2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Problems & Owner Complaints

Engine 102

“Oil warning light was on while driving on a highway. My vehicle was losing engine oil. I just had an oil change recently. Current odometer is at 25000 miles.”
NHTSA complaint #11749468, 2026

“I have a 2022 Tiguan 2.0L gas engine with a 10yr 120k mile Volkswagen warranty and all previous maintenance and services performed by the Volkswagen dealer. Just over 40k miles and a check engine light comes on so I go to the dealer. The oil separator, an emissions device, failed and needs to be replaced with the oil pan and timing chain cover. This separator is not noted anywhere on the manufacturer service schedule but based on talking to the dealership and my own research its is a known issue failing frequently over the last 5-6 years with Volkswagen redesigning parts several times in fa…”
NHTSA complaint #11747225, 2026

“Oil Change and Check Engine Light continuously appear. Have gotten oil changes during the prescribed timings and still after being within the timeframe of the oil change the sensor appears. The car has stalled while driving due to this and have on multiple occasions have had to buy oil to add to the vehicle even after getting a oil change at a dealership.”
NHTSA complaint #11742264, 2026

Electrical System 56 1 injury

“Today I loaded my son in his car seat, then put my purse in the front passenger sear, and walked to the driver side to get in and found my doors locked. My car was not turned on. Since buying the car in august I have never had this issue. Inside the car was my purse which held my key and cell phone. My son was stuck in a hot car for nearly 20 minute panicking while I asked a stranger to call the police and eventually downloaded the VW app on a strangers phone to use the VW app to unlock the car. I called the dealer and they told me the car shouldn’t lock when the keys are inside and the car is…”
NHTSA complaint #11521256, 2023 · 1 injury(ies)

“Keyless system warning continuously goes off. Lane assist continually is unavailable Start stop system continually unavailable Dealership has serviced the vehicle and warning indicators continue to go off.”
NHTSA complaint #11746921, 2026

“My backup camera stopped functioning not too long after the warranty was expired. It began by not coming on sometimes and then it went completely out. The entire unit is no longer functioning which prevents me from being able to use my backup camera and that is a safety issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11742356, 2026

Unknown Or Other 44 1 crash 2 injury

“This is a 2022 Volkswagon Tiguan. It is not my vehicle. I was hit on my bicycle by the driver of this vehicle on August 10, 2023. The driver turned left into me while i was proceeding straight. That piece in the photo on the hood impaled me and left me with a 2 larges puncture wounds in my thigh. It appears that there is something wrong with the material used on the hood of this vehicle since it was either my bike or clothing that i was wearing that cause the hood to collapse in this manner.”
NHTSA complaint #11542490, 2023 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“- The sunroof control panel has gradually peeled away from the foam on the roof of the car and is now dangling. It’s distracting and unsafe while driving. This is clearly a defect and safety hazard as it’s fallen while I’m driving and hit me in the head. It’s blocking the rear view mirror from full visibility. - Aside from it hitting me in the head as it’s fallen from the roof, it’s blocking by the rear view mirror entirely and blocking partial view out the windshield. I have had to use one hand to hold it up in place while driving. Multiple different kinds of tape have failed to hold it up an…”
NHTSA complaint #11682531, 2024 · 1 injury(ies)

“The overhead console suddenly dropped into the passenger compartment, making the vehicle dangerous to drive: the rear view mirror view was completely blocked and the now swinging console can hit the driver's face while driving. To avoid being hit, the driver has to hold the console up with one hand while driving with only one hand. The cause appears to be the failure of multiple plastic clips holding the overhead console in place. While this appears to be a known issue with VW, they have not recalled all of the affected vehicles.”
NHTSA complaint #11753951, 2026

Power Train 41

“After replacing cylinder head, rack and pinion and steering assist I went to dealer just after warranty passed they told me that the oil separator and auxiliary/ secondary water pump. Car continues to have issues. Mainly with engine. Car could break down when driving with no oil getting to engine”
NHTSA complaint #11726535, 2026

“The vehicle intermittently fails to accelerate normally from a stop, especially in hot weather and when the A/C is running. When pressing the accelerator, the vehicle can hesitate for an extended period before moving. In a recent incident recorded on video (reference attachment), I pressed the accelerator and the vehicle failed to respond normally for more than 10 seconds, requiring me to pull over. This creates a serious safety risk when entering intersections, making U-turns, crossing traffic, or pulling into traffic, because the vehicle does not respond when acceleration is needed. The iss…”
NHTSA complaint #11747947, 2025

