YearToAvoid

2016 Volkswagen Tiguan Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

19/100

#14 most-complained of 17 Tiguan years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan ranks 14th out of 17 model years with a complaint index of 19, earning a Best verdict among Tiguan years. It has 96 complaints, 2 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls, with Airbags as the top problem area.

Complaints
96
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
4 / 2
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22.5
20.5 city / 26 hwy

Top 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags37 (39%)
  2. Electrical System27 (28%)
  3. Other23 (24%)
  4. Engine14 (15%)
  5. Steering12 (13%)
  6. Structure & Body7 (7%)
  7. Fuel System6 (6%)
  8. Brakes4 (4%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (4%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain3 (3%)

What owners report

  • Steering wheel makes a tearing or cracking sound followed by the airbag warning light coming on and airbag deactivation.
  • A faulty clock spring in the steering column can cause steering button controls to stop working while driving.
  • Vehicles have rolled away on their own after being parked and the keyless fob removed, in some cases striking other vehicles or objects.
  • Seatbelt buckle female connectors have broken apart, requiring buckle replacement.
  • Rear brake rotors have shown pitting and rusting, producing scraping or clanking noises during braking.
  • All exterior lights and wipers have shut off unexpectedly while driving in the dark or fog.
2016 Volkswagen Tiguan complaints: complaints filed per quarter162016 Q22018 Q32019 Q42021 Q12022 Q22023 Q32025 Q12026 Q3
142 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2016 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2022 Q2 (16).

2016 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. NHTSA 16V464000Jun 24, 2016Structure & Body5,658 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 CC vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016, to February 3, 2016, Golf R and Tiguan vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 28, 2016, and e-Golf vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 11, 2016. Vibrations, such as those created by opening and closing a vehicle door, may cause the rear child door locks to disengage, allowing a child to open a rear door while inside the vehicle.

    Risk: If an unrestrained child unexpectedly opens a door, they may fall from the vehicle increasing their risk of injury.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the child lock(s), free of charge. The recall began on August 22, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 58C9.

2016 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.

2016 compared with other Tiguan years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Best084322
2015Best662422.5
2016Best1996222.5
2017Best1375421.5
2018Avoid9428314 !23

All Volkswagen Tiguan years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2016 Tiguan ranks 14th out of 17 Tiguan model years with a complaint index of 19, giving it a Best verdict relative to other Tiguan years.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Tiguan?
NHTSA complaints show Airbags as the top problem area, accounting for 37 of 96 complaints (39%), followed by Electrical System issues at 27 complaints (28%) and Engine issues at 14 complaints (15%).
Does the 2016 Tiguan have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2016 Tiguan, one for a defective airbag control unit capacitor and one covering child lock replacement on certain structure and body components. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
At what mileage do 2016 Tiguan problems typically show up?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 45,000 miles overall, with airbag complaints reported at a median of 58,000 miles and engine complaints at 68,630 miles.
How does the 2016 Tiguan compare to other Tiguan years?
The 2016 model's complaint index of 19 is far lower than the 2018 (94), 2022 (100), and 2019 (81) model years, all rated Avoid, making 2016 one of the better Tiguan years for reported problems.

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.