YearToAvoid

2019 Volkswagen Tiguan Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 17 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan, 9% of the 191 total complaints filed for that year. The median mileage at failure was 400 miles, and no related recall is listed for this model year, though owners reference recalls issued for other VW models.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
17
9% of 191
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
400 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe transmission hesitation or lag when accelerating from a stop, sometimes escalating to intense throttle lag felt around 10 mph.
  • Some drivers report the transmission failing to engage reverse or lurching in stop-and-go fashion, accompanied by an EPC warning light.
  • Several complaints mention a dashboard warning reading 'Only exit vehicle in P position, please service vehicle,' with owners noting other VW models got a recall for the same issue but the Tiguan did not.
  • One owner reported the vehicle losing motive power and stalling at highway speed with multiple warning lights, requiring a restart.
  • A complaint describes the Check Engine and EPC lights triggering a 'Limp Home' mode with an RPM cap, accompanied by a fuel smell and wet ground under the car.
  • One owner noted a bucking transmission along with unrelated fluid leaks and brake noise.

When 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 8, 2019, latest Jul 13, 2026.

2019 Volkswagen Tiguan transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month3Apr 2019Oct 2019Oct 2020Feb 2021Aug 2022Jul 2023Apr 2025Jul 2026
17 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2019 to Jul 2026; peak Jul 2019 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Tiguan model year

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

  1. 20106 (5%)
  2. 20118 (5%)
  3. 20127 (5%)
  4. 20136 (4%)
  5. 20141 (1%)
  6. 20152 (3%)
  7. 20163 (3%)
  8. 20175 (7%)
  9. 201849 (17%)
  10. 201917 (9%)
  11. 20205 (4%)
  12. 202111 (8%)
  13. 202242 (16%)
  14. 20238 (12%)
  15. 20245 (7%)
  16. 20256 (13%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are transmission problems in the 2019 VW Tiguan?
NHTSA lists 17 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2019 Tiguan, which is 9% of the 191 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2019 VW Tiguan?
No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for the 2019 Tiguan's Transmission & Powertrain area, though some owners report that other VW models received a recall for a similar 'exit vehicle in P position' warning.
At what mileage do 2019 Tiguan transmission problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2019 Tiguan is 400 miles.
Were there any crashes or injuries linked to these transmission complaints?
NHTSA data shows 0 crashes and 1 injury among the 17 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2019 Tiguan.
How does the 2019 Tiguan compare to other model years for this problem area?
The 2019 Tiguan's 17 complaints (9% share) are fewer than the 2018 model's 49 complaints (17% share) and the 2022 model's 42 complaints (16% share) in the same area.

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.