Your vehicle report
2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 168
- Received Aug 2008 to Sep 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Timing chain fails and destroys engine28 complaints · 17% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Headlights dim or fail at night13 complaints · 7.7% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Head gasket leaks coolant into engine7 complaints · 4.2% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #14V441000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 to June 2014. When using winterized fuel, in certain conditions bubbles may form in the fuel system which could result in the vehicle stalling.
- Recall #13V569000Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 through June 2011. Due to a problem with the fuse for the exterior lights, the holder for the fuse that controls the vehicle's exterior lights circuit may melt.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 5 crashes, 6 fires, 4 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 14 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 23 |
| 2014 | 21 |
| 2015 | 20 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 21 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 1 |
| Total | 168 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timing chain fails and destroys engine | 28 | 17% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 13 | 7.7% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 7 | 4.2% | – | |
| Engine stalls and loses power while driving | 5 | 3.0% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 5 | 3.0% | – | |
| Power steering cuts out while driving | 4 | 2.4% | – | |
| Tail light sockets melt and burn | 4 | 2.4% | – | NHTSA recall #13V569000 |
| Water leaks into cabin during rain | 3 | 1.8% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 3 | 1.8% | – | |
| Heated seat overheats and burns occupants | 3 | 1.8% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 3 | 1.8% | – | NHTSA recall #14V441000 |
| Exhaust smell enters cabin during acceleration | 3 | 1.8% | – | |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 3 | 1.8% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 3 | 1.8% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #14V441000July 21, 2014151,389 vehicles affected
fuel system, gasoline
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 to June 2014. When using winterized fuel, in certain conditions bubbles may form in the fuel system which could result in the vehicle stalling.
A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to increase the fuel pump pressure, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin August 19, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24AV/2W.
NHTSA recall #13V569000November 22, 201362,155 vehicles affected
electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers; exterior lighting
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 through June 2011. Due to a problem with the fuse for the exterior lights, the holder for the fuse that controls the vehicle's exterior lights circuit may melt.
If the holder melts, there may be a partial loss of exterior lighting. Reduced vehicle illumination diminishes the vehicle's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuse, free of charge. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's recall number is 97Z9/2V.
NHTSA recall #08V235000May 28, 20086,579 vehicles affected
engine and engine cooling
Volkswagen is recalling 4,079 my 2008 passat and 2,500 my 2009 Tiguan passenger vehicles equipped with 2.0T fsi ulev ii engines. These vehicles have an engine control module (ECM) containing software that may not properly control engine idle with the air conditioning turned on. In rare cases, the ECM may unexpectedly increase engine rpm.
An engine surge caused by an unexpected increase in engine rpm may surprise the vehicle operator and Can result in a crash without warning.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and update the ECM software free of charge. The recall began on may 30, 2008. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN