Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Unknown or other52
- Electrical system34
- Engine26
- Structure16
- Forward collision avoidance16
- Service brakes10
- Visibility/wiper10
- Exterior lighting8
- Power train5
- Engine and engine cooling4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 7 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 36 2020 Tiguan vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 19 people died inside them, and 3 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 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan failed the safety check 1.24% of the time — 5% more often than the average 2020 passenger car (1.18%). Median odometer at inspection: 33,466 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2020
170,067 new Volkswagen Tiguan cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2020; the largest markets were Germany (60,397), the United Kingdom (25,826), Italy (16,897).
- Average mass
- 1,641 kg
- Average CO₂
- 169 g/km (WLTP)
- Average power
- 117 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Diesel 55% · Petrol 45%
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 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan cars on Dutch roads are the 1.5 petrol (110 kW, 148 hp), 1.5 petrol (96 kW, 129 hp) and 2.0 petrol (140 kW, 188 hp), out of 7 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 petrol | 110 kW 148 hp | 4,711 |
| 1.5 petrol | 96 kW 129 hp | 575 |
| 2.0 petrol | 140 kW 188 hp | 448 |
| 2.0 diesel | 110 kW 148 hp | 179 |
| 2.0 petrol | 169 kW 227 hp | 70 |
| 2.0 petrol | 162 kW 217 hp | 48 |
| 2.0 diesel | 140 kW 188 hp | 37 |
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
6,133 first registered in 2020 are on Dutch roads; 51% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €47,212.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde2,453
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld791
- Band onvoldoende profiel736
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm550
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage285
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht261
- Band beschadigd144
- Drager/bevestigingsmiddel van remvoering raakt trommel/schij92
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
24,679 cars built in 2020 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 90 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, 25,414 of these cars first registered in 2020 took their annual MOT test. 88% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2020 the figure was 88%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 4.7% | 4.9% |
| Brakes | 2.6% | 1.8% |
| Visibility | 2.2% | 2.8% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 1.6% | 3.0% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 1.3% | 0.3% |
| Suspension | 0.8% | 0.7% |
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
282 of these cars first registered in 2020 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 98,000 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
965 2020 cars are on the New Zealand register; 1% 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 2 variants; 2 of 2 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 0.0 % |
| 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | 0.0 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Standard
- 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 9.4–10.2 L/100 km (about 23–25 mpg US), CO₂ 221–241 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiguan · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 10.5 | 8.1 | 9.4 |
| Tiguan 4MOTION · Sport utility vehicle: Small · Regular gasoline | 11.5 | 8.7 | 10.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan.
| 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… |
| 2020392 26 Aug 2020 | Seats And Restraints Issue: On certain vehicles, parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been properly welded. As a result, the backrest adjustment could … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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 2020 Tiguan LWB vehicles. The third row seat belt anchor bolts may not have been properly torqued.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen ) is recalling certain 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan and Audi Q5 and SQ5 and 2021 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been welded properly.
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 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11011380 | Volkswagen Warranty has extended the coverage for the overhead console on 2019-2022 Tiguan Vehicles for 2 years 24,000 from the expiration of NVLW |
| 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 |
| 11011374 | HVAC duct cleaning and deodorizing |
| 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. |
| 11010025 | Green Light Does Not Illuminate |
| 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 |
| 11007396 | Car-net 2.0 may not fully complete the initial Register and Pairing process (R&P) after removal of |
| 11007393 | Engine Oil Standards |
| 11005826 | Car-net 2.0 may not fully complete the initial Register and Pairing process (R&P) after removal of |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)