2023 Volkswagen Tiguan Problems
Compared with other Volkswagen Tiguan years
Typical for this model
40/100 0.8× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 0.8× that of a typical Volkswagen Tiguan year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- 47 of its 72 complaints were filed by the end of 2025.
- Most reported problem: Electrical glitches: blank cluster, stalling at stops, SOS (23 complaints).
- 1 recall campaign on record. A VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls shows open recalls for a specific vehicle.
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 72filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 14,171miles, 7 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
- EPA fuel economy
- 27 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 24 city / 31 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year write about two things more than any others: engine oil that has to be topped off between changes, and an infotainment screen that goes black and takes the rearview camera with it. A third recurring theme is a lag or hesitation when pulling away from a stop, described as most noticeable in the first minutes of driving. Complaints are filed across a wide mileage spread, from near-new cars to 70,000 miles, so neither issue is tied to one point in the car's life.
- Engine
Excessive engine oil consumption / low oil warnings
- 18 complaints (25%)
- median 66,000 mi at 2.8 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
- filed 2024–2026
Owners report the low oil level or low oil pressure warning coming on well before the next scheduled oil change, sometimes after only 800 to 2,000 miles, requiring them to add a quart or more. Some say dealers told them the rate falls within an acceptable tolerance, while others had an oil separator, PCV valve, gasket or valve stem seal replaced. Complaints also describe oil visible under the vehicle and, in a few cases, oil on the pan or timing cover area. Reported from roughly 1,000 miles up to about 72,000 miles, with many complaints in the 20,000-50,000 mile range.
What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burnt-oil smell on the dipstick, and ask whether an oil consumption test has been done and what the recorded rate was. A service bulletin covers oil consumption measurement, so a dealer can repeat that procedure.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Oil light continues to come on after about 1,000-1,500 miles after an oil change. This has happen several times now and I have to put oil in it to keep it from ruining the engine. I see hat there have been complaints about this already with these models with excessive oil consumption and even engine failure. This needs to be fixed.”
NHTSA complaint #11717756, filed 2026-02“I am experiencing a high oil consumption rate on my 2023 VW Tiguan. VW claims that the rate of consumption is within the 1 Quart every 1200 miles limit, but 3500 miles after an oil change, the check engine oil light came on and I had to add oil. 2000 miles later, it came on again and I had to add oil again. In a 10,000 mile oil change rated car, this would equate to adding 8-9 quarts of oil between changes. This is not normal oil consumption. …”
NHTSA complaint #11673982, filed 2025-07 - Electrical system
Infotainment screen goes black; rear camera lost
- 17 complaints (24%)
- typically at 3.3 yrs old
- filed 2023–2026
Owners describe the infotainment display going dark, rebooting repeatedly, or failing to boot at all, sometimes taking the rearview camera image, navigation and driver-assist displays with it. Several say a hard reset did not help and that the dealer could not repair it, with one noting a replacement part was on back order. A few report the digital instrument cluster also blanking out while driving. Reported across the sample without a clear mileage pattern, in some cases within the first year of ownership.
Recall 25V0820004 related service bulletins
What to check: Start the car and confirm the screen boots, then shift into reverse and check the camera image appears. Ask whether any infotainment or over-the-air software updates have been applied; a recall on this model year concerns the rearview camera image at startup.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The infotainment center in my 2023 VW Tiguan SE has completely died. With this failure, the reverse camera no longer activates or functions whatsoever. I am unable to access any of the features of the car that are adjusted via the infotainment center. I have contacted both the manufacturer and dealer, but there are no recalls on this year of vehicle, only the newer years. It is available for inspection. …”
NHTSA complaint #11768177, filed 2026-09“The infotainment screen went black and does not appear to work. I had tried the method of hard resetting the system and it did not work. I went to get it check at the dealer and it was not able to get fixed. This is a safety hazard as the screen was not able to display the use of the rear camera increasing a risk of a crash. The screen also acts as an aid for the driver which becomes a risk when the display no longer works.This has only occurred once before and fixed on its own. This had unexpectedly happened.”
