repaired · 2015 Q4
Fuel system, gasoline
Risk. A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
2010 Volkswagen TiguanProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 110 owner complaints about the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan, most often about the engine. It is covered by 2 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 August 21, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan has problems
110 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
50Engine1 crash/fire/injury
31Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
19Exterior lighting1 crash/fire/injury
13Steering1 crash/fire/injury
6Power train
5Seats
5Fuel/propulsion system
4Engine and engine cooling
4Vehicle speed control
209 other systems4 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 50 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 31 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 19 | 1 |
| Steering | 13 | 1 |
| Power train | 6 | 1 |
| Seats | 5 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 0 |
| 9 other systems | 20 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2010 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.
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?
86kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 45 engine complaints. 69% were reported before 100,000 miles.
3under 30k miles31under 100k miles14100k 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
11 owners mentioned a cost$6,000median
Middle half: $5,350 – $7,508
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
2010 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
2010 Volkswagen Tiguan safety ratings
2010 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
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan, and the recalls they led to.
- Clockspring failureNo recall
- 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.
Vehicle sometimes displays red check engine light on dash with alarm sounding. Check engine light goes away after the vehicle is stopped briefly and restarted. Oil level is normal. Mechanic found no diagnostic codes when scanned with OBD scanner. Mechanic changed oil pressure sensor, replaced oil,…
Timing chain/extensioner broke My car suddenly started jerking or jumping when I was idling. I pulled into a parking lot and ended up having to have it towed. It does not run now and I was told it needed a new engine. I was told that there was a known issue and class action lawsuit with the timing…
The contact's mother owns a 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle made a loud popping sound coming from the passenger’s side engine compartment. Additionally, the service engine warning light became illuminated. The vehicle was veered to the side…
Own a 2010 Tiguan?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.