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2016 Volkswagen Tiguan

Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
B
Safety Signal
86 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns2
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA96
Crash ratingNHTSA overall4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA23 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Tiguan, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 96 complaints, most often about the air bags. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
TiguanGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo212623$3,350
Tiguan 4motionGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo202622$3,500

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36604, 36610.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

69Z5
27,822 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.RiskDeactivated air bags increases the risk of injury. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags increase the risk of a crash.FixVolkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install new software and replace the air bag ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Z5.
NHTSA campaign 19V535000reported Jul 17, 2019Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
●moderate

Latches/Locks/Linkages

58C9
5,658 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 CC vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016, to February 3, 2016, Golf R and Tiguan vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 28, 2016, and e-Golf vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 11, 2016. Vibrations, such as those created by opening and closing a vehicle door, may cause the rear child door locks to disengage, allowing a child to open a rear door while inside the vehicle.RiskIf an unrestrained child unexpectedly opens a door, they may fall from the vehicle increasing their risk of injury.FixVolkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the child lock(s), free of charge. The recall began on August 22, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 58C9.
NHTSA campaign 16V464000reported Jun 24, 2016Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags — Air Bag Clockspring Failure open

In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 Model Year (MY) CC, Passat, Eos, Golf, GTI, Tiguan, Jetta and Jetta Sportwagen models.Contamination of the clockspring can cause the ribbon cable to tear resulting in loss of the electrical connection to the front driver air bag and any steering wheel mounted controls.The loss of the electrical connection to the front driver air bag will result in i

Opened Apr 18, 2018 · action EA18003

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
96complaints filed

4 involved a crash · 2 a fire · 3 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 5 · 2017: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2019: 17 · 2020: 6 · 2021: 9 · 2022: 28 · 2023: 8 · 2024: 4 · 2025: 9 · 2026: 2

Most-cited components

Air Bags37
Electrical System27
Unspecified23
Steering12
Engine10
Structure6

What owners describe

“I had my clockspring replaced in March 2021 and it broke again January 2022 (less than a year and only 10k miles added) The part is nationally backordered, there has been a 7+ month wait time and no end in sight. The clockspring causes clicking in the steering wheel, the buttons and HORN do not function, and the airbag…”May 14, 2022 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report
“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 …”May 9, 2022 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report
“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…”May 4, 2022 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★☆★★★☆☆★★★★★★★★★☆18%
SUV FWD★★★★☆★★★☆☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Tiguan model years

A

2027 Volkswagen Tiguan

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2026 Volkswagen Tiguan

0 recalls · 25 complaints

B

2025 Volkswagen Tiguan

2 recalls · 46 complaints

A

2024 Volkswagen Tiguan

2 recalls · 65 complaints

A

2023 Volkswagen Tiguan

1 recalls · 61 complaints

C

2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

5 recalls · 265 complaints

C

2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

5 recalls · 138 complaints

C

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan

3 recalls · 139 complaints

D

2019 Volkswagen Tiguan

5 recalls · 189 complaints

F

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan

13 recalls · 288 complaints

F

2017 Volkswagen Tiguan

4 recalls · 75 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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