2019 Volkswagen Tiguan problems
What owners report to NHTSA, grouped by component, with the recalls that cover them.
NHTSA has 191 owner complaints on file for the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan, filed between 2018-12-01 and 2026-09-15. The most common problem areas are the electrical system (56, 29%), engine (40, 21%) and forward collision avoidance (24, 13%). Owners reported 6 crashes, 1 fire and 5 injuries in these complaints. NHTSA lists 5 recalls for this model year.
Last updated: · Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases
2019 Volkswagen Tiguan complaints by component
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 56 | 29% | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Engine | 40 | 21% | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Unknown or other | 39 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 24 | 13% | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 24 | 13% | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Power train | 17 | 9% | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 14 | 7% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 10 | 5% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 10 | 5% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 9 | 5% | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Air bags | 7 | 4% | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Suspension | 6 | 3% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 5 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 5 | 3% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 4 | 2% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint can name several components, so shares can add up to more than 100%. Crashes, fires and injuries are as reported by owners.
The top problem areas, in plain English
Each summary is built from the complaint counts and NHTSA recall notices, not from individual owner stories.
Electrical system: 56 complaints
- 56 complaints of 191 (29%) name the electrical system — wiring, battery and charging, fuses, control modules and in-car electronics.
- 11 of them also name the engine; owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire and 1 injury in these complaints.
- One NHTSA recall covers this system on the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan; the recall, campaign 18V824000, says: “The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open.”
Engine: 40 complaints
- 40 complaints of 191 (21%) name the engine.
- 11 of them also name the electrical system; owners reported 1 fire in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan covers this system.
Forward collision avoidance: 24 complaints
- 24 complaints of 191 (13%) name the forward collision avoidance — forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking.
- 5 of them also name the service brakes; owners reported 3 crashes and 2 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan covers this system.
Service brakes: 24 complaints
- 24 complaints of 191 (13%) name the service brakes — the foot-brake system: pads, rotors, calipers, lines and ABS.
- 5 of them also name the forward collision avoidance; owners reported 2 crashes and 1 injury in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan covers this system.
Power train: 17 complaints
- 17 complaints of 191 (9%) name the power train — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts and axles.
- 4 of them also name the engine; owners reported 1 injury in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan covers this system.
Vehicle speed control: 14 complaints
- 14 complaints of 191 (7%) name the vehicle speed control — cruise control and accelerator/throttle control.
- 5 of them also name the electrical system; owners reported 1 crash in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan covers this system.
When the complaints were filed
| Year filed | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 30 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 17 |
| 2023 | 29 |
| 2024 | 26 |
| 2025 | 22 |
| 2026 | 27 |
What is counted
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the model names TIGUAN, model year 2019. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is NHTSA's confirmed safety defect. See the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan's most common problem areas are the electrical system (56 of 191 complaints), engine (40 of 191 complaints) and forward collision avoidance (24 of 191 complaints).
How many complaints does the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan have?
NHTSA has 191 owner complaints on file for the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan, including 6 reported crashes and 1 reported fire.
Is there a recall for the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan's problems?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan; 1 of the top 6 complaint areas have a matching recall. Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN for open recalls.