2013 Volkswagen Tiguan Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
25/100
#13 most-complained of 17 Tiguan years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan has a complaint index of 25 and ranks 13th of 17 model years, earning a Good verdict. NHTSA logged 139 complaints, mostly airbag-related (63 complaints), with 3 recalls and no fatalities.
- Complaints
- 139
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 2 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 22
- 20 city / 26 hwy
Top 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags63 (45%)
- Electrical System36 (26%)
- Engine33 (24%)
- Steering27 (19%)
- Fuel System18 (13%)
- Other16 (12%)
- Brakes10 (7%)
- Structure & Body7 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain6 (4%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (3%)
What owners report
- Owners report sudden loss of engine power or stalling at low speeds, sometimes during acceleration into traffic.
- Some describe the check engine light coming on repeatedly within the first months of ownership.
- Fuel system complaints include stalling that drops the vehicle from highway speed down to a crawl.
- One owner reported a fuel line failure that sprayed gas under the car and caused a fire after a prior fuel system recall repair.
- Brake pedal reports describe stiffness or reduced stopping power requiring extra force to stop the vehicle.
- A transmission complaint describes loss of power going up a steep hill, requiring a manual shift to regain control.
2013 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 18V329000May 16, 2018Other252 vehicles
Unknown or other
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.
- 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.
- 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.
2013 Volkswagen Tiguan fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20 MPG
- Highway
- 26 MPG
- Combined
- 22 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,650
- 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.
2013 compared with other Tiguan years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 Tiguan carries a complaint index of 25, ranking 13th out of 17 Tiguan model years and earning a Good verdict relative to other years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Tiguan?
- NHTSA data shows airbags as the top problem area with 63 complaints (45% share), followed by electrical system issues (36 complaints) and engine issues (33 complaints).
- Does the 2013 Tiguan have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2013 Tiguan, covering airbag clock spring protection, fuel system software to prevent fuel bubbles, and a broader compliance recall shared with other VW models.
- What year Tiguan should I avoid instead of 2013?
- NHTSA data flags 2009, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022 as Avoid years for the Tiguan, with complaint indexes as high as 100, compared to 25 for 2013.
- How many complaints does NHTSA have on file for the 2013 Tiguan?
- NHTSA lists 139 complaints for the 2013 Tiguan, including 2 crashes, 1 fire, and 1 injury, with no reported deaths.