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2012 Volkswagen Tiguan problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 3safety recalls
- 153owner complaints
- 10crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 30%fail the UK MOT
153 complaints, against an average of 123 for the other 14 Volkswagen Tiguan model years.
Every Volkswagen Tiguan model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan?
The components named most often in the 153 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 153 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why does my 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan stall, lose power or shut off while driving?23 owners · 15% · Recall 14V441000
- What causes a knocking, ticking or rattling noise in the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan engine?14 owners · 9.2%
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan?12 owners · 7.8%
- Why is the airbag light on in my 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan?12 owners · 7.8% · Recall 15V483000
- Has the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan had engine failures?9 owners · 5.9%
- Why does my 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan idle rough, misfire or hesitate?8 owners · 5.2%
- Why is my 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan burning or losing oil?6 owners · 3.9%
- Why won't my 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan start?5 owners · 3.3%
- Why does the seat belt not latch or retract properly in my 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan?5 owners · 3.3%
Has the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan been recalled?
3 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Unknown Or Other 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.
Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags: Frontal Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
Risk: A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
Fuel System, Gasoline Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 to June 2014. When using winterized fuel, in certain conditions bubbles may form in the fuel system which could result in the vehicle stalling.
Risk: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to increase the fuel pump pressure, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin August 19, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24AV/2W.
Is the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSATakata Front airbag
Risk: The function of the driver airbag inflators can degrade due to air and moisture ingress.
Fix: Replace airbag
UK DVSAStarter motor may malfunction and overheat
Risk: On vehicles with diesel engines and stop/start system the starter motor may be permanently activated because the return spring in the solenoid switch is bent or broken. If the permanent current supply to the starter motor is not noticed overheating of the component with local scorching damage and a vehicle fire is possible.
Fix: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace the solenoid switch.
UK DVSAFuel may leak
Risk: On 2.0l Common Rail engines of a limited production period faulty material can cause leaks on the high pressure pipes during the service life of the vehicle.
Fix: Anti-vibration balance weights will be fitted on the high-pressure pipes.
EU Safety GateThe propellant in the driver airbag may deteriorate over time.If the airbags deploy, it can result in fragments from the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateCars initially used for internal purposes of Volkswagen AG might not have been correctly modified before they were sold to the general…Cars initially used for internal purposes of Volkswagen AG might not have been correctly modified before they were sold to the general public. There is a possibility that certain safety systems of these cars are not correctly modified for street use.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2012, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan owners report?
12 of the 153 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
A couple of weeks now my steering wheel has been locking while I’m driving, sadly I thought it was because I needed to get my car serviced. This morning my steering wheel locked out of nowhere as I was turning and I almost ended up in a head on collision with another car while my kids were in the car. Then my brother did some research and sent me NHTSA link talking about the recalls. This is absolutely dangerous and I need to get reimbursed or something for my SUV doing this. It’s dangerous and can possibly kill someone.
Steering wheel gets locked up while driving; power steering fails. The red steering light turns on. This is a problem that happens to several Tiguans. There were no prior symptoms prior to failure. This is extremely dangerous and difficult to deal with while driving, especially on the freeway. please help.
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. Additionally, while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to restart. The check engine, EPC, and TPMS warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due…
The clockspring has failed and there are recalls on similar models of Tiguans of the same year.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Defective Primary Engine Water Pump, yes. The original primary engine water pump system for a 2012 VW Tiguan 2.0 was replaced under the VW extended warranty in 2020 by an authorized dealer as a the result of the class action suit---please see Water Pump Class Action and Limited Warranty Extension bulletin issued by NHTSA. The replacement primary engine water pump system installed in 2020 has been found to be defective in March 2025 and the primary engine water pump requires replacement a second…
Sunroof lets water in and floods in car causing electrical problems, mold, rust, ruining roof interior and carpets. The air bag and horn stopped working and clock spring needs to be replaced. I had no prior warning of that these problems would occur. I have spent thousands of dollars in repairs for electrical trying to figure out why the car stopped working and also how water was getting into car when there is no leaks around the sunroof. This puts the safety of my family as well as others on the road when my car breaks down. I wasn't able to drive my car for months during the winter because…
I made a report on 11/1/19 about issues with my vehicle due to a manufactures defect that the panoramic roof drains did not drain properly and water leaked throughout the vehicle. Please refer to ODI# 41277589 and Ref.# 238025. This is a known issue with these vehicles and should have been recalled by volkswagon. On September 18, 2023 my daughter got into an accident because the vehicle shut off and couldn't stop. Air bags never went off either. It has officially been determined that there was in fact an electrical short.
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel display turned on and turned off intermittently. The contact continued driving at an unknown speed. The contact had since experienced failures related to the electrical system, with the interior and exterior lights not working as needed, the door open indicator malfunctioning, and the infotainment unit not working as needed. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not…
While making a uturn my neighborhood with steering wheel turned to the left I started to hear and feel a "clicking and grinding" noise in steering wheel. Moments later, the airbag error light illuminated on dash and has not turned off. Front driver airbag error, airbag will not deploy in the event of a collision. Horn no longer works. Steering wheel controls do not work. Airbag error warning light displayed on dash and alarms during vehicle ignition. Clock spring seems to be defective and complete power steering failure has happened on multiple occasions, in very dangerous and inconvenient…
Water pump melted and needed to be replaced, car won't start, airbag light is on and clock spring needed to be replaced, heated seat gets extremely hot on driver's side when turned on.
