2 recalls and 96 owner complaints on record for this model year.
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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.
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. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 CC vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016, to February 3, 2016, Golf R and Tiguan vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 28, 2016, and e-Golf vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 11, 2016. Vibrations, such as those created by opening and closing a vehicle door, may cause the rear child door locks to disengage, allowing a child to open a rear door while inside the vehicle.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the child lock(s), free of charge. The recall began on August 22, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 58C9.
Published by model year, not by VIN — may not apply to this vehicle, or may already have been done. Confirm with a dealer.
Parts of the inflator may detach when the airbag is deployed, which can lead to injuries for vehicle's occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Individual bolted connections on the front or rear seating may not have been tightened to the correct torque. Incorrectly fitted bolted connections can affect the seats’ ability to restrain passengers in the event of an accident. This increases the risk of injury. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Due to defective protective felt on the seat height adjustment lever, the front seat belts may be torn in the event of a frontal crash. This can lead the seat belt to be pulled between the seat cladding and the lever and to damage the seat belt, impairing its restraining performance. This increases the risk of injuries in the event of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
The propellant in the driver airbag may deteriorate over time. If the airbags deploy, it can result in fragments from the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
The rear wheel bearing housing can break, affecting the stability of the vehicle, creating a risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Parts of the inflator may become detached when the head airbag is deployed, which could cause injury to the occupants of the vehicle. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Matched on brand and model name — Safety Gate publishes no VIN. Check the production dates, and quote the recall code to a dealer.
WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH. THE ONLY INJURY SUSTAINED WAS A BROKEN HEEL BY THE DRIVER, ALL OTHER PARTY'S DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT AND ONLY COSMETIC DAMAGE TO THEIR VEHICLES. MOMENTS AFTER THE COLLISION, THE TIGUAN BURST INTO FLAMES. THE BRAKE PETAL HAD TRAPPED THE DRIVERS FOOT AND THE DOOR WAS JAMMED. FORTUNATELY THE OTHER PARTY WAS ABLE TO JERK THE DOOR UNTIL IT OPENED TO FREE THE DRIVER. THE TIGUAN WAS A TOTAL LOSS, BECOMING COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the entertainment, cruise control, and TPMS turned on and off without application. The horn was inoperable. The seat belt, air bag, and tire warning lights were illuminated. A tree fell on the vehicle, and the sunroof was leaking. The contact stated that there was an abnormal amount of fuel outside of the vehicle. The contact and her dog were exposed to fuel, and medical attention was provided. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the spring clock needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to another dealer, Royal Volkswagen, 3010 Columbiana Rd B, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216, where it was diagnosed that the water pump and fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR THE SUNROOF SPONTANESOUSLY SHATTERED. THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AND THE CLOTH SHIELD WAS TUCKED AWAY. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT AND DEAFENED MY EARS FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. I THOUGHT SOMEONE FIRED A GUN OR A NEARBY CAR GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT SINCE I FELT NO IMPACT OTHER THAN SOUND. BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING I WAS EXTREMELY STARTLED WHEN I LOOKED UP AND SAW AN OPEN WINDOW AND GLASS HAD FALLEN ALL OVER ME. IT HAD HAPPENED SO QUICKLY. I TRIED TO PULL OVER IN THE NEAREST EXIT AND WHILE GETTING OUT OF THE CAR AND MANEUVERING OUT, HAD CUT MYSELF SEVERAL TIMES.
UNKNOWN INCIDENT. I had a 2016 VW Tiguan with just over 80k miles (approximately 80,200 mi). On 1/6/2026 about 10 min after driving home from the gym, I heard a small explosion from the garage where my car was parked. The garage was filled with smoke and large flames were visible from under the front end of the vehicle. We called 911 and tried to put it out with a fire extinguisher but it continued to re-ignite. The fire burned down our entire garage with all its contents and made it's way into the home completely destroying our laundry room and adjoining bathroom. I had no previous issues with the vehicle, no warnings or check engine lights.