“I am submitting this complaint regarding my Volkswagen vehicle because it has experienced two recurring defects during the warranty period that remain unresolved despite repeated repair attempts by the dealership. Issue 1 – Excessive Oil Consumption The vehicle has had a persistent excessive oil consumption problem since the warranty period. The dealership has attempted to repair this defect six times, including replacing an engine valve, but the issue continues. The vehicle still consumes excessive oil, requiring frequent monitoring and topping off. This creates a serious safety concern beca…”
NHTSA complaint #11746538, 2025

Lane Departure 40

“We have had the steering wheel replaced twice in this vehicle since purchasing it brand new. This is not the 3rd steering wheel in the truck. From what we can tell this is extremely common with this VW. There is an issue with the wheel ring that causes the circuitry to "freak" out and cause the lane assist system/warning to come on/off repeatedly on the dash. It happens when you turn the wheel and flashes on the screen/auditable alerts multiple times. It is unsafe to drive as the warning happens for no rhyme or reason. Causing malfunction to the lane assist feature and is extremely distractin…”
NHTSA complaint #11751371, 2026

“Keyless system warning continuously goes off. Lane assist continually is unavailable Start stop system continually unavailable Dealership has serviced the vehicle and warning indicators continue to go off.”
NHTSA complaint #11746921, 2026

“My travel assist warning light and warning bell randomly goes on. Sometimes it does it a couple times, most times it continues nonstop. I have warranty left and the dealer has charged me twice to diagnose it only to say there's nothing wrong. They claim unless it is doing it when i come in, there is nothing they can do. I find it hard to belive that this doesn't log in the computer. This becomes terribly distracting while driving as I look down every single time to read the warning in case it is something different. I showed the dealer a 3 minute video of it happening. I tried to traded the ca…”
NHTSA complaint #11746126, 2026

Forward Collision Avoidance 29 1 crash 1 injury

“While driving down our sloped driveway with nothing in front of us, the automatic braking kicked in and brought our car to a very sudden halt without warning. The passenger was wearing a seatbelt and got thrown forward, causing soreness and mild injury to his shoulders. The problem has not been examined by the dealership. We adjusted the sensitivity level of this system to low as a result.”
NHTSA complaint #11528472, 2022 · 1 injury(ies)

“The car was in the cruise control with auto mode and it just veered to the left from a car in front and crashed into the median and totaled the car.”
NHTSA complaint #11683773, 2025 · crash

“This is a very common issue with the car and everytime I touch the steering wheel it says “travel assist not available”. But when it notify that message it makes a very loud noise. It is very distracting because everytime I move my hands or grab the wheel it will keep making the loud noise making it very hard to focus. This is a problem that Volkswagen knows about and wants the customer to pay over $1000 out of pocket to replace the whole steering wheel. There is no user error or way for the drive to cause this it is a faulty sensor in the wheel. In the end its makes it very hard to drive and…”
NHTSA complaint #11745514, 2026

Fuel/Propulsion System 28

“I am filing this complaint because my Volkswagen Tiguan has a serious and ongoing engine issue involving excessive oil consumption and a faulty cylinder head. The vehicle burns through an abnormal amount of oil between changes, requiring constant top‑offs, sometimes as frequently as every few hundred miles. Despite regularly adding oil and following all manufacturer‑recommended maintenance, the issue continues to worsen. The dealership has confirmed that the cylinder head is defective, which is causing the engine to consume oil at an extremely accelerated rate. However, I have been told the re…”
NHTSA complaint #11727194, 2026

“The cylinder head has passages that collect carbon build up that build up outside of general maintenance that clog the cylinder head and can eventually lead to combustion failure. This car has been taken to an independent, reputable mechanic in the area, as well as now the dealer. Dealer has confirmed they have at least 4 other vehicles currently with the same issue in just this one location, and parts replacement to remedy the issue (new cylinder heads) are on back order (over 2500 on order in US). This car has been caught early, before this engine failure, as the check engine light first cam…”
NHTSA complaint #11722170, 2026

“5 complaints about oil consumption, 3 check engine lights where had to pull over due to car not running properly. Vehicle putters upon acceleration. Replaced leak detection pump, intake and exhaust system stem seals, oil separator, auxiliary bracket and seal and EVAP sensor.”
NHTSA complaint #11707791, 2025

Steering 23

“We have had the steering wheel replaced twice in this vehicle since purchasing it brand new. This is not the 3rd steering wheel in the truck. From what we can tell this is extremely common with this VW. There is an issue with the wheel ring that causes the circuitry to "freak" out and cause the lane assist system/warning to come on/off repeatedly on the dash. It happens when you turn the wheel and flashes on the screen/auditable alerts multiple times. It is unsafe to drive as the warning happens for no rhyme or reason. Causing malfunction to the lane assist feature and is extremely distractin…”
NHTSA complaint #11751371, 2026

“This is a very common issue with the car and everytime I touch the steering wheel it says “travel assist not available”. But when it notify that message it makes a very loud noise. It is very distracting because everytime I move my hands or grab the wheel it will keep making the loud noise making it very hard to focus. This is a problem that Volkswagen knows about and wants the customer to pay over $1000 out of pocket to replace the whole steering wheel. There is no user error or way for the drive to cause this it is a faulty sensor in the wheel. In the end its makes it very hard to drive and…”
NHTSA complaint #11745514, 2026

“In February 2026, my windshield was replaced by a third-party glass company after a crack. Shortly after, my vehicle’s driver assistance system began activating falsely — beeping, displaying warnings, and on a few occasions attempting to auto-correct the steering wheel while my hands were already on it. The ‘hands on wheel’ warning has displayed while I was actively holding the wheel. The glass company has serviced the vehicle four times since, including replacing the camera bracket, resetting the windshield seal, and installing a full OEM windshield and bracket as recently as June 15, 2026.…”
NHTSA complaint #11745035, 2026

Vehicle Speed Control 13 1 crash

“The car was in the cruise control with auto mode and it just veered to the left from a car in front and crashed into the median and totaled the car.”
NHTSA complaint #11683773, 2025 · crash

“The vehicle intermittently fails to accelerate normally from a stop, especially in hot weather and when the A/C is running. When pressing the accelerator, the vehicle can hesitate for an extended period before moving. In a recent incident recorded on video (reference attachment), I pressed the accelerator and the vehicle failed to respond normally for more than 10 seconds, requiring me to pull over. This creates a serious safety risk when entering intersections, making U-turns, crossing traffic, or pulling into traffic, because the vehicle does not respond when acceleration is needed. The iss…”
NHTSA complaint #11747947, 2025

“I am experiencing a serious safety issue with my 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan involving delayed acceleration. The problem occurs intermittently but frequently: when pressing the gas pedal from a complete stop or low-speed situation (such as turning or merging), there is often a 5–10 second delay before the vehicle responds and begins accelerating. During this lag, the engine does not rev, and the vehicle does not move, leaving me and my passengers vulnerable in intersections, while turning into traffic, or merging onto highways. This issue has occurred multiple times since purchase, and has created…”
NHTSA complaint #11676078, 2025

Visibility/Wiper 12

“The wipers of this car go on and off automatically and you are not able to turn off the feature. They go on without rain or any debris on the windshield. I already took it to a Volkswagen dealer and they accepted the error and replaced the steering wheel, saying this was the cause. With the new steering wheel, the problem is still going on and they don’t offer any solutions because they don’t understand what is happening to the car. This is very distracting and I’ve been close to crashing due to the wipers going on and off consistently. I researched on the internet and there are several VW ca…”
NHTSA complaint #11715442, 2026

“The vehicle's sunroof glass failed catastrophically and shattered spontaneously without any external impact or contributing factor. The glass was not safety glass and shattered into sharp shards, dispersing throughout the vehicle interior, including the rear seating area. This failure posed a serious safety risk, as glass shards caused minor injuries to my skin, and could have resulted in significant injury had a child or pet been seated in the back. The incident has not been reproduced; however, the damage was confirmed and repaired by the authorized dealership, which replaced the sunroof gla…”
NHTSA complaint #11713327, 2026

“Went to work, drove home, went to take my daughter to her friends and noticed my windshield on the passenger side was cracked big time. Just from sitting in my driveway.”
NHTSA complaint #11704806, 2025

Back Over Prevention 9

“a vehicle warning notice flashes across the dashboard saying “vehicle assistance system not available” and the switch to engage this system causes the same message to flash and the systems do not engage”
NHTSA complaint #11740335, 2026

“Subject: Ongoing Mechanical and Electrical Issues – 2022 VW Tiguan I’m experiencing ongoing issues with my 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan, purchased new and maintained under single ownership. Primary Issue: The vehicle shuts off unexpectedly under various driving conditions—while accelerating on the highway, from a stop at traffic lights, and especially when going uphill or over high bridges. The issue initially occurred once or twice a year around 45,000 miles but has become more frequent. As of 70,000 miles, it now happens on a weekly basis. When this happens, the only way to temporarily resolve t…”
NHTSA complaint #11689867, 2025

“The car stalls and lags out when accelerating and appears to slip gears (daily). The dealership stated this is normal for the car to do, but it’s very scary and nearly caused me to be rear ended. The car turns off at a stop light (unexpected ) and has to be restarted. I am experiencing jerking and sputtering of the vehicle when at a complete stop. First the car indicates the start/stop function is deactivated, then the car produces a message stating the engine speed max is 2500 rpm. Then the EPC light comes on and/or the check engine light. I initially took my car in to the dealership for mai…”
NHTSA complaint #11636098, 2024

Engine And Engine Cooling 6

“The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The oil light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the cylinder head needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because parts were on back order. The manufacturer was contacted, and the contact was referred to the service and the general manufacturer. The manager informed the contact to continue driving the vehicle and to continue to take it in for the oil to be topped off. The failure…”
NHTSA complaint #11750052, 2026

“The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to O'Reilly, where an unknown diagnostic result was provided. The vehicle was taken to the used car dealer where it was purchased, and the engine was disassembled. The dealer determined that the cylinder head was cracked. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH after the repair, the vehicle stalled in the middle of the roadway. The vehicle was restarted after an extended while; howev…”
NHTSA complaint #11730156, 2026

“The contact owned a 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact pulled over and added oil to the engine. The failure occurred on several occasions, and the contact stated he consistently added oil for the vehicle to return to normal operation. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the dealer stated that it was normal to consistently check and add oil to the engine and stated that the issue was not a failure. The manufac…”
NHTSA complaint #11717907, 2025

Service Brakes 6 1 crash

“The car was in the cruise control with auto mode and it just veered to the left from a car in front and crashed into the median and totaled the car.”
NHTSA complaint #11683773, 2025 · crash

“On 7/22/25, I started an oil consumption test. It was eventually diagnosed that it was an issue because the cylinder head was replaced 9/25/25. Then a total engine replacement 1/26/2026 and on 2/10/2026 the dipstick tube was replaced. The car has consistently had engine oil consumption and still under the manufacturer warranty. It’s a lemon”
NHTSA complaint #11717424, 2025

“The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that after an oil change, additional oil needed to be added to the engine. The oil light was illuminated. The contact stated that when the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle was slow to respond. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was eventually diagnosed, and determined that the oil was leaking into the valve. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle began to smoke and then stalled. The brake li…”
NHTSA complaint #11681561, 2025

Air Bags 4 1 crash 1 injury

“Driver fell asleep and vehicle want off the road into a ditch that led to a stone wall protecting a culvert. Vehicle hit the stone wall and was launched into the air across the driveway where it came to a rest on its right side. I estimate that the vehicle left the highway at 45 mph (the cruise control setting) and hit the stone wall at approximately 25-30 mph. During this violent event all airbags deployed EXCEPT DRIVER'S AIRBAG located in the center of the steering wheel. I have a severely bruised and very painful sternum as a result. All systems were normal with no indication of a safety s…”
NHTSA complaint #11496004, 2022 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the vehicle had been at the dealer since November 2025 unrepaired regarding the side curtain air bag. The dealer informed the contact that Part Number: 5NN880742G; was on backorder. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time to provide the part for the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue but offered no assistance. The contact had not experienced a failure.”
NHTSA complaint #11720385, 2025

“Crack spontaneously appeared near VW logo on steering wheel. The crack is growing. Volkswagen dealership said the airbag and steering wheel plate cover need to be replaced but unwilling to cover under warranty. Steering wheel plate cover looks to be swollen and other visible areas show stress marks. Dealership is ordering replacement part to replace next week. Dealership did not say this is a safety concern, but I feel it is needs to be reported to the correct persons. No warning lights have occurred.”
NHTSA complaint #11605765, 2024

