2011 Volkswagen Tiguan Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 30about this part
- Share
- 19%of 162 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,494miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 30 complaints about the air bags of the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan, 19% of the 162 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,494 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My vehicle had the steering wheel clock spring replaced at the dealership in feb 2016 under the recall. May 14 2016 I was turning left at a stoplight when there was a grinding noise and my airbag light came on and my steering wheel controls and horn stopped working. I believe the clock spring has gone bad and needs to be replaced again. Mileage: 87,000”
NHTSA complaint #10864967, filed 2016-05, 87,000 miles“When doing a full turn my steering wheel started clicking and then my airbag light illuminated. I also lost all steering wheel controls and horn. After doing some research, I found out it was a clock spring. Volkswagen has had many models affected by this even my 2011 year Tiguan but when volkwagen pulls up my VIN, they are claiming it is not part of the recall which is very frustrationg.”
NHTSA complaint #11124242, filed 2018-09, 57,000 miles“There was no crash or physical damage to my vehicle, airbag system is malfunctioning. For about a week now, error: airbag message is shown up on dashboard and the airbag light has turned on. In addition to that, even I buckled up, when I make a right turn seat belt alarm is beeping and seat belt light has turned on while I am driving. I am concerning about this serious safety issue. I am driving my car everyday with potential threat of accident without airbags being deployed.”
NHTSA complaint #11145354, filed 2018-11, 61,200 miles“After driving my 2011 Tiguan fine a couple times earlier in the day, I came back to my parked car, and turned it on. When I did this my airbag light came on with an error: airbag message on the display. After this happened, I notice the horn and other electrical features of the wheel didn't work. I took it into the shop, and their said the clock spring needs replaced. It wasn't until after all of this that I found out there had been a recall. I was never notified of this recall before. …”
NHTSA complaint #11098614, filed 2018-05, 89,000 miles“Vehicle just over 45k and was told the clock spring shorted with no real reason as to why this would happen so early in the vehicle life. The impact of the failure from what I can visually tell is that I have no horn, the electronic console does not function and all buttons on the steering wheel do not work. The console also displays an airbag error, which the dealer cannot confirm if this impacts my actual airbag system. I'm told the over $750+ to service. …”
NHTSA complaint #10748922, filed 2015-08, 45,116 milesRelated recalls
- 15V483000Aug 4, 2015Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta…Covers: Volkswagen Tiguan 2011–2014, CC 2010–2014, Passat 2010, 2012–2014 +4 more
Related service bulletins
- 11034621Jun 11, 2026Inquiries
- 11030826Mar 2, 2026The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent warning regarding counterfeit replacement airbag inflators that are being installed in used…
- 10231584Feb 2, 2023VW contact when reporting a Airbag or Pyrotechnic safety belt deployment. Update to model year applicability.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 3% |
| 2025 | 5 | 9% |
| 2024 | 1 | 1% |
| 2023 | 2 | 3% |
| 2022 | 5 | 2% |
| 2021 | 2 | 1% |
| 2020 | 1 | 1% |
| 2019 | 7 | 4% |
| 2018 | 15 | 5% |
| 2017 | 30 | 39% |
| 2016 | 37 | 38% |
| 2015 | 28 | 45% |
| 2014 | 46 | 55% |
| 2013 | 63 | 45% |
| 2012 | 33 | 22% |
| 2011 | 30 | 19% |
| 2010 | 3 | 3% |
| 2009 | 10 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan
63 complaintsElectrical system
47 complaintsExterior lighting
39 complaintsSteering
14 complaintsOther or unknown
12 complaintsFuel system
11 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsBrakes
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsElectronic stability control
2 complaintsSeats
2 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 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