The Lemon Index2023 Volkswagen Tiguan.
The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan is so far better than average by owner complaints: 70 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 77, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, it has 1 recall, and it gets 24 to 27 mpg combined. The best Volkswagen Tiguan year is 2014.
Early read
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 70 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Volkswagen Tiguan year. 2023 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 1K to 66K miles on the car (7 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 1
- back over prevention 2025
An error may occur in the camera control unit at vehicle startup, resulting in the rearview camera image not displaying as intended.
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 355 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Engine oil consumption measurement
- Engine Oil Consumption Measurement Instruction and Work sheet
- Customer states rattle from below the vehicle Customer states MIL-on, P0442 stored in ECM…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Tiguan SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Volkswagen Tiguan SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2400–2700 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
There is a caution light that keeps coming on and the dealer can't tell me why
2023 Volkswagen Tiguan owner · NHTSA complaint 11535095
More owner reports
When I click the button to start the car and then quickly reverse, the system locks up. It's a safety hazard. It's happened to me 4 times. Twice on 7-14-23 and another two times within the last 3 weeks.
NHTSA complaint 11530333
Rear view camera constantly faults, and fails to work, also accelerating issue, surges on take offs. Started in 2024, dealership will tell me they could not replicate, and deny issue.
NHTSA complaint 11723727
Quick answers
Is the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?
It's too early to be sure. So far it has drawn 1.3× fewer complaints than average per car sold, against other 2023 cars after the same time on the road (early Lemon Index 77; 100 is average). The best Volkswagen Tiguan year by this measure is 2014.
What are the most common 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (36%), electrical (19%) and automatic emergency braking (17%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan have?
1 safety recall (latest: back over prevention). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan get?
24 to 27 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
Does the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 11% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan cost in fuel a year?
About $2400 to $2700 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan have?
2.0L 4-cyl.
What Volkswagen Tiguan year is better than the 2023?
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