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2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 09/08/2026

51Engine complaints
37%Of all 138 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

ENGINE51 · 37%
Unspecified / other29 · 21%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM11 · 8%
POWER TRAIN11 · 8%

Share of the 138 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan overview page.

What owners report

“I’ve had my Volkswagen Tiguen since 2021 fresh off the lot. I have been the only owner of the car at about 30,000 miles my…”NHTSA complaint 11699659 — filed 11/16/2025
“Check engine light came on with excessive oil leaking from engine. Dealer inspected and diagnosed the PCV/Oil separator had failed, multiple valve stem seals had…”NHTSA complaint 11699440 — filed 11/14/2025
“I purchased about 4 months ago with about 139,000 miles on it. The vehicle now has 142,000 miles and is experiencing excessive oil consumption—approximately 0.9…”NHTSA complaint 11689188 — filed 09/23/2025

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

Engine complaints by year filed

220223202362024182025222026

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan: 51 of 138 complaints on file (37%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan have in total?

138 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 09/08/2026. Across all categories, 2 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, 2 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 09/08/2026.