The Lemon Index

All cars · Volkswagen Tiguan · 2012

2012 Volkswagen Tiguan. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index131100 = average car
Complaints45NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold31,731U.S. model year
Per 100K sold142complaints
Year rank#9 of 12#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 3

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
2.0L 4-cyl turboAuto (S6)FWD22 / 26 / 24Premium$3,200
2.0L 4-cyl turboAuto (S6)AWD21 / 26 / 23Premium$3,350
2.0L 4-cyl turboManual 6-spdFWD18 / 26 / 21Premium$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.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Engine50,00019,000–88,00043
Airbags56,70037,500–79,20021
Electrical51,00028,800–92,40020
Steering76,80036,500–92,30013
Fuel or ev drive system45,00032,000–81,00011

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

SystemShare of complaints
Engine42%
Transmission & drivetrain16%
Electrical13%
Brakes13%
Airbags11%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
153100508

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

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
OpenAir bag clockspring failure2018–
ClosedAir bag clockspring failure20172018
ClosedAir bag clockspring failure20152015

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

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Volkswagen Tiguan SUV AWDnot ratednot ratednot rated★★★★☆
Volkswagen Tiguan SUV FWDnot ratednot ratednot rated★★★★☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardNoNo

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
20111745425,990Lights
20121314531,731Engine
2013873330,002Engine
2014501525,121Airbags
2015521835,843Electrical

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). Get the data