I PARKED MY VEHICLE IN THE YMCA PARKING . I TURNED OFF THE PUSH BUTTON KEYLESS ENTRY.I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND LOCKED THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM AND ENTERED THE YMCA. I COMPLETED MY BUSINESS AND EXITED THE Y APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES LATER. MY VEHICLE HAD ROLLED LEFT STRIKING THE REAR CORNER OF A PARKED VEHICLE,THEN EXITED THE PARKING LOT AND STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE PARKED ON THE STREET. IF WE ASSUME I LEFT MY VEHICLE IN DRIVE POSITION,THERE IS NO ALARM,BELL,WHISTLE OR SAFETY SYSTEM IN PLACE ON A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN TO PREVENT DRIVERS FROM A SIMILAR ACCIDENT. VOLKSWAGEN HAS A RECALL ON 679,000 VEHICLES WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE 2016 TIGUAN SHOULD BE ,BUT IS NOT ON THIS RECALL LIST. A PERSON FROM VW INFORMED ME THAT RECALL WAS FAIRLY NEW AND THE TIGUAN COULD END UP UNDER RECALL YET . SHOULD THEY WAIT UNTIL MORE TIGUANS HAVE ACCIDENTS? MY RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MANY MAKES AND MODEL VEHICLES HAVE LIGHTS OR ALARMS IN PLACE,INCLUDING SOME WHEN THE VEHICLE DOOR IS OPENED.
CAR DOES NOT GIVE WARNING IF THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK SO IT ROLLED DOWN MY DRIVE INTIO THE STREET. HIT NEIGHBORS FENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY PARKED IN MY DRIVE THE ENGINE WAS OFFF. I REMOVE ITEMS THE CAR AND IT WAS NOT MOVING WENT INSIDE TO GET MY DOG CAME OUT AND MY CAR WAS ACCROSS THE STREET AND HAD TO HIT A FENCE. ALSO THE CAR SLIDES ON WET PAVEMENT. L
THE CAR WAS SHUT DOWN BY KEYLESS IGNITION AND THE FOB WAS REMOVED WHEN I ENTERED A BUILDING. AFTER 15 MINUTES IT ROLLED AWAY AND HIT A SCULPTURE AND ROLLED OVER. I AS THE DRIVER FAILED TO PLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK OR SOMEONE TAMPERED WITH THE CAR AS SOMEONE WAS SPOTTED IN THE CAR AFTER IT FLIPPED OVER. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT DOWN I BELIEVE IT SHOULD HAVE IMMOBILIZED REGARDLESS OF THE SHIFTER AS I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE EXITED THE VEHICLE. KEYLESS IGNITION SAFETY IN RELATION TO ROLLAWAYS IN THIS MODEL IS NOT SUFFICIENT.
* Purchase Date: January 23, 2016 * Current Mileage: Approximately 71,500 miles For the past several months, my vehicle has experienced continuous engine oil loss. The oil level drops approximately one gallon every two months, and the engine oil warning light has illuminated on multiple occasions. Because of this recurring problem, I brought my vehicle to Volkswagen Glendale on April 23, 2026. After inspecting the vehicle at the Glendale dealership, I was informed that loose oil pan bolts were the cause of the oil loss. Based on this diagnosis, I took the vehicle to three different local auto repair shops for additional inspections. All three repair shops independently diagnosed the issue as being related to the engine and stated that if the engine is not replaced, the engine oil loss problem will not be resolved. I returned to Volkswagen Glendale on June 27, 2026. During this second visit, I was informed that the oil leak was coming from the oil pan area and that components including the oil pan, bolts, sealant, oil level sensor, and gaskets required repair. The technicians raised the vehicle and carefully inspected the entire underside. They reported that there was no visible engine oil leak and no evidence of oil escaping from the oil pan. I took the picture that there is no visible engine oil leak at the repair shop. I am deeply concerned that: * I am concerned about having to continuously add engine oil (1 gallon every two months) because the vehicle keeps losing oil. *I am concerned that the engine may seize due to low oil levels, which could cause the vehicle to break down while I am driving. Specifically, I request: Due to this engine problem and the ongoing engine oil loss issue, I respectfully request that the engine be replaced to resolve the problem and prevent potential safety risks. After reviewing the information above, could you please provide me with the claim number? I would appreciate your assistance. Thank you.
