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Electrical systemPart report

2011 Volkswagen Tiguan Electrical system Problems

Complaints
47about this part
Share
29%of 162 total for the year
Median mileage
45,034miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 47 complaints about the electrical system of the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan, 29% of the 162 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 45,034 miles. 1 a fire, 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

“The fuse box in the engine compartment melted. This caused my front-right headlight, rear-left brake and turn signal light, and middle brake light to stop working. My car is all stock and I've done nothing to cause it to exert excess electrical power. I am reporting this because it seems to be a very common problem with vw and is an obvious design flaw.”

NHTSA complaint #10553122, filed 2013-11, 49,000 miles

“I bought a new 2011 Tiguan se and it stalls out at around 5 MPH. This is very dangers in parking lots ( rolled into light post). Vw service first time I brought it in told me it was due to a bad fuel injector which they replaced , when it happened again just this past november they said it was a melted fuse box on top of my lights going out.”

NHTSA complaint #10552906, filed 2013-11, 40,000 miles

“While driving I received multiple alerts of bulb failures and headlights, turn signals, tail lights would intermittently fail. Cause was a fuse and socket in the fuse box that melted and had to be replaced. I checked the recently announced recall however my VIN was not included so I wanted to bring it to your attention.”

NHTSA complaint #10554443, filed 2013-12, 41,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
20261026%
20251832%
20242836%
20231318%
20226323%
20212517%
20203424%
20195729%
20184616%
20171216%
20162728%
20152337%
20142226%
20133626%
20122315%
20114729%
20103128%
20094024%

Other parts of the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan

Engine
63 complaintsExterior lighting
39 complaintsAir bags
30 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