10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
10,510 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan engine problems

engine problem

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2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Owner Comments (Page 3 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #34

May 062019

Tiguan

  • 5,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car engine cuts out for a few seconds then accelerates after coming to a complete stop

- Whitesboro, NY, USA

problem #33

Apr 132019

Tiguan

  • 8,000 miles
My wife called me panicked because her 2018 VW Tiguan sel, with 8000 miles, cut out on her while slowly pulling into a busy intersection. She described the problem as if the car lost complete power for a few seconds, even though she did not have her foot on the break at the time, and the car was not able to accelerate. My wife quickly put the car into reverse, where it responded well moving backwards, and threw on her hazards. The vehicle is less than 1 year old and she is deathly scared of driving it now. The vehicle is a hazard! when looking online for similar power train issues, many other customers are reporting a similar experience.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #32

Mar 052019

Tiguan

  • 14,000 miles
My vehicle displayed a sign stating that their was low coolant. I took it to the dealer around 14,000 miles and the PCM has been destroyed. The engine hasn't been getting coolant for some time. Once that was replaced my car stopped accelerating properly and rogers really roughly mainly through gears 1-3. it's really dangerous if I need to accurate quickly to merge the response time is off and I have had several near misses. I flagged this with VW and they are refusing to acknowledge that their is an issue. I would like to get this resolved before myself or others are injured.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #31

Aug 292018

Tiguan

  • 1,240 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The vehicle has severe acceleration problem, with uneven and unpredictable acceleration when starting the vehicle from a stop. The problem developed after the vehicle was 2 weeks old. The vehicle was taken into the dealership after the check engine light turned on. The dealership stated it was an issue in the secondary air system, but they were not sure what and could not fix it at that time. The check engine light then turned off. The vehicle was taken in to two subsequent dealerships with the same issue, but the dealership stated the car was reporting no problem, and the check engine light was not turning on. A third dealership found a faulty valve in the secondary air system, despite the car reporting no issues and the check engine light failing to be lit. Despite the replacement of the part, the vehicle still has unpredictable and unacceptable acceleration, which poses a severe safety risk when pulling out into traffic. When I expect the vehicle to accelerate, it does so at an extremely tepid pace, causing traffic to need to slow rapidly behind the vehicle. Other time it begins to accelerate normally, and then stalls in acceleration. This again poses a safety risk to the driver and surrounding traffic.

- Castle Rock, CO, USA

problem #30

Apr 022019

Tiguan

  • 2,600 miles
When accelerating. It feels like the motor is vibrating too much like it's going to rip itself out. The car has only 3K miles. It's been addressed to Volkswagen! motor mounts are ok and transmission mount is good as told by dealer. This occurs every time the car is accelerating from a standstill

- Astoria, NY, USA

problem #29

Jan 242019

Tiguan

  • 4,200 miles
Vehicle has a significant hesitation when starting from a stopped position. When pulling into traffic you step on the gas and initially the vehicle does not move which causes you to press further on the accelerator pedal. Eventually vehicle suddenly jerks violently forward. Dealership advises that since there are no trouble codes there is nothing wrong. Has been an issue since new.

- Bay Shore, NY, USA

problem #28

Oct 102018

Tiguan

  • 4,100 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning, the vehicle was able to coast over to the side of the road and the engine was turned off. When the vehicle was restarted, the engine started to vibrate. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The contact called momentum Volkswagen of clear lake at (844) 894-5461 (located at 15100 gulf fwy, houston, tx 77034) and was informed to schedule an appointment. The dealer diagnosed that there was moisture in the ignition line and there was a signal failure. The vehicle was not repaired. While driving home from the dealer, a loud abnormal noise occurred from the engine and the check engine and oil warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not taken back to the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not assist. The approximate failure mileage was 4,100.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #27

Nov 152018

Tiguan

  • 517 miles
This car is dangerous! I had vehicle for 4 months and have only driven 411 miles car has started to hesitate when pulling out into traffic, it almost feels like it shuts off for a solid 4 seconds before it decides to accelerate. Gas mileage reads 100mpg, we all know that's not possible... loud wind noises at 50 mph and a pop noise coming from drivers side door every bump in the road at 50 mph. The start stop option turns on and off when the road is rough or slightly bumpy!

- Pompano Beach, FL, USA

problem #26

Nov 022018

Tiguan

  • 204 miles
Car makes noise that is audible within the car and is particularly loud by the rear passenger side tire.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #25

Mar 012018

Tiguan

  • 55 miles
Purchased a 2018 VW Tiguan sel in febuary 2018. Brought to dealer twice (so far) and bringing it backi tomorrow. Has stayed in shop for 5 weeks since purchase. Serious hesitation when accerlating. My wife refuses to drive the vehicle in fear of her life !! (and so am I) these cars must be stopped being sold...will not be long before someone is killed....

- Thibodaux, LA, USA

problem #24

Oct 112018

Tiguan

  • 2,450 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Everytime I drive when engine is cold, it feels like engine is going to die. I can feel small jerking, like car is running out of fuel. Fuel tank is full. I read many complains and forms, VW doesn't care. I contacted them via twitter, no response yet.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #23

Sep 302018

Tiguan

  • 9,497 miles
The vehicle hesitates when accelerating from a stop or occasingly surges under heavier throttle pressure. This is very dangerous and the dealers are telling us this is 'normal' behavior. I see that many drivers have reported this issue. Does someone have to get injured before we get taken seriously? Volkswagen needs to fix the problem with the engine now.

