2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Suspension Problems

Front coil spring fractured at 84,554 miles. I am the original owner with full dealer-maintained service history. VW issued Safety Recall 42J5 for premature rear coil spring fracture on 2018–2019 Tiguans due to material specification and manufacturing process defects at the spring supplier. The front springs on this vehicle came from the same supply chain and production window. VW dealer in [XXX] noted that spring failures are common in this area on these vehicles. VW Customer CARE declined goodwill assistance. Requesting investigation into expanding Recall 42J5 to include front axle coil springs. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11728835

Incident

Mar 11, 2026

This vehicle experienced a rear shock spring failure identical to the symptoms noted in VW recall 42i7. We paid out of pocket for the springs to be repaired, and VW corporate along with the dealer reported this VIN does not qualify for the recall. They are unable to tell me why our particular VIN does not, other than it simply wasn't on the list. It seems unlikely the exact year/model/failure occurred on our vehicle as what was stated in the recall but somehow it didn't qualify I would expect VW to cover the spring replacement and required alignment

NHTSA ID

11715520

Incident

Jan 26, 2026

I originally started out at World Kia in Matteson, where I was approved for a newer vehicle. But then they suddenly changed their minds and tried to put me in an older car instead. That rubbed me the wrong way, so I went to their Joliet location hoping for better service. Boy, was I wrong. Even though they had already run my credit in Matteson, they reran it again in Joliet, which made no sense and damaged my credit even more. I really needed a car at the time, so I felt pressured and couldn’t walk away. After I bought the car, it broke down shortly after, and I was never given any paperwork about its condition or inspection. They sold it to me “as-is,” but I later found out that under Illinois law, used cars must be safe and reliable for at least 15 days or 500 miles, even when sold “as-is.” My car didn’t meet that standard at all. The car has suspension issues which is very dangerous. The mechanic stated to not drive the car at all it's a safety hazard and I could cause a major accident. There is no recall on my vin#, but several other owners have had the same issues based of the information on the website. I just want some kind of resolution. I'm still responsible for the car, which is so unfair. This has caused so much stress that I have no clue what to do. please help. Best, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11666160

Incident

Feb 21, 2025

Car has 50k miles on it. Around 35k miles I started hearing noises in the suspension. Took it in and my tires are wearing uneven and bubbling. Mechanic told me my shocks are bad. I know there was a recall on some 2018 tiguans for poor welding of shocks. Not sure if there is a bigger problem affecting more tiguans.

NHTSA ID

11456470

Incident

Mar 12, 2022

The car has had 10 safety recalls with one being the suspension. The suspension problem hasn’t been fixed as the car makes a loud clunking noise when driving it. My car has been to Volkswagen twice and they stated that the car was fine and they have no solution for the sound. This really needs to investigated. I googled the noise to see what it was and there are a lot of people that are complaining about this noise. I just bought my car and I’m literally about to trade it in because of this.

NHTSA ID

11447923

Incident

Jan 2, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL HIGH PITCH SOUND COMING FROM HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DISLOCATED LOWER BALL JOINT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INITIALLY TOWED TO THREE COUNTY VOLKSWAGEN (701 RIVERSIDE AVE, LYNDHURST, NJ 07071) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT SCRAPED THE SIDE OF THE CURB WITH BOTH PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HUDSON VALLEY VOLKSWAGEN WHERE THEY PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT ON THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE GET A PERFECT ALIGNMENT. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTAC THAT IT APPEARED THAT AN UNNAMED PART OF THE VEHICLE WAS BENT BUT THAT THE BEND COULD NOT BE LOCATED. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DECLINED THE DIAGNOSTIC. THE CONTACT WAS ASSURED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V324000 (SUSPENSION) WHICH HE LINKED TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO GENSINGER VOLKSWAGEN (842 VALLEY RD, CLIFTON, NJ 07013) WHERE THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THEY AGREED WITH THE INITIAL DEALER THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON HIS VEHICLE SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE BALL JOINT FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,700.

NHTSA ID

11326053

Incident

May 12, 2020

Mileage

20,700 mi

THE CAR HAS HAD A DISTINCT NOISE WHEN DRIVING. I COMPLAINED EVERY TIME WE WERE IN AND FINALLY JUNE OF 2019 I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ALIGNMENT AFTER I HAD REPEATEDLY TOLD THEM IT WAS THE WHEEL BEARINGS. AFTER PAYING FOR A NEW ALIGNMENT I WAS TOLD THAT YES THE WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AND THAT BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE ISSUES MY TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. I HAD THAT DONE, A MONTH LATER I WENT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED ANOTHER ALIGNMENT! I TOLD THEM IT WAS JUST DONE! THEY ASSURED ME THAT I WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF. IF IT WAS ACTUALLY DONE, I WILL NEVER KNOW. EVEN AFTER ALL OF THIS THE CAR STARTED MAKING THE NOISE AGAIN! I DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO BACK AND FORTH. I FINALLY GOT FED UP AND WENT IN ON A SATURDAY. THE TECHNICIAN LOOKED AT THE CAR FROM THE OUTSIDE AND TOOK A 0.2 MILE TEST DRIVE WITH ME IN THE CAR AND TOLD ME THAT THE ALIGNMENT IN THE BACK IS BAD AND HAS CAUSED SEVERE CUPPING ON MY BACK TIRES. SAYING I NEED ANOTHER ALIGNMENT AND MORE NEW TIRES! I HAVE HAD THIS CAR LESS THAN 2 YEARS AND IF IT ISN'T THE ALIGNMENT, THE TIRES, THE WHEEL BEARINGS, IT'S THE SUN ROOF WHICH HAS FLOODED THE BACK OF MY CAR 3 WEEKS OF OWNING IT AND NOW HASN'T CONSTANT RECALLS. AS WELL AS RECALLS TO FIX THE RECALLS. THIS CAR IS A COMPLETE DEFINITION OF A LEMON! THE TECHNICIAN ADMITTED THE THIS MODEL HAS LOTS OF PROBLEMS. I'VE ALWAYS OWNED USED CARS THIS IS MY FIRST NEW CAR OFF THE LOT AND I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH A CAR. PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID

11325030

Incident

May 16, 2020

Mileage

28,000 mi

RATTLING NOISE OVER ANY UNEVEN SURFACE WORSE AT LOW SPEEDS. VOLKSWAGEN TEC TOLD ME THAT WAS JUST THE WAY IT'S BUILT. I SMELL SOMETHING FISHY BREWING WITH THE SUSPENSION AND VOLKSWAGEN CLAIM THAT IT'S A NORMAL NOISE IS BEYOND ME I'M DEBATING ON GOING FOR A LEMON LAW REFUND IF IT'S NOT RESOLVED

NHTSA ID

11152345

Incident

Nov 1, 2018

Mileage

40 mi

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2018 VW TIGUAN FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP IN MY TOWN. TWO WEEKS LATER THEY CALLED ME AND ASKED ME TO BRING IT BACK IN TO HAVE IT INSPECTED FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL. AFTER AN HOUR OF SITTING AROUND WAITING FOR THEM TO CHECK I FINALLY WENT TO THEIR DESK AND ASKED WHAT WAS GOING ON. THEY TOLD ME THAT MINE WAS RECALLED AND THEY COULDN'T LET ME LEAVE WITH MY CAR. THEN THEY SPENT 2 HOURS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T SURE IF THEY SHOULD GET ME A RENTAL CAR OR A LOANER. EVENTUALLY THEY GOT ME A RENTAL CAR AND ARE COVERING THE COST OF THAT. BUT NOW I'M LOOKING INTO THE SPECIFIC RECALL '42I7' AND IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE RECALL MAY HAVE BEEN IN PLACE PRIOR TO THEM SELLING ME THE CAR. I TEST DROVE THE CAR ON MAY 3RD 2018 AND SUBMITTED A LOAN APPLICATION. I CAME BACK THE NEXT DAY MAY 4TH 2018 TO SIGN THE PAPERS AND TAKE DELIVERY OF THE CAR. I WANT TO KNOW IF THE DEALER BROKE STATE OF WI LAWS BY SELLING ME A NEW CAR WITH A DANGEROUS RECALL OUT FOR IT. NOW I HAVE TO WAIT A MONTH FOR PARTS TO COME IN. CAN I TAKE SOME SORT OF ACTION AGAINST MY DEALERSHIP FOR THIS?

NHTSA ID

11098240

Incident

May 23, 2018