2009 Volkswagen Tiguan Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

80Engine complaints

47.9%Of all 167 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE80 · 47.9%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM40 · 24%

POWER TRAIN16 · 9.6%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING15 · 9%

STEERING14 · 8.4%

Share of the 167 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan overview page.

What owners report

“AFTER NOTICING EXCESS OIL LEAKAGE WE TOOK OUR "09 TIGUAN TO OUR ASE CERTIFIED LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO SPECIALIZES IN EUROPEAN CARS. HE FOUND A…”NHTSA complaint 10947894 — filed 01/27/2017

“THE ENGINE FOR MY PARTICULAR CAR IS VERY POORLY DESIGNED CAUSING IT TO HAVE SO MANY ISSUES ONE AFTER THE OTHER. AT ON 72K MILES…”NHTSA complaint 10945512 — filed 01/16/2017

“TIGUAN. PURCHASED THE CAR IN DECEMBER 2015 REPLACED THE WATER PUMP IN FEBRUARY 2016 AND AGAIN IN JANUARY 2017. THE WATER PUMP ON THIS CAR…”NHTSA complaint 10944666 — filed 01/12/2017

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan: 80 of 167 complaints on file (47.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan have in total?

167 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 5 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, 4 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.