NHTSA complaint #11770330, filed 2026-10 - Fuel system
Hesitation or lag when accelerating from a stop
- 10 complaints (14%)
- median 100 mi at 1.1 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
- filed 2023–2026
Complaints describe a delay of a second or more between pressing the accelerator and the car moving, followed by a lurch or surge. Owners say it is most noticeable on a cold start and in the first few minutes of driving, and several report the dealer could not duplicate the behavior. Some describe it as a jerky or hesitant transmission in first and second gear rather than an engine issue. Commonly described from new or within the first few thousand miles, mainly when the engine is cold.
What to check: Test drive from a cold start and pay attention to the first few pulls away from a stop, including a light-throttle start. Ask whether the dealer has logged or attempted any transmission or throttle software update.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Malfunction with power delivery/transmission: I often experience inconsistent acceleration/power while driving at low speeds, the loss of power and jerks feel very similar to an engine misfire. Safety Risk: This behavior is very dangerous as we instinctively push down gas pedal to overcome lack of power and it causes the car to rocket forward as too high throttle has been opened and one can easily lose control and crash. …”
NHTSA complaint #11532406, filed 2023-07“Acceleration fails or hesitates on acceleration from zero mph. This has occurred every day since new (June 2023) and only happens for 5 minutes after start up. It feels like it is going to stall out, but so far it has not. Each time I accelerate for the first time, my car makes a jerky start. It usually goes away after I've been driving a bit. I've tried letting it warm up a couple minutes, but that does not seem to matter. …”
NHTSA complaint #11542407, filed 2023-09 - Other or unknown
Electrical glitches: blank cluster, stalling at stops, SOS
- 23 complaints (32%)
- typically at 2.7 yrs old
- filed 2023–2026
Owners describe a mix of electrical symptoms: the instrument cluster going blank or slow to display, the start-stop system shutting the engine off at a light and requiring a manual restart, and the emergency call system reporting a fault with the module replaced more than once. A wireless charging pad that cuts out or overheats the phone is also mentioned. Reported from a few thousand miles into the 20,000-30,000 mile range, without a single clear trigger.
What to check: Turn the car on and confirm every gauge and warning light displays, and check whether the SOS or emergency call indicator shows a fault. Ask whether any over-the-air connectivity or module software updates have been installed.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Brand new VW Tiguan. The start stop system has failed since a month after I bought it. When I am stopped at a stoplight, stop sign or in traffic, often the vehicle will completely shut off and die. The dash displays a message that says must manually restart . So then you have to put the car in park and press the engine start button again. This happens every few weeks at random since I've bought the car. I have had it into two different Volkswagen dealerships for a total of four times. …”
NHTSA complaint #11584285, filed 2024-04“When I click the button to start the car and then quickly reverse, the system locks up. It's a safety hazard. It's happened to me 4 times. Twice on 7-14-23 and another two times within the last 3 weeks.”
NHTSA complaint #11530333, filed 2023-07 - Forward collision avoidance
Front Assist / automatic emergency braking activates with
- 7 complaints (10%)
- typically at 1.9 yrs old
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2024–2026
Owners report the collision warning or automatic emergency braking engaging when nothing is in front of or behind the vehicle, including while reversing out of a driveway. Several say the dealer found no faults, and one owner was told the warning system was malfunctioning on a daily basis. Complaints describe the sudden braking as startling and disruptive to following traffic. Described as intermittent and occurring at a range of mileages, sometimes every few weeks rather than daily.
