2011 Volkswagen Tiguan Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 14about this part
- Share
- 9%of 162 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 78,650miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 14 complaints about the steering of the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan, 9% of the 162 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 78,650 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
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“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 miles“I own a 2011 vw Tiguan and is the worst car I've ever owned. 1. Initially I had a bad turbo at 60,000 miles. Check engine light showed and ended up a bad turbo. 2. A bad oil leak from one of the engine gasket only happened when driving 3. A bad coolant leak. I was driving and I saw the overheating light on I pulled over and added coolant 5 minutes later was empty again. 4. Bad power steering pump I was turning and heads something making noise on the steering and had to replace before something major happened. And next I'm getting rid of it. To bad very bad experience owning one of this. …”
NHTSA complaint #11286988, filed 2019-12, 60,000 miles“The outside temperature is -10f today. I started the car and allowed it to warm up for 10 minutes before driving it approximately 5 miles on an errand. I parked the car and turned it off. When I returned and started the car, the steering light came on and I lost the electronic assist for steering. I was able to drive the car home but it was very difficult and I will be having it towed to the shop. ** a quick internet search shows I'm not the only one having this problem so I thought it important to file this.”
NHTSA complaint #10558704, filed 2014-01, 70,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10235284Apr 27, 2023This Document was revised. The model year chat was removed for VWP-18-11 for the Steering Wheel Clock Spring Limited Warranty Extension
- 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 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan
63 complaintsElectrical system
47 complaintsExterior lighting
39 complaintsAir bags
30 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