repaired · 2015 Q4
Fuel system, gasoline
Risk. A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
2009 Volkswagen TiguanProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 168 owner complaints about the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, most often about the engine. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 13V-569 the manufacturer reports only 88% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 22, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: OSX, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan has problems
168 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
80Engine1 crash/fire/injury
40Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
20Power train1 crash/fire/injury
15Exterior lighting
15Steering1 crash/fire/injury
11Fuel/propulsion system
10Engine and engine cooling
10Air bags
8Vehicle speed control
3012 other systems7 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 80 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 40 | 3 |
| Power train | 20 | 1 |
| Exterior lighting | 15 | 0 |
| Steering | 15 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 11 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 10 | 3 |
| Air bags | 10 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 1 |
| 12 other systems | 30 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2009 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2015 Q2
Wiring: fuses and circuit breakers
Risk. If the holder melts, there may be a partial loss of exterior lighting.
no report yet
Engine and engine cooling
Risk. AN ENGINE SURGE CAUSED BY AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ENGINE RPM MAY SURPRISE THE VEHICLE OPERATOR AND CAN RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Volkswagen.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
88kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 71 engine complaints. 70% were reported before 100,000 miles.
1under 30k miles50under 100k miles21100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
16 owners mentioned a cost$6,250median
Middle half: $2,540 – $7,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2009 vs. every other Tiguan year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Tiguan median. How we score
'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2009 Volkswagen Tiguan safety ratings
2009 Volkswagen Tiguan 4-Dr. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Rollover: 4 stars (17.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, and the recalls they led to.
- Partial Loss of Exterior LightsLed to recall 13V-569
In owners' words
What Tiguan owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The car keeps throwing sensors (camshaft, crank sensors, throttle body etc) and the ECM needs to be updated. It keeps turning over. I checked the recall list of VINs and mine is within the range, however there aren't any recalls listed.
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond and seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it…
The contact owns a 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the oil pressure warning light illuminated and a message to stop the vehicle immediately was displayed. AAA arrived on the scene and diagnosed the vehicle with oil sensor failure.…
Own a 2009 Tiguan?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.