YearToAvoid

2012 Volkswagen Tiguan Steering Problems

NHTSA lists 20 steering complaints for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan, 13% of that year's 152 total complaints. No steering-specific recall is tied to these reports, and the median mileage at failure was 76,800 miles.

Steering complaints
20
13% of 152
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
76,800 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical steering symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden loss of power steering assist accompanied by a solid red steering warning light, sometimes resolved only by turning the car off and restarting it.
  • Some drivers describe the steering wheel becoming very loose or oscillating on its own, alternating between normal feel and difficulty steering.
  • Several complaints describe the steering clock spring failing, triggering the airbag warning light, a non-stop horn, and loss of steering wheel button function.
  • One report describes a complete loss of steering control at highway speed, with the car pulling left before the driver lost the ability to steer.
  • Owners also report the power steering module needing reprogramming after intermittent failures to engage at startup.
  • Dashboard warning lights (ABS, EPC, brake, engine) sometimes flicker or activate together with the power steering loss.

When 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan steering complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 4, 2013, latest Nov 2, 2025.

2012 Volkswagen Tiguan steering complaints: complaints filed per month2Jun 2013Oct 2015Feb 2018Jul 2019Nov 2020May 2023Nov 2025
20 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2013 to Nov 2025; peak Sep 2019 (2).

Steering recalls for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Steering complaints by Tiguan model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200915 (9%)
  2. 201013 (12%)
  3. 201114 (9%)
  4. 201220 (13%)
  5. 201327 (19%)
  6. 201420 (24%)
  7. 20159 (15%)
  8. 201612 (13%)
  9. 201712 (16%)
  10. 201812 (4%)
  11. 20193 (2%)
  12. 20201 (1%)
  13. 20211 (1%)
  14. 202225 (9%)
  15. 20230 (0%)
  16. 20242 (3%)
  17. 20252 (4%)

Frequently asked questions

How many steering complaints does the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan have?
NHTSA lists 20 steering complaints for the 2012 Tiguan, which is 13% of the 152 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a steering recall for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan?
The data shows no related recalls listed for steering on the 2012 Tiguan, though some owners mention a separate airbag clock spring recall in their complaints.
At what mileage do steering problems usually appear on the 2012 Tiguan?
The median mileage at failure for steering complaints on the 2012 Tiguan is 76,800 miles.
Did the 2012 Tiguan's steering problems cause any crashes?
NHTSA data shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries linked to the steering complaints for the 2012 Tiguan.
Is the 2012 Tiguan worse for steering issues than other years?
The 2012 Tiguan's 13% steering complaint share is similar to 2010 (12%) and 2011 (9%), but lower than 2013 (19%) and 2014 (24%), based on NHTSA data for this model.

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.