2011 Volkswagen Tiguan Engine Problems

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

62Engine complaints

38.8%Of all 160 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

ENGINE62 · 38.8%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM45 · 28.1%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING39 · 24.4%

AIR BAGS29 · 18.1%

STEERING14 · 8.8%

Share of the 160 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan overview page.

What owners report

“TURBO FAILURE, WATER PUMP FAILURE, AND REAR MAIN SEAL FAILURE. ALL RIGHT AFTER HITTING 100K MILES. NEARLY 5K IN TOTAL REPAIR COSTS. I'VE EXPERIENCED REDUCED…”NHTSA complaint 11010654 — filed 07/25/2017

“I PURCHASED MY TIGUAN THREE YEARS AGO AS A CERTIFIED PREOWNED CAR. IT WAS WORKING GREAT UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO I WENT TO GO…”NHTSA complaint 11002429 — filed 06/29/2017

“CARBON BUILDUP IN ENGINE AT 65K MILES, VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED AS RECOMMENDED BY VW. PCV VALVE COMPLETE FAILURE AT 88K MILES WHICH RESULTED IN FAILURE…”NHTSA complaint 11000433 — filed 06/21/2017

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

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan: 62 of 160 complaints on file (38.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan have in total?

160 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 4 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 1 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.