Wheels 3

“I bought this brand new Tiguan in July 2022. The engine is either leaking or burning engine oil. I have the check engine oil level light on around every 2000-3000 miles. I had been to the dealer several times. They just inspect for leak and added engine oil. The problem still exist. The dealer stated that my car needs oil change every 10k miles. I am going back every 2-3 k miles for engine oil. There is something wrong with the engine. It is burning or consuming the engine oil. Another problem i have is the wheel or the brakes. When I was braking at above 60 miles per hours, there is a strong…”
NHTSA complaint #11542905, 2023

“I purchased this vehicle in June 2022 VW of Orlando North Florida. I had issues with salesperson [XXX] as he caught himself in lies. Anyway, my vehicle has 5,000 miles I keep in excellent condition I was going to detail and add some wheel options when I observed all 4 tires on this vehicle do not match. 3 are scorpions and 1 is Pirelli. Which means unbeknownst to me I’ve been driving this new Tiguan and suv with different tires. I was always aware especially vehicles awd should be fitted with the same tires. This is a violation, a safety hazard. I contacted VW of America, Vw Orlando and othe…”
NHTSA complaint #11513293, 2023

“Tire pressure sensor seems to consistently read low tire pressure every month or so, adjust tire pressures and problem keeps happening. A month ago, I had a tire explode and I’m not sure if it was related to a faulty tire or from my improper tire gauge constantly giving me troubles. Bought the car in September 2022, and have replaced 2 Pirelli tires since. Now again my tire pressure is reading low in all my tires and the last time they fixed it was 12/23/22, hasn’t even been a month. I see they have had recalls on prior vehicles due to tire pressure loss detection issues. I have 4000 miles on…”
NHTSA complaint #11502028, 2023

Exterior Lighting 2

“2022 Tiguan overhead consule just fell down hanging by wires. No glasses compartment so not sure what would cause the stress on it due to usage. Dealer said 2020 models had issue and have an extended warranty. The 2022 does not have any recall. Seems like design flaw VW should correct as issue comes up. If I was driving at the time. it would have hit me or passenger in the head. This is a safety concern. I have seen multiple posts where this has happened. VW said I am out of warranty and will not do anything. It is 2022 and I have seen 2020 and 2021 models with owners posting same issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11740334, 2026

“INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY WERE BLACKED OUT IN DAY TIME FROM START UP AND FOR DURATION OF DRIVE APROXIMATE 2 HOURS. RESTARTING HAD NO EFFECT, TURNING LIGHTS ON AND OFF HAD NO EFFECT ON DASH DISPLAY. BRIGHTNESS OF DISPLAY IS CONTROLLED THROUGH INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY WHICH WAS NOT VISIBLE. AFTER 20 MINUTE SHUTDOWN AND RESTART DISPLAY WAS NORMAL AGAIN. CHECKING DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS SETTING, IT WAS NORMAL. i RESET IT TO VERY HIGH. 1 HR LATER WHILE DRIVING DISPLAY DIMMED AND BRIGHTENED REPEATEDLY OVER 5 MINUTE DURATION, THEN WENT DARK AGAIN FOR DURATION OF DRIVE, BUT DUE TO RESET OF B…”
NHTSA complaint #11490433, 2022

Seat Belts 2

“The driver-side seat belt buckle is getting stuck and does not release the seat belt when the release button is pressed.”
NHTSA complaint #11713909, 2026

“Seven months after I purchased this vehicle as new the driver side rear seatbelt buckle is not working which is preventing that passenger to put the seatbelt on, it keeps coming out. I called the local Dealership, FIndley Henderson Volkwagen, and the earliest appointment is a week from today, which means I can't have anyone sitting there. Any car after seven months shouldn't have this kind of safety problem. maybe it's a design issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11477160, 2022

Structure 2

“Rear sunroof glass spontaneously shattered while driving, no rock struck the glass.”
NHTSA complaint #11667850, 2025

Latches/Locks/Linkages 1

“2022 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THE AUTO UNLOCK FEATURE ON VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED ALL 4 DOORS ON THE VEHICLE UNLOCK WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED TO PARK. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FEATURE COULD BE POTENTIALLY HARMFUL IN SOME SITUATIONS.”
NHTSA complaint #11458615, 2022

Suspension 1

“My backup camera stopped functioning not too long after the warranty was expired. It began by not coming on sometimes and then it went completely out. The entire unit is no longer functioning which prevents me from being able to use my backup camera and that is a safety issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11742356, 2026

Visibility 1

“The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the sunroof exploded without impact. The contact stated that shattered glass fell inside the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer but was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 624.”
NHTSA complaint #11446237, 2022