The 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan is associated with 96 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 2 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database. The most frequently reported component area is Air Bags, accounting for 18 reports (19% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 2 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2l 4-cyl powertrain configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 22 to 23 MPG combined. The 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan belongs to the 1st generation (Typ 5N) Tiguan platform spanning model years 2015–2018.
Key Data Findings
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 96 reports
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 2 campaigns
- • Top Reported Defect Area: Air Bags (18 / 19%)
- • Safety Incident Signals: 4 crash / 2 fire / 3 injury reports
- • NHTSA Overall Safety Rating: 4 / 5 Stars
- • EPA Efficiency: 22–23 MPG (2 variants)
Data Note: Compiled directly from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.
| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
| Tiguan | 2L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 21 MPG | 26 MPG | 23 MPG | — | $3,300 / yr |
| Tiguan 4motion | 2L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 20 MPG | 26 MPG | 22 MPG | — | $3,450 / yr |
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
| SUV FWD | | | | | 17.4% |
| SUV AWD | | | | | 18.5% |
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as No and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as No in official NHTSA records for tested 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan models.
View complete 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan crash test & safety breakdown →
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan problems & component breakdown (39 categories) →
Affected Component: AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE
Defect Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install new software and replace the air bag ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Z5.
Affected Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
Defect Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 CC vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016, to February 3, 2016, Golf R and Tiguan vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 28, 2016, and e-Golf vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 11, 2016. Vibrations, such as those created by opening and closing a vehicle door, may cause the rear child door locks to disengage, allowing a child to open a rear door while inside the vehicle.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the child lock(s), free of charge. The recall began on August 22, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 58C9.
View all 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls & campaign history (2 campaigns) →