The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 18 of 58 complaints (31%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 79 in 2024 to 58 in 2025.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 58
- Recall campaigns
- 3
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,150–$2,500
- Combined MPG
- 25–29
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
Advertisement
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | vs. 2025 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,300–2,600 | 2,300–2,600 | 2,150–2,500 | 2,150–2,500 | 2,150–2,500 | |
| Combined MPG | 24–27 | 24–27 | 25–29 | 25–29 | 25–29 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 21–24 / 28–31 | 22–24 / 29–31 | 22–26 / 30–34 | 22–26 / 29–34 | 22–26 / 30–35 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 331–369 | 331–367 | 307–351 | 307–360 | 306–358 | |
| Complaints filed | 72 | 79 | 58 | 38 | 0 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Electrical: 18 of 58 NHTSA complaints (31%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan get?
EPA rates it 25–29 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan?
EPA estimates $2,150–$2,500 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 (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 25 mpg | 32 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,200 | 320 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 26 mpg (high) | 34 mpg (high) | 29 mpg (high) | $2,150 (low) | 307 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 22 mpg (low) | 30 mpg (low) | 25 mpg (low) | $2,500 (high) | 351 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 14 | 1 | 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)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
- Defect
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 Tiguan vehicles. A software error may cause the body control module (BCM) system to reset. This may result in the ignition switching off, resulting in an engine stall. It can also lead to a loss of certain controls, warning lights, exterior lighting, or failure of the rearview camera system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Controls and Displays," and 102, "Transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect," as well as FMVSS numbers 111 and 108.
- Consequence
- An unexpected engine stall, loss of exterior lighting or warning lights, or failure of the rearview camera system can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the body control module (BCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 57KL. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 17, 2026.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
- Defect
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 Tiguan vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may experience a fault in the wiring and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied.
- Consequence
- A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to allow occupants to sit in the front passenger seat until the remedy is complete. Dealers will repair the affected wiring harness in the front passenger seat, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 74HE. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on December 12, 2025.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
- Defect
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 Tiguan vehicles. A tie rod bolt on the rear axle assembly may be loose, which can lead to a loss of vehicle control.
- Consequence
- A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the affected tie rod bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 5, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42E7.