2011 Volkswagen Tiguan Airbags Problems
NHTSA lists 30 airbag complaints for the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan, 19% of that year's 161 total complaints. A related recall (15V483000) covers a steering wheel clock spring defect. Median mileage at failure was 82,300.
- Airbags complaints
- 30
- 19% of 161
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 82,300 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical airbag symptoms owners report
- Owners report the steering wheel clock spring failing, which kills the horn, steering wheel controls, and triggers the airbag warning light.
- Some drivers had the clock spring replaced under recall 15V483000, only to see the same failure recur weeks or months later.
- Several complaints describe the airbag warning light illuminating along with loss of horn function while driving at low speeds, such as 10 mph or while turning.
- One owner reported the airbags failing to deploy during a rear-end crash at 40 mph, resulting in injury.
- Owners also report difficulty getting the recall repair completed, including unavailable parts, dealers denying vehicles were on the recall list, and cases where a prior dust-cover fix later broke.
When 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan airbag complaints were filed
First complaint Mar 27, 2015, latest Jan 22, 2026.
Airbags recalls for the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan
- NHTSA 15V483000Aug 4, 2015Airbags415,825 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
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.
Airbags complaints by Tiguan model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many airbag complaints does NHTSA have for the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan?
- NHTSA lists 30 airbag-related complaints for the 2011 Tiguan, which is 19% of the 161 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there an airbag recall for the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan?
- Yes. Recall 15V483000 covers the 2011 Tiguan along with several other Volkswagen models; it addresses a steering wheel clock spring issue and the remedy is a dealer-installed protective cover over the clock spring.
- At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue on the 2011 Tiguan is 82,300 miles.
- Have the airbag problems caused crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data shows 2 crashes and 1 injury linked to airbag complaints for the 2011 Tiguan, with no fires reported.