I HAVE VW TIGUAN, 2012 MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IT APPEARS THAT WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, ESPECIALLY DURING COLD WEATHER, THE ACCELERATION OF THE CAR IS INCONSISTENT. TOOK TO DEALER TO TAKE A LOOK BUT THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING. THE ISSUE APPEARS TO AFFECT MULTIPLE OWNERS AND MULTIPLE TIGUAN MODELS, AS SEEN HERE IN THIS FORUM DISCUSSION: HTTPS://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?9237567-VERY-DELAYED-ACCELERATION-NO-FIX
THERE WAS NO CRASH OR PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE, AIRBAG SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING. FOR ABOUT A WEEK NOW, "ERROR: AIRBAG" MESSAGE IS SHOWN UP ON DASHBOARD AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS TURNED ON. IN ADDITION TO THAT, EVEN I BUCKLED UP, WHEN I MAKE A RIGHT TURN SEAT BELT ALARM IS BEEPING AND SEAT BELT LIGHT HAS TURNED ON WHILE I AM DRIVING. I AM CONCERNING ABOUT THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I AM DRIVING MY CAR EVERYDAY WITH POTENTIAL THREAT OF ACCIDENT WITHOUT AIRBAGS BEING DEPLOYED.
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2012 Volkswagen Tiguan: questions owners ask
Is the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 153 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan; the most common categories were engine (50, 32.7%), air bags (33, 21.6%), electrical system (23, 15%). There are 3 safety recalls. 10 complaints mention a crash, 6 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Across 153 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are engine (32.7% of complaints), air bags (21.6% of complaints), electrical system (15% of complaints), steering (13.7% of complaints), fuel/propulsion system (7.8% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan; the most recent (campaign 18V329000, 2018-05-16) concerns Unknown Or Other. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
23 of the 153 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan (15%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. A related recall exists: campaign 14V441000 (fuel system, gasoline). The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to increase the fuel pump pressure, free of charge. One owner wrote: "I've only owned the vw tiguan 2012 for 6 months, january 2020 and the vehicle engine shuts off, all power lost and has to be restarted." (NHTSA complaint 11340620, July 2020). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What causes a knocking, ticking or rattling noise in the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan engine?
14 of the 153 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan (9.2%) describe a knocking, ticking or rattling engine noise. One owner wrote: "I was accelerating on the highway when my engine started making a rattling sound and the check engine light came on. I took my car into a specialty European auto shop and they determined my timing chain and tensioner needed replacing." (NHTSA complaint 11605547, July 2024). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan?
12 of the 153 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan (7.8%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "I was accelerating on the highway when my engine started making a rattling sound and the check engine light came on. I took my car into a specialty European auto shop and they determined my timing chain and tensioner needed replacing." (NHTSA complaint 11605547, July 2024). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the airbag light on in my 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan?
12 of the 153 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan (7.8%) describe airbag warning lights or airbag faults. A related recall exists: campaign 15V483000 (air bags: frontal). The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. One owner wrote: "Water pump melted and needed to be replaced, car won't start, airbag light is on and clock spring needed to be replaced, heated seat gets extremely hot on driver's side when turned on." (NHTSA complaint 11516227, April 2023). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan had engine failures?
9 of the 153 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan (5.9%) describe complete engine failure or a replaced engine. One owner wrote: "The timing chain & timing chain tensioner malfunctioning prior to 93,000 miles, below the projected owners manual 120,000 miles, caused the timing chain to fail and the engine to not have the correct oil pressure/volume." (NHTSA complaint 11194867, April 2019). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan idle rough, misfire or hesitate?
8 of the 153 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan (5.2%) describe rough idling, misfires or hesitation when accelerating. One owner wrote: "Ignition Coil failed while on highway. Car hesitated , shook, and and slowed down. Created dangerous situation where we had to merge across to get off highway." (NHTSA complaint 11463527, May 2022). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is my 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan burning or losing oil?
6 of the 153 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan (3.9%) describe excessive oil consumption or oil leaks. One owner wrote: "The timing chain & timing chain tensioner malfunctioning prior to 93,000 miles, below the projected owners manual 120,000 miles, caused the timing chain to fail and the engine to not have the correct oil pressure/volume." (NHTSA complaint 11194867, April 2019). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why won't my 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan start?
5 of the 153 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan (3.3%) describe the car failing to start. One owner wrote: "The front headlight does not work on one side but the high beam and running lights still work on both sides. Might be an issue with the ballast or electrical system. A few days later my car would not start in the morning." (NHTSA complaint 11493359, November 2022). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does the seat belt not latch or retract properly in my 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan?
5 of the 153 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan (3.3%) describe seat belts not latching, retracting or locking. One owner wrote: "When the vehicle is stationary, and the ambient air is approximately 65f, or higher the drivers side seat belt will not release/extend not allowing the driver to fasten the seat belt." (NHTSA complaint 10979183, April 2017). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Tiguan
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2012 only.