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Your vehicleHome›Volkswagen›Tiguan› 2018
Active NHTSA advisory: do not drive. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.
Volkswagen · Compact SUV

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
F
Safety Signal
41 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 4–5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls2 critical 14
Complaints5 crash · 3 fire · 12 injured reported 293
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 24 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Tiguan, is EPA-rated at 24 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 293 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Volkswagen Tiguan — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Volkswagen Tiguan (2007 generation) · Photo: Alexander-93 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
TiguanGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo222724$2,800
Tiguan 4motionGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo212723$2,900
Tiguan LimitedGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202623$3,550
Tiguan Limited 4motionGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo192522$3,750

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38805, 38838, 39731, 39735.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Tiguan, Tiguan 4motion7 / 10California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Tiguan Limited3 / 10California LEV-II ULEV / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—
Tiguan Limited 4motion3 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / California LEV-II ULEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L
Engine configurationV-Shaped

Engine Output

Horsepower184 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows3
Seating capacity7 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainAWD/All-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds8

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Parking assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: 4Motion S, 4Motion SEL Premium, RTL-E, S). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length185.8 in
Width (body, without mirrors)72.0 in
Height66.5 in
Wheelbase109.8 in
Track, front62.6 in
Track, rear61.8 in
Curb weight3,777–3,856 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear56/44

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: 4-door SUV 4Motion, 4-door SUV FWD. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2018 Tiguan
Other years The 2027 Tiguan Recalls Volkswagen recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

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Recalls (14)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Steering

48LG, 48VT
208,724 vehicles built Mar 22, 2017 – Jun 18, 2018
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan, 2018-2019 Atlas, and 2019-2021 Audi Q3 vehicles. One of the bolts that attaches the steering rack to the subframe may corrode and break. If this happens, the steering rack housing can break. Risk A broken steering rack housing can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the right-side steering rack mounting bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 10, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 48LG and 48VT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 16, 2026.
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFDealer notice PDF
NHTSA campaign 26V590000 reported Sep 11, 2026 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Structure

66N5
6,553 vehicles 79% reported repaired
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan and 2018-2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. Due to incorrect installation instructions, the accessory rear hatch spoiler may be insufficiently attached to the vehicle. Risk An insufficiently attached spoiler may separate from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the spoiler, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66N5.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V226000 reported Apr 6, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Structure

51H5
2 vehicles 50% reported repaired
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan vehicles. During the repair of roof damage, an incorrect roof reinforcement assembly may have been installed. Risk The incorrect roof reinforcement may decrease the roof's structural integrity or impact deployment of the side curtain air bags, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash. Fix Dealers will be replace the roof reinforcement, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 51H5.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V732000 reported Sep 23, 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seat Belts

69BH
10,835 vehicles 89% reported repaired
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan LWB vehicles. In the event of a crash, one or both of the front seat belt's webbing may tear. Risk A torn seat belt may not adequately restrain the seat occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat belts and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 13, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69BH.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V724000 reported Nov 20, 2020 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Unknown Or Other

01D7
113 vehicles 18% reported repaired built Dec 8, 2016 – Dec 9, 2016
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible 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. Risk If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V679000 reported Sep 25, 2019 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Suspension

42J5
56,173 vehicles 90% reported repaired built Mar 22, 2017 – Nov 6, 2018
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Golf Sportwagen, 2019 Jetta, 2015-2019 Golf, and 2018-2019 Tiguan vehicles. The rear coil springs may prematurely fracture. Risk If a coil spring fractures while driving, it may damage a rear tire causing a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear axle coil springs, free of charge. The recall began April 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42J5.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V188000 reported Mar 6, 2019 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Electrical System

90L3 / 90L4
73,549 vehicles 89% reported repaired built Mar 1, 2017 – Nov 8, 2018
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection." Risk If the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the risk of vehicle theft or crash. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 90L3 and 90L4.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 18V824000 reported Nov 26, 2018 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Visibility

60D1
45,457 vehicles 92% reported repaired built Dec 8, 2016 – Jul 7, 2018
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles. The LED module for the panoramic sunroof ambient light bar may short circuit. Risk A short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the power supply for the panoramic sunroof LED module, free of charge, until a future service action can safely reactivate the feature. The recall began July 24, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall 60D1.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 18V467000 reported Jul 13, 2018 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

69W8 69W9
821 vehicles 90% reported repaired built Mar 10, 2018 – May 19, 2018
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan vehicles. In the event of a crash, the passenger frontal air bag may tear or not properly unfold during deployment. Risk If the air bag were to tear or unfold incorrectly during deployment, it can increase the risk of injury. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69W8, and 69W9.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 18V375000 reported Jun 6, 2018 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Suspension

40N4/40N5
Do not drive 2,473 vehicles 100% reported repaired built Jul 31, 2017 – Apr 3, 2018
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan and Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The nut that holds the lower ball joint of the front wheel on each side of the vehicle may be loose or improperly tightened. Risk A loose or improperly tightened ball joint nut can result in the separation of the lower ball joint causing steering, traction or other stability issues, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will replace the nut on the lower ball joint and, as necessary, clean the thread in the ball joint, 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 40N4. Note: owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair has been performed.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 18V324000 reported May 16, 2018 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Suspension

42i7
7,430 vehicles 96% reported repaired built Jan 15, 2018 – Mar 10, 2018
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan long wheelbase (LWB) vehicles. A lower loop of a rear shock absorber may separate from its base due to an incorrect welding process Risk If the lower loop of the rear shock absorber detaches, there may be a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear shock absorbers, replacing them as necessary, 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 42i7.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 18V262000 reported Apr 25, 2018 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Engine

10F7
4 vehicles 100% reported repaired built May 8, 2017 – May 24, 2017
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The engine support bolts on these vehicles may not have been properly tightened. Risk If the engine support bolts were not properly tightened, an unexpected engine breakdown or loss of engine power may occur, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace engine support bolts, free of charge. The recall began March 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 10F7.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 18V159000 reported Mar 8, 2018 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Air Bags

69V2
3,768 vehicles 88% reported repaired built May 24, 2017 – Jan 16, 2018
Problem 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." Risk In the event of a crash, the incorrect air bags may not protect the driver as intended, increasing the risk of injury. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 18V102000 reported Feb 9, 2018 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
○minor

Exterior Lighting

94J9
5,509 vehicles 95% reported repaired built Jul 4, 2017 – Aug 19, 2017
Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The back-up lights in the taillight assemblies may not be bright enough. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." Risk If the back-up lights are not bright enough, other drivers may not see the vehicle reversing, or the driver may back into an obstacle, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected inner taillight assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94J9.
NHTSA campaign 17V662000 reported Oct 18, 2017 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Seat Belts — Seat Belt Webbing Failure closed

In December 2017, NHTSA conducted two (2) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) tests on the Model Year (MY) 2018 Volkswagen (VW) Tiguan. Both tests were 35mph full frontal impacts into a rigid barrier with a 50th percentile male dummy seat-belted in the driver position and a 5th percentile female seat-belted in the right front passenger position. The tests were conducted on December 8, 2017, at MGA Research Corp. (MGA) in Wisconsin and December 13, 2017, at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) of Ohio. During both crash tests, the driver seat belt webbing completely separated at the point where the webbing loops through the Crash Locking Tongue (CLT). In both NCAP tests, the dummy injury cr

Opened Jul 3, 2018 · closed Feb 27, 2023 · action EA18005 · the investigation’s page →

