NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 161 owner complaints for the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan. It has 1 open investigation that names this model year.
Recalled components: air bags, fuel system, and electrical system. Most-described problem: timing chain or belt problems (25 complaints, 16%). Most-reported area: engine (63 complaints, 39%; median mileage when it happened: 76,200).
Fewer complaints than a typical Tiguan year
The 2011 drew 40 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 42 for a typical Tiguan year. Best years are picked only from 2016 on, since counts for older years say less: owners filed fewer complaints in the early 2010s.
Years to avoid: 2018 and 2022; best year: 2017. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
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.
Risk: 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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
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.
Risk: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
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.
Risk: 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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 4 investigations that name the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan; 1 is still open. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
Air bag clockspring failure
Engineering analysis EA18003Open since Apr 18, 2018
In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure… NHTSA's full summary
NHTSA listing: TIGUAN. Component: Air bags (frontal, driver clockspring/spiral cassette).
Air bag clockspring failure
Recall query RQ17009Closed May 4, 2018 (opened Nov 13, 2017)
In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure… NHTSA's full summary
NHTSA listing: TIGUAN. Component: Air bags (frontal, driver clockspring/spiral cassette).
Air bag clockspring failure
Preliminary evaluation PE15010Closed Sep 28, 2015 (opened Mar 24, 2015)
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of steering wheel clock spring/steering column control module (SCCM) failures in model year (MY) 2012 Volkswagen Passat… NHTSA's full summary
NHTSA ties this investigation to recall 15V-483, listed above.
NHTSA listing: TIGUAN. Components: Air bags; Electrical system.
Partial loss of exterior lights
Preliminary evaluation PE13036Closed Feb 28, 2014 (opened Nov 4, 2013)
Volkswagen Group of America (VW) is conducting a safety recall of approximately 62,155 model year (MY) 2009-2011 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles to address a partial loss of the exterior lighting… NHTSA's full summary
NHTSA ties this investigation to recall 13V-569, listed above.
A preliminary evaluation is NHTSA's first step, to gather information and decide whether to look further. An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. A recall query is a review of whether a recall covered the right vehicles or whether its fix works. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 161 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Tiguan. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Timing chain or belt problems25 · 16%
Median 77,200 miles at failure, from 24 reports with mileage
Headlight or exterior light problems24 · 15%
Median 45,800 miles at failure, from 24 reports with mileage
Median 76,200 miles at failure, from 58 reports with mileage
Electrical system47 · 29%
Median 45,000 miles at failure, from 40 reports with mileage
Exterior lighting39 · 24%
Median 43,000 miles at failure, from 35 reports with mileage
Air bags30 · 19%
Median 80,500 miles at failure, from 18 reports with mileage
Steering14 · 9%
Fuel and propulsion system8 · 5%
Powertrain8 · 5%
Unknown or other12 · 7%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Volkswagen Tiguan recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2011 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2018 Tiguan drew the most (179) and the 2011 drew 40.
Owner complaints
2011: 161 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Volkswagen Tiguan
Model year
Complaints
2010
110
2011
161
2012
153
2013
139
2014
84
2015
62
2016
96
2017
75
2018
290
2019
192
2020
140
2021
141
2022
269
2023
68
2024
71
2025
49
2026
30
Safety recalls
2011: 3 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Volkswagen Tiguan
Model year
Recalls
2010
2
2011
3
2012
3
2013
3
2014
3
2015
4
2016
2
2017
4
2018
14
2019
5
2020
3
2021
5
2022
5
2023
1
2024
2
2025
3
2026
0
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 161 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan, the problems described most are timing chain or belt problems (25), headlight or exterior light problems (24), and the airbag warning light or an airbag fault (17). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Yes. NHTSA has 1 open investigation that names the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan: air bag clockspring failure (EA18003, opened Apr 18, 2018). It has closed 3 others. An investigation is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
How do I check if my Tiguan has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Volkswagen dealers for vehicles up to 15 years old from first sale.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: TIGUAN.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.