One of the better Tiguan years
Owners filed about 46% fewer complaints than a typical Tiguan year. The area owners reported most is the air bags, which half of owners reported by about 28,000 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 76 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan. The most reported problem area is the air bags (30, 39% of complaints), followed by the engine and cooling and the steering. That ranks 11th of 13 Tiguan years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 4 recalls.
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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 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan before you buy.
Air bags
30 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 28,000 miles. Parts named most: Frontal: driver clockspring / spiral cassette (6).
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
No crash or incident occurred. While starting the vehicle normally, the airbag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed fault code P0588, driver side airbag igniter at resistance limit. The mechanic confirmed that all airbags are non-functional as a result of this fault. No accident…Owner complaint, filed 2026
During a collision in which my vehicle was struck by another driver, the airbag warning light activated, my seatbelt locked in place, and white smoke with a strong electrical smell filled the cabin. No airbags deployed (frontal or side). There is now an "ERROR: Airbag" warning on my dashboard, and the seatbelt is completely locked. The…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Engine and cooling
16 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 34,000 miles.
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
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who serviced the engine, and the check engine warning light was deactivated; however, the failure persisted. No further information was available.…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 30,000 miles
My Tiguan does not have airbags, the tire sensors don’t work, none of the buttons on my steering wheel work. My turbo supercharger started failing and I had to spend $2,500 to fix it, which the car is not worth that plus the payments I make. The dealership says the airbags are on back order but won’t say when they’ll have it and that was…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Steering
13 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
Intermittent lack of steering and steering wheel fell off luckily it happened while driving slow otherwise could have caused a major accident.Owner complaint, filed 2026
Ive had every now and then a steering wheel light come on then come off. Well today 9/1/26 I had lost all steering to my 2017 vw tiguan. The electronic power steering has failed and I believe this is a safety issue that needs to be addressed. And push for a recall to be made on these vehicles.Owner complaint, filed 2026
Electrical system
12 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
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
Ignitions system no way to crank car with a key they port charlotte volkswagon replaced the keyless and was asked what would a mother and children where stranded and the keyless switch goes out and have no way to contact someone and no key will work. Safety there in dangerOwner complaint, filed 2020
The contact owns a 2017 volkswagen tiguan. While driving 35 MPH, multiple warning indicators illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and had the vehicle towed to schumacher volkswagen of west palm beach (located at 3001 okeechobee blvd, west palm beach, fl 33409, (561) 935-4490). The dealer diagnosed that the rear…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 31,000 miles
Fuel system
8 complaintsHesitation, 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
when was driven i lost power and got the ECU light and check engine light when scan for codes got fuel system and also car went into limp mode and had low fuel reading from live feeding and since have replaced the high pressure fuel pump and live reading are good now it still won’t start and won’t come out of limp modeOwner complaint, filed 2025
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while his daughter was starting the vehicle, she became aware that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The contact was informed that the N80 purge valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 55,780 miles
Transmission and drivetrain
5 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
The gas pedal stopped responding during high velocity highway drive. Luckily, I was able to steer the car safely to an emergency stop. I was able to shift gear to N and than to P but the car rocked violently when I tried to switch back to D. The car was towed and a mechanic inspection suggested that it's a transmission fail.Owner complaint, filed 2021
When driving down an incline on the road, the car will downshift so hard that the rpms will go really high for a few seconds. I am not sure if this is normal or if it is ok for the engine.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 20,000 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
While driving at approx 30 MPH slowing down for a red light, on a city street, the panoramic sunroof exploded. Nothing struck the car, no other traffic was within 200 yards, and nothing above. It sounded like a pop, then glass shards fell in rear passenger seating area. No one was injured. Sunroof is raised up, indicating pressure forced…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 43,060 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle after a rainstorm, the contact became aware that the interior of the vehicle was flooded, and that water had entered the vehicle through the sunroof. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 66,000 miles
Brakes and stability control
3 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
I was traveling down a road and my brake gave out, when i had it towed to the dealership they said the inside of the brake vacuume exploded???? I was driving with my daughter and we could not stop. I have never had brake issues with this car and we almost ended up being smashed in an intersection going downhill with no brakes I wrote to…Owner complaint, filed 2021
The rotors seem to be grabbing when stopping. I bought the car with almost 13000 miles on it and it started shortly there after. I think that is too soon for this sort of thing to begin.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 13,000 miles
Lights, wipers and visibility
2 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
Vw new model inside rearview mirrors are self dimming (electrically) but they do not dim as much as the mechanically (driver) dimming mirror of prior years. Driver eye fatigue and glare, especially for older drivers, with this device is made unbearable, especially with new white, halogen following headlights. If there is a specification…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 1 miles
Driver assist systems
1 complaintPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
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
Hello, I have had much trouble with this automobile. In fact it’s has become a nightmare. While driving on highway 75/85 with massive traffic in a major city, my level of anxiety was raised because I was about 15 minutes from home. I had to travel for 40 minutes. I took a chance hoping that the car did not stop or give out in traffic in…Owner complaint, filed 2022
Seats and seat belts
1 complaintBelts 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
My [XXX] daughter was a front seat passenger in her friend‘s car the 2017 Tiguan when the driver swerved to avoid another car and struck a pole. The damage was primarily on the front passenger side of the car. My daughter hit the windshield. It was broken in two places and she sustained several other injuries. The airbags never deployed.…Owner complaint, filed 2025
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
Tires treads are peeling or shredded at 40.000 miles in left front driver side, rear driver side and right front passenger side I went to Costco tire and was advised to replace the tires for safety reasonsOwner complaint, filed 2022
Volkswagen Tiguan complaints by year
Compare the 2017 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2017 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan | One of the better years | 4 |
| 2017 Toyota RAV4 | About average | 3 |
| 2017 Honda CR-V | Among the worst years | 7 |
| 2017 Mazda CX-5 | About average | 1 |
2017 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls
Other
- Risk
- Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
- Fix
- Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles.
Full recall summary
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
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, the incorrect air bags may not protect the driver as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel and front driver air bag module, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Tiguan Limited vehicles. The front driver air bag installed on these vehicles may not be intended for use in vehicles sold in the United States. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Seat belts Pretensioner
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.
- Fix
- Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2017 Audi Q7, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, and 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners may not activate properly.
2017 Volkswagen Tiguan questions
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan?
The most reported problem areas on the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan are the air bags (30 complaints), the engine and cooling (16 complaints) and the steering (13 complaints). Within the air bags, owners most often name the frontal: driver clockspring / spiral cassette.
Is the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan a good year to buy?
One of the better Tiguan years. Owners filed about 46% fewer complaints than a typical Tiguan year. The area owners reported most is the air bags, which half of owners reported by about 28,000 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 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan have?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan. The most recent, from May 2021, covers the other. 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 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the air bags gave a mileage of about 28,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the engine and cooling gave a mileage of about 34,000 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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