2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 57 Electrical System complaints for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, 20% of all complaints filed for the year. Two fires and six injuries are tied to this area, with a median failure mileage of 8,150 miles. Two related recalls (18V824000 and 17V662000) cover instrument cluster and taillight issues.
- Electrical System complaints
- 57
- 20% of 283
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 2
- Injuries reported
- 6
- Median mileage
- 8,150 mi
- Related recalls
- 2
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Some owners report smoke, flames, or a burning smell coming from the dashboard or sunroof area while driving, in some cases requiring the fire department.
- Multiple owners describe low-beam headlights with very short visible range, making night driving on dark or rural roads feel dangerous.
- Owners report the panoramic sunroof ambient lighting bar can short-circuit in high humidity, which Volkswagen addressed by disconnecting the feature under recall guidance.
- Some drivers describe the infotainment/entertainment system freezing or failing, especially when using Apple CarPlay, requiring a hard reset.
- A few owners report the emergency braking system activating unexpectedly on the highway with no vehicle nearby, or the backup camera and center console freezing or going black.
When 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Nov 20, 2017, latest Aug 25, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan
- NHTSA 18V824000Nov 26, 2018Electrical System73,549 vehicles
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan and 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles that do not have keyless entry. The instrument cluster may not provide an audible warning to let the driver know that the key is still in the ignition when the door is open. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."
Risk: If the driver is not notified by an audible noise that the key is left in the ignition, it can increase the risk of vehicle theft or crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 90L3 and 90L4.
- NHTSA 17V662000Oct 18, 2017Electrical System5,509 vehicles
Exterior lighting:tail lights
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The back-up lights in the taillight assemblies may not be bright enough. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk: If the back-up lights are not bright enough, other drivers may not see the vehicle reversing, or the driver may back into an obstacle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected inner taillight assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94J9.
Electrical System complaints by Tiguan model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are electrical problems on the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan?
- NHTSA lists 57 Electrical System complaints for the 2018 Tiguan, which is 20% of the 283 total complaints filed for that year.
- Is there a recall for electrical issues on the 2018 Tiguan?
- Yes. Recall 18V824000 covers instrument cluster reprogramming, and recall 17V662000 covers taillight assembly brightness on long wheelbase Tiguans.
- Have there been fires linked to the 2018 Tiguan's electrical system?
- NHTSA data shows 2 fires and 6 injuries associated with Electrical System complaints for the 2018 Tiguan.
- At what mileage do electrical problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2018 Tiguan is 8,150 miles.