3.5

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,775 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Volkswagen Tiguan engine problems

engine problem

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2013 Volkswagen Tiguan Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #25

Aug 152022

Tiguan

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The turbo cracked with low mileage and regular maintenance destroying many engine components and causing the car to stop while driving. This is the 3rd instance my shop had seen with a Tiguan-€™s turbocharger cracking and destroying the engine for no clear reason.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #24

Jan 072022

Tiguan

  • miles
The coolant pump started to leak Then there were heating issues that still have not been fixed after that the engine ran out of oil from combusting it. while I was driving at the engine started shaking the vehicle did not want to move I took it to a mechanic to put oil in it so I could get it off of the road and in my driveway I have taken it to multiple mechanics and they have all said the engine failed and it's burning oil and shooting the gas and oil up through the engine cylinders. I've had to get multiple spark plugs replaced because they keep being burnt

- West Grove, PA, USA

problem #23

Oct 062021

Tiguan

  • miles
The engine light went on due to a timing chain failure and then a leak on the water pump. Coolant leaked and needed to be refilled to keep the coolant light from blinking and beeping. Mechanic both needed to be replaced for ~$4000. Mileage at ~66,000.

- Cambridge, MA, USA

problem #22

Aug 292021

Tiguan

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Loss of power created by stuck waste gate actuator arm attached to the turbo. Lack of boost limited the vehicle's power while on the interstate which caused panic, but I was able to pull over and there was not an accident. Check engine light illuminated and the dealer informed me the turbo would need to be rebuilt and the price for that service is just above $3,000.

- Ashland, NE, USA

problem #21

Jul 282021

Tiguan

  • miles
Engine boost stopped working around 40,000 miles. No recalls, no repair under vehicle warrantee. Check engine light is on.

- Sparta, WI, USA

problem #20

Jan 142021

Tiguan

  • 1 miles
No power while driving on city street had to have the turbocharger put in car only has 65600 miles

- Thornton, CO, USA

problem #19

Aug 172020

Tiguan

  • 67,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

3 years ago the vehicle has problems with sensors, this year the engine light is on, the auto repair shop worker checked the car and described that turbocharger is leaking air, they offer me to it replace for $3000. The car was in motion in city street when the light pump up. Except of the light the car is driving as usually.

- Slingerlands, NY, USA

problem #18

Jul 102020

Tiguan

  • 153,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph, the vehicle started to shake and failed to accelerate properly with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to boucher Volkswagen of franklin located at 6420 S. 108th St, franklin, wi 53132, to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the turbo charger and rear oil seals needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000.

- Greenfield, WI, USA

problem #17

Mar 162020

Tiguan

  • miles
While driving the vehicle the epc light and check engine light came on, the vehicle then began to lose power and slow down as I was driving. The vehicle struggles to get power and even changing the spark plugs and coils has not worked as the vehicle continues to do the same thing.

- Uniondale, NY, USA

problem #16

Feb 052019

Tiguan

  • 120,183 miles
After dealer repaair airbag twice oil pressure come on and off

- Hillside, NJ, USA

problem #15

Jan 052019

Tiguan 4-cyl

  • 128,800 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving on a highway when my engine failed. My year, make and model number is listed in the VW timing chain settlement, but my VIN # is not in their database, so they will not help me. The extended warranty that I purchased with the car, which was used, on 5/12/17, expires at 121,000 miles. I am over the mileage by approx. 7,800 miles, so they will not honor it.

- Stratford, CT, USA

problem #14

Jul 102018

Tiguan

  • 103,000 miles
The car loses power when accelerating and epc lights and oil pressure lights illuminate and disappear seems very dangerous and I am not the only person who this is happening

- Flushing, NY, USA

problem #13

Sep 072018

Tiguan

  • 96,687 miles
The car stalled, it was difficult to started again and then ran poorly. The engine light came on and I had it towed to the garage. The timing chain slipped, causing a misfire in all four cylinders. Mechanic found it was due to a faulty timing chain tensioner. VW replaced this tensioner in new cars as of July of 2012, my car was built in June of 2012. As the result of a lawsuit, VW extended the warranty on models through 2012, but did not include 2013 even though it is the same faulty part number. Car is still in the garage 10 days later, but I was told it would be $1,500-$2,000 repair.

