repaired · 2024 Q1
Structure: body
Risk. An insufficiently attached spoiler may separate from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
2020 Volkswagen TiguanProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 141 owner complaints about the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 22V-226 the manufacturer reports only 65% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 6, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan has problems
141 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
34Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
26Engine2 crash/fire/injury
16Forward collision avoidance2 crash/fire/injury
16Structure1 crash/fire/injury
10Service brakes
10Visibility/wiper
8Exterior lighting
5Power train
4Engine and engine cooling
2615 other systems3 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 34 | 1 |
| Engine | 26 | 2 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 16 | 2 |
| Structure | 16 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 10 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 10 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 8 | 1 |
| Power train | 5 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 0 |
| 15 other systems | 26 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2020 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 · 2022 Q3
Seat belts
Risk. Improperly torqued bolts may prevent the third row seat belt from performing as designed in a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.
repaired · 2022 Q2
Seats
Risk. In the event of a rear-end crash, the backrest adjustment could break, possibly reducing the amount of occupant restraint, thus increasing risk of injury.
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.
Best & worst years
2020 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
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan safety ratings
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (0.0% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Standard
- Lane departure warning: Optional
In owners' words
What Tiguan owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Vehicle threw SOS emergency call feature error two years ago. I replaced the module at the dealership. Today, the same SOS emergency call feature again showed up and I am unable to make an emergency call. This is a known and common issue with VW.
-After turning the car on and driving a short distance, the driver dashboard made a warning sound and flashed a warning about my 'ignition system' turning itself off. After that, the entire dash (the speedometer, gas gauge, the infotainment system, the internal climate controls, etc.) went blank.…
Component(s) Affected: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION: SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL Summary: When the interior cabin or ambient temperature becomes hot, a critical ignition/electrical failure occurs. The dashboard displays error: "Ignition has switched,…
Own a 2020 Tiguan?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.