What to check: Ask whether any front camera or radar calibration or software update has been performed. During a test drive, note whether the forward collision warning chimes without a vehicle ahead.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The Automatic Emergency Braking, also called Front Assist, activates for no reason. No cars or elements in front of the vehicle. I'm trying not to use cruise control for fear that the Automatic Emergency Braking system might fail and cause an accident. My vehicle was inspected twice by a Volkswagen dealerhsip located in Michigan, and on both occasions, they told me they didn't find any faults, but while I'm driving the alarm keeps activating suddenly every 2 or 3 weeks. …”
NHTSA complaint #11589565, filed 2024-05“While driving south bound on i95 express lane, the vehicle in front of me stopped abruptly. I attempted to break but was unable to do so. Also the emergency breaks/front vehicle collision warning did not activate. In order to avoid a head on collision, I swerved to the right and my front left side made impact to the other vehicle on their right back side. This impact cause my vehicle to spin out of the express lane and into the regular traffic 180 degrees causing me to be facing incoming traffic. …”
NHTSA complaint #11624981, filed 2024-11
Buying note. Ask for the service history and specifically for evidence of oil consumption checks, infotainment or connectivity software updates, and any work on the oil separator or PCV system. A cold-start test drive and a check of the screen and rear camera will surface the two issues owners mention most.
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.
NHTSA recorded 72 consumer complaints for the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan. 7 of the complaints include a mileage, and 57% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 14,171 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 355 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 14 Volkswagen Tiguan model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 40 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine25 35%
- Other or unknown14 19%
- Electrical system13 18%
- Fuel system7 9.7%
- Brakes4 5.6%
- Vehicle speed control4 5.6%
Also reported: Air bags (2), Lane departure (2), Engine cooling (1), Equipment (1), Seat belts (1), Suspension (1), Tires (1), Wheels (1).
Example complaints
Engine: “When I’m stopped, the car sometimes shuts off. The horn works intermittently. When I start the car, it feels like it’s going to stall. At times, all of the dashboard warning lights come on. Also, when I’m backing out of my driveway with nothing behind me, the car will sometimes automatically brake hard.”
NHTSA complaint #11731753, filed 2026-04Other or unknown: “My Rava car seat was recalled voluntarily due to an issue with the harness tether loosening from debris getting into the latch secondary to a manufacturer design flaw. When replacing my car seat cover as per the recall instructions, I discovered the impact foam on my Rava was completely cracked down the middle. The car seat has never been moved out of my vehicle since the initial install other than to replace the cover as per recall instructions, and my car along with the car seat have never been in an accident. …”
NHTSA complaint #11648762, filed 2025-03Electrical system: “While driving on the highway in my 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan (approximately 70,068 miles), the EPC warning light and oil warning light illuminated and the vehicle began to stall/lose power. I exited the highway immediately and shut the vehicle down safely. A substantial amount of engine oil leaked from underneath the vehicle after stopping. The vehicle was towed to a Volkswagen dealership. Dealer diagnosis included: * cracked oil pan, * oil separator failure, * and timing chain cover leak. …”
NHTSA complaint #11739405, filed 2026-05Forward collision avoidance: “I purchased this vehicle on August 9th 2025 and it has been in shop 4 times . It is in the shop as I am writing this email. I have had nothing but issues with this vehicle and had to come out of pocket 308 dollars just to find out a problem that I told them that already was an issue the first week I had the car . I am a senior on a fixed income and I cant afford to pay anything more out of pocket . I filed a complaint with the BBB and a represented from the service department called me and said , his boss said they will not work on my car unless I remove my complaint to the BBB . …”
NHTSA complaint #11698164, filed 2025-11Mileage when problems were reported
57% of the 7 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 10,000 and 56,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
This model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiguan · SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | 4 / 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 15.5% risk |
| Tiguan · SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | 4 / 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 16.9% risk |
Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2023 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking standard.
Neighbouring years: 2024: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiguan FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 23 | 30 | 26 | $2,600 |
| Tiguan 4motion AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 22 | 29 | 25 | $2,700 |
| Tiguan R-Line 4motion AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 21 | 28 | 24 | $2,800 |
| Tiguan S FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 24 | 31 | 27 | $2,500 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 25V082000Feb 12, 2025Back over prevention › SoftwareCovers: Volkswagen Tiguan 2022–2024, Audi Q3 2024–2025, Volkswagen Arteon 2023
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Tiguan, 2023 Arteon, and 2024-2025 Audi Q3 vehicles. An error may occur in the camera control unit at vehicle startup, resulting in the rearview camera image not displaying as…
Recall details for the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 355 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11038146Sep 17, 2026Engine. Suggested fuel additive
- 11038145Sep 17, 2026Lane departure. Heat Sensative Trouble Shooting Explanation.
- 11038144Sep 10, 2026Other or unknown. Remove Key FOB battery for 20 seconds to restore proper operation.
- 11038143Sep 9, 2026Other or unknown. This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
- 11038142Sep 7, 2026Other or unknown. This OTA update provides improvements to connectivity stability and OCU module diagnostics, which will reduce OCU module replacements due to false DTC detection. This software update is also a…
- 11038141Sep 3, 2026Other or unknown. This OTA update provides improvements to connectivity stability and OCU module diagnostics, which will reduce OCU module replacements due to false DTC detection. This software update is also a…
- 11038140Sep 3, 2026Other or unknown. This OTA update provides improvements to connectivity stability and OCU module diagnostics, which will reduce OCU module replacements due to false DTC detection. This software update is also a…
- 11036878Aug 27, 2026Brakes. Repair or Replace Information
- 11036877Aug 27, 2026Brakes. Brake rotor resurfacing
- 11036879Aug 19, 2026Other or unknown. Steering wheel sensor mat (hands on detection) and software deviation in the steering wheel detection control module -1158-.
Other model years of the Volkswagen Tiguan
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 38 | 1,000 | 0 | 5 | 29 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2025 | 57 | 4,810 | 3 | 5 | 29 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2024 | 77 | 7,650 | 2 | 4 | 27 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 72 | 14,171 | 1 | 4 | 27 | 40 · Typical | Too new |
| 2022 | 274 | 30,000 | 5 | — | 26 | 100 · More | Rising |
| 2021 | 144 | 26,000 | 5 | 5 | 25 | 78 · More | Rising |
| 2020 | 141 | 30,400 | 3 | 5 | 25 | 70 · More | Rising |
| 2019 | 196 | 2,946 | 5 | 5 | 25 | 94 · More | Rising |
| 2018 | 288 | 6,900 | 14 | 4–5 | 24 | 100 · More | Falling |
| 2017 | 76 | 26,000 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 30 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2016 | 97 | 45,000 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 12 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2015 | 62 | 49,262 | 4 | 4 | 23 | 9 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2014 | 84 | 50,000 | 3 | 4 | 23 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2013 | 140 | 53,500 | 3 | 4 | 23 | 29 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2012 | 153 | 50,000 | 3 | — | 24 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2011 | 162 | 60,000 | 3 | — | 22 | 56 · Typical | Falling |
| 2010 | 110 | 73,000 | 2 | — | 21 | 18 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2009 | 168 | 70,000 | 3 | — | 21 | 56 · Typical | Falling |
All Volkswagen Tiguan model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Owners of this model year write about two things more than any others: engine oil that has to be topped off between changes, and an infotainment screen that goes black and takes the rearview camera with it. The issues reported most often: Excessive engine oil consumption / low oil warnings; Infotainment screen goes black; rear camera lost; Hesitation or lag when accelerating from a stop.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan have?
NHTSA recorded 72 consumer complaints for the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan is reported most often?
Engine is named most often, in 25 complaints (35% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 14.
Has the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How did the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan do in NHTSA crash tests?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan 4 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.
What gas mileage does the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan get?
The EPA rates the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan (Tiguan S, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 27 mpg combined, 24 city and 31 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan reported?
Among the 7 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 14,171 miles and the middle half falls between 10,000 and 56,000 miles; 57% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.