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Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)Part report

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems

Complaints
8about this part
Share
3%of 288 total for the year
Median mileage
3,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the visibility of the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, 3% of the 288 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 3,000 miles. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

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.

“1) low beam headlights have a very short range, perhaps as little as 100 feet with a very sharp cut-off. Almost hit a deer because although I was driving at 30 MPH, I could barely see the deer as it crossed the road. This was evident on a straight country road with no street lights while the car was in motion driving straight. This is a serious safety issue because it's dangerous to drive on low lit or unlit roads at night. The fix would be a redesigned headlamps (both sides) or a brighter bulbs. Nhtsa safety rating site shows the problem clearly. It's dangerous. …”

NHTSA complaint #11065547, filed 2018-01, 500 miles

“The windshield of this vehicle was designed to be lighter weight to increase fuel savings. This in turn caused the windshield to be more fragile. Rock chips immediately cause cracks in the glass, and larger object penetrate to the polymer sub-layer easily. This is a major safety issue in states like colorado that still use gravel for traction on ice.”

NHTSA complaint #11120361, filed 2018-08, 3,000 miles

“Purchased the 2018 Tiguan on september 16th, entered service on october 10th with two b pillar rattles, excessive wind noise from drivers door and a screen flicker with the back-up camera. Car has remained in service for 21 days and no resolution from Volkswagen.”

NHTSA complaint #11041723, filed 2017-10, 1,400 miles

“I purchased this 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan in September 2019 and began noticing an intermittent rearview-camera problem around that time. I do not remember the exact date of the first occurrence because the problem initially happened only occasionally and was not persistent. When the vehicle is placed in reverse, the rearview camera intermittently fails to provide a reliable image. At other times, it operates normally. Because the problem is intermittent, it has been difficult for the dealership to reproduce consistently. …”

NHTSA complaint #11759418, filed 2026-08

“The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65-70 MPH, a loud explosion was heard coming from the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the roadway. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the sunroof glass had exploded. There was no impact to the sunroof that could have caused the sunroof glass to explode. The contact safely removed her child from the vehicle. No injuries were sustained, and medical attention was not received. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …”

NHTSA complaint #11545358, filed 2023-09, 43,000 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202638%
202524%
20241013%
202346%
2022135%
202196%
2020118%
201995%
201883%
201711%
201633%
201546%
201422%
201311%
201264%
201022%
200942%

Other parts of the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan

Engine
82 complaints
Other or unknown
53 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
49 complaints
Electrical system
46 complaints
Fuel system
41 complaints
Body and structure
39 complaints
Brakes
21 complaints
Vehicle speed control
21 complaints
Exterior lighting
17 complaints
Seat belts
16 complaints
Air bags
15 complaints
Steering
15 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