One of the better Tiguan years
Owners filed about 56% fewer complaints than a typical Tiguan year. The area owners reported most is the air bags, which half of owners reported by about 66,000 miles.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Tiguan years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
Owners have filed 62 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan. The most reported problem area is the air bags (28, 45% of complaints), followed by the electrical system and the engine and cooling. That is the fewest complaints of any Tiguan year from 2012 to 2024 on file. It has 4 recalls.
1 of these complaints came from Utah owners.
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Start my car searchMost reported problems
Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan before you buy.
Air bags
28 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 66,000 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
Car was recently repaired from a deer related accident. Within a week of getting car back I heard an unwinding like sound from steering wheel area while making a left hand turn into parking lot. My airbag light came on and all steering wheel functions like buttons and horn ceased to operate. I did see that this year Tiguan did have an…Owner complaint, filed 2024
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…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Electrical system
23 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 64,000 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
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.Owner complaint, filed 2021
Backup camera screen too dark. Cannot see what is behind you. All software [VIN] tried to improve video I.e. Increase brightness does not help. Checked another 2015 tiguan at dealer and it had same problem. Worried that poor performance of backup camera system will not detect objects behind vehicle when backing up. Reported problem to…Owner complaint, filed 2015, at 1,325 miles
Engine and cooling
9 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
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
Premature timing chain failure (at 70,000 miles). Regularly maintenanced. Confirmed by mechanic. Check engine light notified 2 months prior to failure.Owner complaint, filed 2024
These engines are susceptible to carbon build-up, which make them run extremely rough, jerk, misfire, and overall cannot get up to speed when cold. This is dangerous, a waste since mpg falls drastically, and could result an accident. Over normal wear at 70,000 miles, my tiguan needed a manual carbon build-up removal from the engine…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 72,000 miles
Steering
9 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
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
We are experiencing a recurring safety issue with our 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan. Upon startup, the power steering warning light consistently illuminates and remains on for 5 to 30 minutes. During this time, the vehicle has no functional power steering, making it extremely difficult and unsafe to drive, particularly in residential areas or…Owner complaint, filed 2025
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…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Brakes and stability control
6 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
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 brakes simply jump when it's going slowly over rougher surface. The brake pedals also shake and bottom out up and down. When this happens I gently have to take my foot off then reapply pressure on the pedal. Consequently the vehicle during the moment loose the braking which could result a collision. I have gone to the dealer service…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 11,000 miles
I want to reference NHTSA complaint id # 10883887, filed on 7/11/2016 by another consumer, because I have experienced exactly the same problem that they described with the brakes on my 2015 vw tiguan. As they said, the problem occurs randomly, typically when the brakes are applied at low speeds, and in my case, sometimes (but not always)…Owner complaint, filed 2016, at 19,500 miles
Body, doors and structure
4 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
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
Vw has door lock hatch actuators that are hazardous. They break or fail so much that there are millions of complaints on the internet about them. My daughter's back door wouldn't open and now won't lock. This is very dangerous with children in the back seat because the child safety lock doesn't work. Vw is making a fortune on this…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 31,000 miles
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…Owner complaint, filed 2021
Lights, wipers and visibility
4 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
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 2015 volkswagen tiguan. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the sun roof exploded without warning. The vehicle was taken to dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose the cause of the failure. The [VIN] was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 5,000.Owner complaint, filed 2015, at 5,000 miles
When placing the car in reverse, the viewing screen suddenly turns dark and unviewable, therefore creating a driving hazard for todays driving requirements. The company says they can't do anything about the condition?? This has occurred in all the 2 years I have had the car. Other vw owners have the same condition.Owner complaint, filed 2017
Transmission and drivetrain
2 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
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
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…Owner complaint, filed 2021
Driving down the freeway going 70+MPH the car made a loud thud, like a tire was blown, the wheel lost control for a second the car almost rolled. No engine light or tire pressure light came on for warning. All tires where intact. After pulling over the car and trying to drive the car loud banging from under the car and it could not be…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 36,000 miles
Seats and seat belts
2 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy
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 passenger seat burnt my butt from the seat heater it took my skin off my buttocks and vehicle was in motion for about 20 minutes on highway.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 52,000 miles
Passenger seatbelt locks up unnecessarily. The seatbelt locks up on the passenger without being engaged by any other source or action. Entire vehicle shuts off while driving... No electrical, power steering, accelerator n etc. All the interior lights flicker and flash and the gauge needles swing back and forth from minimum to maximum…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 75,000 miles
Fuel system
1 complaintHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
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 engine started to shake and would act like it wouldn't turn over , then it broke down on us on a road trip , got it towed and fixed but the same problem happen again couple months after of getting it fixed , and now it's leaking or smelling like gasoline leaking into the cabin of the car through the air vents and when you lift the…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 47,000 miles
Suspension
1 complaintClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy
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 currently have an issue with our braking system in our 2015 volkswagen tiguan. At low speeds the car does not brake properly. The car will loose its ability to brake and will make a loud grinding sound. This happens at random times and the car [VIN] cannot seem to replicate the issue. Our concern is that we have taken it to volkwagen…Owner complaint, filed 2016, at 8,500 miles
Wheels and tires
1 complaintTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
- Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
- The tire pressure light should go out after startup.
Tools that help
What owners said
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…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Volkswagen Tiguan complaints by year
Compare the 2015 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2015 compact SUVs
Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.
| Car | Vs. its other years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan | One of the better years | 4 |
| 2015 Toyota RAV4 | About average | 4 |
| 2015 Honda CR-V | Worse than most years | 3 |
| 2015 Mazda CX-5 | One of the better years | 4 |
2015 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls
Air bags Air bag / restraint control module
- Risk
- Deactivated air bags increases the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install new software and replace the air bag ECU as necessary, free of charge.
Full recall 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.
Other
- 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.
Full recall 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.
Air bags
- Risk
- 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.
- Fix
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side air bag modules, free of charge.
Full recall 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.
Equipment Labels
- Risk
- 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.
- Fix
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will correct the information on the certification label, free of charge.
Full recall 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."
2015 Volkswagen Tiguan questions
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan?
The most reported problem areas on the 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan are the air bags (28 complaints), the electrical system (23 complaints) and the engine and cooling (9 complaints).
Is the 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan a good year to buy?
One of the better Tiguan years. Owners filed about 56% fewer complaints than a typical Tiguan year. The area owners reported most is the air bags, which half of owners reported by about 66,000 miles. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Tiguan years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
How many recalls does the 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan have?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan. The most recent, from Jul 2019, covers the air bag / restraint control module. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
At what mileage do 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the air bags gave a mileage of about 66,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the electrical system gave a mileage of about 64,000 miles or less. Plenty of cars have these problems later or never, so ask for service records.
Which Volkswagen Tiguan years should I avoid?
The Tiguan years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2018. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2014, 2015 and 2017. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.
Check the exact car
These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
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