YearToAvoid

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

88/100

#3 most-complained of 17 Tiguan years

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

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan has 140 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 88 out of 100 — #3 highest of 17 Tiguan model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is electrical system (39 complaints, 28% of the total). Complaints report 5 crashes and 7 injuries.

Complaints
140
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
5 / 0
Injuries / deaths
7 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
24
21 city / 28 hwy

Top 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan problems

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

  1. Other53 (38%)
  2. Electrical System39 (28%)
  3. Engine30 (21%)
  4. Collision Avoidance & Cameras19 (14%)
  5. Structure & Body17 (12%)
  6. Brakes11 (8%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers11 (8%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain5 (4%)
  9. Fuel System4 (3%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (3%)
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan complaints: complaints filed per quarter192020 Q22021 Q22022 Q32023 Q32024 Q32025 Q32026 Q3
198 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2020 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q1 (19).

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V226000Apr 6, 2022Structure & Body6,553 vehicles

    Structure:body

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan and 2018-2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. Due to incorrect installation instructions, the accessory rear hatch spoiler may be insufficiently attached to the vehicle.

    Risk: An insufficiently attached spoiler may separate from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the spoiler, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66N5.

  2. NHTSA 20V579000Sep 23, 2020Seat Belts6 vehicles

    Seat belts:rear/other

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020 Tiguan LWB vehicles. The third row seat belt anchor bolts may not have been properly torqued.

    Risk: Improperly torqued bolts may prevent the third row seat belt from performing as designed in a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles. Owners are advised: No one should occupy the third row seat due to the safety risk. The recall began October 7, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen number for this recall is 69BA.

  3. NHTSA 20V505000Aug 26, 2020Structure & Body5,376 vehicles

    Seats

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen ) is recalling certain 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan and Audi Q5 and SQ5 and 2021 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been welded properly.

    Risk: In the event of a rear-end crash, the backrest adjustment could break, possibly reducing the amount of occupant restraint, thus increasing risk of injury.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats, and, as necessary, replace the seatback frames, free of charge. The recall began September 11, 2020. Volkswagen owners may contact their customer service at 1-888-241-2289. Audi owners may contact their customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 72L1, 72K8, and 72K9.

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
24 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,700
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
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.

2020 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
2018Avoid9428314 !23
2019Avoid81191524.5
2020Avoid88140324
2021Caution69141524.5
2022Avoid100269525

All Volkswagen Tiguan years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan ranks #3 of 17 among Tiguan model years (Complaint Index 88/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 140 complaints and 3 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (39 complaints), engine (30 complaints), and collision avoidance & cameras (19 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 30,400 miles.
Does the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan, most recently reported 2022, covering structure & body and seat belts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan?
EPA rates the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan at 24 MPG combined (21 city / 28 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.