2015 Volkswagen Tiguan Problems And Complaints

Volkswagen Tiguan user complaints and problems

The VW Tiguan has had its fair share of customer complaints due to the varied types of issues faced by them. That said, most of them were minor issues without any major consequences and hence should not be a point of concern. 

Engine problems

• Engine misfire: A single owner complains about an engine misfire. The report doesn’t offer many details except for the information that the misfires occur during cold starts.
• Excessive carbon build-up: One user reports the excessive carbon build-up in his vehicle. Due to the excessive carbon build-up, the engine would misfire and malfunction unless cleaned properly. The owner further mentions that this issue is a common one with the 2015 Tiguans as well.
• Engine fire: A single case of engine fire has been reported against the 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan. The owner mentions that while he parked the vehicle and got out, the vehicle caught fire. The exact reasons for the fire were undetermined.
• Shaky engine: In this case, the owner reports that the engine suddenly started to shake while driving. Furthermore, after getting the issue fixed, the engine started to give out a smell of gasoline, especially through the aircon vents.

Electrical problems

• Rearview camera displays too dark: A few owners complain that their vehicle’s rearview camera display is too dark. While reversing their vehicles, the displays became too dark and lost clarity of the objects in the image as well.
• Battery draining issue: One owner has faced issues with excessive battery drainage with his 2015 Tiguan. Even after replacing the vehicle’s battery more than a couple of times, the issue recurred.

Safety problems

• Airbag failure and steering clockspring failure: A plethora of complaints are there regarding these issues. All the owners complain that while turning their steering wheels, the clock spring broke. Due to the failures, the airbags were deactivated and the steering mounted controls stopped working as well.
• Faulty brakes over rough surfaces: A few complaints mentioning this issue were recorded by the NHTSA. The owners in their reports mentioned that while applying brakes over rough surfaces, the vehicles would jump and make grinding noises. Moreover, the braking force would be reduced as well.

2015 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls

S.No.	Recall Date	NHTSA Campaign ID	Issues noticed	Additional remarks	Remedy
1	May 26, 2015	15V311000	Incorrect Pressure Information/Part 567	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.	Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will correct the information on the certification label, free of charge. The recall began on June 12, 2015.
2	January 28, 2016	16V045000	Seat-Mounted Airbag Inflators May Rupture	In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of a seat-mounted airbag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.	Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side airbag modules, free of charge. The recall began on July 7, 2016.
3	May 16, 2018	18V329000	Modifications to Vehicles Made them Noncompliant	If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.	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 on November 29, 2018.
4	July 17, 2019	19V535000	Air Bag ECU May Malfunction	Deactivated airbags increase the risk of injury. Inadvertent deployment of the airbags increases the risk of a crash.	Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install new software and replace the airbag ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 25, 2019.

Should you buy a used Volkswagen Tiguan?

The Volkswagen Tiguan is an underrated crossover in the segment that scores big on refinement, handling, interior, and performance. On the flip side, it is held back due to its expensive base price, lackluster fuel economy, and average safety scores. For the 2015 model, the notorious steering clock spring failure also plays a spoilsport, and the last year’s model also had this issue too. Getting a used example would be a good idea if you can live with the cons and manage to find an example without the well-known issues.