RoadVitals

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
8
Latest Aug 25, 2026
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.
3%
of 283 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 windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 8 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 visibility

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

Driver assistanceElectricalVisibility
Filed Aug 25, 2026

I purchased this 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan in September 2019 and began noticing an intermittent rearview-camera problem around that time. I do not remember the exact date of the first occurrence because the problem initially happened only occasionally and was not persistent. When the vehicle is placed in reverse, the rearview camera intermittently fails to provide a reliable image. At other times, it operates normally. Because the problem is intermittent, it has been difficult for the dealership to reproduce consistently. Loss of the camera image reduces visibility behind the vehicle and creates a safety concern while backing up. An authorized Volkswagen dealership inspected the vehicle. The service manager stated that the stored fault indicates an intermittent open circuit in the video cable. The dealer’s diagnostic history reportedly shows approximately 90 fault occurrences beginning July 19, 2026. During recent testing, the dealership was able to get the fault to set once. The dealership has not conclusively confirmed that the camera control module failed. It proposes replacing the module as the first repair step for approximately $1,165 and stated that additional repairs may be necessary if the module replacement does not correct the problem. Volkswagen Customer CARE documented the concern under Case Number 07696586. I am submitting this report because the intermittent loss of the rearview-camera image may reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle and increase the risk of a backing collision.

NHTSA ID
11759418
Incident
May 1, 2019
Visibility
Filed Nov 13, 2025

Please see attachment

NHTSA ID
11699095
Incident
Nov 4, 2025
Visibility
Filed Sep 19, 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65-70 MPH, a loud explosion was heard coming from the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the roadway. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the sunroof glass had exploded. There was no impact to the sunroof that could have caused the sunroof glass to explode. The contact safely removed her child from the vehicle. No injuries were sustained, and medical attention was not received. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.

NHTSA ID
11545358
Incident
Sep 19, 2023
Mileage
43,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 19, 2019

VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN SUNSHADE SNAPPED BACK MAKING LOUD POPPING NOISE RESULTING IN BROKEN SUNSHADE WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID
11208486
Incident
May 18, 2019
Mileage
26,790 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 16, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V467000 (VISIBILITY); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. PACIFIC VOLKSWAGEN (14900 HINDRY AVE, HAWTHORNE, CA 90250, (310) 803-9609) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11120507
Incident
Aug 3, 2018
Visibility
Filed Aug 16, 2018

THE WINDSHIELD OF THIS VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO BE LIGHTER WEIGHT TO INCREASE FUEL SAVINGS. THIS IN TURN CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD TO BE MORE FRAGILE. ROCK CHIPS IMMEDIATELY CAUSE CRACKS IN THE GLASS, AND LARGER OBJECT PENETRATE TO THE POLYMER SUB-LAYER EASILY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IN STATES LIKE COLORADO THAT STILL USE GRAVEL FOR TRACTION ON ICE.

NHTSA ID
11120361
Incident
May 1, 2018
Mileage
3,000 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
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Oct 31, 2017

PURCHASED THE 2018 TIGUAN ON SEPTEMBER 16TH, ENTERED SERVICE ON OCTOBER 10TH WITH TWO B PILLAR RATTLES, EXCESSIVE WIND NOISE FROM DRIVERS DOOR AND A SCREEN FLICKER WITH THE BACK-UP CAMERA. CAR HAS REMAINED IN SERVICE FOR 21 DAYS AND NO RESOLUTION FROM VOLKSWAGEN.

NHTSA ID
11041723
Incident
Oct 10, 2017
Mileage
1,400 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .