YearToAvoid

2013 Volkswagen Tiguan Fuel System Problems

NHTSA lists 18 fuel system complaints for the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan, 13% of its 139 total complaints for the year, with a related recall (14V441000) for fuel bubbling in winterized fuel. Median mileage at failure was 17,285 miles, and the issue is tied to 1 crash and 1 fire.

Fuel System complaints
18
13% of 139
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
17,285 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical fuel system symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe sudden stalling or complete loss of power while driving, sometimes at low speed or during acceleration into traffic.
  • Some report the vehicle dying at a stop, shutting down completely, then requiring a restart before it will move again.
  • Rear fuel pump failures are described, in one case followed by a fuel line blowing and the vehicle catching fire.
  • Several owners tie stalling directly to recall campaign 14V441000, saying the repair was delayed or performed but the problem returned.
  • Hard starting in the morning is reported, attributed by a VW technician to a failing rear fuel pump and sensor.
  • A few complaints describe the fuel door or its locking actuator jamming, blocking access to the fuel nozzle.

When 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan fuel system complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 9, 2014, latest Feb 6, 2026.

2013 Volkswagen Tiguan fuel system complaints: complaints filed per month3Mar 2014Sep 2014Jan 2016Aug 2017Mar 2022Jul 2024Feb 2026
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2014 to Feb 2026; peak Mar 2014 (3).

Fuel System recalls for the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan

  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.

Fuel System complaints by Tiguan model year

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

  1. 200914 (8%)
  2. 20108 (7%)
  3. 201111 (7%)
  4. 201215 (10%)
  5. 201318 (13%)
  6. 20144 (5%)
  7. 20151 (2%)
  8. 20166 (6%)
  9. 20178 (11%)
  10. 201840 (14%)
  11. 201910 (5%)
  12. 20204 (3%)
  13. 202111 (8%)
  14. 202231 (12%)
  15. 20237 (11%)
  16. 20243 (4%)
  17. 20256 (13%)

Frequently asked questions

Is there a fuel system recall for the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Yes. Recall 14V441000 covers 2009-2014 Tiguan vehicles built July 2007 to June 2014 for fuel bubbling with winterized fuel. VW updates software to increase fuel pump pressure as the remedy.
How common are fuel system complaints on the 2013 Tiguan?
NHTSA logs 18 fuel system complaints for the 2013 Tiguan, which is 13% of the 139 total complaints filed for that model year.
At what mileage do fuel system problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure among reported fuel system complaints is 17,285 miles.
Are the fuel system problems dangerous?
NHTSA data tied to this complaint area for the 2013 Tiguan includes 1 crash and 1 fire, with no injuries reported.
Do other Tiguan model years have similar fuel system complaint rates?
The 2013 Tiguan's 13% share is similar to 2012 (10%), 2017 (11%), and 2018 (14%), while years like 2014 (5%) and 2015 (2%) report far fewer.

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.