2014 Volkswagen Tiguan Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 50,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated, and the horn and the buttons on her steering failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed her that there was a recall on that model vehicle for a similar failure. The contact went to a…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 143,550 miles

In 2020 we had the clock spring "repaired" by the dealership under a recall. As of 9/6/2022 it is malfunctioning again. My daughter drives this car as a freshman in college 5 hours away with no horn or airbag!Owner complaint, filed 2022

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 46,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

After making a turn out of my driveway I heard a loose rattling noise coming from the steering column whenever I would turn the wheel. After a few minutes I noticed the airbag light was now on. I pulled over and checked the steering wheel. All the controls on the steering wheel were not functioning including the horn. After doing some…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 46,000 miles

Clock spring broken when my wife turned her steering wheel leaving a parking lot. Airbags no longer work, along with anything electronic within steering wheel.Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 47,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while reversing, the steering wheel became locked and failed to steer in the left or right direction. No warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact managed to temporarily unlock the steering wheel; however, after driving at approximately 65 MPH, the steering…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 205,000 miles

driving down the highway at speed, power steering fails and cannot control the vehicle. shut the car down and cannot get the issue to go away. got the car home without power steering. issue was gone next day. took car out to see if issue was gone, while making a turn power steering once again fails on the car. had to limp the car home at…Owner complaint, filed 2023

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

My vehicle stalls and completely stops at red lights, stop signs, and low speeds. Currently my vehicle is stalling and stopping at accelerated speeds at 20 mph.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Check engine light came on, related to the thermostat and faulty water pump. My car’s make and model was part of a settlement for this issue but VW corporate will not cover costs to repair.Owner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

The emergency brake was accidentally engaged while driving on the highway at 65 MPH in traffic, bringing the car to a full stop. The emergency brake button is located next the to cup holder in the center console between the front seats. The driver put a coffee mug with an open handle in the cup holder while driving. The mug handle…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 150,000 miles

Driving in cold weather and slow enough speed, the electronic stabilization control light went on, indicating ESC failure. The steering and brakes [VIN] and simultaneously failed. Stepping on the brakes produced no response at all. Car was out of control.Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 45,240 miles

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving and while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle unexpectedly vibrated with the EPC warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was idling roughly, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 160,000 miles

The contact owns a 2014 volkswagen tiguan. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14v441000 (fuel system, gasoline) and had the vehicle repaired. The vehicle had not experienced a failure prior to the repair. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the contact smelled fuel inside the vehicle and the rpms increased…Owner complaint, filed 2014, at 7,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

We were driving on a highway and all of a sudden felt/heard a loud bang causing the car to swerve. We slowed down and there was a continuous loud rattling sound. We brought the car to the dealership and they told us the coil springs were fractured. Had to pay for the replacement- $2,825.73. Then we learned that the later models were…Owner complaint, filed 2022

The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that upon servicing his vehicle at an independent mechanic, he was informed that both rear springs had developed severe corrosion that needed replacement. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer where he was informed that rain and snow had collected inside the springs causing…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 75,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2014 volkswagen tiguan. While driving approximately 35 MPH and making a left turn, a noise was heard coming from the steering wheel and the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The contact also stated that the controls located on the steering wheel for the cruise control, bluetooth, and horn failed to operate. In…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 51,000 miles

After taking car to vw dealer I received these repair estimates: air bag control module needs to be replaced...seat belt assembly 655 recommend replacing right seat belt....crankcase breather hose recommend replacing breather valve. Was parked and idle was fluctuating abnormally...air bag light came on for no apparent reason and seatbelt…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 60,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

Front driver's outer door handle does not open door. Interior handle still works. Then, if you try to open the front outer handle the front door then won't shut, or door won't latch keep the door shut.Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 25,000 miles

The contact owns a 2014 volkswagen tiguan. The contact stated after returning to the vehicle, the contact became aware of several items of belongings on the ground around the vehicle. The contact attempted to lock the vehicle using the keyfob however, the passenger's side rear door remained unlocked. The contact used the internal door…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 80,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2014 volkswagen tiguan. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the moon roof suddenly exploded and glass fell into the vehicle. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to emich volkswagen (1260 s. Colorado blvd, denver, co) and the moon roof was replaced. The cause of the failure was not determined. The [VIN] was…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 50,000 miles

On december 7th, 2018 I was driving about 65 MPH when I heard an explosion load enough to make my ears ring. I looked up and discovered that the sunroof had exploded and fine particles of glass were raining down on me through the sunroof sunshade. Nothing hit the sunroof to cause this as there was no other traffic, overpasses or…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 30,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

A few years ago the turbo went at 88000 miles, a mechanic felt there should be a recall. Now the transmission needs to be replaced at 109000 miles. The transmission was on backorder because the appears to be many cars needing a rebuilt transmission. There is a recall for othewr VW models with the same transmission. I feel that my car…Owner complaint, filed 2023

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2014 volkswagen tiguan. The contact stated that every time the vehicle was engaged into reverse, the rear back up camera was very dark and limited the contact's visibility. The dealer diagnosed that the rear back up camera was operating normally and that a number of customers lodged the same complaint. The [VIN] was…Owner complaint, filed 2015, at 20,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

While the car is in motion with cruise control active, pressing the "set/-" switch is supposed to decrease the vehicle speed in 1 MPH increments for each press of the switch. When attempting to decrease speed gradually for upcoming speed limit changes, or when vehicles pull-in a bit too soon after passing, my tiguan will often quickly…Owner complaint, filed 2016, at 10,200 miles