2015 Volkswagen Tiguan problems

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The Volkswagen Tiguan (German pronunciation: ) is a series of cars produced by German manufacturer Volkswagen since 2007, sitting between the smaller T-Roc and the larger Touareg in the company's crossover SUV range. The first generation was based on the PQ46 platform, while the second generation, released in 2016, utilizes the Volkswagen Group MQB A2 platform. It is generally considered to be a medium-sized SUV in Europe, while in North America it is considered to be a compact crossover.

The name Tiguan is a portmanteau of the German words Tiger ("tiger") and Leguan ("iguana") and won a naming contest by German car magazine publisher Auto Bild—from a field of names that also included Namib, Rockton, Samun and Nanuk.

As of the spring of 2020, six million units had been sold worldwide, with 910,926 units being manufactured in 2019 alone, making the Tiguan the best-selling car overall in the Volkswagen Group. It was also the best-selling SUV in Europe.

Its larger counterparts include the Tiguan Allspace, a long-wheelbase family-oriented version of the Tiguan with three-row seating, and the Tiguan X, a coupé SUV.

2015 Volkswagen Tiguan

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Common 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan problems

The Volkswagen Tiguan 2015 has several common problems based on complaints from owners. These issues are primarily related to the engine, electrical systems, and other components.

  1. Engine Issues: The Volkswagen Tiguan is known to have a number of issues with its engine and powertrain. Some of the most common problems include issues with the throttle body, turbocharger, carbon deposits, and timing chain tensioner. The engine may misfire, stall, or hesitate, especially during acceleration. The check engine light may illuminate due to various issues, such as faulty oxygen sensors, issues with the catalytic converter, and defective airflow sensors.
  2. Throttle Body Issues: Throttle body issues are prevalent in both early and newer Volkswagen Tiguans. The signs of such issues include rough idling, RPM fluctuations, and the check engine light. A malfunctioning throttle body can cause your car to perform poorly, especially during low-speed cruising.
  3. Turbocharger Issues: The turbocharger is known to malfunction or fail in many Volkswagen Tiguans. Some owners have reported that their cars experience a severe lack of power or struggle to maintain motorway speeds. If you hear the engine overworking, it could be a sign of a malfunctioning turbocharger. These issues are so common that Volkswagen owners have even petitioned for the company to initiate a recall.
  4. Carbon Deposits: Volkswagen Tiguans have a known engine design fault, which results in carbon buildup. This can cause black smoke from the exhaust, failing sensors, and poor performance. The TSI direct engine injection engine used in the Tiguan is especially prone to carbon buildup, leading to issues such as power loss, rough idling, hard starts, decreased acceleration, and misfires. To address carbon buildup, the intake manifold, intake ports on the cylinder head, and intake valves should be cleaned thoroughly.
  5. Timing Chain Issues: One of the most frustrating and expensive issues that a Volkswagen Tiguan can experience is related to its timing system. The timing chain tensioner, which is made of plastic, tends to fail in many Volkswagen Tiguans. If you hear rattling or misfiring while idling, your timing system may be failing. If you notice a check engine light accompanied by contaminated engine oil, it may be a sign of a timing chain issue.
  6. Hesitation When Accelerating: One of the most concerning issues with the Tiguan is hesitation when accelerating. According to owners, this issue is severe and erratic, making it dangerous to drive on the motorway. The problem is that this issue does not show any diagnostic trouble codes. However, it is often caused by a fuel/air mixture that is too lean, which can be caused by a failed mass airflow sensor, faulty fuel pump, failed throttle position sensor, or dirty/failing fuel injectors.
  7. Electrical Issues: Another common problem with the VW Tiguan is related to various electrical systems. Many owners have reported problems with the exterior lights, infotainment screen, and rearview camera. Exterior lights issues include low and high beams failing, issues with the sunroof ambient lighting bar, and issues with the taillights. Some of these issues were common enough to prompt VW to issue recalls to fix them. Infotainment screen issues are a particular problem with newer Volkswagen Tiguan models, where the system freezes or goes blank completely. These issues can often be resolved by resetting or updating the system to the newest version.
  8. Burning Oil: Burning oil is another problem Tiguan owners have experienced. A common problem with Tiguan models, mainly from 2018, is that the engine continually needs oil adding, leaving owners confused and worried as they burn through oil at an alarming rate. Although VW dealers have reportedly been telling customers they consider it acceptable for their cars to burn through a quart this simply isn’t good enough. This problem has been linked to bad cylinder seals.
  9. Rearview Camera: Rearview camera issues are a reasonably regular sight with many modern-day VW models and it seems like the Tiguan is no exception. Volkswagen even issued two recalls to combat this issue.
  10. Airbags: Airbag-related issues are also reasonably frequent on many modern-day Volkswagen vehicles. These might be the most consistent complaints with the new era of the VW Tiguan. The most common airbag-related issues are those associated with the airbag control module, frontal airbag deployment, side/window airbags, and the dreaded coil spring.
  11. Automatic Emergency Braking Problems: One of the most common problems with the Tiguan is related to its automatic emergency braking system. This system is designed to detect obstacles and apply the brakes to prevent collisions. However, some owners have reported that the system has engaged unexpectedly, causing the vehicle to suddenly brake or swerve. This can be a serious safety issue, especially when driving at high speeds or in heavy traffic.

In summary, the Volkswagen Tiguan 2015 has several common problems that owners have reported. These issues are primarily related to the engine, electrical systems, and other components. If you own a Tiguan or are considering purchasing one, it's important to be aware of these potential issues and address them promptly if they occur.

2015 Volkswagen Tiguan engine

What are the most common problem with the Volkswagen Tiguan?

The Volkswagen Tiguan is known to have a number of issues with its engine and powertrain. Some of the most common problems include issues with the throttle body, turbocharger, carbon deposits and timing chain tensioner.

Is there any recalls on 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan?

Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.

Is Tiguan high maintenance?

The average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Volkswagen Tiguan is $730, compared to an average of $521 for compact SUVs and $652 for all vehicle models.

Does Volkswagen Tiguan have transmission problems?

2021 VW Tiguan Transmission Problems

An expeditiously clear sign would be if your 2021 VW Tiguan transmission warning light is on. One of the most common signs is when your transmission shifts gears but the result of those shifts are delayed.

What are the most common problem with the Volkswagen Tiguan?

The Volkswagen Tiguan is known to have a number of issues with its engine and powertrain. Some of the most common problems include issues with the throttle body, turbocharger, carbon deposits and timing chain tensioner.

How many miles does a 2015 Tiguan last?

On average, a Tiguan can last between 150,000 and 200,000 miles, given proper care and maintenance. According to RepairPal, the compact SUV requires unscheduled garage visits about 0.92 times a year, with a 12% chance of encountering severe problems.

Is there any recalls on 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan?

Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.

Is A Tiguan A Good Car to buy?

The Volkswagen Tiguan has one of the simplest recipes of any family SUV. It looks good without being too in-yer-face, is spacious without being intimidating to drive in town, and has a lovely interior without being so posh you're scared to get your kids' grubby figures anywhere near it.

2015 Volkswagen Tiguan car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Volkswagen Tiguan problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Air bags problems
  • Electrical system problems
  • Unknown or other problems
  • Engine problems
  • Steering problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

Latest 25 complaints 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan

The NHTSA has received 59 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles.

2024-10-02

ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-11-29
  • VIN: WVGBV7AX6FW
  • Components: ENGINE
  • Summary: Premature timing chain failure (at 70,000 miles). Regularly maintenanced. Confirmed by mechanic. Check engine light notified 2 months prior to failure.
2024-05-09

STEERING,AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-05-09
  • VIN: WVGBV7AX7FW
  • Components: STEERING,AIR BAGS
  • Summary: Our 2015 Tiguan has consistently had issues with the clock spring. We are now needing a third clock spring only 6 months from the last warranty repair. Yes the vehicle is available for inspection. This issue is serious due to the airbag being non operational until we get this fixed. Additionally, the horn ceases to work as well, which although its not as serious as our airbag not working, its still nice to have it as a safety tool to indicate your presence to other drivers on the road. I'm not sure if the component has been inspected by the manufacturer or anyone else. We have had a warranty repair on it through the dealership so they verified this was an issue that needed replacing. Until the issue occurs there are no warning lights or anything to notify you from the cars system. There is however an audible "clicking" sound as you turn the steering wheel. The sound usually occurs sporadically for a short while before the clock spring breaks again. Upon breaking, you can hear a slightly louder click or pop and a notification/indicator comes up on the dash to indicate that the airbag is not operational.
2024-02-25

UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-02-19
  • VIN: WVGAV7AX9FW
  • Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: Car stalled while driving on the highway. No warning codes and mechanics cannot find a reason. This has happened twice before in past year with warning codes but all have been addressed yet it has stalled again with no code now. This has been costly, very dangerous and cannot feel safe driving.
2023-10-15

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-04-01
  • VIN: WVGAV7AX7FW
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
  • Summary: Airbag light comes on indicating that the airbags are not functioning properly per the instrument panel. A recall item on this particular model not listed under my VIN number, however, it is, I didn’t quote the complaints from other VW Tiguan who have experienced the same thing. Apparently this was a recall item that happened in November 2019. The first time my instrument Dental started indicating any issues was after it was serviced July 2021 although it was intermittent. Eventually it became an everyday thing. The airbags are always an indicator and every third start up will trigger intermittent signals that clear once the vehicle is turned off and turned back on yet airbag warnings are still adamant. Be present anytime the vehicle is in the on position.
2023-09-23

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-06-30
  • VIN: WVGBV7AX2FW
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
  • Summary: Repeated failure of EPS system causing highway breakdowns - detail in attachment
2023-08-16

UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-08-01
  • VIN: WVGBV7AX8FW
  • Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: The manufactured rear camera and lock. Have been having water leaking in do to improper placing of lock and camera. It has stop working.
2023-06-15

WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2023-02-20
  • VIN: WVGAV7AX4FW
  • Components: WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
  • Summary: Eagle valley motors sold me an unsafe car I kept telling them that the brakes were bad the transmission fluid was dark and the engine oil was black the tires were bad it was in real bad need of a tuneup I wrote and told the bbb about it and they did absolutely nothing I told Carlos he will lie about it just like how they lied to the bbb about getting in touch with me these people need to be out of business they put profits over people and they’re safety and I’m not the only one they’ve done this to I want all my money back I put close to $2000 dollars in this car 600 For the tires 703.76 for the brakes and tuneup 247.82 for the transmission 117.00 for the oil change they lied and said all that was taken care of bologna it wasn’t I have pictures of all that they said they did and did not I’m out a lot of money because of them I’m a senior on a super fixed income and they took total advantage of me a senior and they put profits over my safety as well as my Family and Friends and my Service Animal i want to pursue this these people need to be held accountable for doing this not only to me but others as well and if You can’t help me please get me someone who can Thank You for your help time and service I really appreciate it I wanted to upload more photos the brake photos and tires it wouldn’t let me I have them and I want You all to have them
2022-10-19

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-01-01
  • VIN: WVGBV7AXXFW
  • Components: STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
  • Summary: I have a 2015 VW Tiguan, VIN: [XXX]. The Steering Wheel Clock Spring has gone bad causing multiple failure lights to come on and has also caused the car to be difficult to drive. Especially the steering. Most of the systems themselves are not failing, it is just the Clock Spring giving faulty readings to the car's computer. The lights that are on are the Green Break light, the Yellow Airbag and safety belt pretensioner system malfunction, and the Yellow Steering Wheel System light. The cause of this Clock Spring failure was because the car battery died. After we replaced the battery, the warning lights came on. The dealer had said it was the Steering Wheel Clock Spring that is causing all the system lights to come on. The dealer made me pay for the replacement ahead of time because he said that there was a long waiting list for the part that was being manufactured in Ukraine (?). [XXX]i is the service manager that made me pay for the future warranty repair. The local VW dealership in Waipio has made it extremely difficult to get this repaired under warranty or by a recall. I did get a notice for a class action lawsuit opened against VW and this issue. There is also an extended warranty repair, except my VW had too many miles (88K), and they said this year was skipped over for some reason. The Lawsuit is Water Pump Settlement 7577, PO Box 2636, Faribault, MN, 55021-9636. The attorney handling the case is [XXX]. I did not sign up for this lawsuit because again the year 2015 Tiguan was excluded for some reason that I do not understand. Please note that in Europe the very same part on this year VW Tiguan has been recalled. Why haven't they recalled the it here in the United States? INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
2022-08-23

AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-04-26
  • VIN: WVGAV7AX5FW
  • Components: AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: The clock spring went out on my car. This is a known defect at VW. My horn and airbags do not work now. Both are essential to safe driving. The part is backordered and people have been waiting for months. VW is letting people drive in death traps vehicles and recklessly allowing people to put themselves in danger because they cannot afford new vehicles nor will VW provide rental cars while the part is on backorder. We need help. VW has a reputation for taking advantage of these situations and doing nothing. Please help us. VW won't.
2022-08-22