- Tillson, NY, USA

problem #12

Jun 072018

Tiguan

  • 79,200 miles
On June 7th, 2018...I took car to dealer for coolant leak repair. Repair was finished however the dealer suggests to have a major engine oil leak repair to prevent oil leaks, because of known cases with other similar VW Tiguan model cars. The repair would cost $1700. They said that the engine sealant used originally in manufacturing the car was not the correct sealant, and the sealant would eventually fail and cause major damage to many parts of the engine. Later on a mailer was sent to my house stating the suggested repair and that safety would be an issue if this repair was not performed. I am not only worried about the safety of myself driving my car, I'm also worried that I don't have funds for this unexpected repair...$1700.

- Melbourne, FL, USA

problem #11

Sep 052016

Tiguan

  • 38,000 miles
Mileage: 38,000 miles. Date: 9/5/2016. Upon engine startup first thing in the morning I noticed a momentary rattling noise which I recognized as timing chain noise. (I'm a certified auto mechanic.) the noise went away in about one second which is typical for a hydraulic timing chain tensioner. I researched the net and found quite a bit of information on failing hydraulic timing chain tensioners on VW tsi engines. The timing chain noise occurred a second time on 9/23/2016, also first thing in the morning substantiating a failing timing chain tensioner leaking down over night. On 10/2/2016 I spent $256.63 to buy the parts for replacing the timing chain tensioner myself.

- West Palm Beach, FL, USA

problem #10

Aug 262015

Tiguan

  • 27,100 miles
When you are attempting to stop the car, the car stops completely. Everything shuts down. Need to place the car in park and restart car. The car restarts. However, the shutdown can happen more than once during the same trip each time the car stops. The check engine light comes on and then will go off. This started happening in Aug 2015 @ 27000 miles. I have taken the car to the dealer 3 times. They run diagnostics and clear fault if the light is on at the time. The dealer replaced the boost pressure sensor in June 2016 but the problem has started again. Since the light goes on and off, it is hard to know if there is a serious problem. So far it has stalled on side roads or parking lots. If this should happen on the highway, it would cause a serious accident. In 2014, the car was part of a fuel pump recall.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #9

Aug 112016

Tiguan

  • 71,500 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan. While driving, the vehicle lost power unexpectedly and the battery warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 71,500.

- Hamburg, NJ, USA

problem #8

Jun 242014

Tiguan

  • 4,997 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan. While driving various speeds, the vehicle jerked forward, stalled, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was serviced per NHTSA campaign number: 14V441000 (fuel system, gasoline), but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the central wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred two additional times. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but the diagnosis was unknown. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 4,997.

- Jamaica, NY, USA

problem #7

May 082016

Tiguan

  • 10 miles
I was one the high way 1, and I drove about 10 minutes. All of a sudden, my car shut off while driving. The battery light came on and car died. The wheel was even locked. Basically, I was stocked on the highway! then, I restarted my car on the high way 1, and it worked again. The dealer can not find any issue, and the same issues happened to me twice with two months. Now, I have to report this in order to protect myself.

- Sand City, CA, USA

problem #6

Sep 302013

Tiguan 4-cyl

  • 4,890 miles
Car stalled in the middle of bumper to bumper traffic with me and a two year old strapped in her seat. Most horrifying experience in my whole 48 years of life. Your dealer did nothing and said it's all in my head. Car was at the dealership multiple times ever since for stalling while me driving! will start class action suit through an orlando law firm of debaubien, knight, manzaris, simmons and neal unless car is replaced.

- Gainesville, FL, USA

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