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2020 Volkswagen Tiguan

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
76 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns3
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA139
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA25 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Tiguan, is EPA-rated at 25 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 139 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
TiguanGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo222925$2,500
Tiguan 4motionGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202723$2,700

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42101, 42104.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Structure

66N5
6,553 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen 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.RiskAn insufficiently attached spoiler may separate from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 22V226000reported Apr 6, 2022Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
▲high

Seat Belts

69BA
6 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020 Tiguan LWB vehicles. The third row seat belt anchor bolts may not have been properly torqued.RiskImproperly torqued bolts may prevent the third row seat belt from performing as designed in a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.FixVolkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles. Owners are advised: No one should occupy the third row seat due to the safety risk. The recall began October 7, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen number for this recall is 69BA.
NHTSA campaign 20V579000reported Sep 23, 2020Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
▲high

Seats

72L1, 72K8, 72K9
5,376 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen ) is recalling certain 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan and Audi Q5 and SQ5 and 2021 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been welded properly.RiskIn the event of a rear-end crash, the backrest adjustment could break, possibly reducing the amount of occupant restraint, thus increasing risk of injury.FixVolkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats, and, as necessary, replace the seatback frames, free of charge. The recall began September 11, 2020. Volkswagen owners may contact their customer service at 1-888-241-2289. Audi owners may contact their customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 72L1, 72K8, and 72K9.
NHTSA campaign 20V505000reported Aug 26, 2020Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
139complaints filed

5 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 7 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2020: 10 · 2021: 10 · 2022: 18 · 2023: 24 · 2024: 36 · 2025: 16 · 2026: 25

Most-cited components

Unspecified51
Electrical System33
Engine25
Forward Collision Avoidance22
Structure16
Service Brakes10

What owners describe

“Uneven and excessive pad wear that was reported to be "normal" by the dealer. Photo of pads from passenger side of vehicle attached. One is almost unworn and the other is down to metal.”Aug 30, 2022 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report
“The contact owns a 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that on three separate occasions, the upper overhead console had detached from the headliner. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer on all three occasions and had the part replaced under warranty. Recently, the contact stated that the failure retur…”Aug 26, 2022 · Structure · NHTSA owner report
“The car was parked outside during the summer. Opened the car door and noticed the entire overhead console above the driver had detached, and was broken, hanging head high by the wire connections. The plastic is broken around the screws that usually hold it into place, so it cannot be reattached without getting a replac…”Aug 24, 2022 · Structure · NHTSA owner report

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.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆—
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆—

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning.

Other Tiguan model years

A

2027 Volkswagen Tiguan

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2026 Volkswagen Tiguan

0 recalls · 25 complaints

B

2025 Volkswagen Tiguan

2 recalls · 46 complaints

A

2024 Volkswagen Tiguan

2 recalls · 65 complaints

A

2023 Volkswagen Tiguan

1 recalls · 61 complaints

C

2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

5 recalls · 265 complaints

C

2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

5 recalls · 138 complaints

D

2019 Volkswagen Tiguan

5 recalls · 189 complaints

F

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan

13 recalls · 288 complaints

F

2017 Volkswagen Tiguan

4 recalls · 75 complaints

B

2016 Volkswagen Tiguan

2 recalls · 96 complaints

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). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

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

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