RecallRepo

2012 Volkswagen Tiguan Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 567,466 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 214 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18V329000 2018-05-16 252 affected
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…

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 15V483000 2015-08-04 415,825 affected
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…

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…

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 14V441000 2014-07-21 151,389 affected
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.

Complaints by component

ENGINE
50
2crashes
AIR BAGS
30
7crashes6injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
23
2crashes
STEERING
20
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
20
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
12
SERVICE BRAKES
10
2crashes1injuries
POWER TRAIN
7
2crashes
SEAT BELTS
7
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
4
Total complaints214

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Steering wheel gets locked up while driving; power steering fails. The red steering light turns on. This is a problem that happens to several tiguans. There were no prior symptoms prior to failure. This is extremely dangerous and difficult to deal with while driving, especially on the freeway.…”

STEERING · reported 2025-10-06

“I was driving the car and the steering wheel locked out of nowhere a red steering light came on the dashboard. I’ve never seen before”

STEERING · reported 2025-08-27

“What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Defective primary engine water pump, yes. The original primary engine water pump system for a 2012 vw tiguan 2.0 was replaced under the vw extended warranty in 2020 by an authorized dealer as a the…”

ENGINE · reported 2025-03-13

“The engine could not be started after 13 years and 103,000+ miles. I had to get the car towed to my garage at night, after several prior trips same day. There were no check engine lights or any other indicators. The engine had newer spark plugs, ignition coils and pcv valve installed as well as…”

ENGINE · reported 2024-12-23

“The clockspring has failed and there are recalls on similar models of tiguans of the same year.”

AIR BAGS · reported 2024-08-01

“The contact owns a 2012 volkswagen tiguan. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 mph, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The…”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · reported 2024-07-30

“I was accelerating on the highway when my engine started making a rattling sound and the check engine light came on. I took my car into a specialty european auto shop and they determined my timing chain and tensioner needed replacing. The price is going to be over $5k and there are only 113,763…”

ENGINE · reported 2024-07-22

“The contact owns a 2012 volkswagen tiguan. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. Additionally, while driving at 65 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to restart. The check engine, epc,…”

ENGINE · reported 2024-01-25

Defect investigations

Investigation EA18003 Opened 2018-04-18 · open

Air Bag Clockspring Failure

In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure…

Investigation EA18003 Opened 2018-04-18 · open

Air Bag Clockspring Failure

In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure…

Investigation EA18003 Opened 2018-04-18 · open

Air Bag Clockspring Failure

In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure…

Investigation PE15010 Opened 2015-03-24 · closed 2015-09-28

Air Bag Clockspring Failure

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of steering wheel clock spring/steering column control module (SCCM) failures in model year (MY) 2012 Volkswagen Passat and CC models.The SCCM is a module within the steering column that incorporates a spiral conductor (a…

Investigation PE15010 Opened 2015-03-24 · closed 2015-09-28

Air Bag Clockspring Failure

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of steering wheel clock spring/steering column control module (SCCM) failures in model year (MY) 2012 Volkswagen Passat and CC models.The SCCM is a module within the steering column that incorporates a spiral conductor (a…

Investigation PE15010 Opened 2015-03-24 · closed 2015-09-28

Air Bag Clockspring Failure

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of steering wheel clock spring/steering column control module (SCCM) failures in model year (MY) 2012 Volkswagen Passat and CC models.The SCCM is a module within the steering column that incorporates a spiral conductor (a…

Investigation RQ17009 Opened 2017-11-13 · closed 2018-05-04

Air Bag Clockspring Failure

In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure…

Investigation RQ17009 Opened 2017-11-13 · closed 2018-05-04

Air Bag Clockspring Failure

In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.