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.
Noticed large amount of oil on driveway. Check engine light came on. Took it to the VW dealer. They advised that there is a recurring problem with 2022 Tiguan, where a premature head gasket failure causes engine and coolant leaks. Requires a cylinder head replacement. Since a large number is affected, there is a 8-10 back order of the part. Also, I was told that VW is repairing the defect under Service Bulletin TSB 15-23-01 or TSB /action 2071245, however they would not honor it in my case since the vehicle has 90000 miles.
Check Engine light illuminated, code: P2402 #07E8 EVAP SYSTEM LEAK DETECTION PUMP CONTROL CIRCUIT HIGH. Checked online and same year, same model have recall for same issue.
Excessive oil consumption caused by the PCV Valve failing. The PCV Valve failed causing pressure build up in the engine which luckily for me only caused the valve stem seals to pop out of position on the exhaust valves. This caused oil to leak into the combustion chambers and burn through the exhaust. In other known cases this failure has caused the oil pan and timing covers to Crack and vehicle will lose its oil all over the roadway. No check engine light came on for me only low oil light every 800 miles starting around the 70,000 mile mark. Dealership determined the cause and failure. Manufacturer determined the cylinder head needed replaced. Dropped car off on Nov. 7 2025 and was given a loaner. Part on backorder. Part came in in February and installed. During test drive the cylinder head failed internal and they had to order the same part again. 6 loaner cars later finally got car back on April 10 2026. Extended warranty covered all but $100 of the $4800 cost.
Since purchasing this vehicle, along with 2 other tiguans in my family. ALL of them have had excessive oil consumption. I have complained each time I bring the car in for service and i always being told -??this is normal-??. I was told there was a company notification issued advising that you could use up to 1 Qt every 1,000 miles!! That is INSANE and I-??ve never heard anything that absurd in my ENTIRE LIFE! NOW I-??m finding out that it is an absolute defect with the cars and numerous people are advising they-??re being advised there are Cylinder head issues and they have needed to have theirs replaced. The big issue is it-??s a problem with the Tiguan engine but the real issue is they are only covering if you vehicle is still under warranty. Even though I-??ve voiced my complaints numerous times if something happens to my car happens I-??m screwed because I recently went over my mileage! So I know if something happens with mine VW is NOT going to cover the repair so me and thousands of others are going to be screwed. It-??s obviously a known issue! How has a RECALL not have been issued for these engines for this obvious manufacturers defect with their Tiguans engines. If there was ever a time there should be a recall issued this is the prime example! I-??m sure there will be class action suits issued because there are going to be plenty of cases of this occurring. Please advise how we can get a case opened or a recall issued for this obvious defect with this VW engine. You would be saving thousands of people lots of stress and money. VW should absolutely be held accountable for this defect and not be screwing their customers
The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to O'Reilly, where an unknown diagnostic result was provided. The vehicle was taken to the used car dealer where it was purchased, and the engine was disassembled. The dealer determined that the cylinder head was cracked. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH after the repair, the vehicle stalled in the middle of the roadway. The vehicle was restarted after an extended while; however, the vehicle was bucking while driving. The vehicle was driven to the dealer, where an unknown repair was performed; however, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was bucking and making an abnormally loud sound while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was test-driven, and the failure was duplicated. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted while attempting to drive the vehicle out of the dealer's parking lot. The vehicle remained with the dealer. The dealer then advised the contact to inform the insurance company of the failure; however, the insurance company referred the contact back to the dealer because the failure was not caused by a crash. The dealer was advised accordingly and threatened to tow the vehicle at the contact's expense and to charge the contact for vehicle rental if the contact did not return the rental. The contact advised the dealer that the vehicle was not repaired and was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The Volkswagen dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
- Miami, FL, USA
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My 2022 Tiguan burns excessive oil between oil changes and the check oil light comes on. I have to top it off between oil changes. I purchased in Nov 2023 and the light came on in less than 6 months. It has been brought to dealerships attention on mulitple ocassions however they are unable to find a problem or a solution. They have replaced my leak detection pump and a cover without results. I have also had on going issues with the travel assist light coming on almost daily. They replaced my steering wheel already without resolution as well. Currently there is a class action lawsuit for 2022 Tiguans for the excessive oil consumption issue so hopefully they will fnd a resolution soon. Here are some notes of dates of occurances 11/2023 Purchased 5/15/24 oil light on 9/6/24 oil light on 10/31/25 oil change, steering wheel replaced 4/1/25 oil light on 6/16/25 Oil changed 6/27/25 Leak Detection Pump replaced 6/23/25 oil light on 1/13/26 oil change and oil leak from upper timing cover 3/18/26 oil light
I am filing this complaint because my Volkswagen Tiguan has a serious and ongoing engine issue involving excessive oil consumption and a faulty cylinder head. The vehicle burns through an abnormal amount of oil between changes, requiring constant top-?'offs, sometimes as frequently as every few hundred miles. Despite regularly adding oil and following all manufacturer-?'recommended maintenance, the issue continues to worsen. The dealership has confirmed that the cylinder head is defective, which is causing the engine to consume oil at an extremely accelerated rate. However, I have been told the replacement cylinder head is on national backorder, and there is currently no estimated timeframe for when the part will be available. This means I am forced to continue driving a vehicle with a known, documented engine defect that can: Lead to engine stalling Create loss of power while driving Increase the risk of engine seizure Potentially cause a safety hazard on the road Additionally, being required to constantly add oil just to keep the vehicle operable is not only unsafe but financially unreasonable. The problem remains unresolved despite multiple service visits, documentation, and repeated oil consumption tests. This is a safety issue, not just a maintenance concern, because the engine can fail unexpectedly if the oil drops too quickly. I believe this is a significant defect affecting multiple Volkswagen vehicles and should be investigated by NHTSA. I request that NHTSA open a formal investigation into the excessive oil consumption and cylinder head defects on Volkswagen Tiguans, as owners should not be left with unsafe vehicles due to known manufacturing issues and unavailable critical engine components.
