Worse than most Tiguan years
Owners filed about 1.3 times as many complaints as a typical Tiguan year. The main thing to watch is the electrical system, which half of owners reported by about 3,000 miles. Years with fewer complaints: 2014, 2015 and 2017.
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 196 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan. The most reported problem area is the electrical system (57, 29% of complaints), followed by the engine and cooling and the driver assist systems. That ranks 3rd of 13 Tiguan years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 5 recalls.
3 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 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan before you buy.
Electrical system
57 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 3,000 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
On unusually hot days, my VW Tiguan 2019, pops up a Check Start system and shuts down the dash and all electrical components (speedometer, A/C, infotainment system, blindside monitors, brake lights etc.) Car still runs but everything does not work. On searching, there are other VW users complaining about this issue as well making it a…Owner complaint, filed 2026
During Hot weather the vehicles electrical will shut down while driving displaying a message saying check starter system and I will loose all lighting and brake lights and turn signals and HVAC systems and engine will shut off also I was going down the highway when this happened to me and it only happens in hot weather. This has been…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Engine and cooling
46 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 2,000 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
Car burns excessive oil (1 quart per 1000 miles). Smoke comes from tail pipes. Had PCV replaced. Engine blocked scoped and valve guide #3 is bad. VW has not recalled this common issue and does NOT have the parts available to fix (on 6+ month back order).Owner complaint, filed 2026
Cylinder head failure. Vehicle is currently at VW dealership waiting on part that is in a nationwide backorder as so many are failing. I was told it will be at least a 4-6 week wait for repair, maybe longer as part is backordered. Vehicle had a full inspection done by VW dealership. Vehicle was needing oil in between oil changes, then…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Driver assist systems
29 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
Parts named most: Automatic emergency braking (18), Warnings (12).
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
Blind spot detection not working. Repaired May 2023. Occurred again September 2024. No warning that it's been deactivated. Error message when blind spot sensing is activated. VW dealer diagnosed issue.Owner complaint, filed 2024
Around 8 times now if my vehicle senses something in the front it will abruptly brake very hard. There doesn’t have to be anything in the view, simply pulling out of a gas station it will do, and it’s almost caused a collision, as it takes a few seconds to be able to disable, manually. This is extremely dangerous, and is going to…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Brakes and stability control
25 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 2,000 miles.
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
At 79,200 mi. metallic grinding noise was coming from rear wheel. Disassembly of rear brake pads on driver side revealed inner brake pad completely worn to the metal backing (no braking material remaining.) An inspection of the pad showed that the manufacturer installed the pad such that the brake pad wear indicator was positioned too…Owner complaint, filed 2024
The electronic parking brake would not disengage. After trying all the tips found online I finally got it to disengage but now it won’t re-engage and I am getting a warning “electronic brake fault” on the dash. It’s very dangerous not to have a working parking brake.Owner complaint, filed 2024
Lights, wipers and visibility
20 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 6,000 miles. Parts named most: Sun / moon roof assembly (5).
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 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving approximately 68 MPH, there was a booming sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stopped to inspect the vehicle and discovered that the rear glass sunroof panel had shattered from the inside and shards of glass were ejected from the sunroof panel. The…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 44,000 miles
The windshield fluid washer disappeared aka consumed mystery without the operator usage. I had to fill in a gallon of the windshield washer every2-3 months, and I did not do any washing or anything to use the fluid. Last week, the check engine came in and told me to fill the washer fluid and it could not pump the washer fluid onto the…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Transmission and drivetrain
18 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 0 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
XXX, the emergency mode kept coming on, on the dash of my daughters 2019 Tiguan. I Took the tiguan to VW and they recommended replacement of gear selector unit. This is the car my daughter drives. She recently graduated and is now going to the military, leaving for bootcamp on 6/15. The part has been on backorder for 6 months (since Dec…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Warning sign with message, ‘Only exit vehicle in P position. Please service vehicle.’ displays. Other vw cars recalled for this ‘same issue’ but not Tiguan. Please let them recall and fix the problem.Owner complaint, filed 2024
Cruise control and acceleration
14 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 2,000 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
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond, and the vehicle vibrated abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who confirmed the failure but was unable to retrieve any fault codes. The vehicle was…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 68,000 miles
I am writing to bring to your attention a pressing safety concern regarding my 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan, with VIN [XXX] . Despite reaching out to Volkswagen of America on August 18th, 2025, and visiting my local dealership multiple times, the issue remains unresolved. The problem is with the gas pedal, which fails to accelerate properly…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Fuel system
10 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
Was driving on the freeway in my 2019 VW Tiguan when I experienced a sudden unexpected loss of power. Warning lights came on and the car went into a "limp mode" not allowing the engine to rev past a certain RPM. I took the car to be serviced at a local dealership where it was determined that the Fuel Injector Harness was faulty and…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Hit a small patch of black ice, not sure what happened but it caused the turbo to fully quite working creating a loss of power Engine Valve seals also were damaged Possible over boostOwner complaint, filed 2025
Body, doors and structure
9 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 9,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (7).
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
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the right hydraulic arm of the hatchback was corroded and upon closing the trunk manually, the right hydraulic arm detached and hit her on the right side of the head and shoulder. A bystander approached the contact to check on her. The contact then sought medical…Owner complaint, filed 2022
This is the basic s model. We intentionally purchased this base model to exclude the hi-tech options known to fail. We wanted an ignition key to eliminate the necessity of a fob and push button start. We were not made aware of the fact you cannot lock this vehicle without using the door fob they provided!! We were LED to believe it was a…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 9,000 miles
Air bags
7 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
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
I had a tire blowout on the highway and caused my airbags to go off without having impact on my vehicle. The airbags going off was extremely dangerous and could of caused serious harm to me or someone else by possibly crashing into another vehicle. I luckily managed to keep my car in control with minimal damage to the body. The dealer…Owner complaint, filed 2023
I was involved in a collision where I hit another vehicle with the front passenger side. The air bags did not deploy on mine, and the seat belt did not lock into place causing me to hit the steering wheel. The police verified this upon inspection immediately after the accident happened. I have spoken with Volkswagen many times about the…Owner complaint, filed 2021
Suspension
6 complaintsClunks 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
I am submitting this complaint regarding a safety defect on my 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan (VIN: [XXX]) consistent with NHTSA Safety Recall No. 19V188 (VW Recall Code 42J5) - premature fracture of rear axle coil springs. The vehicle exhibits uneven rear ride height indicative of coil spring fracture. The installed rear coil spring bears a…Owner complaint, filed 2026
There has been a safety recall for CERTAIN 2019 VW Tiguan's due to improper materials or incorrect process parameters during manufacture of the rear coil springs, which are weaker than intended (Volkswagen's recall number is 42J5). While parked in my driveway on May 17, 2026, my family members heard an exceptionally loud bang from the…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Seats and seat belts
5 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
Passenger seatbelt alarm indicates that the seat is occupied when there is only a phone sitting in the seat. This continues until the phone is removed, I have done some testing and this is due to the USB port in the cubby hole for the audio system. If there is a cable plugged into the USB port the light comes on indicating to fasten the…Owner complaint, filed 2023
The seatbelt had some imperfection either in production of the seatbelt from Volkswagen's supplier or the buckle (original VW buckle) has rough spots that have caused the edge of the seatbelt to fray and appears to be getting worse and in my opinion compromises the integrity of the seatbelt and therefore safety. VW refuses to cover the…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Steering
3 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
In September 2022, we began to hear clunking sounds from the front left, especially when turning. We took the vehicle to the VW dealer and were told that there is a known issue with the steering and they will order the part. At this point, the vehicle was still under warranty. For several months, we continued to ask the dealer for an…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Vehicle was purchased from Volkswagen Marin Dealership As Certified Pre-owned 2019 model year Tiguan SE 4motion Turbo Color Red on August 24, 2021 and has 18,664 mileage already upon delivery. We have received a recall letter for the water pump & made an appointment to the Dealership& brought the car there In VW Sunnyvale, Ca.. According…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Wheels and tires
2 complaintsTire 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
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, the headlights unexpectedly failed to illuminate until the vehicle passed over a bump in the road, and shortly afterwards the headlights became illuminated again. Additionally, the engine oil and TPMS warning lights remained…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 103,000 miles
Vehicle was purchased from Volkswagen Marin Dealership As Certified Pre-owned 2019 model year Tiguan SE 4motion Turbo Color Red on August 24, 2021 and has 18,664 mileage already upon delivery. We have received a recall letter for the water pump & made an appointment to the Dealership& brought the car there In VW Sunnyvale, Ca.. According…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Volkswagen Tiguan complaints by year
Compare the 2019 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2019 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan | Worse than most years | 5 |
| 2019 Toyota RAV4 | Among the worst years | 7 |
| 2019 Honda CR-V | Among the worst years | 8 |
| 2019 Mazda CX-5 | Worse than most years | 2 |
2019 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls
Tires Pressure monitoring and regulating systems
- Risk
- An undetected sudden loss of pressure in all four tires increases the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB, Golf Sportswagen A7, Golf Alltrack, Golf R GP, Audi Q3, Audi A3 Cabriolet, 2019-2020 Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas, Golf A7, Audi A3, 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021 Atlas FL vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system may not detect an air pressure loss in adequate time when deflating occurs among all four tires simultaneously. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Body and structure
- Risk
- An insufficiently attached spoiler may separate from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the spoiler, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan and 2018-2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. Due to incorrect installation instructions, the accessory rear hatch spoiler may be insufficiently attached to the vehicle.
Equipment Labels
- Risk
- The incorrect specifications can result in improper tire inflations or to installing a tire of the wrong size on the vehicle.
- Fix
- Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will install a corrected tire information label, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Tiguan LWB vehicles. The tire information label contains inaccurate tire dimension and inflation pressure specifications. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Suspension Coil springs
- Risk
- If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, 2015-2019 Golf, and 2018-2019 Tiguan vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture.
Electrical system Instrument cluster / panel
- Risk
- If the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the risk of vehicle theft or crash.
- Fix
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge.
Full recall summary
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
2019 Volkswagen Tiguan questions
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan?
The most reported problem areas on the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan are the electrical system (57 complaints), the engine and cooling (46 complaints) and the driver assist systems (29 complaints).
Is the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan a good year to buy?
Worse than most Tiguan years. Owners filed about 1.3 times as many complaints as a typical Tiguan year. The main thing to watch is the electrical system, which half of owners reported by about 3,000 miles. Years with fewer complaints: 2014, 2015 and 2017. 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 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan have?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan. The most recent, from Oct 2022, covers the pressure monitoring and regulating systems. 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 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the electrical system gave a mileage of about 3,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the engine and cooling gave a mileage of about 2,000 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.
Looking at a 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan?
We inspect the car with a scan tool and paint gauge, read the history report and tell you whether it is worth the asking price, before you hand over any money.
- Check a specific car for open recalls at NHTSA
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