’s what makes it a car. Volkswagen needs to recall this and reimburse those who have paid to have it fixed. The car is incredibly dangerous to drive with the steering rack failing.

NHTSA ID

11545507

Incident

Sep 1, 2023

Clock Spring - Crackling sound in steering wheel when turning right and left; airbag indicator

NHTSA ID

11539994

Incident

Aug 22, 2023

I suffered a front-end collision on 11/15/2022 in my 2017 VW Tiguan. I was going on I-66 in Virginia 40-45mph back to college at Howard University, and a car stopped suddenly after being cut off, but it was raining horribly and I was in half a foot of water, so even with braking, I hydroplaned into the vehicle in front of me, causing insubstantial damage to them but very significant damage to my vehicle as well as whiplash.

NHTSA ID

11494504

Incident

Nov 15, 2022

UPON STARTING AND DRIVING OUR 2017 TIGUAN WHICH HAS 8000 MILES ON IT THE STEERING SYSTEM RED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING. IN FACT IT WAS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER IT AT ALL. AND IM A REASONABLY ARM-STRONG MALE. IM LUCKY THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN ON AN INTERSTATE OR AT HIGHER SPEEDS OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. IT OCCURRED ON A SURFACE ROAD WHILE I WAS TRAVELLING 30 MPH. OUTSIDE TEMP WAS 2 DEGREES ABOVE 0.

NHTSA ID

11310358

Incident

Feb 20, 2019

Mileage

8,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT A CONSTANT SPEED OR DECELERATING THE ENGINE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE RUNS SO QUIETLY THE ONLY INDICATION THAT IT HAS STALLED IS THERE IS NO POWER AND THE STEERING BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT AS THE VEHICLE GETS SLOWER. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER YOUR SPEED, IT WILL JUST STALL AND THIS CAN BE INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. ORIGINALLY HAPPENED IN 2017 AND TOOK TO THE VW DEALERSHIP BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN TODAY AND EARLIER THIS WEEK 8/19/2018

NHTSA ID

11120926

Incident

Aug 19, 2018

Mileage

28,000 mi