The cylinder head has passages that collect carbon build up that build up outside of general maintenance that clog the cylinder head and can eventually lead to combustion failure. This car has been taken to an independent, reputable mechanic in the area, as well as now the dealer. Dealer has confirmed they have at least 4 other vehicles currently with the same issue in just this one location, and parts replacement to remedy the issue (new cylinder heads) are on back order (over 2500 on order in US). This car has been caught early, before this engine failure, as the check engine light first came up and multiple rounds of mechanic checking and trying to fix have lead to this conclusion. Car at this time has not failed in a safety situation, but has the potential to if not remedied, by engine failing while driving. Engine has been inspected by mechanic, and is currently being inspected by manufacturer. Error code was presented once reading the module, and check engine light is visible to prompt servicing the car (code for emissions)
Vehicle started smoking last September/October (2025) after catching several examples of it on camera, VW says it needs new heads. I-??ve been on a -??waiting list-?? ever since. The vehicle continues to get worse, recently the low oil light came on as it burns oil excessively. I-??ve called VW and they-??ve documented it. I-??m concerned because I work out of town - My wife drives this car with our 2 1/2 year old and 5 month old.
On 7/22/25, I started an oil consumption test. It was eventually diagnosed that it was an issue because the cylinder head was replaced 9/25/25. Then a total engine replacement 1/26/2026 and on 2/10/2026 the dipstick tube was replaced. The car has consistently had engine oil consumption and still under the manufacturer warranty. It-??s a lemon
This car and many others like it have excessive oil consumption, smoking. I'm told it's a cylinder head which may or may not be covered under warranty if they can ever get a replacement. There are currently 4 waiting on heads or engines at my dealer with no eta on the backordered part. In the mean time I'm stuck with a partially functional car I can't get rid of because of the problem.
Problem Description: 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan (VIN: [XXX] ) diagnosed with excessive oil consumption and coolant loss requiring cylinder head replacement. Vehicle at dealer since December 6, 2025, part on national backorder, estimated 6-7 more months wait (total downtime already ~1.5 months). Dealer advised retrieving car tomorrow and driving it while monitoring/adding oil and coolant as needed. This is unsafe: low oil risks engine seizure, low coolant risks overheating-?"either can cause sudden failure, stalling, or power loss while driving, creating crash risk (especially with my child as frequent passenger). Symptoms: frequent low oil warnings, coolant loss, check engine light, white smoke from tailpipe. Appears linked to known EA888 engine issues in recent Tiguans (ongoing class action on oil consumption). Request NHTSA review as potential safety defect, including repair delays amplifying risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
5 complaints about oil consumption, 3 check engine lights where had to pull over due to car not running properly. Vehicle putters upon acceleration. Replaced leak detection pump, intake and exhaust system stem seals, oil separator, auxiliary bracket and seal and EVAP sensor.
Due to a faulty PCV valve, the entire engine wiring harness needed to be replaced at 69,000 miles. The valve cover and camshafts were replaced, engine components were reassembled with mandatory bolts and gaskets. Lower timing cover was leaking on the passenger side due to the faulty PCV valve and the Caracole canister and leak detection pump. These were replaced along with the canister due to oil contamination. The EVAP lines were blown out and the N80 valve was replaced. As a result, the vehicle sustained $7,200 in repairs because of the damage to the engine due to the faulty PCV valve.
Purchased new; problems began early in ownership and have recurred despite multiple dealer visits. At ~75,995 miles in July 2025, the vehicle developed a significant engine oil leak. Multiple inspections have found the engine oil level low due to leaks from cracks, and the dealer also verified excessive crankcase pressure from a faulty PCV system that forced oil past sealing surfaces. Parts replaced included the PCV/separator, upper timing cover, a related pipe, and the oil filler funnel; DTCs were cleared and the vehicle was returned as -??operating to specifications.-?? Despite these repairs, the vehicle has an ongoing pattern of engine problems, including warning lights and loss of power/limp mode while driving. This creates a safety risk due to sudden power reduction and the possibility of engine damage from oil starvation and continued leakage. I have repair records documenting the July 2025 diagnosis and parts replaced, prior visits showing repeat engine/drivability issues, and notes reflecting low oil observed on multiple inspections. Volkswagen denied assistance and directed me to BBB AUTO LINE; I am refiling with BBB and reporting this safety concern to NHTSA. No crash or fire; safety risk is loss of power and oil leakage while in operation.
I had routine oil change. I picked up my car and immediately the red warning light came on. I called garage. They said it was PVC valve for high pressure. I fixed that. This is next routine oil change. Now the accessory bracket seal and oil cooler seal need to be repaired. My car only has 68,340k on it. I see there are many complaints on line about this issue.
The car puffs smoke out the tail pipes which leads to needing a new engine installed due to a mid yoke by Volkswagen. This is a common problem amongst 2022 vw that I-??ve researched and found
My 22 Volkswagen Tiguan could very well be apart of the class action lawsuit that is happening right now with oil consumption issues my vehicle only has 45,000 miles and is consuming 1 quart of oil every 1200 miles started noticing oil loss back in July
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Harlingen, TX, USA