YearToAvoid

2009 Volkswagen Tiguan Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

75/100

#5 most-complained of 17 Tiguan years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan has 168 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 75 out of 100 — #5 highest of 17 Tiguan model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is engine (93 complaints, 55% of the total). Complaints report 5 crashes, 6 fires, and 4 injuries.

Complaints
168
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
5 / 6
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
18 city / 24 hwy

Top 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine93 (55%)
  2. Electrical System42 (25%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain20 (12%)
  4. Steering15 (9%)
  5. Fuel System14 (8%)
  6. Brakes13 (8%)
  7. Airbags10 (6%)
  8. Other10 (6%)
  9. Structure & Body8 (5%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers4 (2%)
2009 Volkswagen Tiguan complaints: complaints filed per quarter162008 Q32010 Q42013 Q12014 Q42016 Q32018 Q22020 Q12024 Q3
230 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2008 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2013 Q4 (16).

2009 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 14V441000Jul 21, 2014Fuel System151,389 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline

    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.

  2. NHTSA 13V569000Nov 22, 2013Electrical System62,155 vehicles

    Exterior lighting

    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.

    Risk: If the holder melts, there may be a partial loss of exterior lighting. Reduced vehicle illumination diminishes the vehicle's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuse, free of charge. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's recall number is 97Z9/2V.

  3. NHTSA 08V235000May 28, 2008Engine6,579 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling

    Volkswagen is recalling 4,079 my 2008 passat and 2,500 my 2009 tiguan passenger vehicles equipped with 2.0t fsi ulev ii engines. These vehicles have an engine control module (ECM) containing software that may not properly control engine idle with the air conditioning turned on. In rare cases, the ECM may unexpectedly increase engine rpm.

    Risk: An engine surge caused by an unexpected increase in engine rpm may surprise the vehicle operator and can result in a crash without warning.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and update the ECM software free of charge. The recall began on may 30, 2008. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298.

2009 Volkswagen Tiguan fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,800
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2009 compared with other Tiguan years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2009Avoid75168321
2010Good38110221
2011Good44161321

All Volkswagen Tiguan years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan ranks #5 of 17 among Tiguan model years (Complaint Index 75/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 168 complaints and 3 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan?
The most reported problem areas are engine (93 complaints), electrical system (42 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (20 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 70,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, most recently reported 2014, covering fuel system, electrical system, and engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan?
EPA rates the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan at 21 MPG combined (18 city / 24 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,800. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.