2018 Volkswagen Tiguan problems and complaints
Owners have filed 282 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan. The most-reported areas: Engine (80), Unknown Or Other (50), Power Train (49).
Key takeaways
- 282 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 5 involve a crash, 3 a fire, 11 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 80 | 28% |
| Unknown Or Other | 50 | 18% |
| Power Train | 49 | 17% |
| Electrical System | 43 | 15% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 40 | 14% |
| Structure | 39 | 14% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 21 | 7% |
| Service Brakes | 20 | 7% |
| Exterior Lighting | 16 | 6% |
| Seat Belts | 16 | 6% |
| Air Bags | 15 | 5% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 12 | 4% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Later Release SUV AWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Later Release SUV FWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SUV FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SUV AWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-09-02
The car went into limp mode on an Interstate Highway. It was taken to a VW dealer in Mooresville, NC after two other private garages could not diagnose the problem. Their is a current Factory Warranty Extension for 2017, 2018, 2019 VW Tiguan's. The dealer in Mooresville kept the car for two weeks. Drove it for over 100...
Engine - filed 2026-08-30
This vehicle goes through oil at a rapid rate. I am adding oil to my car every week. I have had to add at least 2 quarts between oil changes for the duration of owning the vehicle.
Fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-08-27
I began intermittently noticing a gasoline/fuel odor shortly after taking possession of the vehicle in June 2026. The odor became significantly worse, and I formally reported it to the selling dealership on July 9, 2026. The vehicle was subsequently taken to an authorized Volkswagen dealership for evaluation. A repair ...
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More for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.