2013 Volkswagen Tiguan Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a failed steering-wheel clock spring, which lights the air bag warning and disables the horn and steering-wheel buttons, and intermittent loss of electric power steering. Numerous complaints also describe stalling or sudden loss of power, sometimes linked to the fuel system and sometimes to the timing chain, plus water entering the cabin through the sunroof drains. Reports span a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles to well past 100,000.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Steering-wheel clock spring failure (air bag light, horn

   Mentioned in 24 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a clicking or popping sound from the steering wheel while turning, followed by the air bag warning light and loss of the horn, steering-wheel buttons and other wheel controls. Dealers commonly diagnosed a broken clock spring and quoted a replacement, and several owners say their vehicle was not covered by the earlier clock spring campaign even though the same part failed. Several complaints note the part failed again after an earlier recall repair. Reported from roughly 30,000 to 139,000 miles, often on vehicles several years old and sometimes shortly after a prior clock spring repair.

   Recall 15V4830002 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the engine running, check that the air bag light goes out after the bulb test and that the horn and all steering-wheel buttons work. Ask whether the clock spring was replaced under the earlier campaign and keep the repair paperwork.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “One day I was driving and heard this clicking noise in my steering wheel whenever I turned. It progressively got worse throughout the day and about 4 hours later from when I initially heard it, my airbag light came on. I called my dealership and they told me it was my clock spring and that there was a recall for this a few years ago however my VIN was not one that was noted under that recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11097337, filed 2018-05, 107,000 miles

   “The clock spring failed within two years of the recall, and based on my internet research, almost 100 other people have had the same issue. The dealer told me the original fix was just to put a cover over the clock spring unless the clock spring failed beforehand. In my case it failed after the cover was added, and for some reason I didn't get the benefit of an actual replacement part as part of the recall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11105402, filed 2018-07, 38,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Stalling or sudden loss of power while driving

   • 28 complaints (20%)
   • median 21,000 mi at 2.8 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2026

   Owners report the engine cutting out or losing power at intersections, on inclines and at highway speeds, with the check engine or EPC light coming on and the car sometimes restarting normally afterwards. Dealers variously reported fuel rail pressure faults, a bad rear fuel pump, wiring harness problems or nothing found, and some vehicles were serviced under the fuel system campaign without the symptom going away. Several owners also describe hard starting when cold and rough running after a stall. Reported from under 5,000 miles up to about 100,000 miles, including very low-mileage vehicles.

   Recall 14V4410004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel system campaign was performed and whether the fuel pump, fuel pressure sensor or wiring harness has been replaced; watch for a check engine light and cold-start stumbling during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After turning motor on, and backing up, the car is unresponsive when shifted into drive,. On 4 occasions now I have had to restart the car and try again. The accelerator seems progressively unresponsive. Yesterday, the car stayed in gear, and on long enough for me to pull into traffic and then died. I had to restart while vehicles drove around me. Thankfully it was a residential street. I'm very worried now to drive the car as it could happen in a busier environment and result in an accident. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10568738, filed 2014-03, 13,570 miles

   “I wonder why I have not received a recall notice re: NHTSA campaign number 14v441000. My 2013 vw Tiguan died while traversing a slight incline in an intersection. Fortunately no other cars were present. Vehicle was later towed to vw dealership. Work order failed to mention that auto died, instead service advisor wrote the following: ck engine light on. Tech(s): 8563 warranty. Customer states check engine light is on. Scanned for trouble codes. Ran gffault p0192 fuel rail pressure intermittent. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10629589, filed 2014-08, 5,343 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Electric power steering cuts out or assist drops

   • 20 complaints (14%)
   • median 62,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe the steering suddenly becoming very heavy, often with a red steering warning light, at highway or street speeds, and in some cases the assist returning after the engine is shut off for a while. Others report the wheel jerking or feeling unusually loose after the assist returns, and dealers sometimes found no stored fault when the vehicle was checked. Complaints also mention the wheel feeling stiff and a spring-like noise before the air bag light came on. Mostly reported between about 62,000 and 130,000 miles, at both low and highway speeds.

