YearToAvoid

2023 Volkswagen Tiguan Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan has a complaint index of 31, ranking 12th out of 17 model years, and carries a Good verdict. NHTSA lists 66 complaints, 1 recall, and 1 crash, with engine issues making up 44% of complaints.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
31/100
#12 of 17 Tiguan years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
66
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
1
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
1
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2017
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
25.5
22.5 city / 29.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0

Top 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine29 (44%)
  2. Other13 (20%)
  3. Electrical System11 (17%)
  4. Collision Avoidance & Cameras11 (17%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain8 (12%)
  6. Fuel System7 (11%)
  7. Brakes4 (6%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers3 (5%)
  9. Airbags2 (3%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners report hesitation or lag when accelerating from a stop, especially with a cold engine.
  • Some describe the vehicle nearly stalling or feeling starved for fuel when pulling into intersections or traffic.
  • Several drivers noted the gas pedal sporadically not responding, causing dangerous delays during turns.
  • One owner reported the vehicle locking up when quickly shifting from start to reverse.
  • A front collision warning and automatic braking reportedly failed to activate before a crash, leading to an impact.
  • One owner said the passenger seat belt alarm falsely indicated the belt was not in use.
2023 Volkswagen Tiguan complaints: complaints filed per month7Feb 2023Sep 2023Apr 2024Nov 2024Jun 2025Dec 2025May 2026
66 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2023 to Sep 2026; peak Jul 2023 (7).

2023 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V082000Feb 12, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras29,569 vehicles

    Back over prevention:software

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Tiguan, 2023 Arteon, and 2024-2025 Audi Q3 vehicles. An error may occur in the camera control unit at vehicle startup, resulting in the rearview camera image not displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the camera control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed to Audi owners April 3, 2024, and Volkswagen owners November 18, 2025.Volkswagen owners will receive a second notice once remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are (Volkswagen) 91NY and (Audi) 90AV.

2023 Volkswagen Tiguan fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22.5 MPG
Highway
29.5 MPG
Combined
25.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,550
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.

2023 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
2021Caution69141524.5
2022Avoid100269525
2023Good3166125.5
2024Caution6368225.5
2025Caution5648328

All Volkswagen Tiguan years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?
Relative to other Tiguan model years, the 2023 Tiguan is rated Good, with a complaint index of 31, the 12th lowest among 17 model years covered.
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Tiguan?
Engine problems are the top complaint area, making up 44% of the 66 complaints filed with NHTSA, including reports of acceleration hesitation and lag.
Does the 2023 Tiguan have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2023 Tiguan, campaign 25V082000, covering a camera control unit error that can affect the rearview camera image at startup.
How does the 2023 Tiguan compare to the 2022 Tiguan?
The 2022 Tiguan has a complaint index of 100 and an Avoid verdict, while the 2023 Tiguan has a much lower complaint index of 31 and a Good verdict.
What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Tiguan?
The EPA rates the 2023 Tiguan at 25.5 mpg combined (22.5 city, 29.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,550.

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.