2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Problems and Complaints

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan comes with some significant upgrades along with a base price of $27,685. In its segment, the crossover rivals the Honda CR-V, the Toyota RAV4, and the Mazda CX-5. After entering its second-generation model in 2018, the Tiguan faced a slew of complaints, some of which recurred till the 2020 model year as well. 

Given the heavy upgrade and redesign the SUV received in 2018, the issues it faced back then are considerable. However, Volkswagen was generous enough to address most of the issues with several recalls in the same year and the following years as well. Let us figure out how the 2022 Tiguan stands against its rivals in the very competitive family crossover segment. 

Volkswagen Tiguan user complaints and problems

The 2018 model year of the Volkswagen Tiguan faced the highest number of complaints to date after comparing it with the first-gen models of the SUV. Among the issues reported, problems with the powertrain make up the majority of the total number of reports. With the previous generation model of the SUV, powertrain issues were also common. 

Owners who bought used models from model years dating back to 2011 or 2012 have also reported multiple problems with the powertrain of their vehicles that popped up over the years. Keeping aside the sturdy build of the SUV, its electronic safety techs, especially on the 2018 and 2019 models, troubled several owners according to the reports.

Engine problems

• Laggy engine and hesitant acceleration: A lot of Tiguans from the 2018 and 2019 models faced this problem according to the NHTSA reports. A few complaints were registered against the 2020 model as well. The complaints said that post-driving for some time if the vehicle is stopped at a stoplight or while taking a turn, the engine would become unresponsive during accelerating. Even if the motor started to respond, the acceleration would be slow with considerable lugging of the engine as well.
• Engine stall and excessive vibrations: These issues are related to the unresponsive engine problem reported by several owners. Complaints including these issues further mention that due to excessively low engine speed and lugging, the engine would stall randomly or, would vibrate excessively while the accelerator pedal is pressed.
• Transmission issue: Plenty of Tiguans from the 2018 to 2020 model years were affected by transmission-related issues. In continuation to the hesitant acceleration problems, the transmission of the affected vehicles would malfunction. The gearbox would jump through gears frequently and unnecessarily. As a result, the engine rpm would constantly stay at high speeds, overheating the engine.
• Engine oil burning issue: A widely-known issue with some Volkswagen vehicles, the engine oil burning problem didn’t spare the Tiguan as well. Plenty of 2020 models faced this problem where brand-new and fairly used vehicles would burn excessive engine oil. This led to frequent refilling of the engine oil.

Safety problems

• Hypersensitive passenger seat seat-belt sensor and airbag sensor: Both the 2018 and 2019 model years of the Volkswagen Tiguan faced this trouble. Several reports stated that the front co-passenger seatbelt sensor was oversensitive. This led to the safety sensor going off even if the owner placed regular items such as a cellular device or any other small objects on the seat. The airbag sensor was also overly sensitive, setting off the safety warning randomly.
• Forward collision avoidance system malfunction: Problems with the Tiguan’s forward collision avoidance system were present from the 2018 model year through the 2020 model year. Among the reported complaints, a majority of them stated that the system was oversensitive and would activate randomly while driving even there were no obstacles at the front of the vehicle. In several cases, the system failed to work and was unable to avoid a collision.

2022 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls

The 2022 Tiguan has already faced two recalls regarding a possible suspension failure and braking system leakage. The second-generation Tiguans from the previous model years also faced several recalls which also included suspension-related recalls and safety system recalls. However, the Tiguan was never recalled regarding its powertrain issues and the malfunctioning advanced driver-assist tech issues.

Recall Date	NHTSA Campaign ID	Component Affected	Recall Issue	Explanation
October 18, 2017	17V662000	EXTERIOR LIGHTING	Back-Up Lights may not be Bright Enough/FMVSS 108	If the back-up lights are not bright enough, other drivers may not see the vehicle reversing, or the driver may back into an obstacle, increasing the risk of a crash.
February 9, 2018	18V102000	AIRBAGS	Incorrect Driver Air Bag Installed/FMVSS 208	In the event of a crash, the incorrect air bags may not protect the driver as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
March 8, 2018	18V159000	ENGINE	Improperly Torqued Engine Support Bolts	If the engine support bolts were not properly tightened, an unexpected engine breakdown or loss of engine power may occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
April 25, 2018	18V262000	SUSPENSION	Rear Shocks may have Poor Welds	If the lower loop of the rear shock absorber detaches, there may be a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
May 16, 2018	18V324000	SUSPENSION	Lower Ball Joint Separation	A loose or improperly tightened ball joint nut can result in the separation of the lower ball joint causing steering, traction, or other stability issues, increasing the risk of a crash.
June 6, 2018	18V375000	AIRBAGS	Passenger Frontal Air Bag may Deploy Improperly	If the airbag were to tear or unfold incorrectly during deployment, it can increase the risk of injury.
July 13, 2018	18V467000	VISIBILITY	Sunroof Light Bar May Short Circuit	A short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
November 26, 2018	18V824000	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	No Warning When Key is Left in Ignition/FMVSS 114	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.
March 6, 2019	19V188000	SUSPENSION	Rear Coil Springs May Fracture	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.
September 25, 2019	19V679000	UNKNOWN OR OTHER	Modifications to Vehicles Made Them Noncompliant	If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
November 20, 2020	20V724000	SEAT BELTS	Front Seat Belt Webbing May Tear in a Crash	A torn seat belt may not adequately restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
September 23, 2021	21V732000	STRUCTURE	Roof Reinforcement May Impair Side Air Bags	The incorrect roof reinforcement may decrease the roof's structural integrity or impact deployment of the side curtain airbags, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
March 27, 2019	19V241000	EQUIPMENT	Inaccurate Specifications on Tire Label	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.
August 26, 2020	20V505000	SEATS	Front Seat Backrest Frame Not Welded Properly	In the event of a rear-end crash, the backrest adjustment could break, possibly reducing the amount of occupant restraint, thus increasing the risk of injury.
September 23, 2020	20V579000	Tether, Lower Anchor (on car seat or vehicle), SEAT BELTS	Improperly Torqued Third Row Seat Belt Anchor Bolt	Improperly torqued bolts may prevent the third row seat belt from performing as designed in a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.
November 18, 2020	20V716000	BACK OVER PREVENTION	Black Or Frozen Rear View Camera Image/FMVSS 111	A black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.
February 1, 2021	21V038000	SEATS	Bolts May Be Missing From Front Seat Tracks	The seat can move front and back without restriction if bolts are missing, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
November 3, 2021	21V853000	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC	Improperly Tightened Brake Pipe Nut	A loose brake pipe nut may allow brake fluid to leak, extending the distance required to stop and increasing the risk of a crash.
March 23, 2022	22V176000	SUSPENSION	Rear Suspension Knuckle May Break	A broken rear suspension knuckle can cause a loss of stability, increasing the risk of a crash.

What model year of the Volkswagen Tiguan to avoid?

Right after the launch of the second-generation model of the Tiguan, it faced several troubles with its powertrain and advanced safety techs. Moreover, some of the issues persisted till its 2020 model year however, the numbers saw a sharp decline. To be on the safer side, you can avoid the 2018 and 2019 models of the SUV from its current generation. 

Should you buy a used Volkswagen Tiguan?

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan is an ardent option in the C-Segment SUV with its strong build, a wide portfolio of standard features, a spacious cabin, and a plush ride. The vehicle did face several challenges on its journey, some of which have kept it from achieving a desired success in the market. Despite that, a used example makes sense if you’re looking for a safe compact crossover with an inclination towards the traditional German build quality.