YearToAvoid

2016 Volkswagen Tiguan Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 37 airbag complaints for the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan, 39% of its 96 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 58,000 miles. A related recall (19V535000) covers a defective airbag ECU capacitor that can deactivate the airbag.

Airbags complaints
37
39% of 96
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
58,000 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Steering wheel makes a clicking, cracking, or grinding noise when turning, often followed by the airbag warning light coming on.
  • Clockspring failure disables the driver airbag along with the horn and steering wheel control buttons (volume, skip, gauges).
  • Some owners report the failure happened suddenly while pulling out of a driveway or parking space after the vehicle had been sitting.
  • Multiple owners cite NHTSA recall campaign 19V535000 for the airbag ECU capacitor but say dealers had no replacement parts available, delaying repair.
  • One owner reports the clockspring issue was covered only by extended warranty rather than the recall on their 2016 model.

When 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 26, 2018, latest Oct 20, 2025.

2016 Volkswagen Tiguan airbags complaints: complaints filed per month5Jan 2018Jun 2019Dec 2019Feb 2022May 2022Aug 2022Nov 2022Oct 2023
37 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2018 to Oct 2025; peak Apr 2022 (5).

Airbags recalls for the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan

  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.

Airbags complaints by Tiguan model year

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

  1. 20103 (3%)
  2. 201130 (19%)
  3. 201233 (22%)
  4. 201363 (45%)
  5. 201446 (55%)
  6. 201528 (45%)
  7. 201637 (39%)
  8. 201730 (40%)
  9. 201815 (5%)
  10. 20197 (4%)
  11. 20201 (1%)
  12. 20212 (1%)
  13. 20224 (1%)
  14. 20232 (3%)
  15. 20241 (1%)
  16. 20255 (10%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are airbag complaints on the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan?
NHTSA lists 37 airbag complaints for the 2016 Tiguan, which is 39% of the 96 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan airbags?
Yes. Recall campaign 19V535000, reported July 17, 2019, covers a defective airbag ECU power supply capacitor that can deactivate the airbag; Volkswagen's remedy is new software and ECU replacement.
At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up on the 2016 Tiguan?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for airbag complaints on the 2016 Tiguan is 58,000 miles.
What symptoms do owners describe before the airbag light comes on?
Owners describe a clicking, cracking, or grinding noise from the steering wheel, followed by loss of horn and steering wheel control buttons and then the airbag warning light.
Did the airbag issue cause crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data for this component and year shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries reported.

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.