2016 Volkswagen Tiguan problems
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.
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Common 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan problems
Based on complaints from owners of the Volkswagen Tiguan 2016, several common problems have been reported:
- Timing Chain Tensioner Defect / Engine Damage:
- Owners have reported problems with the timing chain tensioner, which can lead to engine damage. The average cost to fix this issue is approximately $4,000, with an average mileage of 90,000 miles.
- Engine Failure:
- Engine failure is a common problem with the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan, requiring an average cost of $3,900 to fix and typically occurring around 97,000 miles.
These issues highlight significant concerns with the engine and timing components of the Volkswagen Tiguan 2016, emphasizing the importance of regular maintenance and prompt attention to any warning signs to prevent costly repairs and ensure the safety and reliability of the vehicle.
What is the common problem of Volkswagen Tiguan?
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.
How many miles will a 2016 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 a 2016 VW Tiguan expensive to maintain?
The average annual repair cost is $730 which means it has average ownership costs. Repairs are more frequent for the Tiguan, so you may experience a few more visits to your Volkswagen shop than normal.
Which year Tiguan is most reliable?
The reliability for 2012-2017 Tiguans is better than the 2014-2017 Subaru Foresters. So it's true while VW reliability has been spotty in the past I would recommend getting a 2014 or newer Tiguan over most other competitive brands.
What is the common problem of Volkswagen Tiguan?
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.
Is a 2016 VW Tiguan expensive to maintain?
The average annual repair cost is $730 which means it has average ownership costs. Repairs are more frequent for the Tiguan, so you may experience a few more visits to your Volkswagen shop than normal.
Does Volkswagen Tiguan have transmission problems?
2021 VW Tiguan Transmission Problems
Common warning signs that your transmission is having issues are: 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.
How many miles will a 2016 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.
2016 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 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Latest 25 complaints 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan
The NHTSA has received 85 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles.
STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-14
- VIN: WVGAV7AX2GW
- Components: STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: My check engine light keeps turning on and off. I took it to the dealership and they gave me a list of things to fix in the future but nothing too serious. They fixed the intake manifold, which I was not aware or informed that it had a recall on it, and they cleaned the valves. They turned off the check engine light and when I picked up the car, it came back on. I informed them about it and they turned it off again. Then again it turned back on as soon as I left the dealership. They told me I had to change the oil and so I did but it turned on again. I tested it at auto zone and the reader said to change the camshaft position sensor and I did. The check engine light turned off and on again quickly. Then recently the steering wheel light turned on and locked the steering wheel.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-01-01
- VIN: WVGAV7AXXGW
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: The 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan has a problem with the sunroof leaking and floors being filled with puddles of water in entire car. This have caused the water to cause electrical problems with the vehicle as well as meadow and mold.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-04
- VIN: WVGAV7AXXGW
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: The car died while driving 3 times in 2 weeks. The gas pedal loses pressure, the vehicle is still on. I had to slow down put the car in park and restart the engine. This happened at speeds around 25-40 miles an hour, including on the freeway and when my [XXX] permitted daughter was driving. This problem has been taken to a WV dealership, they are not able to find the problem and are still looking. The way they are trying to discover the issue is by driving the car until it happens to them. Obviously a car stopping while driving is an insane danger to everyone on the road. This seems to be a known issue on the VW forums. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-10
- VIN: WVGAV7AX5GW
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