Seat Belts:Front:Webbing — Seat Belt Webbing Failure closed

In December 2017, NHTSA conducted two New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) tests on the 2018 MY Volkswagen (VW) Tiguan. Both tests were 35 mph, full frontal impacts into a rigid barrier with a 50th percentile male dummy seat-belted in the driver position and a 5th percentile female seat-belted in the right front-passenger position. The tests were conducted on December 8, 2017 at MGA Research Corp. in Wisconsin (MGA) and December 13, 2017 at the Transportation Research Center of Ohio (TRC).During both crash tests, the driver seat belt webbing completely separated in tension where it looped through the seat belt latch tongue (see attached photos). Based on its analysis of the NCAP test results, V

Opened Jan 10, 2018 · closed Jul 3, 2018 · action PE18001 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Tiguan

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2018 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Volkswagen publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Volkswagen’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

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Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
293complaints filed

5 involved a crash · 3 a fire · 12 injuries · 0 deaths reported

26 per 10,000 built · Volkswagen reported 111,205 Tiguan built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2017: 4 · 2018: 92 · 2019: 57 · 2020: 26 · 2021: 20 · 2022: 20 · 2023: 21 · 2024: 12 · 2025: 17 · 2026: 24

Most-cited components

Engine → 84
Unspecified 54
Power Train 51
Electrical System 48
Fuel/Propulsion System 41
Structure 39

In depth: engine problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Was traveling at 70 mph and applied the break and engine rpm went up to 3500-4000 and I was in D. The dealership couldn’t replicate the issue and claims nothing is wrong. Also when you put the ac or heater on floor the air still blows out the top vents
Engine Dec 20, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11561182
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, upon attempting to slow the vehicle, the RPM's increased rapidly up to 3,000 RPM; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The failure prompted the contact to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway.
Power Train at 62,000 miles Dec 20, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11561184
The clock spring on my 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited unexpectedly failed @ 20,000 miles/3.5 years of ownership while gradually turning my wheel to pull into a parking space. The failure was indicated by the sound of plastic cracking and the airbag warning light appeared on my dashboard.
Air Bags May 2, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11463105
When placing car in reverse camera does not always turn on. Sometime camera does not turn off when then driving forward for a few miles. Sometimes when driving, screen will go black and radio stops working for approx. a minute.
Electrical System Aug 23, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11430064
I purchased a brand new 2018 VW Tiguan from a car dealership in my town. Two weeks later they called me and asked me to bring it back in to have it inspected for a possible recall. After an hour of sitting around waiting for them to check I finally went to their desk and asked what was going on.
Suspension May 28, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11098240
The driver's side b-pillar has a rattle/creak. It's a slight ticking that happens most of the time over uneven roads or when you hit a bump; the rattle/noise happens over the smallest bump. Noise can be heard even on even roads. I've had the car since 1/31/2018 when I purchased it new, and as of today 5/12/18 has 2637 miles.
Structure at 2,505 miles May 13, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11093517

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Volkswagen itself: 54 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 70 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 49 per 100,000 built. Every Tiguan model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 8k

miles, typically

Half the 144 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 2,000 and 18,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 87
10k–20k 25
20k–30k 14
30k–40k 6
40k–50k 5
50k–60k 0
60k–70k 3
70k–80k 1
80k–90k 0
90k–100k 2
100k–150k 1
150k + 0

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Engine479,0000.18×
Power Train329,0000.26×
Structure242,5050.14×
Unspecified245,400—
Electrical System1913,0000.58×
Fuel/Propulsion System169,4970.3×
Vehicle Speed Control127,0000.5×
Service Brakes1210,0000.35×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2018-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported earlier than same-age vehicles: engine (0.18×), power train (0.26×), structure (0.14×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Across 2018–2019 model years the Volkswagen Tiguan ranks 4 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 0.29× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 7,200 miles against a fleet 23,512).

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV AWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆16%
SUV FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV AWDnot rated★★★☆☆not rated★★★★☆18%
SUV FWDnot rated★★★☆☆not rated★★★★☆18%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Volkswagen warranty extension (9) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 981
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-17
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 954 service bulletins, 24 others, 3 warranty extensions

Most often about: Equipment, Engine, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Visibility/Wiper.

  • V0116152014815_20 Service bulletin
    2026-09-17 · Engine
  • Suggested fuel additive
  • 2026-09-09 · Unknown Or Other
  • This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
  • V4622022067177_5 Service bulletin
    2026-08-27 · Service Brakes
  • Repair or Replace Information
  • VOS-26-47 Service bulletin
    2026-08-14 · Electrical System
  • This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the issue: Part number 3Q0-959-435N software version number 1307 has incorrect coding.
  • V4015022033347_8 Service bulletin
    2026-08-10 · Power Train
  • Replacement instruction
  • 2026-08-06 · Unknown Or Other
  • Permission to change Daily Order upgraded to RED Order
  • V0026012081638_2 Service bulletin
    2026-08-04 · Unknown Or Other
  • Differences between a leak and seepage
  • VOS-26-42 Service bulletin
    2026-07-15 · Electrical System
  • This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the issue: DA 0019 - Hotfix 12-V battery test(s) – No battery diagnosis - Inconclusive test result.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0456
P0456 on Volkswagen →		A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system.Equipment · Gas cap →19 bulletins
P0496
P0496 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment14 bulletins
P11AD
P11AD on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment14 bulletins
P11AE
P11AE on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment14 bulletins
P11AF
P11AF on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment14 bulletins
P0116
P0116 on Volkswagen →		The engine coolant temperature sensor reading does not track the engine's actual warm-up.Equipment9 bulletins
P0197
P0197 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment8 bulletins
P1429
P1429 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment8 bulletins
P0556
P0556 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment6 bulletins
P0133
P0133 on Volkswagen →		The upstream bank 1 oxygen sensor is responding too slowly to be trusted.Equipment · Oxygen sensor →5 bulletins
P2097
P2097 on Volkswagen →		After the catalyst, the mixture on bank 1 is reading rich.Equipment4 bulletins
P0196
P0196 on Volkswagen →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Visibility/Wiper · Wiper blades →3 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

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At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan failed the emissions check on 3.5% of first inspections — close to the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.6% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%).

New York inspections 3.5%

failed emissions

4,245 initial inspections of 4,135 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2018 TiguanEvery 2018 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check3.5%3.0%4,230
Failed the safety inspection2.6%1.9%4,245
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.26%0.22%4,245
Miles driven a year10,28510,002odometer at inspection
Average odometer85,22582,833odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2018 vehicle” is every 2018 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Tiguan by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A 0 0 29 mpg2026 A 0 37 29 mpg2025 C 3 53 29 mpg2024 B 2 76 27 mpg2023 A 1 70 27 mpg2022 C 5 272 26 mpg2021 C 5 144 25 mpg2020 C 3 141 25 mpg2019 B 5 194 25 mpg2018 this page F 14 293 Do not drive2017 C 4 76 22 mpg2016 B 2 97 23 mpg

Common questions about the 2018 Tiguan

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 14 recall campaigns for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, 2 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 18V467000, covering Visibility. There is an active do not drive advisory — act on it before driving. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan?

NHTSA gave the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it F (41/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, the best EPA combined figure is 24 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan?

Transport Canada measured it at 185.8 in long, 72.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 66.5 in tall, on a 109.8 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,777–3,856 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan?

Owners have filed 293 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, most often about engine, unspecified, power train. Of those, 5 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 12 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan?

The EPA smog rating for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan runs 3 to 7 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-II ULEV, California LEV-III SULEV30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan?

The manufacturer has filed 981 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, most often covering equipment, engine, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-09-17. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan failed the emissions check on 3.5% of first inspections — close to the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.6% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations4 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates4 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls14NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints293NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings6 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins981NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations2NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA13 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2027 Tiguan The Tiguan model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Volkswagen recall on file All campaigns filed against Volkswagen vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Tiguan by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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