2021 Volkswagen Tiguan problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (38) · Power Train (9) · Visibility/Wiper (8)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volkswagen Tiguan model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (5)
Equipment:electrical:infotainment:software 2022-07-20 · campaign 22V514000 · 43,091 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Jetta NF, Arteon FL, Tiguan LWB, 2022 Taos, Jetta PA, Tiguan PA, 2021-2022 Atlas Cross Sport, and Atlas FL vehicles. The manufacturing process of the eMMC memory module in the infotainment system may cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the infotainment software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DV.
Structure:body 2022-04-06 · campaign 22V226000 · 6,553 vehicles
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.
Risk: An insufficiently attached spoiler may separate from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Suspension 2022-03-23 · campaign 22V176000 · 10,119 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan, Taos, and 2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. A second notice will be sent once remedy parts become available. The left or right rear suspension knuckles may corrode, crack, and break.
Risk: A broken rear suspension knuckle can cause a loss of stability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace one or both rear suspension knuckles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 13, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42L8.
Seats:critical Fasteners 2021-02-01 · campaign 21V038000 · 57 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Long Wheelbase and Jetta vehicles. Bolts may be missing from the front seat tracks.
Risk: The seat can move front and back without restriction if bolts are missing, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat tracks and, as necessary, install the bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 18, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 72L6.
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 2020-11-18 · campaign 20V716000 · 32,048 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan LWB, Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas FL and Arteon vehicles. The rear view camera could malfunction during an ignition cycle, leading to a black screen or infotainment system freeze. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the infotainment system software, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91BB/91BC.
Service bulletins (506)
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.
Service Brakes 2026-08-27 · V4622022067177_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
repair or replace information
Electrical System 2026-08-14 · VOS-26-47 · 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: part number 3q0-959-435n software version number 1307 has incorrect coding.
Power Train 2026-08-10 · V4015022033347_8 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
replacement instruction
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-06 · TT 00-13-04_7 · Other
permission to change daily order upgraded to red order
Showing the 6 most recent of 506 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-21 · Unknown Or Other“a software update from volkswagen causes the infotainment system to crash and become unusable and no longer functions. car owner is forced to purchase a new infotainment control system which is back ordered nationally with no estimation of arrival. the back up camera, and rear traffic warning no longer works as the screen is black. there is no r…”
2026-10-14 · Suspension“i am writing because of a premature rear axle coil spring fracture , which could have caused immediate risk of tire puncture and loss of vehicle control. an engine light had come on in our vehicle, and we brought it in to the dealer to find out why. they could not find any reason that the light had come on, and said everything was fine, but that th…”
2026-10-02 · Fuel/Propulsion System“the high pressure fuel pump has failed within 40,000 miles and now again at 110,000 miles. it causes the vehicle to randomly turn in drive and while idle. it has had oil consumption issues and oil leak issues that constantly occur. the dealer has replaced the high pressure fuel pump under warranty 40,000 miles and has now detected it needs to be re…”
2026-09-22 · Engine“at 58,218 miles, the engine on this 2021 volkswagen tiguan failed after excessive oil consumption progressed to engine knocking. the vehicle was brought to volkswagen of orange park on july 24, 2025, for excessive oil consumption. the dealer performed a second oil-consumption test. during the test, the engine was heard knocking. the dealer removed …”
2026-09-16 · Engine“at approximately 53,876 miles, my 2021 volkswagen tiguan experienced a severe, premature failure of the positive crankcase ventilation (pcv) valve / oil separator assembly. the failure of this component caused an immediate, dangerous buildup of internal crankcase over-pressurization. because the excess pressure could not vent safely, it caused a …”
2026-09-09 · Service Brakes“2021 tiguan parking brake comes on without being commanded. there is a fault with the drivers door. i believe the the driver door module or corresponding wiring. the front drivers window toggle switch does not work the toggles switches for the rest of the window work only if the is not an error displayed on the dash. the lock button does not work o…”
2026-09-06 · Vehicle Speed Control“like many others, at 55k miles, our oil separator malfunctioned causing our oil pan to crack and dump every drop of oil. we had to replace the oil pan and fortunately our mechanic friend figured out it was the new pcv valve malfunction causing too much pressure in the engine. my wife was luckily pulling onto our property when the car essentially s…”
2026-09-04 · Electrical System“the j949 sos emergency communication unit failed, disabling vehicle 911 automatic crash notifications and emergency response capabilities.” nhtsa opens defect investigations based on consumer complaint clusters for this exact failure pattern.…”
2026-08-28 · Engine“known issues with tiguan models of overconsumption of motor oil due to faulty engineering of top(head) of engine.…”
2026-08-27 · Unknown Or Other“taking left turns is dangerous. my turn very slowly and hard press on pedal to turn. oil consumption is insane. started at 38k miles, manufacture warranty ended after 4 years. i’m under 52k miles now and have to fill oil about every 1k miles. i’ve had 4 oil changes this year alone. i’m regular about maintenence. last oil change was 08/03/26 che…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.