VehicleVerdict

2017 Volkswagen Tiguan problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Among the better years

The 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan is among the quieter years of the Tiguan on NHTSA's books: 101 complaints (39% below the model's median year), 4 recalls, and no open investigations. Reports tied to this model year include one death and 9 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

Airbags leads the complaint categories with 30 reports (30% of the total). In government crash testing it earned 4 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

101

NHTSA complaints

4

Recalls

0

Investigations

11

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

9

Injuries

1

Deaths

4

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2017 compare to other Tiguan years?

Tiguan NHTSA complaints by model year, 2017 highlighted446 complaints2009: 247 complaints2010: 158 complaints2011: 238 complaints2012: 214 complaints2013: 227 complaints2014: 127 complaints2015: 106 complaints2016: 145 complaints2017: 101 complaints2018: 446 complaints2019: 282 complaints2020: 199 complaints2021: 175 complaints2022: 432 complaints2023: 84 complaints2024: 88 complaints2025: 65 complaints2026: 33 complaints
Tiguan NHTSA complaints by model year, 2017 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Tiguan years to avoid →

What are the most common 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Airbags3030%
Engine1616%
Steering1111%
Electrical System1111%
Other99%
Fuel System77%
Transmission55%
Body & Structure44%
Brakes33%
Seat Belts11%
Driver Assistance11%
Tires & Wheels11%
Lighting11%
Visibility & Wipers11%

Does the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan have recalls?

4 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

21V321000OtherMay 5, 2021 · 46 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Consequence

Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.

Remedy

Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.

18V329000OtherMay 16, 2018 · 252 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

Consequence

If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

18V102000AirbagsFebruary 9, 2018 · 3,768 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Tiguan Limited vehicles. The front driver air bag installed on these vehicles may not be intended for use in vehicles sold in the United States. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence

In the event of a crash, the incorrect air bags may not protect the driver as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel and front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69V2.

16V955000Seat BeltsDecember 29, 2016 · 5,947 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2017 Audi Q7, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, and 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners may not activate properly.

Consequence

In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.

Remedy

Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“PURCHASED 05/19/2017. HORN AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS DID NOT WORK IN APPROXIMATELY 12/2017. WAS REPAIRED AND TOLD WAS A COIL PROBLEM. THEN ON 04/12/18 IT SUDDENLY FLASHED ALL THE DASHBOARD AND STEERING WHEEL LIGHTS IN THE MIDDLE OF MY DRIVING AND SUDDENLY DIED ON ME WHEN I TURNED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · April 16, 2018 · crash

“My Tiguan does not have airbags, the tire sensors don’t work, none of the buttons on my steering wheel work. My turbo supercharger started failing and I had to spend $2,500 to fix it, which the car is not worth that plus the payments I make. The dealership says the airbags are on back order but…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · September 28, 2022

“PURCHASED 05/19/2017. HORN AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS DID NOT WORK IN APPROXIMATELY 12/2017. WAS REPAIRED AND TOLD WAS A COIL PROBLEM. THEN ON 04/12/18 IT SUDDENLY FLASHED ALL THE DASHBOARD AND STEERING WHEEL LIGHTS IN THE MIDDLE OF MY DRIVING AND SUDDENLY DIED ON ME WHEN I TURNED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · April 16, 2018 · crash

“I suffered a front-end collision on 11/15/2022 in my 2017 VW Tiguan. I was going on I-66 in Virginia 40-45mph back to college at Howard University, and a car stopped suddenly after being cut off, but it was raining horribly and I was in half a foot of water, so even with braking, I hydroplaned into…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · November 15, 2022 · crash

“The Infotainment system fails to start or reboots randomly causing the back up camera not to work. Teddy VW of the Bronx dealership stated it is a critical concern. The back up camera not displaying on infotainment screen is a hazardous condition when pulling out of a parking spot.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · October 25, 2022

2017 Volkswagen Tiguan — common questions

Is the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?

Its record is better than the model's norm: 101 NHTSA complaints, below the typical Tiguan year, with 4 recalls and no open investigations.

What are the most common 2017 Tiguan problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are airbags (30 complaints), engine (16 complaints), steering (11 complaints).

Does the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Volkswagen Tiguan years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Tiguan years to avoid are 2018, 2022, 2019, 2011, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2016, 2014. The cleanest record among Tiguan years belongs to 2026.

How safe is the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan earned an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Related

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

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.