YearToAvoid

2010 Volkswagen Tiguan Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

38/100

#11 most-complained of 17 Tiguan years

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

The 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan has 110 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 38 out of 100 — #11 highest of 17 Tiguan model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is engine (56 complaints, 51% of the total). Complaints report 5 crashes, 4 fires, and 5 injuries.

Complaints
110
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
5 / 4
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
18 city / 24 hwy

Top 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan problems

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

  1. Engine56 (51%)
  2. Electrical System33 (30%)
  3. Steering13 (12%)
  4. Fuel System8 (7%)
  5. Brakes7 (6%)
  6. Structure & Body7 (6%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain6 (5%)
  8. Airbags3 (3%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (2%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers2 (2%)
2010 Volkswagen Tiguan complaints: complaints filed per quarter132010 Q32012 Q42014 Q22015 Q32017 Q12018 Q22020 Q12024 Q3
138 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2013 Q4 (13).

2010 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls

2 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.

2010 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.

2010 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
2012Caution50152323

All Volkswagen Tiguan years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan ranks #11 of 17 among Tiguan model years (Complaint Index 38/100, verdict: Good). It has 110 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan?
The most reported problem areas are engine (56 complaints), electrical system (33 complaints), and steering (13 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 73,000 miles.
Does the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan, most recently reported 2014, covering fuel system and electrical system.
What is the fuel economy of the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan?
EPA rates the 2010 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.