- Summary: I bought a 2016 VW Tiguan in 2019 from the Audi Rockville dealership. Recently I had an oil leak issue that requires a substantial repair. I first took it to a certified VW mechanic, Ourisman VW of Rockville, and they diagnosed the issue to be a 4,109.19 dollar repair. Following this, I took it to get a second look at an independent mechanic shop, Wilniq Auto Body & Mechanical Repairs, and the mechanic came to the conclusion that the engine head gasket needs to be replaced and that it should be covered under the manufacturers power train warranty. Unfortunately my car is out of warranty by just 241 miles (Warranty is up until 60,000 miles and my car is at 60,241). Based on what the mechanic saw while diagnosing the issue (The color and consistency of the leaked oil and where it was located), he alluded to this oil leak issue definitely starting prior to my car hitting 60,000 miles and that the other mechanics who worked on my car prior should have noticed this issue. They also mentioned that from what they can tell this issue has nothing to do with how I maintained the car but an issue with the car itself. I regularly maintained the car with all scheduled oil changes on time. The last three oil changes I had were at 51, 256 mi, 54,404 mi, and lastly at 58,075 mi (The recommendation is every 10,000 mi). When I brought all this up to a Volkswagen of America representative via chat they mentioned that because I brought the car to an independent shop the warranty would not be applicable anyway. My independent mechanic told me that this is not the case and in fact illegal. I bought this car in good faith with my hard earned money expecting it to be a durable and reliable product for years to come. Now I am getting hit with serious repairs at just over 60,000 miles and I do not trust that there won't be more in the future. Attached are documents, receipts, transcripts, other customer complaints similar to mine and the answers to the general guideline questions above.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-01-01
- VIN: WVGAV7AX4GW
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: Leaking panoramic sunroof only when it rains. I have taken it for the 5th time and you can’t drive it in the morning or when any condensation comes inside because u can’t see out of the windows at all. It smells awful and it’s a lot of water! It has ruined the touchscreen . I have been paying out of pocket trying to get this fixed. There should be a recall!
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-09-29
- VIN: WVGAV7AX9GW
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: Airbag error light on dashboard, passenger seat shorted out water pooled under passenger seats front and rear soaking wet coming up through carpets with moldy smell. You tube says it may be the panoramic roof drains.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-17
- VIN: WVGBV7AX7GW
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: The electric connection for the air bag has malfunctioned . The same vehicle with different VIN numbers have already been recalled for the exact same reason. Not sure why my car was not included. Many people on the VW forums are having the same issues. Please recall.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-07-16
- VIN: WVGAV7AX4GW
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: Every time it rains it gets in my vehicle! I have taken it in to an auto shop and they can’t find the leak . I just noticed a smell and finally found that the floor board gets wet . Now I see mildew inside and I don’t know what to do…. I have an idea that it could be the panoramic sunroof, but I don’t know it only gets wet at the bottom of the car and depending on how bad it rains that’s how much water is inside and I think there should be a recall on this matter, it’s beyond ridiculous, and I have read so much about it and I think it’s the sunroof and the tubes shrunk. I don’t know how to fix that and I haven’t gotten any help from any other shop. They cannot tell me what it is and the only thing that is left is for me to have it ripped apart but if they have shrunk I can’t do anything about that. Also, I’ve heard this by so many different people that own the same kind of vehicle. Please.help!
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-01
- VIN: WVGBV7AX2GW
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: Turbocharger went out on this vehicle rendering it unsafe to drive. Check engine light came on and after several opinions, it was determined that the Turbocharger went out and needed replacement in order for the vehicle to safely run. This was confirmed via a independent service center. Upon further research on the internet and VW chat forums, there are several other people with this year and model Volkswagen that have had similar issues with low mileage. The turbo charger should not have went out on a vehicle with 39,000 miles on it.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-03-17
- VIN: WVGAV7AX6GW
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: The sunroof/moonroof glass shattered while my daughter was driving on the highway, causing glass to fall down on her while driving. She stated that it sounded like a gunshot, then glass was breaking while driving. She was upset and crying, which could easily have caused an accident if it weren't that it happened in the evening. The car scheduled to be repaired I contacted the VW dealership and they stated there were no recalls. No warning
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-06-10
- VIN: WVGAV7AX1GW
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: Steering Wheel Clock Spring has gone out on my VW Tiguan, driver air bag is on which means the airbag wont come if we get in a accident. Pressure light is on as well. This will be the 3rd Steering Wheel Clock Spring installed.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-01-31
- VIN: WVGBV7AX0GW
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: Oil consumption issue. “Normal” oil consumption is 1 quart per 1200 miles according to VW. My Tiguan with 70k miles is burning 3 quarts every 2,000 miles. No obvious oil leak or burning of oil. I’m told I need a new engine and this is a known issue for VW. Car no longer under warranty after 60k miles.