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-06-07
  • VIN: wvgav7ax7fw
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: The airbag clock spring on my 2015 Tiguan broke in June. The car has a warranty extension for this failure, but no parts are in stock. It has now been 2 months and neither the dealer (Hendrick VW in Frisco, TX) nor VW Customer "Care" can help. There is not even a date for the replacement part available. My daughter is (was) the main driver and I don't want her driving an unsafe vehicle without horn / airbag. Worse, the registration has now expired, as the car can't pass the State Safety inspection required to renew the sticker. Car is now just parked until further notice.
2022-07-21

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-07-15
  • VIN: WVGAV7AX8FW
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: My 2015 VW Tiguan has a broken clock spring. The clock spring functions to control the airbag deployment, horn and dashboard screen controls. This is a significant safety risk, as the steering wheel airbag will not deploy in a crash. A certified Volkswagen technician diagnosed the issue at a VW dealership. The airbag dashboard light is on, indicating that the airbag will not deploy in a crash. No warnings prior to failure, car operated well, with no issues before this was reported. Volkswagen is aware of the issue. They will be able to fix it, under warranty, but the parts are on backorder with no ETA as parts are manufactured in the Ukraine. This is a widespread issue across many VW models and model years. My car is not identified in the recall and there are thousands of cars waiting for the same repair. A recall should be issued. Having a safety issue like this, with no proposed time for resolution is unacceptable.
2022-06-28

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-02-01
  • VIN: WVGBV7AX9FW
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: Broken clock spring affecting all collision safety systems such as airbag deployment and collision avoidance like horn and cruise control along wiht computer functions controlled exclusivley through the steering wheel.
2022-06-24

STEERING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-06-16
  • VIN: WVGAV7AX1FW
  • Components: STEERING
  • Summary: While driving steering became very stiff and I could not turn the car. The red steering icon lit up on the dashboard and a gurgling sound was coming out from underneath the dash. The car only has 50,000 miles and I have never experienced a steering problem the car was nearly underivable. I took it to the dealer and they stated there was a 50851 Fault Torque Sensor Reading out of range and the steering rack had to be replaced with updated harness tierods and related hardware
2022-06-02

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-05-09
  • VIN: WVGAV7AX6FW
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the horn became inoperable. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the clockspring needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 67,000.
2022-05-11

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-05-10
  • VIN: WVGAV7Ax0FW
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: Airbag light comes on. There has been no accident to cause this
2022-05-03

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-02-21
  • VIN: WVGAV7AX6FW
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: Airbag error light has been on since February 2022, clockspring malfunctioned and is covered under warranty. There are no loaner cars available forcing me to drive an unsafe vehicle with no airbags. The part has been on back order with no estimated date of arrival.
2022-04-18

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-04-18
  • VIN: Wvgav7ax3fw
  • Components: STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
  • Summary: While driving in a congested area of Jacksonville, FL a small child pulled bike from behind another vehicle, I attempted to sound my horn in an attempt to get the child’s attention or that of the other driver. The horn failed. I continued to try and nothing. I noticed the airbag light on. I called the VW dealership and was told this is a problem with the clock spring in the steering wheel behind the airbag. This part controls all the functions of the steering wheel. He also mentioned NHTSA has several complaints and the warranty was extended to 120,000 miles. This is relatively a low threshold as more and more people are keeping cars longer with cost. I have 121,190 miles on my Tiguan and am told this is an $800 fix. It is only a miracle this child was not killed. I would be curious how many have been injured, or killed, and the faulty spring has not been pinpointed. I believe this is and immediate threat to safety as one cannot be sure if the airbag will work nor can you summons help with the panic feature as the horn does not work. I believe an immediate recall should be issued regardless of mileage.
2022-03-03

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-01-19
  • VIN: WVGBV7AX8FW
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the horn was inoperable. The air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering wheel clock spring needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the parts for repair were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.
2022-02-01

UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-12-01
  • VIN: wvgbv7ax3fw
  • Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: The clock spring broke very suddenly over two months ago. The airbag light came on and the steering wheel started to make a twisting noise when I turned it. My steering wheel controls and horn stopped working. The VW dealer diagnosed the problem as the clock spring, and stated that they would order the part and it would be replaced for free since it was part of a recall. The dealer has been unable to get the part for two months with no delivery date in sight. The inconvenience of not being able to access bluetooth and steering wheel controls is an annoyance, but not having a functioning horn has been a huge liability. In that time, I have nearly been hit by other drivers twice, and was unable to alert them with my horn. One of those events was almost a head on collision...the oncoming car drifted into my lane because the driver was looking at her phone. I was able to swerve onto the shoulder to avoid an accident. I was lucky that there were no obstructions or pedestrians. My car is unsafe to drive and yet I have no other option.
2022-01-17

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2022-01-17
  • VIN: Wvgbv7ax8fw
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
  • Summary: This morning I realized that my spring clock isn’t working. My air bag light is on saying error air bag. I have no controls on my steering wheel.
2021-11-26

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-11-22
  • VIN: WVGAV7AX3FW
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: When I press the unlock button on the remote fob, all the doors unlock except the drivers door. I then have to open the rear door, reach the handle on the drivers door and open it. The VW Dealer want $245.00 just to find the problem.
2021-09-20

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2016-09-07
  • VIN: WVGBV7AX8FW
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: VW panoramic roof was leaking behind plastic and roof covering without visible signs to the floor . We only figure it out after 3 years . Electric failure noticed after a year of ownership . Keyless entry , stop / start engine and what most dangerous car stoped in the middle of the street /fortunately not busy street . And it took a while to start engine again. Also fire hazard because electric damaged by the water . There was recall because of fire hazard in VW Tiguan 2015 and panoramic roof issue but notes was sent only a few customers . At least 10 lawsuits was filed already . VW refuse to fix the problem . And we don't have money to fix it because its not just about roof leak but electric , carpet fool of mold and other water damage and cost of fixing it will exceed the cost of this car . Technically it's flooded car because of manufacturer defect . Car has only 58000 miles.
2021-07-28

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-07-20
  • VIN: wvgav7ax7fw
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: daughter bought this car awhile ago...already she s having problem with the air bag(1300.00)to fix and make payments on it too.it sitting on the property where she got it from..
2021-06-13

AIR BAGS,ENGINE PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-06-13
  • VIN: WVGAV7Ax2FW
  • Components: AIR BAGS,ENGINE
  • Summary: My vehicle is experiencing multiple issues and I’m certain it has been hacked. All began happening around the same time. The front passenger seat air bag goes off and on with or without a person sitting in it. The voice activation prompt goes off on its own, the battery drains for no apparent reason, I get messages all at once (drivers side auto operation console) all go off back to back and then all messages go off at once and it dies. The car is running poorly (sputtering, very heavy pull on the engine). The temperature and miles left before gas tank is empty is completely off most of the time. I can fill my gas tank up and it should be around 480 miles and go down as driven, but I will show less than that (for example 360) and then as I drive it will go up by a few miles vs down and it isn’t dependable at all. I am a terrified single mother and have a child. I want this car inspected. Please help me. We do not feel safe and I feel forced to drive this car. Thank you
2021-05-17

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2021-01-04
  • VIN: wvgbv7axxfw
  • Components: POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: After the battery on the car died, the steering wheel clock spring failed. After replacing the clock spring, it was unable to be programed through authorized VW repair shop. This has been subject for a recall for previous models and is a known problem in current models. There have also been problems with the car shifting into neutral by itself while driving on the freeway.

2015 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 4 recalls for different components of the 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan.

2019-07-17
  • Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
  • Components: AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
  • Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.
  • Consequence: Deactivated air bags increases the risk of injury. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags increase the risk of a crash.
  • Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install new software and replace the air bag ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Z5.
2018-05-16
  • Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
  • Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: 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.
2016-01-28
  • Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
  • Components: AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
  • Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles manufactured January 15, 2015, to January 21, 2015, and 2015 Audi Q5 vehicles manufactured January 13, 2015, to February 3, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with driver and front seat passenger seat-mounted air bag inflators that may rupture in the event of a crash.
  • Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of a seat-mounted air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
  • Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began July 7, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834 or Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69M1 (for Audi) and 69L9 (for VW).
2015-05-26
  • Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
  • Components: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
  • Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Tiguan vehicles manufactured January 22, 2015, to March 20, 2015. These vehicles may be equipped with Certification labels that are missing the required tire pressure information and they may state incorrect weight and loading information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
  • Consequence: If the labels have incorrect weight and loading information, the operator may overload the vehicle which could cause vehicle instability, increasing the risk of a crash.
  • Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will correct the information on the certification label, free of charge. The recall began on June 12, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01A5.

