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2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
70 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns5
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA138
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA25 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 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 5 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 138 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
TiguanGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo232925$2,500
Tiguan 4motionGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo212724$2,600

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43019, 43023.

Factory warranty running out?

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Recalls (5)

Source: NHTSA recall database
○minor

Back Over Prevention

91DV
43,091 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Jetta NF, Arteon FL, Tiguan LWB, 2022 Taos, Jetta PA, Tiguan PA, 2021-2022 Atlas Cross Sport, and Atlas FL vehicles. The manufacturing process of the eMMC memory module in the infotainment system may cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."RiskA rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers will update the infotainment software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DV.
NHTSA campaign 22V514000reported Jul 20, 2022Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
▲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

Suspension

42L8
10,119 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan, Taos, and 2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. A second notice will be sent once remedy parts become available. The left or right rear suspension knuckles may corrode, crack, and break.RiskA broken rear suspension knuckle can cause a loss of stability, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace one or both rear suspension knuckles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 13, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42L8.
NHTSA campaign 22V176000reported Mar 23, 2022Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
▲high

Seats

72L6
57 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Long Wheelbase and Jetta vehicles. Bolts may be missing from the front seat tracks.RiskThe seat can move front and back without restriction if bolts are missing, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.FixVolkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat tracks and, as necessary, install the bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 18, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 72L6.
NHTSA campaign 21V038000reported Feb 1, 2021Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
○minor

Back Over Prevention

91BB / 91BC
32,048 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan LWB, Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas FL and Arteon vehicles. The rear view camera could malfunction during an ignition cycle, leading to a black screen or infotainment system freeze. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."RiskA black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.FixVolkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the infotainment system software, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91BB/91BC.
NHTSA campaign 20V716000reported Nov 18, 2020Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
138complaints filed

2 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2021: 8 · 2022: 15 · 2023: 12 · 2024: 29 · 2025: 41 · 2026: 33

Most-cited components

Engine51
Unspecified29
Electrical System24
Forward Collision Avoidance14
Structure11
Fuel/Propulsion System11

What owners describe

“I have to put oil into the engine every 2000 miles. The dealership has run 2 separate oil consumption tests and they claim they are unable to find anything wrong.”Nov 21, 2022 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bag control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was a…”Oct 3, 2022 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report
“While coming to a stop, the car displayed an error code “ Error: Driver Door Contact Switchâ€� and automatically put the car in park using the emergency break. The driver would have to put the car in park, turn off the vehicle, and release the emergency break to continue. The Volkswagen Tiguan would do this at every …”Sep 23, 2022 · Electrical System · 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.

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

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan

3 recalls · 139 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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