2019 Volkswagen Tiguan Reliability Report

Hesitation from a stop is the main complaint. The car sits at idle for several seconds with the pedal pressed, then lurches forward, often during left turns across traffic. Some owners notice it within the first 1,200 to 1,300 miles, along with shuddering in stop-and-go traffic. Others get an "Only exit vehicle in P position" warning and note that a related recall covers other VW models but not this one. Reports also include fuel leaking from a broken fuel rail bolt, a parked car rolling away, and sudden power loss at freeway speed.

Delayed acceleration from a standing start shows up here as well. The engine idles for 1 to 5 seconds before power arrives, and some cars sputter or stall in intersections. Oil consumption is the second theme. One dealer called a quart every 1000 miles normal, and one owner had the turbo replaced at 35,000 miles without curing it. Single reports cover a water pump leak, a leaking plastic oil pan, a dipstick that doesn't seat fully and lets oil spray, and an engine replaced at 920 miles.

The system brakes hard when nothing is in front of the car. On the highway it drops speed from 70 to 50 mph in seconds. At low speed it triggers when leaving driveways, parking lots and gas stations, sometimes stopping the car mid-turn in traffic. Several drivers nearly got rear-ended. Dealers often find no fault codes, call it normal operation, or tell owners to switch the system off. One owner mentions a manufacturer warranty extension for this problem but says there is still no fix.

From a stop, the car doesn't respond to the gas pedal for several seconds, then surges forward, often while turning left or merging. Some owners report it within about 1,500 miles. Dealers fail to find a cause and no warning lights come on. One report describes a "Limited to 4,000 RPM" warning, vibration, and a no-start that needed fuel injectors and a wiring harness, which the owner later tied to a manufacturer bulletin. False automatic braking and rough shifting also come up.

Airbags fail to deploy in frontal crashes in two reports. One of those drivers was injured, and another says the seat belt also didn't lock. In the opposite failure, airbags deploy after a tire blowout with no impact, and that owner was quoted a large bill to replace the airbags and seatbelts. Another owner reports the airbag warning lights coming on repeatedly. Some complaints filed here actually describe acceleration lag from a stop rather than airbag faults.

Loud thumping or bottoming-out noises come from the front suspension over dips and uneven pavement, and dealers cannot reproduce them. In one case the noise was present from new and was still there at 11K miles. One crash report describes the right front strut breaking at low speed, causing a total loss of steering. Another owner found a broken rear coil spring and bushings, then learned that a safety recall covering the problem had never been performed.

In one report, a corroded liftgate support strut came loose while the hatch was being closed by hand and caused a serious head and shoulder injury. Clogged or kinked sunroof drains send water in through the rear seatbelt openings, leaving mold on the floor and fogged windows. Door latches lock and unlock on their own, forcing occupants to climb out through another door. One owner also complains that the base model can't be locked without the key fob.