SUSPENSION,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-11-17
- VIN: WVGBV7AX0GW
- Components: SUSPENSION,ENGINE
- Summary: I had a coolant leak and needed to replace the water pump. My control arms were corroded out at 67k miles and needed to be replaced.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-11-07
- VIN: wvgav7ax0gw
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
- Summary: The clock spring part of the steering wheel has failed rendering all steering wheel controls and most importantly the air bag inoperable. This is a major safety hazard for the driver and ultimately passengers as well. This part has been a well known problem with this vehicle and has been covered under an extended warranty, yet Volkswagen refuses to make the part readily available to their customers who are under extended warranty coverage for said part. This is a major safety risk in that they are showing months long delays in getting parts forcing people to choose ability to get to work over safety. Volkswagen is wilfully exposing customers to undue safety compromises. Recall the car and make them fix this. And compensate owners.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-10-13
- VIN: wvgbv7ax9gw
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while his wife was reversing, the vehicle emitted abnormal clicking sounds with the air bag warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the horn was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the clock spring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the replacement part was on backorder. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-09-16
- VIN: wvgbv7ax0gw
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: Front portion of panoramic sunroof shattered-sounded like an explosion. Had the fabric sunscreen not been in place, vehicle occupants would have been severely cut by glass shards. The vehicle has not been inspected by dealer, repair facility, law enforcement or insurance. This happened in a rural part of Iowa and we chose to make it home (to beat incoming rain). There was no impact and no previous damage on this sunroof. Unit was in the closed position and no mechanical or physical defects visible. There were no warning lights and symptoms of the problem prior to failure.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-03-01
- VIN: wvgav7ax8gw
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
- Summary: The clockspring has failed, and all electronics in the steering column do not work, including the horn (as well as cruise control, radio volume, channel, etc). It is also believed the air bag(s) will not deploy in a crash. The clockspring failure has been verified by the local VW dealership. The part has not been available from VW for over 2 months(!), and now my vehicle's safety inspection has expired and the car is not legally drivable on public roads (in Virginia) (and VW will not provide or pay for alternative transportation). VW can not provide and ETA for when this critical safety part will be available.
AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-06-01
- VIN: WVGAV7AX6GW
- Components: AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: The clockspring failed at under 62,000 miles. Air bag light came on, steering controls stopped working, and horn stopped working. Lots of other VWs have had clockspring issues--wondering why this is not included yet?
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-07-15
- VIN: WVGBV7AX3GW
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
- Summary: Unknown. Airbag sign went on, Clock does not work, seems like electrical problem.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-07-25
- VIN: WVGAV7AX1GW
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: I have taken my 2016 VW Tiguan to a VW service center, and they have notified me of a faulty water pump in my car that is leaking coolant. This is endangering the engine of the car and its safety. There has been a class action lawsuit regarding this exact issue with VW in the case Zhao, et al. v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 2:21-cv-11251. I have contacted the manufacturer VW several times regarding this issue, but they refuse to cover the costs of my repair as the mileage on my car is above their current warranty period. However, if this is a known issue with a faulty part, the manufacturer VW should be responsible for the costs of repairing the issue and maintaining the drivability of my car.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-07-11
- VIN: WVGBV7AX3GW
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
- Summary: Clock spring in steering wheel failed and the airbag, horn and steering wheel controls no longer work on my daughter's Tiguan which is still under warranty. ( a very expensive extended warranty) Volkswagon is no longer manufacturing the part, so the only way to repair the car is to replace the whole steering wheel column which costs 5 times as much.(So they don't want to fix it that way) I was told they have multiple cars sitting on their lot since last year waiting for that part, but from what I heard from a mechanic/parts guy is VW is just simply no longer making that part and stringing their customers along saying it is "backordered". The warranty is not being honored. The car is sitting at the dealership collecting dust. They will not provide me with a loaner, or reimburse me for a rental car.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-07-20
- VIN: WVGBV7AX8GW
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, an abnormal fuel odor was detected. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a fuel line leak. The dealer informed the contact that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-02-01
- VIN: WVGBV7AX6GW
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
- Summary: The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving, the horn and radio became inoperable. The TPMS and airbag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the clockspring needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-11-30
- VIN: WVGBV7AX8GW
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: Air bag light on due to recall, dealership cannot fix because the part is out of stock and there is no ETA.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-05-08
- VIN: wvgav7ax0gw
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: Issues related to the vehicles airbag light being on and no sound when horn is pushed, the dealer has stated is due to a bad clock spring. they said it could be replaced under warranty but they don’t know if they will ever receive a clock spring from VW. This vehicle is unsafe to drive without a horn.
