2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN Complaints

View complaints related to 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 100 complaints submitted for the 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN
    - Stockbridge, VT

    The clock spring has failed and confirmed by a local dealer, part number 5K0-953-569-AL. After talking with several dealers, I found out VW has a "hit list / back order list. This part is on it. I have also been told there are 1000 currently on back order and it may be 6 months before I receive a replacement. I have no horn and my air bag may or may not work. I have no way to warn a pedestrian or another vehicle should an issue arise, safety issue. No air bag could cause severe personal injury or death. Both are unacceptable and this part failure has been on going for more than 4 years. The sign of this failure is no horn, air bag light "ON" and no controls on the steering wheel function. I asked VW Customer Care twice what is VWs protocol for driving with a broken clock spring in writing, no response. I asked to speak with a manager, none got back to me. At the dealership I indicated I thought this was a safety issue as I have no horn. The service counter person said no one has ever brought this up in the 4 years they have been at the dealership. HUGE SAFTEY ISSUE which has been ongoing for years, no safety response on protocol, none, and no solution in sight, maybe months down the road. I do have copies of emails from VW Customer Care.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN
    - Mount Pleasant, SC

    2016 Volkswagen Tiguan - CLOCK SPRING IS BROKEN & THE PART IS BACKORDERED "INDEFINITELY”. MY AIRBAGS, HORN, AND STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS NO LONGER WORK. VW WANTED TO CHARGE ME THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE ( A LITTLE OVER $100) TO PUT ME ON THE WAITING LIST FOR A REPLACEMENT PART. THEN TOLD ME I WAS OVER 3000TH ON THE "WAITING LIST". ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE & A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. MY CAR IS BASICALLY WORTHLESS UNTIL THEY START REMANUFACTURING THE PART. NO TIMELINE GIVEN FOR THIS PROCESS. WILL VW COVER THIS? I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS BEING ALLOWED & APPARENTLY IGNORED. Check engine light came on early March 2022. Took it to VW to have checked out. Spent $465 on an intake valve hand cleaning, 4 new spark plugs, and a vehicle inspection. No more than a week later I started hearing clicking noises coming from the steering wheel when I turned. One turn caused a loud pop....after that pop, my airbag light dinged on. My airbags do not work (but can deploy at any time?? WHAT), my horn doesn't work, and neither do any steering controls. In sum: No replacement parts are available / Told I was over 3000th in line for when they start “remanufacturing” the part / Given no timeline of manufacture / Told there was nothing I can do. Took the car to a place that specializes in Audis & VWs. He scanned the car for free and repeated the same thing as VW but put me on two different waiting lists. He said that there are some clock springs available that are made in china and are crap/will not last. He mentioned they could put the “wrong part” in as a replacement for $700 and only the airbag would work, but I would still need to get the correct steering clock from VW put in whenever it’s available. I haven’t decided if I’m going to have that done yet….but in regards to the correct part, they will call when they have the part but that it would probably be 1.5- 2 YEARS. UNREAL. HOW IS THIS ALLOWED? WHAT DO I DO? WILL THE CAR EVEN PASS INSPECTION? CAN IT STILL BE INSURED? HELP!!!

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN
    - KELLER, TX

    Air back failure due to clockspring. No replacement parts available, VW North America is giving no ETA for when/if they can fix the vehicle. VW North America is offering no rental car or loaner car to deal with the issue. My $20K vehicle is a useless piece of scrap until or if they fix the problem and provide a replacement part Air Bag Clockspring, Part Number: 5K0953569AL

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN
    - Old Hickory, TN

    Airbag light has been on since October 2021. Dealership indicated the clockspring needs to be replaced. Was giving a 2-3 week window for replacement to arrive. I have felt unsafe operating my vehicle not know if my airbags would deloy if needed. Rental car was not offered nor provide upon request. Dealership has not ETA. In addition to the airbag, the horn is nonfunctioning which is a safety hazard as well.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN
    - Menlo Park, CA

    My airbag light is on and all the controls on the steering wheel are not working. Per the dealer, the car needs a new "clock spring" but they are back-ordered and they have no idea when they will receive replacement parts. How can Volkswagen let people drive around with no airbags. The part needs to be replaced and Volkswagen should be able to supply the part so I can fix my car. I am not asking for a free part, I just want to purchase the part and repair my car.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN
    - Milwaukee, WI

    Volkswagen dealer diagnosed my car with a failed clockspring in October of 2021, which results in a failed driver's airbag, no horn, and failed steering wheel control buttons. Volkswagen currently has this part on backorder with no ETA and there are 3000 customers without this part. I have no way of obtaining this part, and therefore have no airbag or horn which is extremely unsafe. Volkswagen refuses to provide alternative transportation or a rental vehicle for me saying that it is not covered under the warranty. In addition, the car would not pass inspection in several states, and I can't sell it because it is not safe. So I'm paying for a useless car.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN
    - Lawrenceville , GA

    My 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan has only 49,000 and the water pumps went bad already never heard of this I brought many cars and never had any problems with water pumps especially so soon. I couldn’t drive for days because water pumps are so expensive and my is more than 30 mile away which causes my car to over heat and the antifreeze was leaking so much I didn’t want to get stranded out there so I didn’t drive much until I was able to replace the water pumps. It’s to my knowledge Volkswagens had water pumps defects issues and I feel Volkswagen needs to recall 2016 models because water pumps should last for over 100,000 miles or more. I brought this car used in good condition with only 34,000 on the car and now water pumps goes bad. I hope someone looks into this matter because this parts are very expensive on consumers and Volkswagen needs to pick up the bill not consumers..Thanks for your time.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN
    - Champaign, IL

    The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. Additionally, the buttons on the steering wheel for the horn and gauges were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with clockspring failure. The contact was informed that the clockspring needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN
    - temple city, CA

    While driving on the freeway, the car came to a sudden stop in the fast line. I tried multiple things.....moving it in and out of gear, and flipping the parking brake switch off and on. After maybe a minutes, the brakes unlocked and I was able to move the car over to the shoulder. There was not warning, the car just stopped. I have just recently had the car inspected, 50,000 mile service. No issues were detected by the service group. The service dept at VW diagnosed the problem as being a short in the emergency parking brake. Thankfully we were not hit. Am very concerned someone else won't be as lucky.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2016 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN
    - Brooklyn, NY

    The clock spring has broken. When the wheel turns, this results in a loud clicking from the steering wheel post. The airbag light is on, the horn does not work, and the electrical controls on the wheel do not either. This is a known issue on VW Tiguans. Earlier years have a recall while the 2016 is only covered by an extended warranty. Dealer confirmed the clock spring is the issue. This is the real problem: VWs response is unacceptable. There are no replacement clock springs available in the country. There is no time estimate for the delivery of the replacement part. According to the service center, they are not even in production. I have been waiting weeks for VW to fix a known issue - affecting the horn, airbag and electrical controls - and there is no estimate for when it will be fixed.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE