repaired · 2020 Q1
Unknown or other
Risk. If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
2012 Volkswagen TiguanProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 153 owner complaints about the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan, most often about the engine. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-483 the manufacturer reports only 76% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 27, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan has problems
153 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
50Engine2 crash/fire/injury
33Air bags7 crash/fire/injury
23Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
21Steering
12Fuel/propulsion system
10Service brakes
7Seat belts
7Power train
4Electronic stability control (ESC)
2513 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 50 | 2 |
| Air bags | 33 | 7 |
| Electrical system | 23 | 2 |
| Steering | 21 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 12 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 10 | 2 |
| Seat belts | 7 | 0 |
| Power train | 7 | 2 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 4 | 0 |
| 13 other systems | 25 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2012 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 · 2017 Q2
Air bags: frontal
Risk. A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of…
repaired · 2015 Q4
Fuel system, gasoline
Risk. A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
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?
50kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 43 engine complaints. 86% were reported before 100,000 miles.
14under 30k miles37under 100k miles6100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2012 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
2012 Volkswagen Tiguan safety ratings
2012 Volkswagen Tiguan SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Rollover: 4 stars (17.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan, and the recalls they led to.
- Clockspring failureNo recall
- Air Bag Clockspring FailureLed to recall 15V-483
- Air Bag Clockspring FailureNo recall
In owners' words
What Tiguan owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. Additionally, while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to restart. The check engine, EPC,…
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Defective Primary Engine Water Pump, yes. The original primary engine water pump system for a 2012 VW Tiguan 2.0 was replaced under the VW extended warranty in 2020 by an authorized dealer as a the…
The engine could not be started after 13 years and 103,000+ miles. I had to get the car towed to my garage at night, after several prior trips same day. There were no check engine lights or any other indicators. The engine had newer spark plugs, ignition coils and pcv valve installed as well as…
Own a 2012 Tiguan?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.