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2019 Volkswagen Tiguan

2019 VW Tiguan: electrical gremlins lead the complaints

Owners filed 180 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical problems dominate at 30% of all reports, followed by engine issues (19%). Forward-collision avoidance and brakes round out the top concerns, and these two account for the most crashes and injuries owners reported. A handful of fire reports show up under both electrical and engine. Test the electronics carefully and watch how the safety and braking systems behave on a test drive.

Most reported areas

Electrical System safety 30%
The single biggest complaint area: 54 reports (30%). Includes 1 fire and 1 crash with 1 injury. Watch for warning lights, electronics acting up, or the car losing power.
Engine safety 19%
Second most common: 35 reports (19%), including 1 fire. No crashes or injuries reported here, but worth a careful inspection.
Forward Collision Avoidance safety 13%
24 reports (13%) and the most safety-critical: 3 crashes and 2 injuries. Owners report the collision-warning system failing to alert them in time.
Service Brakes safety 13%
24 reports (13%), with 2 crashes and 1 injury. Pay attention to brake-system warnings and how the brakes feel on a test drive.
Power Train0 9%
16 reports (9%) with 1 injury. Owners describe hesitation or trouble shifting, especially in cold weather.

Source: NHTSA owner complaints · 180 complaints

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General information compiled from public NHTSA complaint data, for reference only — not professional advice and not reviewed by automotive experts. Verify before acting; Team AM is not responsible for decisions made from it.