2011 Volkswagen Tiguan Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan. Part of Generation 1 — 2009–2017.

20102012
Complaints
238
per 10K Sold
91.6
US Sales
25,990
Crashes
6
Fires
2
Injuries
1
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#162 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:76,617 mi
#245 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:48,692 mi
Fires:1
#339 complaints

Headlight/Taillight Failures

Avg mileage:55,803 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan.

Engine Problems
62
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
76,617
Electrical Faults
45
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
48,692
Headlight/Taillight Failures
39
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
55,803
Airbags
29
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
90,866
Steering Defects
14
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
78,535
Fuel System
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
56,566
Transmission / Drivetrain
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
52,238
Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Horn
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wiring & Fuses
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Parking-Brake Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~629,369 vehicles.

15V483000Air Bags:frontal
~415,825 affected

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 that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.

14V441000Gasoline Fuel System
~151,389 affected

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.

13V569000Exterior Lighting · Wiring & Fuses
~62,155 affected

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 through June 2011. Due to a problem with the fuse for the exterior lights, the holder for the fuse that controls the vehicle's exterior lights circuit may melt.

Other Volkswagen Tiguan Years

2011 Volkswagen Tiguan — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan has 238 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 62 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (62 complaints, avg 76,617 mi); Electrical Faults (45 complaints, avg 48,692 mi); Headlight/Taillight Failures (39 complaints, avg 55,803 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 66,940 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan?
NHTSA complaints for the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan include 6 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 1 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 629,369 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Volkswagen Tiguan reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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