- San Rafael, CA, USA

problem #22

Aug 242018

Tiguan

  • 4,575 miles
08/24/2018- epc light came on shortly after I began my morning commute while driving approx 45mph on city street. My car slowed and would not allow acceleration, as a second warning light came on stating 'engine speed max 3000rpm'. I was able to drive back a short distance at a reduced speed with limited acceleration. Had car towed for the earliest available appointment on 08/27/2018 at a local VW service center. Told timing chain needed to be replaced following a thorough diagnostic and tsb. 09/21/2018- told VW engineer inspected the vehicle after the timing chain fix and the ecp light came back on, so it was determined a full engine replacement was needed. Also same day, VW customer care representative informed me that my prior request for a vehicle replacement/ repurchase was denied, but would be re-submitted with the new information tegarding the engine. 09/25/2018- VW customer care rep notified me that a new engine was ordered and was estimated to arrive at VW service within 10-12 business days. 09/26/2018- I notified VW customer care rep that I want to be contacted as soon as a decision for the re-submitted replacement/repurchase request is made, as I am not comfortable driving this vehicle due to safety concerns (failure to accelerate) and reliability concerns after engine failure at 5 mo./ 4575 miles.

- Plainfield, IL, USA

problem #21

Sep 012018

Tiguan

  • 5,000 miles
The Tiguan has been having issues with hesitation while shifting between 1st and 2nd gear. You can feel an immediate loss of power, loss of boost and a bucking feeling while it shifting. I've also driven another Tiguan of the same year and the issue was present on that specific model too. This issue is not only an annoyance but also a safety issue while merging or trying to accelerate from a stop.

- Warrington, PA, USA

problem #20

Sep 132018

Tiguan

  • 2,000 miles
Today, the car stalled while I was station/stopped at the red light and got dragged by the truck which almost ran over my car. My car's sensor switched to emergency mode and would not let me drive. I wanted to drive my car away when I saw the danger. However, L could not and almost got killed and ran over by the 18 wheels truck.

- Mclean, VA, USA

problem #19

Aug 062018

Tiguan

  • 20,000 miles
Tiguan 2018 hesitates to accelerate with a lapse of a few (3 or 4) second before the car finally accelerates after a full stop or from slow speeds. This issue tends to be constant and can be extremely dangerous as it happens when trying to pull from a busy intersection or from any other situation where you need to move quick, its a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt if VW doesn't come up with a resolution. Im now on my second service apointment within a month. Seems to be a known issue with this model very frustrating!!!!!

- Forest Hills, NY, USA

problem #18

May 192018

Tiguan

  • 3,000 miles
2018 Tiguan was purchased new in April - mid may car would not start, all warning lights went on. Car eventually turned on. A few days later while driving (on the road), car stopped completely, all warning lights went on. Had to be towed to closest VW where it would remain for over a month. First diagnosed as unknown electrical prob - needed to be analyzed by VW engineer who believed it to be the battery. New battery did not remedy issue - new alternator was ordered, again did not remedy the issue. Finally was identified as a issuing with the wiring being stripped. Feel completely unsafe in my new car - has also been effected by two recalls since (in addition to the one month in the VW dealership from non recall issue) - current sunroof recall has no fix only a temporary solution to disconnect the wiring - I feel completely unsafe in the car and will not drive the vehicle. Car should be bought back by VW - open recalls with no fix leave the car worthless. What else will go wrong with the 2018 Tiguan - will not purchase another VW in the future.

- Lecanto, FL, USA

problem #17

Aug 152018

Tiguan

  • 8,000 miles
When starting vehicle (either cold or warm), vehicle has a several seconds hesitation when pushing down accelerator. Vehicle does not move, hesitates then lurches forward as if the vehicle is not getting sufficient power to move. Vehicle has been to the Volkswagen dealer several times and they have been unable to repair. This is dangerous when you are entering a highway or crossing a multi lane road and have to move quickly and the vehicle does not respond.

- Shorewood, WI, USA

problem #16

Apr 042018

Tiguan

  • 9,000 miles
There is all this hesitation when accelerating almost like a bucking or the engine is not getting enough gas/oxygen mix. Then you can press the gas pedal a quarter of the way down and the engine hesitates then throws the car into high gear and takes off. I have driven a lot of cars the past week even a VW touareg that did not act like this car does with the accelerator. It is like the accelerator is not sending the correct single to the engine or the engine's computer is not interrupting it correctly from the accelerator. The computer in the car can be bad and give a false positive. This vehicle has been to 4 dealerships and field engineers have stated that there is a problem but VW refuses to buy back the vehicle. There have been several requests but they keep getting denied and say there is no fix for the vehicle and I feel it is unsafe to drive. I have almost got into 3 accidents because the accelerator would not react and the car stalled out.

- Burnsville, NC, USA

problem #15

Aug 012018

Tiguan

  • 0 miles
The Tiguan experiences severe and dangerous acceleration hesitation when accelerating from a stop or from very slow speeds. There is a significant delay between the accelerator being depressed and the car actually accelerating, which causes an extremely dangerous situation when attempting to merge with other traffic or enter a roadway from a side street. This issue is very consistent, and occurs in all operating conditions (engine warmed, engine cold, automatic gear selection or manual gear selection, in 'sport' mode and in regular driving mode). The issue is present in all driving situations where acceleration from a stationary or slow speed is required.

- Greenville, SC, USA

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