2015 Volkswagen Tiguan Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Best The 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan ranks 16th worst out of 17 model years, with a complaint index of 6 and a Best verdict. It has 62 complaints, 4 recalls, and its top problem area is airbags.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 6/100
- #16 of 17 Tiguan years
- Verdict
- Best
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 62
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 4
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 22.5
- 20.5 city / 26 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
Top 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags28 (45%)
- Electrical System23 (37%)
- Other15 (24%)
- Engine9 (15%)
- Steering9 (15%)
- Brakes6 (10%)
- Structure & Body5 (8%)
- Visibility & Wipers4 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (3%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Backup camera screens go dark or too dim to see behind the vehicle, a problem reported since the car was nearly new.
- Airbags failed to deploy in a low-speed collision, leading to injury despite the vehicle being similar to recalled units.
- Electrical faults caused a parked vehicle to catch fire after the driver had already exited.
- Brakes lost effectiveness at low speed with a loud grinding sound, occurring at random and hard for technicians to reproduce.
- Steering wheel clock springs failed, disabling the horn and steering wheel buttons along with an airbag warning light.
- A sunroof reportedly shattered without warning while driving at 30 mph.
2015 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V535000Jul 17, 2019Airbags27,822 vehicles
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.
Risk: Deactivated air bags increases the risk of injury. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install new software and replace the air bag ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Z5.
- 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 16V045000Jan 28, 2016Airbags734 vehicles
Air bags:side/window
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles manufactured January 15, 2015, to January 21, 2015, and 2015 Audi Q5 vehicles manufactured January 13, 2015, to February 3, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with driver and front seat passenger seat-mounted air bag inflators that may rupture in the event of a crash.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of a seat-mounted air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began July 7, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834 or Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69M1 (for Audi) and 69L9 (for VW).
2015 Volkswagen Tiguan fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20.5 MPG
- Highway
- 26 MPG
- Combined
- 22.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,550
- 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.
2015 compared with other Tiguan years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?
- Among Tiguan model years, 2015 rates Best, with a complaint index of 6, the second-lowest of the 17 model years NHTSA has data for. It has 62 complaints and 4 recalls.
- What are the biggest problems on the 2015 Tiguan?
- NHTSA complaints show airbags account for 45% of complaints and electrical system issues account for 37%. Engine and steering problems each make up 15% of complaints.
- Does the 2015 Tiguan have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists recall 16V045000 for side airbag modules on Tiguans built in a narrow January 2015 window, plus a separate 2019 recall (19V535000) for a defective airbag ECU capacitor affecting 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC models.
- How does the 2015 Tiguan compare to other Tiguan years?
- The 2015 Tiguan ranks 16th out of 17 model years by risk (1 being worst), well ahead of 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022, which are all rated Avoid with complaint indexes of 94, 81, 88, and 100 respectively.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Tiguan?
- EPA rates the 2015 Tiguan at 22.5 mpg combined (20.5 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550.