5.8

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,435 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.

2016 Volkswagen Tiguan seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2016 Volkswagen Tiguan Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #30

Sep 292023

Tiguan

  • miles

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

Airbag error light on dashboard, passenger seat shorted out water pooled under passenger seats front and rear soaking wet coming up through carpets with moldy smell. You tube says it may be the panoramic roof drains.

- Jersey City, NJ, USA

problem #29

May 172023

Tiguan

  • miles
The electric connection for the air bag has malfunctioned. The same vehicle with different VIN numbers have already been recalled for the exact same reason. Not sure why my car was not included. Many people on the VW forums are having the same issues. Please recall.

- Hillsborough, NH, USA

problem #28

Jun 102022

Tiguan

  • miles
Steering Wheel Clock Spring has gone out on my VW Tiguan, driver air bag is on which means the airbag wont come if we get in a accident. Pressure light is on as well. This will be the 3rd Steering Wheel Clock Spring installed.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #27

Nov 072022

Tiguan 4-cyl

  • miles

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

The clock spring part of the steering wheel has failed rendering all steering wheel controls and most importantly the air bag inoperable. This is a major safety hazard for the driver and ultimately passengers as well. This part has been a well known problem with this vehicle and has been covered under an extended warranty, yet Volkswagen refuses to make the part readily available to their customers who are under extended warranty coverage for said part. This is a major safety risk in that they are showing months long delays in getting parts forcing people to choose ability to get to work over safety. Volkswagen is wilfully exposing customers to undue safety compromises. Recall the car and make them fix this. And compensate owners.

- Gastonia, NC, USA

problem #26

Mar 012022

Tiguan

  • miles
The clockspring has failed, and all electronics in the steering column do not work, including the horn (as well as cruise control, radio volume, channel, etc). It is also believed the air bag(s) will not deploy in a crash. The clockspring failure has been verified by the local VW dealership. The part has not been available from VW for over 2 months(!), and now my vehicle's safety inspection has expired and the car is not legally drivable on public roads (in Virginia) (and VW will not provide or pay for alternative transportation). VW can not provide and ETA for when this critical safety part will be available.

- Henrico, VA, USA

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problem #25

Jun 012022

Tiguan

  • miles
The clockspring failed at under 62,000 miles. Air bag light came on, steering controls stopped working, and horn stopped working. Lots of other VWs have had clockspring issues--wondering why this is not included yet?

- Westfield, IN, USA

problem #24

Jul 152022

Tiguan

  • miles

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

Unknown. Airbag sign went on, Clock does not work, seems like electrical problem.

- Paoli, PA, USA

problem #23

Jul 112022

Tiguan

  • miles
Clock spring in steering wheel failed and the airbag, horn and steering wheel controls no longer work on my daughter's Tiguan which is still under warranty. ( a very expensive extended warranty) Volkswagon is no longer manufacturing the part, so the only way to repair the car is to replace the whole steering wheel column which costs 5 times as much.(So they don't want to fix it that way) I was told they have multiple cars sitting on their lot since last year waiting for that part, but from what I heard from a mechanic/parts guy is VW is just simply no longer making that part and stringing their customers along saying it is "backordered". The warranty is not being honored. The car is sitting at the dealership collecting dust. They will not provide me with a loaner, or reimburse me for a rental car.

- Pacifica, CA, USA

problem #22

Nov 302021

Tiguan

  • miles
Air bag light on due to recall, dealership cannot fix because the part is out of stock and there is no ETA.

- Danvers, MA, USA

problem #21

Dec 152021

Tiguan

  • miles
The clock spring in my vehicle broke back in December of 2021. This was diagnosed by a Volkswagen dealership service department. It is now 5 1/2 months after the part was ordered and still no part. This makes the car undriveable. The air bag and horn do not work and the entire dash is unusable. It is a safety issue that has rendered my car undriveable for the past 5 months. We can-??t get dealership to answer calls. We have found many others complaining of same thing being wrong with their Tiguan and have all been told the part is indefinitely delayed with thousands of people needing the part but none are being made. Volkswagen needs to do something to help people who purchased their product and can-??t even use them. My daughter was driving the vehicle when she heard a crunch and her air bag light came on and the steering was affected. Thankfully she pulled over until someone could help her. We are still paying monthly for a car that is not driveable.

- Metairie , LA, USA

problem #20

Jul 052021

Tiguan

  • 37,147 miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated when the vehicle was started, the instrument cluster was inoperable. Additionally, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and diagnosed with an air bag failure however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 37,147.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #19

Jan 182022

Tiguan

  • miles
I turned my steering wheel while pulling into a parking space and heard a crackling sound. My airbag light went off and the horn and controls on the steering wheel stopped working. I was told it was an issue with the clock spring when I took it into the shop. This happened almost 4 months ago and it cannot be repaired do to inability to obtain a new clock spring. I have found forums of other people complaining about the same issue. This is atrocious. My car is up for inspection this month and will therefore be undriveable until the issue is fixed. Other Volkswagen owners are talking about contacting news outlets at this point. I DO NOT HAVE A FUNCTIONAL HORN OR AIRBAG AND THERE IS NO SOLUTION IN SIGHT. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE!!!!!!!!

- Lansdale, PA, USA

problem #18

Feb 012022

Tiguan

  • miles
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.

- Stockbridge, VT, USA

problem #17

Feb 222022

Tiguan

  • miles
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

- Keller, TX, USA

problem #16

Oct 142021

Tiguan

  • miles
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.

- Old Hickory, TN, USA

problem #15

Apr 102022

Tiguan

  • miles
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.

- Menlo Park, CA, USA

problem #14

Oct 212021

Tiguan

  • miles
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.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #13

Jan 172022

Tiguan

  • miles
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.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #12

Nov 032021

Tiguan

  • miles
I own a 2016 VW Tiguan.I bought in mid 2018 w/30k miles.The clock spring, which controls the drivers airbag, horn & all steering controls has broken 3 times.It has broken once per year since I have had.This is obviously due to a faulty part that keeps being reinstalled.I see years ago that over 1.2 million people w/VW's were affected.This issue should have been fixed the FIRST time when I brought it in w/74,000 miles on 12/18/2019 or perhaps fixed the SECOND time I brought it in w/95,000 miles on 7/31/2020.Now, it is broken AGAIN, a THIRD time and now I'm told too bad, its over 120,000 miles & no longer covered, when I came to bring in on 11/3/2021 (contacted you originally on 9/30/21).No one ever informed me of there being an extended warranty that only lasts until 120,000 miles. I drive 2.5 hours to make my appt & when I email you to notify you that I am going to be 15 minutes late, only then do I get a call from the service rep when I am down the block from the dealership. He proceeds to tell me that he doesn't have the part for the clock spring.That they are using something "new".I said why couldn't you have told me this earlier"Then the rep says, why don't you take your vehicle somewhere closer"I explained that I live in a rural area & that I have always brought my car to this facility & that this is the 3rd time for the same issue.Only then did he ask me the mileage of my vehicle & then began to say VW no longer covers the part.Well, it should have been fixed properly the 2 previous times.The clock ring has broken every year I have had the vehicle.If VW is indeed using a "new" part as the rep stated, then there must be a reason why. This is a safety issue.Due to reinstallation of a faulty part the clock spring continually breaks each year.VW & the dealership are aware that the part is faulty & this is why VW created an extended warranty on just the clock spring.When I stated this to the VW rep he stated that they cannot do anything about bad parts.Shame on

- Avon Park, FL, USA

problem #11

Dec 052020

Tiguan

  • 73,403 miles
Airbag error message popped up in car. None of the buttons nor horn works.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

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