2016 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan.
- 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.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 CC vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016, to February 3, 2016, Golf R and Tiguan vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 28, 2016, and e-Golf vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 11, 2016. Vibrations, such as those created by opening and closing a vehicle door, may cause the rear child door locks to disengage, allowing a child to open a rear door while inside the vehicle.
- Consequence: If an unrestrained child unexpectedly opens a door, they may fall from the vehicle increasing their risk of injury.
- Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the child lock(s), free of charge. The recall began on August 22, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 58C9.
Negative 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan car reviews
Positive 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan car reviews
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Sporty and compact - this car is perfect for those who love to drive and need an easy-to-park vehicle!
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You're doing great at handling things!
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This car is really sweet! It's so stable on the road and the acceleration is amazing. You can definitely feel the 200 HP, making merging and passing a breeze. The interior quality is fantastic, with great materials and a luxurious feel, especially for a vehicle that costs under $18k lightly used. In my opinion, VWs have the best exterior quality of any vehicle in any class, and the Tiguan is no exception. I love the knarly tires (17 inch), even though they may contribute to the lower fuel economy. But for me, the tradeoff is worth it because the driving experience is top-notch. VWs are for people who LIKE to drive! Some people have mentioned vehicle roll on turns, but that's to be expected with any high-riding vehicle. The braking is also smooth like butter, kicking in at just the right rate. As others have mentioned, the audio quality is superb with the standard equipment. The drawbacks have already been mentioned, such as fuel economy and limited cargo space, but as someone without kids, I'm willing to invest a little more in fuel to enjoy the driving experience. So in my book, they are acceptable trade-offs. The steering, while precise and comfortable, doesn't quite give one much road feel due to the
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The 2016 Tiguan is Volkswagen's compact SUV. It has typical German driving and handling characteristics. The interior and switch gear are of high quality and the instruments are well laid out. It provides a very stable, confident, yet comfortable ride. If you enjoy the typical
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You'll get just as much space, comfort, and technology as you would with a BMW, Audi, or Mercedes in its class, but at a significantly reduced price. While we do have a preference for German engineering, we don't feel like we've sacrificed any luxury by choosing this option.
Other years of Volkswagen Tiguan
Are you having problems with your 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Karl Homenick 2024-11-13
Despite the unfortunate incident, I am confident in my driving abilities and quick thinking in a difficult situation. Although my Tiguan did not perform as expected, I am certain that it was not due to any fault of my own. I am disappointed that I was not compensated for my loss and that the process was not as smooth as I had hoped. However, I remain assured in my decision to prioritize safety when choosing a vehicle. While I may not purchase a Volkswagen again, I will continue to prioritize my safety and the safety of my loved ones in all future vehicle purchases.
Elian Lindgren 2024-10-21
The VW Taiguan has been a disappointment for me. Despite having only 16,000 miles, it has stopped working twice due to electronic issues. Unfortunately, the dealership has not been helpful in resolving the issue and towing has been a challenge due to the 4-motion system. The car's reliability has been a concern and I would not recommend it. It is important to thoroughly research a car's reliability and service before making a purchase.
Henri Pagac 2024-09-12
I hope you're doing well! I recently purchased this vehicle second-hand, but unfortunately, I've been experiencing some issues with it. The timing chain and water pump have both had some faults, and I've heard that there have been some lawsuits related to these issues. However, I haven't seen any recalls for these problems. Overall, my experience with this car has been quite disappointing.