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EnginePart report

2013 Volkswagen Tiguan Engine Problems

Complaints
30about this part
Share
21%of 140 total for the year
Median mileage
32,550miles
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 engine of the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan, 21% of the 140 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 32,550 miles.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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

“I was one the high way 1, and I drove about 10 minutes. All of a sudden, my car shut off while driving. The battery light came on and car died. The wheel was even locked. Basically, I was stocked on the highway! Then, I restarted my car on the high way 1, and it worked again. The dealer can not find any issue, and the same issues happened to me twice with two months. Now, I have to report this in order to protect myself.”

NHTSA complaint #10865373, filed 2016-05, 10 miles

“Car stalled in the middle of bumper to bumper traffic with me and a two year old strapped in her seat. Most horrifying experience in my whole 48 years of life. Your dealer did nothing and said it's all in my head. Car was at the dealership multiple times ever since for stalling while me driving! Will start class action suit through an orlando law firm of debaubien, knight, manzaris, simmons and neal unless car is replaced.”

NHTSA complaint #10621184, filed 2014-08, 4,890 miles

“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

“The car stalled, it was difficult to started again and then ran poorly. The engine light came on and I had it towed to the garage. The timing chain slipped, causing a misfire in all four cylinders. Mechanic found it was due to a faulty timing chain tensioner. Vw replaced this tensioner in new cars as of july of 2012, my car was built in june of 2012. As the result of a lawsuit, vw extended the warranty on models through 2012, but did not include 2013 even though it is the same faulty part number. Car is still in the garage 10 days later, but I was told it would be $1,500-$2,000 repair.”

NHTSA complaint #11129879, filed 2018-09, 96,687 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
20261539%
20251323%
20242026%
20232535%
202211341%
20215438%
20202618%
20194422%
20188228%
20171520%
20161010%
2015915%
20141113%
20133021%
20125033%
20116339%
20105045%
20098048%

Other parts of the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan

Air bags
63 complaints
Electrical system
36 complaints
Steering
27 complaints
Fuel system
18 complaints
Other or unknown
16 complaints
Brakes
7 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
6 complaints
Body and structure
5 complaints
Vehicle speed control
5 complaints
Electronic stability control
3 complaints
Exterior lighting
2 complaints
Latches, locks and linkages
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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