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Volkswagen · NHTSA safety record

2019 Volkswagen Tiguan

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

Owners have filed 192 safety complaints about the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan with the US government. Of those, 6 describe a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 5 people were injured and no death is recorded. 5 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 56 complaints, 29% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 2,946 miles, the median across the 64 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers December 2018 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

192 complaints on file

192

Complaints

6

Describe a crash

1

Mention fire

5

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 56 · 29%
ENGINE 41 · 21%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 39 · 20%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 24 · 13%
SERVICE BRAKES 24 · 13%
POWER TRAIN 17 · 9%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 14 · 7%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 10 · 5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 10 · 5%
STRUCTURE 9 · 5%
AIR BAGS 7 · 4%
SUSPENSION 6 · 3%
0 23 46

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 192.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 30.

32 24 16 8
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2018 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2019 Volkswagen TIGUAN, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV AWD SUV FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

5 on file

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

22V815000 · October 31, 2022

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
The risk
An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi’s customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Audi) 45J7, and (VW) 45J6 and 45J8.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 296,044 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:BODY

22V226000 · April 6, 2022

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan and 2018-2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. Due to incorrect installation instructions, the accessory rear hatch spoiler may be insufficiently attached to the vehicle.
The risk
An insufficiently attached spoiler may separate from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the spoiler, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66N5.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 6,553 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

19V241000 · March 27, 2019

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Tiguan LWB vehicles. The tire information label contains inaccurate tire dimension and inflation pressure specifications. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
The risk
The incorrect specifications can result in improper tire inflations or to installing a tire of the wrong size on the vehicle. Either of these situations can increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
The remedy
Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will install a corrected tire information label, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D2.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 8 vehicles across all model years covered

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

19V188000 · March 6, 2019

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, 2015-2019 Golf, and 2018-2019 Tiguan vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
The risk
If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began April 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42J5.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 56,173 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

18V824000 · November 26, 2018

The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
The risk
If the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the risk of vehicle theft or crash.
The remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 90L3 and 90L4.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 73,549 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

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

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 37,997 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2019 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, WHEN A VEHICLE IN FRONT SUDDENLY STOPPED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO REAR END THEIR VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S FORWARD COLLISION PREVENTION SYSTEM HAD FAILED TO ALERT THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED. THE CONTACT DID RECEIVE ABDOMINAL, CHEST, AND BACK INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (HENDRICK VOLKSWAGEN OF CONCORD LOCATED AT 7500 HENDRICK AUTO PLAZA NW, CONCORD, NC 28027; (704) 743-4110) WHO WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, HOWEVER, THE

NHTSA complaint 11377883, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured · crash · towed

While driving and starting to go into the turn lane on the right, to make a right turn, the car would not slow down, while pressing the brake the car would not slow, I could not turn at the speed and was unable to get back into the flow of traffic either , so was left driving into a guard wire holding up a pole.

NHTSA complaint 11739787. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 injured · 300 miles

VEHICLE FREQUENTLY SHAKES/SHUDDERS VIOLENTLY UNDER LIGHT/NORMAL ACCELERATION IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD AND EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING SITUATION. I PURCHASED IT A FEW WEEKS AGO AND HAVE APPROXIMATELY 1300 MILES ON IT - THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I TOOK DELIVERY. UNDER LOAD, SHORTLY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AND AS THE VEHICLE REACHES APPROXIMATELY 9-11 MPH AT 2000RPM, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHUDDERS AS IF THE ENGINE IS BEING LUGGED OR IS MISFIRING. THIS REALLY ONLY OCCURS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS HAD SUFFICIENT TIME TO WARM UP AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR SOME TIME IN RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC. IT IS MORE PRONOUNCED WITH THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL TURNED ON. THE

NHTSA complaint 11232134, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE

1 injured

The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the right hydraulic arm of the hatchback was corroded and upon closing the trunk manually, the right hydraulic arm detached and hit her on the right side of the head and shoulder. A bystander approached the contact to check on her. The contact then sought medical assistance. The contact was informed that she had sustained a severe concussion. The contact continued to undergo pain and physical therapy. The contact was later diagnosed with oxepedo myalgia and tumor on the right shoulder. Additionally, the contact was informed that she needed a surgical procedure for shoulder replacements. The vehicle was taken to an

NHTSA complaint 11465135, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
The cat has been leaking oil and has gotten worse this past month. The plastic plug has been changed but it keeps leaking.

NHTSA complaint 11767562. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

68,000 miles

The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond, and the vehicle vibrated abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who confirmed the failure but was unable to retrieve any fault codes. The vehicle was also taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to retrieve any fault codes. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

NHTSA complaint 11764313. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Vehicle: 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan Mileage: Approximately 84,000 miles Problem: Intermittent Park-position/gear-selector warning and transmission emergency mode My 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan has developed an intermittent safety-related transmission/gear-selector problem. The vehicle intermittently displays the warning: “Only exit vehicle in P position. Please service vehicle.” At other times, the vehicle also displays: “Transmission in emergency mode.” The warnings are intermittent, but they have occurred while operating the vehicle. The problem appears to involve the vehicle’s ability to correctly recognize or communicate the transmission/gear-selector position. I am concerned that this may

NHTSA complaint 11763878, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On unusually hot days, my VW Tiguan 2019, pops up a Check Start system and shuts down the dash and all electrical components (speedometer, A/C, infotainment system, blindside monitors, brake lights etc.) Car still runs but everything does not work. On searching, there are other VW users complaining about this issue as well making it a known manufacturer defect/issue. I called my local VW dealer letting them know that this is a safety issue and to find out if there is currently a recall for this issue but was told there is none. As this is a massively known safety issue. I think the NTHSA must mandate Volkswagen to do a complete recall for all VW vehicles they know are affected by this issue

NHTSA complaint 11761079, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I am reporting a safety-related electrical defect on my 2019 Tiguan that has been intermittently occurring since March 2026. This typically has happened during the hotter parts of the day when the tempreature in in the 90's. While driving, I get two different warnings that displays; "Check starter system" followed by "ignition-system-shut down". Within a few minutes, the engine continues running but the instrument cluster, HVAC and turn signals lose power. Other electrical systems also shut down like, the radio, navigation, head lamps, and side view mirror adjustment. This creates a serious safety hazard because I lose turn-signal and vehicle-information functions while the vehicle is

NHTSA complaint 11757043, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
The car, a 2019 VW Tiguan, had a “check engine” light come on, and the resulting diagnosis and repairs - using VW’s specific engine fault codes - led to the replacement of both water pumps at 72,000 miles. An investigation of the water pump problem on such cars revealed that Volkswagon previously settled a major nationwide class-action lawsuit (apparently kept secret) covering certain 2014–2021 models with 1.8L and 2.0L engines. This resulted in an extended warranty covering the repair or replacement of failed water pumps. For some reason our car was not covered by the extended warranty, even though the engines in the 2017 Tiguans are all the same. Why weren't we, as the owners of a 2019

NHTSA complaint 11755432, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Volkswagen Tiguan

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 30 0 —
2025 49 3 —
2024 71 2 —
2023 68 1 —
2022 269 5 —
2021 141 5 —
2020 140 3 —
2018 284 14 —
2017 75 4 1
2016 96 2 —
2015 62 4 —
2014 84 3 —
2013 139 3 —
2012 153 3 —
2011 161 3 —
2010 110 2 —

Other 2019 Volkswagen models

Every Volkswagen on this site — 155 vehicles.

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. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

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