RoadVitals

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting 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.
16
Latest Nov 15, 2023
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.
6%
of 276 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 headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 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 exterior lighting

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

Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 15, 2023

Low beam on Both headlights failed without any explanation. Everything was checked. The bulbs, the fuses, the relay, and the cause of the issue is still not known.

NHTSA ID
11555351
Incident
Oct 29, 2023
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 8, 2022

The light of the roof inside. Mainly problem of a lot of cars !

NHTSA ID
11483415
Incident
Sep 3, 2022
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 30, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS ARE TOO SENSITIVE AND COME ON WITH SHADOWS AND ANGER DRIVER'S IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT. FOR DRIVER'S FOLLOWING THE CONTACT IT COULD APPEAR AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES. (MASTRIA VOLKSWAGEN OF RAYNHAM 1619 NEW STATE HWY, RAYNHAM, MA 02767, (508) 802-9555) STATED THAT THE LIGHTS OPERATED AS DESIGNED AND COULD NOT BE CHANGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50.

NHTSA ID
11302975
Incident
Oct 2, 2018
Mileage
50 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsExterior lighting+1 more
Filed May 2, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR FLASHED AND A CHIME WAS HEARD EVEN WHEN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS SECURED. FLOW VOLKSWAGEN OF CHARLOTTESVILLE (1313 RICHMOND RD, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22911, (434) 296-4147) WAS NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER BEING DIAGNOSED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A DELAY IN PROVIDING THE PART CONCERNING AN UNKNOWN RECALL FOR THE AMBIENT LIGHTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBERS: EA18005 (SEAT BELTS) AND PE18001 (SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS RELATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE SEAT BELT FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60. ..*BF*JB

NHTSA ID
11205195
Incident
Aug 1, 2018
Mileage
60 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 13, 2019

TAKATA RECALL. I GOT A RECALL ON SEPTEMBER OF THE AMBIENT LIGHT BAR AND I HAVE BEEN WAITING TO PUT IT BACK ON OVER A HALF YEAR. WHEN CAN I FINISH THIS?

NHTSA ID
11195980
Incident
Sep 1, 2018
Mileage
500 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 6, 2018

THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING "HEADLIGHTS" ARE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD CONSIDERING THEY PROVIDE VERY POOR VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT OR IN RAIN. I BARELY MISSED HITTING AN OBJECT IN THE STREET THAT WAS LESS THAN 30 FEET TO THE RIGHT AND IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 20 MPH. THERE IS ZERO VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN AT NIGHT. I WOULD RATE THESE HEADLIGHTS A 1 OUT OF 10 WHEN MOVING AND A 3 OUT OF 10 WHEN STATIONARY. I FEEL THESE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO INFERIOR THAT THEY POSE A REAL DANGER TO ANYONE DRIVING A VW TIGUAN. THE LACK OF VISIBILITY IS SO DEFICIENT IN ILLUMINATION THAT I AM NOT GOING TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT UNLESS NECESSARY. TOO DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID
11156508
Incident
Nov 23, 2018
Mileage
11,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 5, 2018

HEADLIGHT SENSITIVITY WHEN IN AUTO MODE IS SUPER SENSITIVE. HEADLIGHTS AUTOMATICALLY TURN ON AND OFF DEPENDING ON ORIENTATION TO SUN AND WHETHER BRIEFLY IN SHADE SUCH AS DRIVING UNDER A BRIDGE OR UNDER TREES FOR EVEN A FEW SECONDS. ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTS BECOME ACTIVATED AND DE-ACTIVATED BY THE AUTO SYSTEM CAUSING OTHER DRIVERS TO MISINTERPRET WHAT THE CAR IS DOING (I.E. BRAKING) WHICH MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. NO METHOD OF ADJUSTING AUTO ON SENSITIVITY OR DELAY IS PROVIDED IN THIS PARTICULAR CAR. I NOTICED THIS BECAUSE MY ANDROID AUTO NAVIGATION KEPT SWITCHING FROM NIGHT MODE TO DAYLIGHT MODE. THIS CAUSED ME TO CHECK THE HEADLIGHT ON INDICATOR LIGHT WHICH MATCHED THE STATUS OF THE NAV SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID
11149569
Incident
Nov 5, 2018
Mileage
600 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 27, 2018

PANORAMIC SUNROOF LED AMBIENT PANEL LIGHTS RECALL RESULTING IN DARKER LIGHTING INSIDE VEHICLE WHICH MAKES ME MORE AFRAID AT NIGHT AND WAS A FALSE ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE AS THE ORIGINAL LIGHTING WAS WHAT ATTRACTED ME TO THE VEHICLE UPON LEASE AGREEMENT.NO EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO REPAIR THE LIGHTING DEFECT CAUSED BY RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11143323
Incident
Jul 23, 2018
Mileage
8,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 28, 2018

THE BACKUP LIGHTS ON THIS CAR ARE ALMOST NON-EXISTANT AND EVEN WITH THE CAMERA ITS DIFFICULT TO SEE TO BACK UP. I WORRY THAT NO ONE NOTICES I AM BACKING UP AND THERFORE THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY.

NHTSA ID
11132053
Incident
Sep 26, 2018
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 20, 2018

LOWBEAM VISIBILITY: DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A HIGHWAY AND NOTICED MY LOW BEAMS WERE NOT ADEQUATE FOR DISTANCE WITH SPEEDS AT 65MPH, SCARY SITUATION WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE. WAS CONSTANTLY USING HIGH BEAMS TO BE ABLE TO SEE. FOUND INFO ON THE WEB THAT SAID 2018 MODELS MADE BEFORE DECEMBER 2017 HAVE A POOR RATING FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AS IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH SUCH POOR DISTANCES FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. WOULD SAY THE DISTANCE WAS LESS THAN 40 FEET ON LOW BEAMS.

NHTSA ID
11121049
Incident
Aug 16, 2018
Mileage
10,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jul 31, 2018

THERE IS A RECALL FOR SUNROOF LIGHTING: FROM VW WEBSITE: HIGH HUMIDITY IN THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF AMBIENT LIGHTING BAR LED MODULE (CAUSED BY ENVIRONMENT OR BY LEAVING THE SUNROOF OPEN) COULD LEAD TO A LOCAL SHORT CIRCUIT. IF THIS HAPPENS, THERE IS A RISK OF A FIRE. SO, I BOUGHT HIGHER MODEL BECAUSE I WANTED THIS FEATURE, BUT NOW I CANNOT USE IT BECAUSE VW IS GOING TO DISCONNECT IT? AT THE END, PAY FOR FEATURE, BUT YOU CANNOT USE IT BECAUSE VW CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHICH FIRE TO PUT OUT.

NHTSA ID
11114782
Incident
Jul 31, 2018
Mileage
1,350 mi
EngineExterior lighting
Filed Jul 30, 2018

THIS VEHICLE HAS A DRIVE ABILITY PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS A MAJOR HESITATION AND IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR ALMOST CUTS OUT BUT DOESN'T STALL AND FIND IT VERY DANGEROUS. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. ALSO, THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY AMBIENT LIGHTING ON MY SUNROOF. THERE COULD BE A LEAK OR HUMIDITY COULD AFFECT THE WIRING AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THERE FIX IS TO DISCONNECT IT. I HAVE NO SUNROOF LIGHTING. I SHOULD GET A REFUND FOR SOMETHING THEY TOOK AWAY.

NHTSA ID
11114461
Incident
Jul 27, 2018
Mileage
15,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 18, 2018

BOUGHT THE CAR IN OCTOBER 2017, IMMEDIATELY HAD TO HAVE THE LEFT REAR SENSOR REPLACED BECAUSE IT WOULD SHOW THAT THERE WAS A VEHICLE TO THE LEFT OF ME, EVEN WHEN I WAS IN THE LEFT HAND LANE. WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SET TO AUTOMATIC THEY ARE ALWAYS ON. THEY DON'T TURN OFF WHEN YOUR DRIVING IN FULL SUNSHINE. B PILLAR RATTLE HAS GOTTEN STEADILY WORSE ON BOTH SIDES. I JUST TOOK MY CAR IN AND THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE ON WHEN I WILL GET IT BACK. THE RATTLING HAPPENS ALL TIMES OF THE DAY AND ON ALL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE TEMPERATURE DOESN'T SEEM TO IMPACT THE RATTLING EITHER.

NHTSA ID
11112264
Incident
Jul 1, 2018
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 2, 2018

THIS IS AN UPDATE TO MY EARLIER REPORT, COMPLAINT NUMBER: 11065547. THE LOW BEAM PERFORMANCE IS WORSE THAN I ORIGINALLY REPORTED. TONIGHT (FEB 2 2018) I TOOK TIME TO LOOK AT THE RANGE OF VISION OF THE LOW BEAMS. I ESTIMATE IT AT 50 FEET. I LIVE ON A CURVED STREET AND AS I DROVE DOWN IT, I OBSERVED THAT WHEN THE TIGUAN WAS POINTED AT A HOUSE, IT DIDN'T GET ILLUMINATED UNTIL I WAS ON THE PROPERTY EDGE. THE HOUSE HAS A 35 FOOT SETBACK FROM THE STREET AND SLIGHTLY UPHILL FROM THE FRONT OF MY TIGUAN. NONE OF THE HOUSE WAS WITHIN THE RANGE OF THE HEADLIGHTS. I DISCUSSED ADJUSTING THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS WITH MY DEALERSHIP BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY WERE ADJUSTABLE. I CONSIDER THIS A SIGNIFICANT AND DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA ID
11066739
Incident
Jan 28, 2018
Mileage
1,050 mi
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jan 28, 2018

1) LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAVE A VERY SHORT RANGE, PERHAPS AS LITTLE AS 100 FEET WITH A VERY SHARP CUT-OFF. ALMOST HIT A DEER BECAUSE ALTHOUGH I WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH, I COULD BARELY SEE THE DEER AS IT CROSSED THE ROAD. THIS WAS EVIDENT ON A STRAIGHT COUNTRY ROAD WITH NO STREET LIGHTS WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION DRIVING STRAIGHT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON LOW LIT OR UNLIT ROADS AT NIGHT. THE FIX WOULD BE A REDESIGNED HEADLAMPS (BOTH SIDES) OR A BRIGHTER BULBS. NHTSA SAFETY RATING SITE SHOWS THE PROBLEM CLEARLY. IT'S DANGEROUS. 2) WINDSHIELD WIPERS CONTINUE TO STREAK ALTHOUGH THEY WERE REPLACED BY THE VW DEALER, ELGIN VW, WHICH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE STREAKING CREATES A BLIND SPOT ON THE RIGHT PART OF THE WINDSHIELD. UNABLE TO SEE TO THE RIGHT FRONT AT INTERSECTIONS.

NHTSA ID
11065547
Incident
Jan 8, 2018
Mileage
500 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 20, 2017

VERY DIM-INVISIBLE HEAD LIGHT-LIGHTENING DURING HEAVY RAINS OR DARK STREET RIDES. FELT SCARY WHILE DRIVING. ALMOST THOUGHT THAT THERE WERE NO HEAD LIGHTS ON THE CAR. FROM THAT POINT I WAS REALLY NOTICING AND THIS IS THE RATING I GIVE FOR THE LIGHTING THE ROAD AT NIGHT DURING MOTION -> 2/10 STATIONARY ->6/10 CITY STREET ->6/10 PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND FOR SURE YOU'LL FIND THIS "DEFECT" IN THE BRIGHTNESS OF HEADLIGHTS.

NHTSA ID
11047458
Incident
Nov 10, 2017
Mileage
2,102 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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .