2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 5 NHTSA recalls and 143 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

56/100

Elevated Reported Activity — 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan shows elevated recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Make sure any recall campaigns are resolved before purchase and have the vehicle inspected thoroughly.

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NHTSA Recalls

5 recalls on record

143

Owner Complaints

Filed with NHTSA

Crash Reports

In NHTSA complaints

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NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan (5)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Volkswagen dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Seats

The seat can move front and back without restriction if bolts are missing, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen 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…

NHTSA #21V038000

🔧 Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

A black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen 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…

NHTSA #20V716000

🔧 Suspension

A broken rear suspension knuckle can cause a loss of stability, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers 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…

NHTSA #22V176000

🔧 Structure: Body

An insufficiently attached spoiler may separate from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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…

NHTSA #22V226000

🔧 Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera

A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers 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…

NHTSA #22V514000

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Most Common Problems — 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

Based on 143 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Engine

Unknown Or Other

Electrical System

Power Train

Structure

Visibility/wiper

Fuel/propulsion System

Engine And Engine Cooling

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Volkswagen Tiguan — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.

→ Recently checked Volkswagen Tiguan VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.

→ Decode a Volkswagen VIN — free Volkswagen VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.

⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2018, 2022 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2015, 2025 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

Is the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan has 5 recall campaigns and 143 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How many recalls does the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan have?

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan has 5 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan?

The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan are: Engine, Unknown Or Other, Electrical System, Power Train. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.

Is the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan safe to buy?

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 5 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.

What year Volkswagen Tiguan should I buy?

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Volkswagen Tiguan are: 2015, 2025. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2018, 2022.

How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.

Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.