2017 Volkswagen Tiguan Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
13/100
#15 most-complained of 17 Tiguan years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan has a complaint index of 13, ranking 15th worst out of 17 model years, and earns a Best verdict relative to other Tiguan years. Airbags are the top problem area with 30 complaints (40% share) and 5 crashes, plus 4 recalls.
- Complaints
- 75
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 6 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 1
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 21.5
- 20 city / 23.5 hwy
Top 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
What owners report
- Dashboard and steering wheel lights flash and the car suddenly loses power while driving, sometimes locking the steering wheel.
- Airbags fail to deploy in crashes, including one where all airbags fired except the front driver and passenger sides.
- The steering wheel makes abnormal sounds and the airbag warning light illuminates, traced to a clock spring issue.
- The engine stalls without warning at constant speed or while decelerating, making steering harder as the vehicle slows.
- Brakes pulsate and grind on rough pavement, and rotors grab when stopping at low mileage.
- The transmission downshifts hard on downhill grades, sending RPMs high for several seconds.
2017 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V321000May 5, 2021Other46 vehicles
Unknown or other
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Risk: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.
- 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 18V102000Feb 9, 2018Airbags3,768 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Tiguan Limited vehicles. The front driver air bag installed on these vehicles may not be intended for use in vehicles sold in the United States. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: In the event of a crash, the incorrect air bags may not protect the driver as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel and front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69V2.
2017 Volkswagen Tiguan fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20 MPG
- Highway
- 23.5 MPG
- Combined
- 21.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,725
- 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.
2017 compared with other Tiguan years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?
- Relative to other Tiguan model years, the 2017 rates Best, with a complaint index of 13 and rank 15th worst out of 17 years tracked.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2017 Tiguan?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 30 of 75 complaints (40%), 5 crashes, 4 injuries, and 1 death, at a median mileage of 27,749 miles.
- Does the 2017 Tiguan have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2017 Tiguan, covering airbags, seat belts, and other components, none of which are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2017 Tiguan compare to the 2018 and 2019 Tiguan?
- The 2017 Tiguan (complaint index 13) rates far better than the 2018 (94, Avoid) and 2019 (81, Avoid) model years.