The Lemon Index2012 Volkswagen Tiguan.
The 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan is worse than average by owner complaints: 45 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 131, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 3 recalls, and it gets 21 to 24 mpg combined. The best Volkswagen Tiguan year is 2014.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 153 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Volkswagen Tiguan year. 2012 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 27K to 80K miles on the car (116 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 19K–88K miles
- airbags complaints mostly came at 37K–79K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 28K–92K miles
Recalls 3
- unknown or other 2018
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.
- airbags 2015
In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned.
- fuel system, gasoline 2014
When using winterized fuel, in certain conditions bubbles may form in the fuel system which could result in the vehicle stalling.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Volkswagen told dealers about
Volkswagen sent dealers 1004 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- All models experience the timing chain slipping, rattling noises of the engine after starting
- When not driven for long periods of time, would have engine crank, but no start
- High pressure fuel pump diagnosis
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenAir bag clockspring failure2018
- ClosedAir bag clockspring failure2017–2018
- ClosedAir bag clockspring failure2015
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Tiguan SUV AWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
| Volkswagen Tiguan SUV FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $3300–3800 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
The coils keep going bad. Replaced all four coils twice with in a one year time frame. Two coils went bad, replaced them and then the other two would go bad. Went approx. Three months with no problems before they went bad.
2012 Volkswagen Tiguan owner · NHTSA complaint 10760141
Quick answers
Is the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.3× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 131; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Volkswagen Tiguan year by this measure is 2014.
What are the most common 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (42%), transmission & drivetrain (16%) and electrical (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan have?
3 safety recalls (latest: unknown or other). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan get?
21 to 24 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 27,400 and 80,000 miles. The middle report was at 50,000 miles, from 116 complaints.
Does the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 16% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan cost in fuel a year?
About $3300 to $3800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan have?
2.0L 4-cyl.
What Volkswagen Tiguan year is better than the 2012?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2014, 2015 and 2021.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works