All cars · Volkswagen Tiguan · 2012
2012 Volkswagen Tiguan. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Engines and drivetrains 3
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (S6) | FWD | 22 / 26 / 24 | Premium | $3,200 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (S6) | AWD | 21 / 26 / 23 | Premium | $3,350 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 | Premium | $3,700 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 27,400 and 80,000 miles. Median 50,000, from 116 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 50,000 | 19,000–88,000 | 43 |
| Airbags | 56,700 | 37,500–79,200 | 21 |
| Electrical | 51,000 | 28,800–92,400 | 20 |
| Steering | 76,800 | 36,500–92,300 | 13 |
| Fuel or ev drive system | 45,000 | 32,000–81,000 | 11 |
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | 42% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 16% |
| Electrical | 13% |
| Brakes | 13% |
| Airbags | 11% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 153 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 8 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 3
18V329000 May 2018 Unknown Or Other
Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI 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.
Risk. If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
15V483000 Aug 2015 Air Bags / Frontal
Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. 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. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
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 injury.
Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen
14V441000 Jul 2014 Fuel System, Gasoline
Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 to June 2014. When using winterized fuel, in certain conditions bubbles may form in the fuel system which could result in the vehicle stalling.
Risk. A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to increase the fuel pump pressure, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin August 19, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24AV/2W.
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Air bag clockspring failure | 2018 | – |
| Closed | Air bag clockspring failure | 2017 | 2018 |
| Closed | Air bag clockspring failure | 2015 | 2015 |
Manufacturer communications 1004
Volkswagen filed 1004 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- 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
Crash ratings by version
| 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 | ★★★★☆ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | No | No |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated
Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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