2020 Volkswagen Tiguan problems and complaints

Owners have filed 140 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan. The most-reported areas: Unknown Or Other (52), Electrical System (34), Engine (25).

Key takeaways

  • 140 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
  • 5 involve a crash, 0 a fire, 7 reported injuries.
  • Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
Complaints by component
ComponentComplaintsShare
Unknown Or Other5237%
Electrical System3424%
Engine2518%
Structure1611%
Forward Collision Avoidance1611%
Service Brakes118%
Visibility/Wiper107%
Exterior Lighting86%
Power Train54%
Engine And Engine Cooling43%
Vehicle Speed Control43%
Back Over Prevention32%

One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

NHTSA 5-Star crash ratings
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan SUV AWD5/54/55/54/5
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan SUV FWD5/54/55/54/5

Latest complaints, as filed

Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.

Electrical System,unknown Or Other - filed 2026-09-15

Vehicle threw SOS emergency call feature error two years ago. I replaced the module at the dealership. Today, the same SOS emergency call feature again showed up and I am unable to make an emergency call. This is a known and common issue with VW.

Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-08-28

I was driving the car it died while driving. The dealership can’t figure out what’s going on. And it will die WHILE driving and then say check starter ignition system. I open the door it says the engine is on but it is not. This vechicle had a physical key and you have the press the breaks to start the car

Engine And Engine Cooling - filed 2026-08-19

The contact owns a 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while the outside temperature was cool, the vehicle operated normally. However, when the heat index was high, the message that the starter was hot was displayed. Shortly afterwards, the instrument cluster went black, and the vehicle stalled. The driver ...

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More for the 2020 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.