2025 Volkswagen Tiguan Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report driver-assist braking that engages without an obstacle, sometimes followed by the vehicle shifting into Park. Other frequent reports are sudden engine stalls or loss of power while driving, infotainment and warning-light faults, and airbag recall repairs waiting on parts. Where mileage is listed, the complaints fall between roughly 3,000 and 9,900 miles, though most complaints do not list mileage.

1. 1
   Forward collision avoidance

   Unexpected braking or automatic shifts into Park

   • 21 complaints (37%)
   • median 5,560 mi at 1.4 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe emergency or automatic braking that activates with no obstacle in front, including while reversing, pulling into a space, turning or waiting at a light. Some report the vehicle shifting into Park or the electronic parking brake engaging while moving, and in a few cases the engine shutting off. According to complaints, the dealer often could not reproduce the behavior, and in some cases a camera software update did not stop it. Most complaints do not list mileage; where it is given, the events occurred between about 3,600 and 9,900 miles, and several describe them in the first few months of ownership.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the front camera calibration bulletins and any driver-assist software updates have been performed. Note the speed and situation when braking or Park shifts happen, such as parking or at a light, and report it to the dealer in writing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I got into the middle lane, getting ready to turn left. I was going about 15-20 mph, when I got into the middle lane, the Emergency Brake came on and slammed my car into park. The master technician experienced the problem. There was no warning lamps, but there were symptoms that lead up, like trying to back up or go forward when turning on the vehicle and it deploying the emergency brake and putting it into park MULTIPLE times.”

   NHTSA complaint #11716748, filed 2026-02

   “My car has 842 miles on it. There have been multiple occasions where it breaks on its own. When I am backing out of my driveway, there is a neighbors tree that is close to the driveway and a small branch causes. The emergency brake to go on in your head to slam into the back of the seat. When making a left hand turn on a 4 lane road with nothing in the road it has break causing you to fly forward. I’ve only had the car for a few months and multiple times it has done this.”

   NHTSA complaint #11750870, filed 2026-07
2. 2
   Engine

   Sudden stalls, shutdowns or loss of power while driving

   • 18 complaints (32%)
   • median 6,750 mi at 1.6 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe the engine stumbling, stalling or shutting off while driving, sometimes at low speed or at a red light. Some report the transmission shifting into Neutral or Park, loss of power steering or brake assist, or an unresponsive accelerator pedal. Fuel system sensor failures are cited in some reports, and a few say the fault returned after a repair. Several complaints say the dealer could not duplicate the failure. Most complaints do not list mileage; where it is given, the events occurred between about 6,000 and 9,900 miles, and a complaint describes an event when the vehicle was about a week old.

   Recall 26V587000

   What to check: Ask whether the body control module software recall (26V587000) has been completed, since it describes the ignition switching off and engine stalls. Ask the dealer to check stored fault codes and fuel system sensor history, and note the speed and conditions when the engine cuts out.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dash light came. I took VW to Dothan ,Al Dealer and service stated it was fuel sensor faulty and had to order one. Meanwhile I was driving 70 mph in heavy traffic and vehicle lost power having barely avoided sccident. Took vehicle in and had sensor replaced and when I went back to pick up VW it was dead and had to be put back in . This was 3 rd trip to dealer in 2 weeks. garage. No loaner was offered approved . This vehicle is dangerous to drive”

   NHTSA complaint #11753402, filed 2026-07

   “I was at a complete stop at the red light, vehicle began shaking and shut down. Gears would not work therefore I was not able to put it in neutral to at least push out of the road. The vehicle then began cranking on and off on its own, without me pushing start/stop engine. This was completely unexpected as the truck is one week old, had a full tank of gas and it was especially dangerous to have shut down on a busy highway. Also when reversing the vehicle makes a weird click noise.”

   NHTSA complaint #11704870, filed 2025-12
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag recall repairs waiting on parts or tools

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • typically at 1.5 yrs old
   • filed 2026

   Owners describe receiving a recall notice for the passenger airbag (25V854000) and being told the repair part or special tool was not yet available. Some were advised not to seat a passenger in the front passenger seat until the repair is done, and a complaint describes an airbag warning tied to a seat belt tensioner igniter on backorder. According to complaints, dealers said parts were unavailable locally and owners were asked to look for the tool or part themselves. Mileage is generally not listed in these complaints, and all were filed in 2026, with a complaint describing a part on backorder since March.

   Recall 25V854000

   What to check: Look up the recall status for 25V854000 using the vehicle's VIN before buying, and ask the dealer whether the repair part is in stock. Keep written records of repair requests and the dealer's replies if the repair is delayed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Hello, I have a VW Tiguan 2025 lease since June2025. i just received a Safety Recall letter from VW on February 2026 advising that because of a potential airbag defect I should not have anyone seating in the passenger seat of my car until further notice. a recall repair is not yet available. How can VW asks to keep a car with such inconvenience of not being able to have a passenger?”

   NHTSA complaint #11716217, filed 2026-02

   “The contact owns a 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact received a recall notification, NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V854000 (Air Bags). The dealer was contacted, however the contact was informed that the parts were unavailable. In addition, the contact contacted multiple dealers and was informed that the parts were unavailable. The contact stated that the unrepaired recall was a serious safety hazard. The manufacturer was not contacted.”

   NHTSA complaint #11737534, filed 2026-05
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Infotainment, CarPlay and repeated dashboard warnings

   • 16 complaints (28%)
   • median 4,500 mi at 1.3 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe the infotainment screen or CarPlay connection cutting out, with the system restarting while driving. Several complaints describe warning lights that come and go, including check engine and door-ajar messages, along with remote start or door lock failures. A complaint says the infotainment stopped for several minutes at a time after a software update, and dealers did not always find the source. Mileage is mostly not listed; several complaints describe the faults recurring over months after purchase, and a complaint describes a connection loss at about 75 mph on the freeway.

   Recall 26V5870001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test CarPlay and the infotainment screen on a longer drive, and ask the dealer whether the MIB3 infotainment service bulletin has been applied. Ask for stored fault codes whenever a warning light returns, and check whether the body control module recall (26V587000) has been completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This car has several issues and I could only select a few. Electrical: the infotainment system disconnects from Wireless car play at random when you drive the vehicle. It then returns a Wifi error on screen and you cannot use car play any longer on both android and iOS. Additionally, the electronic system will reboot when the car is in use. In my case, it always happens on the freeway when driving 75 MPH. The entire car dash is electronic, no buttons. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11753497, filed 2026-07

   “I brought my vehicle to the dealership because it was shifting itself into Park while I was driving. I have brought the car in four times. During the last two visits, the dealership performed a system update called **VW 47DM Collision Vehicle Software Update for Travel Assist/Emergency Assist**. Immediately after leaving the dealership following these updates, my vehicle developed additional and more serious problems. The infotainment system stops working for several minutes at a time before turning back on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11758908, filed 2026-08
5. 5
   Forward collision avoidance

   Driver-assist warning lights and sensor faults

   Mentioned in 5 of 51 sampled complaints

   Owners report Front Assist, Lane Assist or forward-collision warning lights coming on, sometimes with messages that these systems are unavailable. Some describe a forward-collision module or front camera fault, and a report links the failure to driving in rain. According to complaints, dealers sometimes could not find the source of the warning, and a camera software update was not enough to stop it. Where mileage is given, these warnings appeared at about 3,000 to 3,600 miles, and a complaint links the failure to rainy conditions.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the front camera calibration bulletin and any Travel Assist or Emergency Assist software update have been performed. Note when the warning appears, such as in rain or at highway speed, and bring that record to the dealer.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle: 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan Incident Description: While driving at approximately 45 mph, about 5 minutes into the drive, my vehicle displayed a Lane Assist warning and a message to place my hands on the steering wheel. Immediately after, multiple warning lights and messages appeared across the dashboard. Followed my emergency warning message. The vehicle then suddenly applied the brakes on its own without any obstacle or hazard present. The brakes locked up, and the vehicle would not move. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11725964, filed 2026-03

   “The automatic emergency braking feature comes on when it shouldn’t; but it instead, throws me into park and puts on the emergency brake. The date 6/28/25 is just the first time it happened. Its happened multiples times (upward of 15), and I’ve physically had the car for less than 3 months (it’s been in the shop for just under a month, total). It’s very jarring when it happens and is so dangerous and happens so often, I don’t even want to drive it. The front assist fault light has been illuminated and turns off when I restart the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11686988, filed 2025-09

Buying note. Before buying, check the recall status for 25V854000 and 26V587000 and ask whether the driver-assist and infotainment bulletins listed here have been done. A test drive that includes parking maneuvers, traffic light stops and highway speeds may help show whether the braking, shifting or infotainment problems described above occur on that vehicle.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 51 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.