2015 Volkswagen Tiguan problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (9) · Air Bags (9) · Steering (8)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volkswagen Tiguan model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
34 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module 2019-07-17 · campaign 19V535000 · 27,822 vehicles
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.
Risk: Deactivated air bags increases the risk of injury. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Unknown Or Other 2018-05-16 · campaign 18V329000 · 252 vehicles
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.
Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags:side/Window 2016-01-28 · campaign 16V045000 · 734 vehicles
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.
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.
Fix: 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).
Equipment:other:labels 2015-05-26 · campaign 15V311000 · 2,957 vehicles
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."
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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (739)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-09-17 · V0116152014815_20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
suggested fuel additive
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-09 · SM 39-2026 · Other
this special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-06 · TT 00-13-04_7 · Other
permission to change daily order upgraded to red order
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-04 · V0026012081638_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
differences between a leak and seepage
Electrical System 2026-07-15 · VOS-26-42 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a notice for software changes with the odis diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: a software fix is needed to correct the issue: da 0019 - hotfix 12-v battery test(s) – no battery diagnosis - inconclusive test result.
Engine 2026-07-09 · V1718062017813_24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
oil consumption measurement and electronic oil consumption measurement
Showing the 6 most recent of 739 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-05-07 · 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 …”
2024-11-26 · 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 recal…”
2024-10-02 · Engine“premature timing chain failure (at 70,000 miles). regularly maintenanced. confirmed by mechanic. check engine light notified 2 months prior to failure.…”
2024-05-09 · Steering“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 it…”
2024-02-25 · 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.…”
2023-10-15 · Electrical System“airbag light comes on indicating that the airbags are not functioning properly per the instrument panel. a recall item on this particular model not listed under my vin number, however, it is, i didn’t quote the complaints from other vw tiguan who have experienced the same thing. apparently this was a recall item that happened in november 2019. the …”
2023-09-23 · Service Brakes“repeated failure of eps system causing highway breakdowns - detail in attachment…”
2023-08-16 · Unknown Or Other“the manufactured rear camera and lock. have been having water leaking in do to improper placing of lock and camera. it has stop working.…”
2023-06-15 · Wheels“eagle valley motors sold me an unsafe car i kept telling them that the brakes were bad the transmission fluid was dark and the engine oil was black the tires were bad it was in real bad need of a tuneup i wrote and told the bbb about it and they did absolutely nothing i told carlos he will lie about it just like how they lied to the bbb about getti…”
2022-10-19 · Steering“i have a 2015 vw tiguan, vin: [xxx]. the steering wheel clock spring has gone bad causing multiple failure lights to come on and has also caused the car to be difficult to drive. especially the steering. most of the systems themselves are not failing, it is just the clock spring giving faulty readings to the car's computer. the lights that are…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.