2023 Volkswagen Tiguan Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 25about this part
- Share
- 35%of 72 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 66,000miles
- Trend
- Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
NHTSA recorded 25 complaints about the engine of the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan, 35% of the 72 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 66,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“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 2026-04“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“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 2026-05“From a cold start, the vehicle seems to have an issue with fuel/acceleration. When pressing the gas through an intersection, the vehicle seems starved for gas and does not accelerate and almost stalls. This is very dangerous in a city environment, as the gaps between cars is sometimes small. There are no warning signs, just reports from several of my drivers experiencing the same issue with the same vehicle. We just purchased 13 of the same vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #11540554, filed 2023-08Related service bulletins
- 11038146Sep 17, 2026Suggested fuel additive
- 11035762Jul 9, 2026Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption Measurement
- 11034614Jun 18, 2026Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start.
- 11034613Jun 18, 2026Lubricating engine components before reassembly.
- 11034617Jun 4, 2026Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards
- 11030847Mar 27, 2026This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the…
- 11026170Nov 10, 2025This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed and only order the successor parts going forward.
- 11025452Oct 17, 2025Coolant Bleed Procedure
- 11025437Oct 14, 2025G12Evo can now be mixed with previous coolants.
- 11025432Oct 14, 2025EVAP and Leak Detection Pump replacement components.
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 | 39% |
| 2025 | 13 | 23% |
| 2024 | 20 | 26% |
| 2023 | 25 | 35% |
| 2022 | 113 | 41% |
| 2021 | 54 | 38% |
| 2020 | 26 | 18% |
| 2019 | 44 | 22% |
| 2018 | 82 | 28% |
| 2017 | 15 | 20% |
| 2016 | 10 | 10% |
| 2015 | 9 | 15% |
| 2014 | 11 | 13% |
| 2013 | 30 | 21% |
| 2012 | 50 | 33% |
| 2011 | 63 | 39% |
| 2010 | 50 | 45% |
| 2009 | 80 | 48% |
Other parts of the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan
14 complaintsElectrical system
13 complaintsForward collision avoidance
9 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsBrakes
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
3 complaintsAir bags
2 complaintsLane departure
2 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2023 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