2024 Volkswagen Tiguan Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical1826.5%
- Engine1725.0%
- Driver assistance1217.6%
- Visibility45.9%
- Powertrain (other)45.9%
- Fuel system34.4%
- Interior & seats22.9%
- Body & structure22.9%
- Exterior lighting22.9%
- Other / unspecified11.5%
- Steering11.5%
- Tires & wheels11.5%
- Brakes11.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
• Day of delivery. Had trouble connecting iPhone to vehicle. Once connected, Google Maps was not functioning properly. Dealership unsuccessfully tried to trouble shoot over the phone and brought car back same day for investigation. They claim they could not find anything wrong and brought car back to me. • Infotainment system randomly reboots mid-drive. Screen goes blank/black for about 10 seconds, then VW logo appears and the system boots back up. • Google Maps navigation won't start. Have to exit and re-enter the destination, sometimes twice before it functions properly. • iPhone connects and immediately disconnects within a second, repeatedly. • System says iPhone is out of range, whether it's connected via a genuine Apple cable or Bluetooth. • System "deletes" phone. It fails to find or recognize iPhone, despite being previously registered with vehicle, requiring me to re-pair it. • Connectivity loop, and reboot issues persist regardless of whether the phone is connected to Bluetooth or via an authentic Apple USB cable. • SiriusXM connection failure. Preset stations will not load as the system is frozen in “Initializing” mode, , locking me out from changing the stations. It remains stuck on whichever station it was left on during the previous drive. • Software Update 0890 bug. Lost volume control of the radio following update — when volume is muted, changing the station automatically unmutes it, and it also randomly unmutes it even when the station is unchanged for a period of time. Also unmutes while Google Map gives verbal instructions. • Setup Wizard bug. Following dealership having reinstalled software (which did not solve any of my issues), the setup wizard appeared on the screen at every vehicle startup, even after repeatedly selecting "End" or "Don't Show Again". All of these issues were initially sporadic, but have exponentially increased in frequency over the past 3-4 months.
*AFTER A OIL CHANGE ONLY RUNS 2,000 MILES A MONTH AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR LOW OIL. WHEN CAR TURNS IN MORNING TURNS ON FINE AFTER I WORK FOR 8HRS TURN BACK ON AND WHITE SMOKE COMES FROM THE EXHAUST. WINDOW SOMETIMES WONT WORK. *CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP BUT THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING.WE FIRST THOUGHT OIL WAS NOT BEEN DONE AND TOOK IT AGAIN AND THEY DID OIL CHANGE AGAIN SAME PROBLEM KEEPS HAPPENING . TOMORROW 7/1/2026 WILL BE TAKEN AGAIN AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS *CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH A "CHECK OIL LEVEL ". PROBLEM START TO APPEAR ON MAY 7 2026. CAR WAS SEEN BY THE DEALERSHIP FOR A OIL CHANGE ON 5/9/2026 , ON 06/16/2026 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK WITH A "LOW OIL LEVEL", ON 6/18/2026 OIL WAS CHANGE AT A SHOP AND TODAY 6/30/2026 LIGHT IS BACK ON NOT EVEN A MONTH ON MY LAST DEALERSHIP OIL CHANGE MILES DONT MATCH MY ORIGINAL MILES " 36,063 THANK YOU!
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The vehicle's engine oil warning light repeatedly illuminates between scheduled maintenance intervals due to excessive oil consumption. The vehicle is burning engine oil at an accelerated rate, requiring frequent manual top-offs to remain safe to drive. This represents an active, known defect in the Volkswagen EA888 engine components (piston rings/valve guides). Dealership service departments are actively refusing to provide complete historical service invoices or log the oil light visits properly, creating an immediate safety risk of engine stalling or catastrophic mechanical failure at highway speeds.
*AFTER A OIL CHANGE ONLY RUNS 2,000 MILES A MONTH AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR LOW OIL. WHEN CAR TURNS IN MORNING TURNS ON FINE AFTER I WORK FOR 8HRS TURN BACK ON AND WHITE SMOKE COMES FROM THE EXHAUST. WINDOW SOMETIMES WONT WORK. *CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP BUT THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING.WE FIRST THOUGHT OIL WAS NOT BEEN DONE AND TOOK IT AGAIN AND THEY DID OIL CHANGE AGAIN SAME PROBLEM KEEPS HAPPENING . TOMORROW 7/1/2026 WILL BE TAKEN AGAIN AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS *CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH A "CHECK OIL LEVEL ". PROBLEM START TO APPEAR ON MAY 7 2026. CAR WAS SEEN BY THE DEALERSHIP FOR A OIL CHANGE ON 5/9/2026 , ON 06/16/2026 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK WITH A "LOW OIL LEVEL", ON 6/18/2026 OIL WAS CHANGE AT A SHOP AND TODAY 6/30/2026 LIGHT IS BACK ON NOT EVEN A MONTH ON MY LAST DEALERSHIP OIL CHANGE MILES DONT MATCH MY ORIGINAL MILES " 36,063 THANK YOU!
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
While you driving an annoying beep comes on with the message ‘Lane assist is not available’ The beep comes on then off for several times during the ride..it’s very disturbing and annoying for me and for my passengers..My vehicle which has 30000 miles is being used for Hire I consider this issue as a safety one and that the manufacturer has to take some action to solve the problem Thank you for your cooperation and looking forward to hearing from you soon Best regards
The adaptive cruise control (ACC), forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking/front assist systems have repeatedly malfunctioned. The vehicle has been returned to the dealership multiple times for diagnosis and repair, but the issues remain unresolved. These are safety systems designed to help prevent or mitigate collisions. When the adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking systems become unavailable or fail to function properly, I cannot rely on features intended to assist in maintaining safety. The loss of these systems creates a potential safety risk for me, my passengers, and other motorists. The vehicle has been presented to an authorized Volkswagen dealer on multiple occasions for these concerns. The dealer has attempted repairs, but the problems continue to occur. Warning messages indicating that adaptive cruise control, front assist, or automatic emergency braking systems were unavailable appeared before and during the malfunction. I thought before they were just faulty sensors. The dealer never explained these features were not functioning. The symptoms first appeared while the vehicle was under warranty and have continued despite multiple repair attempts. The car was purchased brand new from the dealer.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
Four cracks of varying lengths ranging from roughly one inch to four inches have spontaneously appeared on the drivers side of the windshield. These were first noticed when entering the car, not while driving. Cracks can be felt from the inside of the vehicle only. One crack appears to be jagged and looks black when looking through the windshield from the inside.
The defect has occurred since the day the vehicle was leased. The entire multimedia and safety interface shuts down randomly while driving (screen goes black, GPS stops, rear camera and driver-assistance functions stop working). This happens in multiple areas across the city, not in a single location. The dealership initially blamed my internet or phone, delaying proper diagnosis. The first available service appointment was more than a month later, and the vehicle was first taken in on January 27, 2025. Since then, the vehicle has been in the shop more than five times across multiple dealerships, including over a month during the most recent repair attempt. I have also been required to visit the dealership more than 30 times for the same issue. Dealership technicians and the service manager stated that the vehicle is defective, that nothing else can be done, and that all repair attempts have failed. The manufacturer claims it is an “environmental connectivity issue” in one spot, which is not accurate. Multiple videos requested and submitted show the failure happening in different areas of the city. At the dealership’s request, I drove with a technician who recorded the failure again. Customer Care instructed me to return the loaner vehicle immediately and take back the defective vehicle, even though it is unsafe to operate. The Customer Care manager refused to speak with me and required an appointment several days later, but they still demanded that I return the loaner and pick up the unsafe vehicle now. When I requested written documentation acknowledging that the vehicle is unsafe, they refused to provide it. This is an unresolved, repeated safety defect that puts me at risk while driving. Please, I'll appreciate any help. Thank you in advance.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
Our vehicle does not respond to the throttle pedal being depressed when the AC has been turned on at full and the car has been in direct sunlight for a period of time. We reside in Florida so it is common to enter the vehicle during the summer months and the cabin temperatue is in excess of 200 degrees which requires putting the AC system on MAX. This problem occurs periodically and was address in the summer of 2025 at the VW dealership locally
The vehicle experiences sudden loss of motive power during acceleration. Between 30–60 mph, the transmission fails to upshift correctly, causing the engine RPMs to spike to 5000 while the vehicle fails to gain speed. This creates a severe safety hazard when merging into high-speed traffic. Additionally, the infotainment system frequently blackouts and reboots while driving, and there are intermittent malfunctions with the power windows and door locks. Authorized dealerships have been unable to resolve these persistent safety defects after multiple repair attempts.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
Our vehicle does not respond to the throttle pedal being depressed when the AC has been turned on at full and the car has been in direct sunlight for a period of time. We reside in Florida so it is common to enter the vehicle during the summer months and the cabin temperatue is in excess of 200 degrees which requires putting the AC system on MAX. This problem occurs periodically and was address in the summer of 2025 at the VW dealership locally
The fuel gauge does not read properly even after it has been replaced.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
The car seat was put in the rear seat of the vehicle. The seat belt was used first and then switched to the lower anchors to secure it in the seat. First noticed there was more then an inch of play in the seat after tightening it down with the seat belt and then the lower anchors. Next the seat would not level up either in the rear seat of the vehicle. After moving the height adjustment to the different levels it had the seat would still not get level and be in the indicator on the bubble. We tried several times to get it level and tighten it down and it still would not level up and still had a lot of play in it side to side. Based on this we did not feel comfortable putting the baby in this seat. The car seat was not inspected by anyone.
The engine started smoking at 11,000 and new valve seals were replaced in the head. The engine has started to smoke again at 16,800 mile and dealer said the next step would be to replace the head. Car has been to the dealer 6-7 times for electrical and engine problems. The SOS light comes on almost every morning. Driver seat memory does not work and dealer can't figure it out after 5-6 times, they have replaced about everything on the seat and it still doesn't work.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
On 10/11/2025 while driving, the vehicle caught fire.
The rear passenger door won’t latch when it is cold out. The dealership replaced the lock, but it is still happening. I have been stranded multiple times because my door is stuck open.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
On [XXX], my 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line AWD (VIN: [XXX] ) was damaged in a deer collision, requiring replacement of the right headlight assembly (P/N 5NL941114D/E, adaptive IQ.Light matrix with turning signal). The part was ordered June 9, 2025, via New Motors VW (Erie, PA) but remains on national backorder with no ETA (dealer confirms not even "top 25" priority). The vehicle has been undrivable and unreleasable from Betts Brothers Collision (Titusville, PA) for 194 days (as of Dec 13, 2025). The shop refuses to release it without the OEM headlight for safety reasons—operating with one functional headlight + inoperable turning signal violates FMVSS 108 (S9.1: paired headlamps required for visibility; turning signals per S5.1.1). This creates an unreasonable crash risk (impaired night driving, rural area with no transit). VW Care (Case #[XXX]) refuses ETA, loaner (via Customer Mobility Program), or lease/insurance relief despite $10k+ hardship (6 months payments/insurance + lost use). PA BCP mediation (forwarded Nov 3) and CFPB #[XXX] pending—no resolution. Similar backorders reported nationwide (e.g., 4-6 month waits on forums/X). VW's systemic parts shortage effectively renders the vehicle a safety defect—demanding NHTSA investigation for trends/recall/service campaign. No crashes/injuries yet, but prolonged hold endangers if forced release. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the vehicle was involved in a crash that damaged the driver's side headlight. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for repair; however, the contact was informed that the headlight Part Number: 5NL-941-113-D was on a national back order. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted for assistance in shipping the part to the dealer, but no assistance was provided. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V082000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
The car seat was put in the rear seat of the vehicle. The seat belt was used first and then switched to the lower anchors to secure it in the seat. First noticed there was more then an inch of play in the seat after tightening it down with the seat belt and then the lower anchors. Next the seat would not level up either in the rear seat of the vehicle. After moving the height adjustment to the different levels it had the seat would still not get level and be in the indicator on the bubble. We tried several times to get it level and tighten it down and it still would not level up and still had a lot of play in it side to side. Based on this we did not feel comfortable putting the baby in this seat. The car seat was not inspected by anyone.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
Lane keep assist will activate randomly and try to steer the car and vibrate the steering wheel like lane departure warning going off. Also the Lane keep assist and emergency sos fault lights will randomly come on.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
235/55R 18 100H I was driving going north on [XXX], after I passed [XXX] I heard blowout sound, then immediately I stopped at side of the street, change to spare tire, and found out the inside of the tire was blown out (ripped), I didn’t hit any thing in the road. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
Car suddenly accelerates on its own and does not respond to breaks.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .