CSR

Volkswagen · NHTSA safety record

2015 Volkswagen Tiguan

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

62

Complaints

1

Crashes

1

Fires

4

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan have filed 62 safety complaints with NHTSA between May 2015 and August 2025. The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 28 of them (45%). The typical failure was reported at 49,262 miles, the median across the 34 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE

19V535000 · July 17, 2019

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.
The risk
Deactivated air bags increases the risk of injury. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install new software and replace the air bag ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Z5.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 27,822 vehicles across all model years covered

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

18V329000 · May 16, 2018

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
The risk
If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 252 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

16V045000 · January 28, 2016

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles manufactured January 15, 2015, to January 21, 2015, and 2015 Audi Q5 vehicles manufactured January 13, 2015, to February 3, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with driver and front seat passenger seat-mounted air bag inflators that may rupture in the event of a crash.
The risk
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of a seat-mounted air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began July 7, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834 or Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69M1 (for Audi) and 69L9 (for VW).

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 734 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

15V311000 · May 26, 2015

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Tiguan vehicles manufactured January 22, 2015, to March 20, 2015. These vehicles may be equipped with Certification labels that are missing the required tire pressure information and they may state incorrect weight and loading information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
The risk
If the labels have incorrect weight and loading information, the operator may overload the vehicle which could cause vehicle instability, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will correct the information on the certification label, free of charge. The recall began on June 12, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01A5.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 2,957 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 62.

AIR BAGS 28 45%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 23 37%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15 24%
ENGINE 9 15%
STEERING 9 15%
SERVICE BRAKES 6 10%
STRUCTURE 4 6%
POWER TRAIN 2 3%
VISIBILITY 2 3%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 2 3%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2022 at 13.

2015 2022 2025
2015 to 2025

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

3 injured · crash · towed · 36,000 miles

MY CAR ACCIDENTALLY REAR-ENDED ANOTHER CAR, AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR CAR IS SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING; HOWEVER, MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. DURING THE COLLISION, MY BODY HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND/OR SEAT BELT (WHICH LOCKED) AND I FRACTURED MY STERNUM IN THE ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING 20-25 MPH IN A STRAIGHT LINE ON A CITY STREET JUST BEFORE THE COLLISION. I'M NOT SURE WHAT SPEED THE CAR WAS GOING AT IMPACT, AS I HAD ENGAGED THE BRAKES. IT SEEMS LIKE THE DRIVER FRONT AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE CAR HOOD, FRONT BUMPER, AND DRIVER SIDE FENDER WERE ALL DAMAGED; THERE ALSO IS MECHANICAL DAMAGE THAT IS STILL BEING ASSESSED.

NHTSA complaint 11278883. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEATS

1 injured · 52,000 miles

THE PASSENGER SEAT BURNT MY BUTT FROM THE SEAT HEATER IT TOOK MY SKIN OFF MY BUTTOCKS AND VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES ON HIGHWAY.

NHTSA complaint 11175111. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 105,000 miles

MY CAR WAS PARKED IN A PUBLIC AREA AND CAUGHT FIRE AFTER I GOT OUT OF IT ON A CITY STREET

NHTSA complaint 11271290. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Epc light is on

NHTSA complaint 11684071. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
We are experiencing a recurring safety issue with our 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan. Upon startup, the power steering warning light consistently illuminates and remains on for 5 to 30 minutes. During this time, the vehicle has no functional power steering, making it extremely difficult and unsafe to drive—particularly in residential areas or parking lots where maneuverability is essential. Once the light goes out, steering returns to normal. This occurs regardless of outside temperature or driving conditions and is now happening daily. This presents a serious safety concern, especially if immediate vehicle use is required or if it occurs in traffic.

NHTSA complaint 11659481. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Car was recently repaired from a deer related accident. Within a week of getting car back I heard an unwinding like sound from steering wheel area while making a left hand turn into parking lot. My airbag light came on and all steering wheel functions like buttons and horn ceased to operate. I did see that this year Tiguan did have an airbag recall.

NHTSA complaint 11627405. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Premature timing chain failure (at 70,000 miles). Regularly maintenanced. Confirmed by mechanic. Check engine light notified 2 months prior to failure.

NHTSA complaint 11617789. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Our 2015 Tiguan has consistently had issues with the clock spring. We are now needing a third clock spring only 6 months from the last warranty repair. Yes the vehicle is available for inspection. This issue is serious due to the airbag being non operational until we get this fixed. Additionally, the horn ceases to work as well, which although its not as serious as our airbag not working, its still nice to have it as a safety tool to indicate your presence to other drivers on the road. I'm not sure if the component has been inspected by the manufacturer or anyone else. We have had a warranty repair on it through the dealership so they verified this was an issue that needed replacing. Until

NHTSA complaint 11587904, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Car stalled while driving on the highway. No warning codes and mechanics cannot find a reason. This has happened twice before in past year with warning codes but all have been addressed yet it has stalled again with no code now. This has been costly, very dangerous and cannot feel safe driving.

NHTSA complaint 11573834. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Volkswagen Tiguan

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 45 2
2024 57 2
2023 60 1
2022 251 5
2021 132 5
2020 137 3
2019 188 5
2018 276 13
2017 73 4 1
2016 96 2
2014 83 3
2013 139 3
2012 152 3
2011 160 3
2010 109 2

Other 2015 Volkswagen models

Every Volkswagen on this site — 152 vehicles, 256 recall campaigns and 2 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst