2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 52 of 152 complaints (34%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (6) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 161 in 2011 to 152 in 2012.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | vs. 2012 Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,700–3,900 | 3,500–3,700 | 3,250–3,700 | 3,350–3,700 | 3,350–3,700 | |
| Combined MPG | 20–21 | 21–22 | 21–24 | 21–23 | 21–23 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 18–19 / 24–26 | 18–20 / 25–26 | 18–22 / 26 | 18–21 / 26 | 18–21 / 26 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 423–444 | 404–423 | 370–423 | 391–417 | 393–417 | |
| Complaints filed | 110 | 161 | 152 | 139 | 84 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 5 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 2 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 5 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Engine: 52 of 152 NHTSA complaints (34%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan get?
EPA rates it 21–24 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan?
EPA estimates $3,250–$3,700 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 22 mpg (high) | 26 mpg | 24 mpg (high) | $3,250 (low) | 370 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 18 mpg (low) | 26 mpg | 21 mpg (low) | $3,700 (high) | 423 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 21 mpg | 26 mpg | 23 mpg | $3,350 | 386 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 52 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 39 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
UNKNOWN OR OTHER · Campaign 18V329000 · May 22, 2018
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI 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.
Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · Campaign 15V483000 · Aug 4, 2015
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
Consequence: A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · Campaign 14V441000 · Jul 21, 2014
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 to June 2014. When using winterized fuel, in certain conditions bubbles may form in the fuel system which could result in the vehicle stalling.
Consequence: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to increase the fuel pump pressure, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin August 19, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24AV/2W.