2021 Volkswagen Tiguan engine problems
58 of the 141 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 150 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 58 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2022: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 8 · 2025: 21 · 2026: 24
Too few of these complaints carry an odometer reading to say when the problem shows up.
141 complaints in all about the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan, 24 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Volkswagen Tiguan engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Engine oil light came on and car was down about 2 quarts of oil AGAIN. Car was last serviced as noted below VW service 11/22/2024 Mileage in 62086 Mileage out 62087 (what kind of test drive was this, less than a mile) ??
There was an issue with excessive oil consumption. In as little time as I have owned this vehicle I have had to top my oil off between oil changes because my low oil light had came on. I then, over the winter got a check engine light, it threw code P24D6 which pertained to the oil leak and/or seperating.
Pcv valve on my car went and caused seals to leak in my engine. This has caused oil to leak onto my exhaust system which poses a fire hazard according to the dealership. Car should not be driven. Many many complaints about this issue of the PCV valve failing have been discovered online. Worried about my car catching fire if I drive it
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking oil. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the valve cover needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred.
PCV Failure causing the timing cover to leak oil and causing the oil pan to crack. This is a known issue with VW TSI engines. This PCV is a major issue not only causing the damage above but others are having to replace the rear main seal and crank case because of this.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications150 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0442 P0149 P0461 P013E P0401 P24D6 P0462 P060C
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 58 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (41% of everything owners filed about it), and 150 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 5 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Too few of the complaints carry an odometer reading to say. The model year's page shows the mileage curve across every system where it can.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.