2009 Volkswagen Tiguan Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, and owners have filed 168 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Fuel system, gasoline
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 to June 2014. When using winterized fuel, in certain conditions bubbles may form in the fuel system which could result in the vehicle stalling.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to increase the fuel pump pressure, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin August 19, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer…
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Fuses and circuit breakers (electrical system) and exterior lighting
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 through June 2011. Due to a problem with the fuse for the exterior lights, the holder for the fuse that controls the vehicle's exterior lights circuit may melt.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuse, free of charge. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's recall number is 97Z9/2V.
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Engine and engine cooling
Volkswagen is recalling 4,079 my 2008 passat and 2,500 my 2009 tiguan passenger vehicles equipped with 2.0t fsi ulev ii engines. These vehicles have an engine control module (ECM) containing software that may not properly control engine idle with the air conditioning turned on. In rare cases, the ECM may unexpectedly increase engine RPM.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and update the ECM software free of charge. The recall began on may 30, 2008. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298.
168 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan have filed 168 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash and 6 describe a fire. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 69,540 miles. Complaints peaked in 2013 with 23 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Steering column keeps locking up. I’ve replaced a fuse and it fixed it initially but problem returned. Upon my research apparently this is a common problem in these vehicles.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 22, 2026 · Steering
“The car keeps throwing sensors (camshaft, crank sensors, throttle body etc) and the ECM needs to be updated. It keeps turning over. I checked the recall list of VINs and mine is within the range, howe”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 9, 2024 · Fuel/propulsion system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan (Tiguan 4motion). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 20–21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 18–19 / 24–26 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6); Manual 6-spd |
Compare Volkswagen Tiguan model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Volkswagen Tiguan model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
How do I know if my 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Volkswagen dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 08V235000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Volkswagen models
- Jetta10,000 complaints
- Passat7,705 complaints
- Beetle2,596 complaints
- Atlas1,999 complaints
- Golf1,439 complaints
- GTI1,405 complaints
- ID.41,007 complaints
- Cc983 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.