AI Damage2014 Volkswagen Tiguan: common problems
Owners of the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan filed 84 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 84
- involving a crash
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 55% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 26% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 24% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 13% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 5% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 4% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 4% of all complaints
- 8 Electronic stability control 2% of all complaints
- Air bags: 46 complaints (55% of all).
- Electrical system: 22 complaints (26% of all).
- Steering: 20 complaints (24% of all).
- Engine: 11 complaints (13% of all).
- Service brakes: 4 complaints (5% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 84 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 46 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The emergency brake was accidentally engaged while driving on the highway at 65 mph in traffic, bringing the car to a full stop. The emergency brake button is located next the to cup holder in the center console between the front seats. The driver put a coffee mug with an open handle in the cup holder while driving.
Driving in cold weather and slow enough speed, the electronic stabilization control light went on, indicating esc failure. The steering and brakes alternately and simultaneously failed. Stepping on the brakes produced no response at all. Car was out of control.
My vehicle stalls and completely stops at red lights, stop signs, and low speeds. Currently my vehicle is stalling and stopping at accelerated speeds at 20 mph.
Looking back at the maintenance records, I can see that in March and August 2025, my vehicle experienced a check engine light issue that resulted in EVAP system small leak fault and vibration at start up caused by misfire cylinder.
No warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact managed to temporarily unlock the steering wheel; however, after driving at approximately 65 MPH, the steering wheel suddenly became difficult to steer. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it remained for further investigation.
Check engine light came on, related to the thermostat and faulty water pump. My carâs make and model was part of a settlement for this issue but VW corporate will not cover costs to repair.
The contact stated that while driving and while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle unexpectedly vibrated with the EPC warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was idling roughly, with the check engine warning light illuminated.
A few years ago the turbo went at 88000 miles, a mechanic felt there should be a recall. Now the transmission needs to be replaced at 109000 miles. The transmission was on backorder because the appears to be many cars needing a rebuilt transmission. There is a recall for othewr VW models with the same transmission.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,956 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 11% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Tiguan has 123 complaints (19 years in the data). This year has 84, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Other years of this model
- Tiguan 2009168 sources
- Tiguan 2010110 sources
- Tiguan 2011162 sources
- Tiguan 2012153 sources
- Tiguan 2013140 sources
- Tiguan 201562 sources
- Tiguan 2016526 sources
- Tiguan 2017452 sources
- Tiguan 2018727 sources
- Tiguan 2019686 sources
- Tiguan 2020622 sources
- Tiguan 2021639 sources
- Tiguan 2022733 sources
- Tiguan 2023415 sources
- Tiguan 2024351 sources
- Tiguan 2025203 sources
- Tiguan 2026133 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, electrical system, steering. Total complaints: 84. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbag warning light (29%), warning lights, check engine (27%), knocking, grinding or other noise (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2014 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.