Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine82
- Unknown or other52
- Power train49
- Electrical system46
- Fuel/propulsion system41
- Structure39
- Vehicle speed control21
- Service brakes19
- Exterior lighting17
- Seat belts16
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 11 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 33 2018 Tiguan vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 16 people died inside them, and 4 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan failed the safety check 2.10% of the time — 28% more often than the average 2018 passenger car (1.65%). Median odometer at inspection: 57,984 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2018
241,762 new Volkswagen Tiguan cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2018; the largest markets were Germany (74,709), the United Kingdom (31,879), Italy (30,430).
- Average mass
- 1,628 kg
- Average CO₂
- 166 g/km (WLTP)
- Average power
- 113 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Diesel 65% · Petrol 35%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Engines
The most common engines in 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan cars on Dutch roads are the 1.4 petrol (110 kW, 148 hp), 1.4 petrol (92 kW, 123 hp) and 2.0 petrol (132 kW, 177 hp), out of 10 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 5,332 |
| 1.4 petrol | 92 kW 123 hp | 1,503 |
| 2.0 petrol | 132 kW 177 hp | 1,059 |
| 2.0 petrol | 162 kW 217 hp | 390 |
| 2.0 diesel | 110 kW 148 hp | 388 |
| 1.5 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 218 |
| 2.0 diesel | 140 kW 188 hp | 81 |
| 2.0 diesel | 176 kW 236 hp | 38 |
| 2.0 diesel | 85 kW 114 hp | 34 |
| 2.0 petrol | 137 kW 184 hp | 31 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
9,093 first registered in 2018 are on Dutch roads; 49% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €44,841.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde3,592
- Band onvoldoende profiel1,849
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld1,199
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm1,112
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage652
- Band beschadigd403
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht396
- Drager/bevestigingsmiddel van remvoering raakt trommel/schij175
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
29,995 cars built in 2018 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 212 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 29,799 of these cars first registered in 2018 took their annual MOT test. 88% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2018 the figure was 84%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 5.0% | 5.2% |
| Brakes | 2.5% | 2.9% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1.6% | 4.0% |
| Visibility | 1.4% | 3.6% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.3% | 1.0% |
| Suspension | 1.3% | 1.6% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
431 of these cars first registered in 2018 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 131,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
1,865 2018 cars are on the New Zealand register; 3% arrived as used imports, 97% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 4 variants; 2 of 4 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Later Release SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 15.6 % |
| 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Later Release SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | 16.8 % |
| 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | 15.6 % |
| 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | 16.8 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Optional
- Lane departure warning
- Optional
- Best overall rating
- 5 / 5
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 9.8–10.2 L/100 km (about 23–24 mpg US), CO₂ 229–237 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiguan · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 10.6 | 8.7 | 9.8 |
| Tiguan 4MOTION · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 11.3 | 8.8 | 10.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
10 Transport Canada recalls for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan.
| 2026439 11 Sept 2026 | Steering Issue: On certain vehicles, one of the bolts that attaches the steering rack to the subframe could corrode and break. If this happens, the steering rack housi… |
| 2022170 6 Apr 2022 | Structure Issue: This recall is for accessory rear hatch spoilers that were installed on a new vehicle or sold as an accessory part at a Volkswagen dealership. On ce… |
| 2020562 20 Nov 2020 | Seats And Restraints Issue: On certain vehicles, there could be a problem with the driver and/or front passenger seat belt. As a result, the seat belts could break in a crash. … |
| 2019116 6 Mar 2019 | Suspension Issue: On certain vehicles, the rear suspension coil springs may not have been properly manufactured and could break over time. This could cause damage to a r… |
| 2018644 21 Nov 2018 | Lights And Instruments Certain vehicles do not to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 114 - Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention. Due to incorrect programming,… |
| 2018374 13 Jul 2018 | Structure On certain vehicles, the LED module for the panoramic sunroof ambient light bar may overheat, increasing the risk of a fire causing injury and/or damage to prop… |
| 2018296 6 Jun 2018 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the passenger frontal airbag may not unfold properly or could tear during deployment, which would increase the risk of injury to the seat o… |
| 2018265 16 May 2018 | Suspension On certain vehicles, a front lower ball joint nut may be loose or improperly tightened. This could result in a dislocation of a lower ball joint, which could af… |
| 2018205 25 Apr 2018 | Suspension On certain vehicles, a lower loop of a rear shock absorber may separate and detach from its base cup due to an incorrect weld. If a separation were to occur, it… |
| 2017507 18 Oct 2017 | Lights And Instruments Certain vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of CMVSS 108 - Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices. The back-up lights within the tail light a… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan, 2018-2019 Atlas, and 2019-2021 Audi Q3 vehicles. One of the bolts that attaches the steering rack to the subframe may corrode and break. If this happens, the steering rack housing can break.
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.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan vehicles. During the repair of roof damage, an incorrect roof reinforcement assembly may have been installed.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan LWB vehicles. In the event of a crash, one or both of the front seat belt's webbing may tear.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, 2015-2019 Golf, and 2018-2019 Tiguan vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles. The LED module for the panoramic sunroof ambient light bar may short circuit.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan vehicles. In the event of a crash, the passenger frontal air bag may tear or not properly unfold during deployment.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan and Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The nut that holds the lower ball joint of the front wheel on each side of the vehicle may be loose or improperly tightened.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan long wheelbase (LWB) vehicles. A lower loop of a rear shock absorber may separate from its base due to an incorrect welding process
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The engine support bolts on these vehicles may not have been properly tightened.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Tiguan Limited vehicles. The front driver air bag installed on these vehicles may not be intended for use in vehicles sold in the United States. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The back-up lights in the taillight assemblies may not be bright enough. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volkswagen told its dealers about the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11011379 | This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication for the keyless start system. 00B7 - Interface for Access/Start: U101300: Control module not coded & Software Configuration incorrect coding hotfix |
| 11010028 | This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during ECM Component Adaptation Test after component replacement. |
| 11010024 | Lack of paint under roof |
| 11010022 | Engine Oil Standards |
| 11010021 | Additional reporting |
| 11010011 | Vehicle Concerns Before Recall Repair Available |
| 11008866 | Inspecting sensors for damage |
| 11008861 | Fluid requirements |
| 11008860 | Manual transmission noise diagnosing |
| 11008858 | A list of engine oil that meet Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards |
| 11008857 | How to perform the engine oil consumption measurement |
| 11008856 | Checking Engine Oil and correctly reading dip stick |
| 11008853 | How to manage software versions using VW diagnostic Tool |
| 11008852 | Recommended Gasoline Quality |
| 11008851 | Engine Misfire Diagnostic Aid |
| 11008850 | Fuel additive to help with misfire faults |
| 11008846 | Wind & Water Leak Checking |
| 11008845 | This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided. |
| 11007398 | Battery testing |
| 11007393 | Engine Oil Standards |
| 11005825 | Engine oil quality standards |
| 11005820 | Engine Assembly Tip |
| 11005819 | Engine Replacement Tip |
| 11005818 | Engine No Start, ECM shorted due to incorrect battery removal |
| 11002875 | Engine oil quality standards |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Seat Belt Webbing Failure
Seat Belt Webbing Failure
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation