2016 Volkswagen Tiguan airbags problems

The 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan has 37 airbags complaints filed with NHTSA — 26% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

Airbags complaints

26%

Share of year

Crash-involved

Related recalls

Airbags complaints by year

Tiguan airbags complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

19V535000AirbagsJuly 17, 2019 · 27,822 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.

Consequence

Deactivated air bags increases the risk of injury. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install new software and replace the air bag ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Z5.

What owners report

“MY VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR VW SINCE 2011 AND THEY ARE NOT COVERING IT UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING. THE STEERING COLUMN MADE A CRACKING NOISE THEN STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. AT THAT POINT THE STEERING BUTTON CONTROLS…”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · August 14, 2018

Common questions

How many airbags complaints does the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan have?

NHTSA has 37 complaints about the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan airbags — 26% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan airbags?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the airbags: 19V535000.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.