Representative model. Photo: IFCAR, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2012 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2012 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 3
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 153
Latest campaign: May 16, 2018

Recall summary by component3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Unknown or other	1	May 16, 2018	18V329000
Air bags	1	Aug 4, 2015	15V483000
Fuel system, gasoline	1	Jul 21, 2014	14V441000

Safety recalls3

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

May 16, 2018Latest campaign


May 16, 201818V329000	Unknown or other If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 18V329000 What's wrong Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements. Risk If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury. Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Campaign NHTSA 18V329000 · May 16, 2018
Aug 4, 201515V483000	Air bags: frontal A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 15V483000 What's wrong 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. Risk A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury. Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Campaign NHTSA 15V483000 · Aug 4, 2015
Jul 21, 201414V441000	Fuel system, gasoline A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 14V441000 What's wrong 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. Risk A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash. Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to increase the fuel pump pressure, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin August 19, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24AV/2W. Campaign NHTSA 14V441000 · Jul 21, 2014

May 16, 201818V329000

Unknown or other

If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

DetailsHide details for campaign 18V329000

What's wrong: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Campaign: NHTSA 18V329000 · May 16, 2018

Aug 4, 201515V483000

Air bags: frontal

A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.

DetailsHide details for campaign 15V483000

What's wrong: 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.
Risk: A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
Campaign: NHTSA 15V483000 · Aug 4, 2015

Jul 21, 201414V441000

Fuel system, gasoline

A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 14V441000

What's wrong: 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.
Risk: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to increase the fuel pump pressure, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin August 19, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24AV/2W.
Campaign: NHTSA 14V441000 · Jul 21, 2014

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Volkswagen recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component153

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

153Complaints filed

10Involving a crash

0Involving a fire

6Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Injuries
Engine	50	33	2	0
Air bags	33	22	7	6
Electrical system	23	15	2	0
Steering	21	14	0	0
Unknown or other	20	13	0	0
Fuel/propulsion system	12	8	0	0
Service brakes	11	7	2	1
Power train	7	5	2	0
Seat belts	7	5	0	0
Electronic stability control (ESC)	4	3	0	0
Fuel system	3	2	0	0
Gasoline	3	2	0	0
Structure	3	2	0	0
Visibility/wiper	3	2	0	0
Visibility	3	2	0	0

9 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Steering
“A couple of weeks now my steering wheel has been locking while I’m driving, sadly I thought it was because I needed to get my car serviced.”
Filed 09/27/2026 · ODI 11767290
Steering
“Steering wheel gets locked up while driving; power steering fails. The red steering light turns on. This is a problem that happens to several Tiguans. There were no prior symptoms prior to failure.”
Filed 11/02/2025 · ODI 11697066
Steering
“I was driving the car and the steering wheel locked out of nowhere A red steering light came on the dashboard. I’ve never seen before”
Filed 08/28/2025 · ODI 11683568

Other Volkswagen Tiguan model years

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2012 Volkswagen Tiguan recall questions

How many recalls does the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan have?

NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan. The most recent, 18V329000 (reported May 16, 2018), concerns unknown or other. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What is the most common complaint about the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan?

Engine is the most-reported component, named in 50 complaints out of 153 filed with NHTSA (33%). Across all complaints, owners reported 10 crashs and 0 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Volkswagen recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Volkswagen dealer.

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