2009 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls and problems

The 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan has 3 recalls and 168 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is engine.

How the 2009 compares

High

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

High complaint count among 18 Tiguan model years — 4th most.

3recalls

168complaints

5crashes

6fires

4injuries

70,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

3 recalls

Fuel System

Jul 21, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V441000 · 151,389 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Electrical System

Nov 22, 2013 · NHTSA campaign 13V569000 · 62,155 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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 & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Engine

May 28, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V235000 · 6,579 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: An engine surge caused by an unexpected increase in engine rpm May surprise the vehicle operator and can result in a crash without warning.

Original NHTSA wording

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 & notes

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.

Volkswagen recall no. 24M9/R7.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Engine88

Unknown or other10

Vehicle Speed Control8

Service Brakes7

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

Partial Loss of Exterior Lights

PE13036 · opened Nov 4, 2013 · closed Feb 28, 2014 · led to recall 13V569000

Summary

Volkswagen Group of America (VW) is conducting a safety recall of approximately 62,155 model year (MY) 2009-2011 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles to address a partial loss of the exterior lighting (see NHTSA recall 13V-569 for more information).These vehicles' exterior lighting system is protected by two separate fuses contained in a fuse box located in the engine compartment.According to VW, high thermal cycling and soft-coated fuse coating material used at the F16 (also referred to as SB16) location causes movement between the fuse blade and socket, resulting in abrasions on the fuse coating material.This increases resistance and results in overheating of the fuse and disruption of electrical current flow to roughly half of the vehicle's exterior lighting circuits. Examples include loss of one of each of the following: low beam headlight, high beam headlight, brake light, and turn signal light involving the front and rear of the vehicle.VW has stated that the subject F16 fuse in the Tiguan model was used in several other Volkswagen models.According to VW, the temperature of the vehicle's engine and the fuse box varies by vehicle model.ODI found that the complaint and warranty rates for the MY 2009-2010 Tiguan are more than four times greater than that of MY 2009-2010 Volkswagen Jetta sedans.ODI is aware of VW's plan to take a service action of some, but not all, of the other vehicle models.The action will cover MY 2009-2010 Jetta sedan and MY 2009 GTI vehicles.ODI will monitor co…

2009 vs. other Volkswagen Tiguan years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2009. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, the latest from Jul 21, 2014 (fuel system). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention engine (88), electrical system (40), power train (20). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.