2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited Owner Complaints
Complaint Summary
The 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited has 11 reported complaints.
- Top issues involve unknown or other and electrical system.
Reliability Score
Reliability Score
Based on 11 complaints
Most Frequent Issues
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2 18.2%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2 18.2%
ENGINE
2 18.2%
POWER TRAIN
2 18.2%
AIR BAGS
1 9.1%
Quick Insights
The top category is UNKNOWN OR OTHER, accounting for 18.2% of all complaints.
Owners have reported issues across 7 distinct vehicle systems.
Note: Complaint data reflects owner reports and may not always indicate a verified defect. Compare with Recalls and TSBs for a complete picture.
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What owners keep reporting on the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited
The 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited has 11 owner complaints in this dataset. UNKNOWN OR OTHER is the most common complaint category, representing about 18% of the reports shown here.
Most common complaint categories
The top complaint groups for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited are UNKNOWN OR OTHER (2), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (2), ENGINE (2).
Are these complaints a serious red flag?
Potentially. 7 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems like brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection.
What should buyers inspect on a used 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited?
Start with the top complaint systems, compare them against the recall report, then inspect service records for evidence that those same areas were already repaired or monitored.
Detailed Complaint Log
Showing 7 of 7 systems
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2 Reports18% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
THE PASSENGER SIDE VIEW MIRROR EXPLODES AS IF IT WAS A BOMB. IT IS SO LOW AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT STARTLES EVERYONE IN THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPEN TWICE. I WENT TO THE DEALER BUT THEY CHOOSE TO BLAME ME AS IF I AM A LIAR TO THEM. I EXPLAIN THAT NOTHING HIT IT BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE IN BOTH CASES IT WAS IN MOTION. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN IN LANDOVER IN SPRING HILL FL.. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPEN IN OAKHILL ROAD IN WEEKI WACHEE FL
12/15/2020
1. The lower corner of each front door (both driver's and passenger's) has cut my leg, each side, right and left. The edge is sharp. It has cut my skin through jeans both times, requiring bandage, leaving scars. 2. The sharp metal cuts skin. 3. The issue has not been reproduced or confirmed yet by our VW dealer, though we will report it the next time we are there for service. 4. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance. 5. There were not warning lamps, lights or messages associated with these events.
2/27/2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2 Reports18% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
When placing car in reverse camera does not always turn on. Sometime camera does not turn off when then driving forward for a few miles. Sometimes when driving, screen will go black and radio stops working for approx. a minute. Accident or injury could occur when backing up .Concerned that other systems could also fail if info system goes black. Took to Herzog Motors in Beaverton, Oregon. Service department only said, "Yes that happens". Did not say that fix or review further. No warning lamps. First occurred about six months ago.
8/23/2021
The clock spring on my 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited unexpectedly failed @ 20,000 miles/3.5 years of ownership while gradually turning my wheel to pull into a parking space. The failure was indicated by the sound of plastic cracking and the airbag warning light appeared on my dashboard. The clock spring had been recalled on older VW's and was obviously never fully corrected. I then had to drive my car with a dysfunctional driver side airbag to the dealership, putting my life in danger en route where they confirmed the failed clock spring. The part is currently on a national back order with no ETA and my car has been sitting at the dealership for over 3 months (since January 21, 2022). VW has made no public statement on the clock spring failure despite having thousands of customers on a waiting list for a replacement part. VW continues to provide no information on the part ETA. Their lack of urgency on a safety critical part is deeply concerning. Prior to this incident, I had been keeping up with all regular services recommended by the manufacturer. Being a new infrequently driven vehicle, my car had no issues or equipment failures before the clock spring broke.
5/2/2022
ENGINE
2 Reports18% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
Was traveling at 70 mph and applied the break and engine rpm went up to 3500-4000 and I was in D. The dealership couldnât replicate the issue and claims nothing is wrong. Also when you put the ac or heater on floor the air still blows out the top vents.
12/20/2023
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, upon attempting to slow the vehicle, the RPM's increased rapidly up to 3,000 RPM; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The failure prompted the contact to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway. After resuming driving, the RPM's increased rapidly, but the vehicle failed to accelerate above 30 MPH. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000.
12/20/2023
POWER TRAIN
2 Reports18% of totalPreviewing the first 2 complaint summaries.
Was traveling at 70 mph and applied the break and engine rpm went up to 3500-4000 and I was in D. The dealership couldnât replicate the issue and claims nothing is wrong. Also when you put the ac or heater on floor the air still blows out the top vents.
12/20/2023
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, upon attempting to slow the vehicle, the RPM's increased rapidly up to 3,000 RPM; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The failure prompted the contact to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway. After resuming driving, the RPM's increased rapidly, but the vehicle failed to accelerate above 30 MPH. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000.
12/20/2023
AIR BAGS
1 Report9% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
The clock spring on my 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited unexpectedly failed @ 20,000 miles/3.5 years of ownership while gradually turning my wheel to pull into a parking space. The failure was indicated by the sound of plastic cracking and the airbag warning light appeared on my dashboard. The clock spring had been recalled on older VW's and was obviously never fully corrected. I then had to drive my car with a dysfunctional driver side airbag to the dealership, putting my life in danger en route where they confirmed the failed clock spring. The part is currently on a national back order with no ETA and my car has been sitting at the dealership for over 3 months (since January 21, 2022). VW has made no public statement on the clock spring failure despite having thousands of customers on a waiting list for a replacement part. VW continues to provide no information on the part ETA. Their lack of urgency on a safety critical part is deeply concerning. Prior to this incident, I had been keeping up with all regular services recommended by the manufacturer. Being a new infrequently driven vehicle, my car had no issues or equipment failures before the clock spring broke.
5/2/2022
STEERING
1 Report9% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
The clock spring on my 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited unexpectedly failed @ 20,000 miles/3.5 years of ownership while gradually turning my wheel to pull into a parking space. The failure was indicated by the sound of plastic cracking and the airbag warning light appeared on my dashboard. The clock spring had been recalled on older VW's and was obviously never fully corrected. I then had to drive my car with a dysfunctional driver side airbag to the dealership, putting my life in danger en route where they confirmed the failed clock spring. The part is currently on a national back order with no ETA and my car has been sitting at the dealership for over 3 months (since January 21, 2022). VW has made no public statement on the clock spring failure despite having thousands of customers on a waiting list for a replacement part. VW continues to provide no information on the part ETA. Their lack of urgency on a safety critical part is deeply concerning. Prior to this incident, I had been keeping up with all regular services recommended by the manufacturer. Being a new infrequently driven vehicle, my car had no issues or equipment failures before the clock spring broke.
5/2/2022
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1 Report9% of totalPreviewing the first 1 complaint summaries.
Was traveling at 70 mph and applied the break and engine rpm went up to 3500-4000 and I was in D. The dealership couldnât replicate the issue and claims nothing is wrong. Also when you put the ac or heater on floor the air still blows out the top vents.
12/20/2023
Data and Methodology
Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.
What are the most common owner complaints for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited?
Are complaints about the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited a serious warning sign?
How should buyers use complaint data for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited?
Are complaints about the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited severe?
Complaint list entries are sourced from owner-submitted NHTSA ODI records.
Volkswagen Tiguan Limited: How should complaint data influence buying decisions?
Carfocal links complaint data directly to recall and maintenance routes for the same model year.
- Complaint entries
- 11
- Top-topic view
- 5 grouped topics shown
- Primary source
- NHTSA ODI owner complaint records
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