The contact's friend owns a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering assist failed with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and a diagnostic test was performed. The diagnostic test showed that the vehicle and determined that the steering rack, wheel speed sensors, and engine cooling fans needed to be replaced. The contact's friend declined the repair, and the warning lights remained illuminated. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic who discovered that coolant was leaking into the engine and discovered various engine leaks. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000. The VIN was invalid.
I’ll be driving for 2-10 minutes and power steering cuts out. Wheel will jerk a little and alarm will sound with the alert light remaining red through remainder of drive. Sometimes it will not work at all while driving, but I’ve found the it usually works for the first few minutes until I speed up a little more.
My car has never been in an accident. One day while turning into my driveway, I heard a large clicking sound. Since then, my airbag malfunction light is on and my car horn does not sound/work. All steering wheel controls are broken. This has been an issue for about 6 months. I've been waiting on a recall impacting my specific VIN/year/make/model, however I am being informed that I will need to pay out of pocket to have this major safety concern taken care of. I will be taking this car to the dealership this week in hopes to have a repair quote that I will have to save a significant amount of money over an extended period of time to complete.
As I was driving on the Long Island Expressway at 50mph, there was a sudden VERY loud explosion that sounded like a gun shot. I thought perhaps a tire had blown out but then I heard air rushing by. My sunroof had spontaneously exploded!
Subject: Known Carbon Buildup Issue in 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan TSI – Request for Recall and Accountability To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally express my concern and request action regarding a well-documented and dangerous issue affecting Volkswagen TSI engines—specifically, severe carbon buildup. I am the current owner of a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan TSI, which I purchased in April 2025 with approximately 84,000 miles on it. In June 2025, I had to have the intake manifold replaced due to carbon buildup—a repair that was still covered under warranty. However, shortly after, I was informed that the vehicle now requires a full engine decarb and replacement of all four fuel injectors, at a total cost of $3,296. This raises several serious concerns: •Carbon buildup this severe at such low mileage is not typical wear and tear. It indicates a design flaw in the TSI direct-injection engine. •My extended warranty provider refuses to cover the repair, citing that it is a maintenance issue—conveniently shifting the responsibility away from the manufacturer. •This type of engine failure can result in dangerous performance issues, including: •Sudden engine misfires •Loss of power while accelerating •Poor fuel economy •Stalling or hesitation while merging or turning •Catalytic converter damage •Potential long-term engine failure I am stunned that this is not considered a safety issue worthy of recall, especially given the number of reports online and in service centers regarding this exact problem. The symptoms of carbon buildup can easily result in on-road danger to the driver and others. What’s most disheartening is that Volkswagen has long been aware of this flaw, yet no recall or extended warranty has been offered for affected consumers. I previously owned a 2015 Passat and was a loyal VW owner—but now, as a single mother, I am expected to pay nearly $3,300 for a repair tied to poor engineering and design, not misuse or neglect.
My hood latch has failed. It sometimes appears latched, but actually is not and other times it doesn’t even look like it’s latched at all. There is in fact, a hood latch recall for this year make and model of vehicle, however, my vehicle is not on the list recalled. I believe the current recall for this year making model is not inclusive of all affected VIN numbers!!!!
During cold winter months in below freezing temperatures, a red warning light will turn on when the electronic steering fails and the electronic steering will randomly lock up while driving. Making it extremely difficult to steer and nearly impossible to use at a stop or slow speeds. When inspected, the entire steering rack with the steering electronic module needs replacing.
Filed by owners of this model year and unverified by NHTSA — one person’s account, not an established fact.