AI Damage2017 Volkswagen Tiguan: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan filed 76 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. The maker issued 376 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 76
- involving a crash
- 6
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 376
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 39% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 20% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 17% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 16% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 8% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 7% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 5% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 4% of all complaints
- Air bags: 30 complaints (39% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Engine: 15 complaints (20% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 50.
- Steering: 13 complaints (17% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Electrical system: 12 complaints (16% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 57.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 6 complaints (8% of all).
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
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 76 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 | 30 | 5 | 3 |
| Engine | 15 | 0 | 50 |
| Steering | 13 | 1 | 6 |
| Electrical system | 12 | 1 | 57 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 5 | 2 | 16 |
| Structure | 4 | 1 | 15 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 12 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 11 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 66 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 1 | 2 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
During a collision in which my vehicle was struck by another driver, the airbag warning light activated, my seatbelt locked in place, and white smoke with a strong electrical smell filled the cabin. No airbags deployed (frontal or side).
The airbags never deployed. The car was totaled. I’m interested in knowing whether or not it can be determined if the airbags should have deployed and did not, and if the seatbelt worked properly or not, and whether or not you’ve had other complaints about this make and model.
The tire pressure monitor system warning light and the airbag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the clock spring needed to be replaced however, the part was not yet available. Additionally, the contact stated that the horn would fail to honk when engaged.
Ive had every now and then a steering wheel light come on then come off. Well today 9/1/26 I had lost all steering to my 2017 vw tiguan. The electronic power steering has failed and I believe this is a safety issue that needs to be addressed. And push for a recall to be made on these vehicles.
A/C has been a consistent issue since I purchased this from Columbia SC- CarMax's dealership in 2022. I've replaced the compressor and valves, and no resolve. The car sucks up oil and the electrical system is wacky!
Within six months, the vehicle required 45+ mechanical services, including a full internal teardown that revealed catastrophic wiring corrosion caused by a long-term sunroof leak. These were latent defects present at the time of sale.
Approximately six weeks later the low coolant warning light appeared and the vehicle began actively leaking coolant. No other work had been performed between the recall and the onset of the leak.
There is no power steering and unable to make a quick turn to maneuver the car around a potential hazard in the road. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, two independent service centers.
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 685 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 33% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Tiguan has 118 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 76, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Suggested fuel additive
- This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided
- Differences between a leak and seepage
- Permission to change Daily Order upgraded to RED Order
- This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during…
This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the issue: DA 0019 - Hotfix 12-V battery…
- Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption Measurement
- Inquiries
- Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards
- Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start
- Lubricating engine components before reassembly
- This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during…
This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the error message ERP0204E could occur during…
- Safety Related Inquiry and Reporting
NHTSA lists 376 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, engine, steering. Total complaints: 76. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (25%), airbag warning light (17%), steering or power steering problems (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan?
NHTSA lists 376 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 2017 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 2017 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 2026-11-04.