2009 Volkswagen Tiguan Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 15about this part
- Share
- 9%of 168 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 49,570miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 15 complaints about the steering of the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, 9% of the 168 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 49,570 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“First, this exact same scenario also happened in october 2010. The first incident occurred when I was driving the vehicle, and now this time, when my husband was driving the vehicle. Both of us, each have 30+ years of driving experience and neither of us have ever been involved in a crash or experienced this type of loss of control in a vehicle, ever. Both incidents occurred while turning a corner at approximately 5 to 15 MPH in approximately 1- 3 inches of new snow. …”
NHTSA complaint #10490709, filed 2013-01, 41,000 miles“1 out of 5 times I start my 2009 Tiguan (with 10,000 miles on it), my power steering will fail and the light will come on. Today the check engine light came on. I was driving about a block from my house when all of a sudden my power steering cut out and I had a very difficult time pulling off the road to shut off the engine and restart it. Once I restart the engine, I have no problem. It seems to be the initial start only- if I start it twice I have no problems. …”
NHTSA complaint #10346029, filed 2010-07, 10,000 miles“I own a vw 2009 Tiguan (this is a split year and mine is the older version purchased in 2008). On 5/19/10 I brought it to the dealership because I was having trouble with the steering wheel. Ii noticed it was steering differently a week or so prior to this date. I thought I might be imagining this until one day when I left from work and was on my way home the car lost control of the steering altogether (complete loss) for under 2 seconds. I was like oh my god what, and then before I knew it I was under control again. …”
NHTSA complaint #10401437, filed 2011-05, 25,355 miles“I have a 09 Tiguan. The power steering failure first happened when I was driving from seattle to spokane, wa. It's a 300-mile, 5-hour drive. I stopped about half way at a rest stop and when I restarted the car again, the steering wheel started shaking rapidly back and forth. Then the red light of power steering assist failure came on. I restarted the car several more times, but the problem continued. So I had to drive the car without power steering. Fortunately the road is pretty much straight from that point on. Just imagine what if the power steering failed when the car's still running. …”
NHTSA complaint #10725842, filed 2015-06, 53,640 miles“Car was driven to from friends house to grandmothers house and shut car off and was visiting family for 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours. Then got in car and tried to start vehicle and the timing jumped and made a load grinding noise and wouldn't start. It bent the valves in the engine ran into the pistons. An ruined the motor. (111778 miles) had to have a new motor put in cost $7801.54.”
NHTSA complaint #11032180, filed 2017-10, 111,778 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10181413Oct 2, 2020Mandatory fastener.
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 4% |
| 2024 | 3 | 4% |
| 2022 | 26 | 9% |
| 2021 | 1 | 1% |
| 2020 | 1 | 1% |
| 2019 | 3 | 2% |
| 2018 | 15 | 5% |
| 2017 | 13 | 17% |
| 2016 | 13 | 13% |
| 2015 | 9 | 15% |
| 2014 | 20 | 24% |
| 2013 | 27 | 19% |
| 2012 | 21 | 14% |
| 2011 | 14 | 9% |
| 2010 | 13 | 12% |
| 2009 | 15 | 9% |
Other parts of the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
80 complaintsElectrical system
40 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
20 complaintsExterior lighting
15 complaintsFuel system
14 complaintsAir bags
10 complaintsEngine cooling
10 complaintsOther or unknown
10 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsVehicle speed control
8 complaintsElectronic stability control
5 complaintsSeats
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology