The best and worst Volkswagen Tiguan years, by the numbers
Short answer: among Volkswagen Tiguans old enough to judge (2008–2022), the 2008, 2017 and 2020–2021 have the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold. The 2009–2011 and 2013 have the most.
We counted every owner complaint filed with the federal government (NHTSA) for each model year and divided by how many were sold that year, so a year that sold more doesn’t look worse just for being popular. Years newer than 2022 are shown but not ranked — they haven’t been on the road long enough. How this is calculated.
Years with the most complaints
2009 Volkswagen Tiguan · 116.5 per 10,000 sold (4.3× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Timing chain, guides and tensioners, typically around 91,000 miles; then wiring harness, grounds and connectors.
2010 Volkswagen Tiguan · 52.5 per 10,000 sold (1.9× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Wiring harness, grounds and connectors, typically around 50,000 miles; then timing chain, guides and tensioners.
2011 Volkswagen Tiguan · 61.6 per 10,000 sold (2.2× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Wiring harness, grounds and connectors, typically around 44,600 miles; then airbags, seatbelts and restraints.
2013 Volkswagen Tiguan · 46.3 per 10,000 sold (1.7× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 56,000 miles; then stalling and no-start.
Years with the fewest complaints
2008 Volkswagen Tiguan · 0.0 per 10,000 sold (0.0× this model’s typical year)
2017 Volkswagen Tiguan · 16.0 per 10,000 sold (0.6× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Airbags, seatbelts and restraints, typically around 27,749 miles.
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan · 12.6 per 10,000 sold (0.5× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Doors, windows, latches, seats and trim, typically around 57,000 miles.
2021 Volkswagen Tiguan · 12.6 per 10,000 sold (0.5× this model’s typical year)
Most-reported, even so: Oil consumption and leaks, typically around 50,000 miles.
Every year: complaints per 10,000 sold
Typical Volkswagen Tiguan year: 27.4 per 10,000 sold.
Complaints are counted once each, even when an owner lists several parts. Sales are US units sold in the calendar year, a close stand-in for the model year.
Common questions
What is the worst year for the Volkswagen Tiguan?
Among Volkswagen Tiguans old enough to judge (2008–2022), the 2009 has the most owner complaints per 10,000 sold: 116.5, about 4.3× a typical Volkswagen Tiguan year. The 2010–2011 and 2013 also stand out.
What is the best year for the Volkswagen Tiguan?
The 2008 has the fewest owner complaints per 10,000 sold among Volkswagen Tiguans from 2008–2022: 0.0, against 27.4 for a typical year. The 2017 and 2020–2021 are also well below typical.
What goes wrong on the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan?
The most-reported problem on the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan is timing chain, guides and tensioners, typically around 91,000 miles.
Why aren't the newest Volkswagen Tiguan years ranked?
The 2023–2026 haven't been on the road long enough. Newer cars have fewer complaints mainly because they're newer, so ranking them would flatter them.
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Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; US sales from public industry figures. Complaints are self-reported and not independently verified. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid any vehicle.