The Lemon Index

All cars · Volkswagen Tiguan · 2021

2021 Volkswagen Tiguan. Advanced data.

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

Lemon Index60100 = average car
Complaints64NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold109,743U.S. model year
Per 100K sold58complaints
Year rank#3 of 12#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 2

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
2.0L 4-cyl turboAuto (S8)FWD23 / 29 / 25Regular$2,500
2.0L 4-cyl turboAuto (S8)AWD21 / 27 / 24Regular$2,600

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 9,000 and 51,000 miles. Median 26,000, from 17 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Engine53,00048,000–146,5005

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
Automatic emergency braking20%
Engine17%
Electrical16%
Body structure11%
Transmission & drivetrain9%

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

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
14320204

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 5

  • 22V514000 Jul 2022 Back Over Prevention / Sensing System / Camera

    Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Jetta NF, Arteon FL, Tiguan LWB, 2022 Taos, Jetta PA, Tiguan PA, 2021-2022 Atlas Cross Sport, and Atlas FL vehicles. The manufacturing process of the eMMC memory module in the infotainment system may cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk. A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will update the infotainment software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DV.

  • 22V226000 Apr 2022 Structure / Body

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. An insufficiently attached spoiler may separate from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will replace the spoiler, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66N5.

  • 22V176000 Mar 2022 Suspension

    Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan, Taos, and 2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. A second notice will be sent once remedy parts become available. The left or right rear suspension knuckles may corrode, crack, and break.

    Risk. A broken rear suspension knuckle can cause a loss of stability, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace one or both rear suspension knuckles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 13, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42L8.

  • 21V038000 Feb 2021 Seats

    Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Long Wheelbase and Jetta vehicles. Bolts may be missing from the front seat tracks.

    Risk. The seat can move front and back without restriction if bolts are missing, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

    Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat tracks and, as necessary, install the bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 18, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 72L6.

  • 20V716000 Nov 2020 Back Over Prevention / Sensing System / Camera

    Defect. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan LWB, Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas FL and Arteon vehicles. The rear view camera could malfunction during an ignition cycle, leading to a black screen or infotainment system freeze. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk. A black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the infotainment system software, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91BB/91BC.

Manufacturer communications 506

Volkswagen filed 506 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • Oil consumption test updated to include additional models and model year applicability
  • Customer states MIL-on with P0556 Customer states MIL-on with P2421 Customer states MIL-on…
  • Customer states MIL-on with P2421 Customer states MIL-on with Misfire code Customer states…

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Volkswagen Tiguan SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆
Volkswagen Tiguan SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardNoOptional

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
201821819789,476Engine
20197887109,572Electrical
20206662100,687Automatic emergency braking
20216064109,743Automatic emergency braking
202218918971,085Engine
2023777076,227Engine
2024917494,372Electrical

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

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