   What to check: On a test drive, note whether the steering feels consistent at parking-lot and highway speeds and whether any steering warning light appears at start-up; ask if the steering rack or its control module has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving my Volkswagen 2013 Tiguan down I-95 with my toddler daughter n the car when all of a sudden the steering wheel jerked very hard almost crashing us into another car. When I pulled over to safety the steering wheel light was on the dash lighting up along with a light that says epc. I did not feel safe driving the vehicle so I called a tow to come pick us up. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11330964, filed 2020-06, 100,000 miles

   “I parked to go shopping and when I got back and turned on the car, the steering warming light came on and the power-steering was disengaged. I was not able to drive it as the wheel was too heavy. The steering corrected after waiting for an hour to start the car. My wife had the same issue the next day after dropping off our daughter at school and had to wait 30 minutes before the problem corrected. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11338898, filed 2020-07, 75,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Timing chain tensioner noise and chain failure

   • 14 complaints (10%)
   • median 32,550 mi at 3.4 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2013–2025

   Owners describe a brief rattle at cold start-up from the timing chain area that can progress to a slipped chain, misfires and an engine that will not run. Mechanics in the complaints identified a failed chain tensioner as the cause, and some owners note the vehicle was outside the extended warranty coverage offered for earlier model years. Reported between roughly 38,000 and 129,000 miles, often noticed as a cold-start rattle before any failure.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen for a short rattle in the first second after a cold start and ask for records of any timing chain, tensioner or engine work; a pre-purchase inspection by a shop familiar with these engines is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on a highway when my engine failed. My year, make and model number is listed in the vw timing chain settlement, but my VIN # is not in their database, so they will not help me. The extended warranty that I purchased with the car, which was used, on 5/12/17, expires at 121,000 miles. I am over the mileage by approx. 7,800 miles, so they will not honor it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11173529, filed 2019-02, 128,800 miles

   “Mileage: 38,000 miles. Date: 9/5/2016. Upon engine startup first thing in the morning I noticed a momentary rattling noise which I recognized as timing chain noise. (I'm a certified auto mechanic.) the noise went away in about one second which is typical for a hydraulic timing chain tensioner. I researched the net and found quite a bit of information on failing hydraulic timing chain tensioners on vw tsi engines. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10916217, filed 2016-10, 38,000 miles
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Water leaks into the cabin from the sunroof drains

   • 7 complaints (5%)
   • median 23,250 mi at 6.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners report water on the floors, damp headliners, a musty smell and mold after heavy rain, traced by dealers to clogged or disconnected sunroof drain lines. Some describe the drain being cleared only for the leak to return, and others report water reaching the headliner and air bag area. A few owners also mention seals around the windshield letting water in. Reported from about 10,000 to 133,000 miles, typically after heavy or prolonged rain and often after several years of ownership.

   What to check: Inspect the carpets, spare-tire well and headliner for dampness or water stains, check for a musty smell, and ask whether the sunroof drains have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On april 3, 2017 I noticed a smell in my car, and subsequently found that the passenger side flooring was very wet. I made an appointment at ray brandt Volkswagen new orleans for the following day, although my car was outside of its warranty period. On april 5, 2017 I arrived at the ray brandt Volkswagen dealership to have my car looked at. The leak was diagnosed as a clogged sunroof drain, with the cost of $150 to clear the drain. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10971492, filed 2017-04, 23,500 miles

   “Vehicle flooded with standing water after a heavy rain. On monday april 30, 2018 the Volkswagen dealership reported that the 2 drain lines from the sunroof had disconnected themselves and allowed rain water into the vehicle cabin. In 2007 a class action lawsuit was filed against Volkswagen of america for this very issue citing poor design to be at fault. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11091238, filed 2018-05, 10,500 miles

Buying note. These cars are old enough that condition and service history matter more than mileage, so have a shop check the clock spring and steering functions, listen for cold-start timing chain rattle, and look for water intrusion before buying. Ask for paperwork showing any recall or campaign work was completed and whether recurring parts have already been replaced.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.