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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2011 Volkswagen Tiguan Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 162 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Volkswagen dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2011 Volkswagen Tiguan owner complaints

Owners have filed 162 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan, describing incidents dated February 1, 2011 to June 10, 2026.

Most-cited components

  • Engine 63 complaints
  • Electrical System 47 complaints
  • Exterior Lighting 39 complaints
  • Air Bags 30 complaints
  • Steering 14 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 12 complaints

Of the 162 complaints on file, 4 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 162 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11768456 · Filed

    The brakes will completely fail. The peddle goes just about all the way to the floor when pressed. There still is a small amount of braking and the vehicle slows down but nothing like when the brakes work right. Now this happens at the most random times. It won’t do it for months then start doing it…

  • ODI #11763008 · Filed

    Car only starts when it wants to. Rpms dont go over 4,000. Low idle.

  • ODI #11712684 · Filed

    My 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan was included in the Volkswagen clock spring safety recall. According to Volkswagen’s records, the recall repair was completed in 2016. The same defect has now reoccurred: the steering wheel controls, horn, and driver airbag are disabled again due to a failed clock spring…

Read all 162 complaints

Owner-reported

2011 Volkswagen Tiguan mileage at failure

137 of the 162 complaints on file for the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
EngineMedian 75,000 milesMiddle half 55,000–95,000 milesBased on 57 complaints
Electrical SystemMedian 45,000 milesMiddle half 40,000–55,000 milesBased on 40 complaints
Exterior LightingMedian 45,000 milesMiddle half 35,000–55,000 milesBased on 35 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan in 4 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bag Clock Spring may Fail

NHTSA #15V483000 · Air Bags — Frontal · NHTSA notice

Reported August 4, 2015 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 415,825 vehicles

Repair completion: 76.45% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Volkswagen campaign 69L2 · Owners notified January 15, 2016 · Vehicles built May 3, 2010 – June 15, 2011 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Bubbles in Fuel may Result in Engine Stall

NHTSA #14V441000 · Fuel System, Gasoline · NHTSA notice

Reported July 21, 2014 · Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 151,389 vehicles

Repair completion: 89.97% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Volkswagen campaign 24AV/2W · Owners notified August 19, 2014 · Vehicles built July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2014 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Partial Loss of Exterior Lights

NHTSA #13V569000 · Electrical System — Wiring — Fuses and Circuit Breakers · NHTSA notice

Reported November 22, 2013 · Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 62,155 vehicles

Repair completion: 88.11% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Volkswagen campaign 97Z9/2V · Owners notified January 3, 2014 · Vehicles built July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2011 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 through June 2011. Due to a problem with the fuse for the exterior lights, the holder for the fuse that controls the vehicle's exterior lights circuit may melt.

Safety consequence

If the holder melts, there may be a partial loss of exterior lighting. Reduced vehicle illumination diminishes the vehicle's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuse, free of charge. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's recall number is 97Z9/2V.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Other Volkswagen Tiguan model years

Check your 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Volkswagen Tiguan at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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