Negative 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan car reviews

  1. Dallin Ritchie 2024-11-20

    I hope you are doing well. I wanted to bring to your attention an issue that I experienced with my vehicle. Unfortunately, it caused me some inconvenience as I was left without gas and had to call AAA for assistance. I have noticed that this issue has been reported by other customers online as well. I kindly request that VW addresses this issue as soon as possible. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

  2. Ottis McGlynn 2024-10-24

    I would recommend against purchasing this car. My Ram Ecodiesel gets 5mpg better and still has its original tires, while the Tiguan has gone through three sets of $1500 Michelins at only 47k miles. Additionally, the rear window spontaneously shattered into thousands of pieces last summer while parked in our garage. In Texas, the car must pass an inspection prior to registration each year, and when I took it to VW Lewisville for its 50k service and inspection, the dealer informed me that the upper control arm and bushings were shot, costing over $500 per side. Despite my concerns about tire wear, the four thrust alignments have all come back as 'green'. Overall, I have had a frustrating experience with this car and would not recommend it.

  3. Reyes Collins 2024-10-16

    It's really unfortunate to hear about the issues you faced with your VW. It sounds like you had a frustrating experience with the stalling while driving, even after recommended repairs. I hope you were able to find a better fit for your needs in a different car brand. Thank you for sharing your experience.

  4. Kirk Beer 2024-08-17

    I hope you're doing well! I wanted to share my experience with my 2014 Tiguan that I bought in May. I've driven 9700 km in 3 months, mostly on the highway. Before that, I drove a JEEP Grand Cherokee Overlander for 3 years, but I didn't like how it lagged when speeding up to pass a car. My 2004 Toyota 4-Runner had awesome pickup, but I'm happy to say that the Tiguan's pickup is good too! However, during a 13-hour drive, I found that I couldn't stretch my legs, so my left knee would stiffen and bother me. Unfortunately, putting my seat back made me too far away, and I'm only 5'3

  5. Xander Padberg 2024-07-14

    The airbag clock spring on my daughter's 2015 Tiguan broke in June this year and the car has a warranty extension for this failure. However, despite contacting both Hendrick VW in Frisco, Texas and VW Customer Care, there are currently no parts available. As a result, the car has been parked for 2 months and my daughter is unable to drive it due to safety concerns. Additionally, the car's registration has expired as it cannot pass safety without the necessary repairs. It is imperative that this issue is resolved promptly to ensure my daughter's safety and the car's roadworthiness.

Positive 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan car reviews

  1. Scottie Mayer 2025-01-08

    Overall, this is a fantastic SUV when compared to the competition. The 200hp engine performs strongly, with the turbo spooling up well and providing great acceleration. The only downside is that the fuel economy is a couple of miles less on the highway than some of the other small SUVs. However, it goes well in the snow and is very reliable. I have put over 40K on mine with no issues, and there is good room in the engine bay for maintenance.

  2. Alfonzo Bergstrom 2025-01-03

    Congratulations on your purchase of a 2014 Tiguan SEL 4motion! It sounds like you made an excellent choice. Your description of the car is very impressive, and it's clear that you are very happy with it. The engine sounds like it runs very smoothly, and the transmission is very responsive. It's great to hear that the Fender stereo is such an improvement over your previous car, and that the surround sound is perfect. The premium feel of the interior and the comfortable seats with excellent lumbar support are also very appealing. Thank you for sharing your experience with us!

  3. Nigel Considine 2024-07-18

    It rides a bit rough, but handles great. If you're looking for a smoother ride, the R-Line may not be the best option for you.

  4. Ezequiel Bashirian 2024-06-16

    The car is perfect sized for your needs and has great gas mileage. It is also very comfortable, although it may take a minute to get used to the turbo. You mentioned that you will be adding a backup camera as it didn’t come installed, which is a great idea. We're so pleased to hear that you're happy with your car! Thank you for choosing Edmunds!

  5. Norval Schulist 2024-05-28

    The VW Tiguan drives and handles very well. The whole family loves it. I would definitely buy it again.

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