2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 15about this part
- Share
- 5%of 288 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 7,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 15 complaints about the steering of the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, 5% of the 288 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 7,000 miles. 1 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.
“Today, the car stalled while I was station/stopped at the red light and got dragged by the truck which almost ran over my car. My car's sensor switched to emergency mode and would not let me drive. I wanted to drive my car away when I saw the danger. However, l could not and almost got killed and ran over by the 18 wheels truck.”
NHTSA complaint #11129437, filed 2018-09, 2,000 miles“I was driving on the expressway and suddenly my car started veering strongly to the left, heading me directly towards the concrete median. I struggled with the steering wheel to correct back to my lane but ended up moving 2 lanes over and almost into the median. I was able to move back a bit one lane over but seemed to have almost no control over the steering. It seemed the car had taken over steering and I was fighting it, moving side to side among 3 lanes. It was terrifying. …”
NHTSA complaint #11253951, filed 2019-09, 7,000 miles“After fueling up at a gas station the 2018 Tiguan would not start. It was dead. Stationary at the fuel pump. Warning lights came on the dash to indicate steering column failure. No symptoms, the car would not try to start or begin to start. Just errors on dash. Car is only 1 year old with less than 10k miles on it. Dealer asked technician to jump car. No change. Car had to be towed to dealer. Dealer indicated a new steering column needed to be ordered and installed and that it was very odd to have failed. Quick research shows this happens all the time on vws. …”
NHTSA complaint #11292544, filed 2020-01, 9,500 miles“Sel premium trim lane assist malfunction - system will inaccurately detect lane lines and attempt to adjust the vehicle to the center of the lane, even when it already is centered in the lane, resulting in the vehicle pulling into the adjacent lane. Has nearly pulled the vehicle into adjacent lane with another vehicle present in the lane resulting in near collisions on numerous occasions. System will also register as the vehicle somehow departing into the lanes on both sides of vehicle at the same time, and will essentially lock the steering wheel in place. …”
NHTSA complaint #11080327, filed 2018-03, 6,000 miles“My VW Tiguan was out of alignment, as happens to every car. Unfortunately, the VW Dealership informed me that I cannot get a simple alignment for $100 because VW requires calibration of the Adaptive Cruise Control any time an alignment is done. I could not find this anywhere in the Owner's Manual, nor are there any other warnings on the car or in any paperwork I signed. The VW dealership wanted an additional $400.00 (for a total exceeding $500) to provide both services. …”
NHTSA complaint #11438385, filed 2021-10Related recalls
- 26V590000Sep 11, 2026Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan, 2018-2019 Atlas, and 2019-2021 Audi Q3 vehicles. One of the bolts that…Covers: Volkswagen Tiguan 2018, Audi Q3 2019–2021, Volkswagen Atlas 2018–2019
Related service bulletins
- 11025426Oct 24, 2025This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
- 11018934May 22, 2025Using Alignment Sheet Submission Form
- 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
- 10224840Oct 13, 2022Steering wheel control module replacement. Update to step 2 scan tool navigation.
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 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan
82 complaintsOther or unknown
53 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
49 complaintsElectrical system
46 complaintsFuel system
41 complaintsBody and structure
39 complaintsBrakes
21 complaintsVehicle speed control
21 complaintsExterior lighting
17 complaintsSeat belts
16 complaintsAir bags
15 complaintsForward collision avoidance
12 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2018 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