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2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan, and owners have filed 142 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

5
safety recalls
142
owner complaints to NHTSA
2 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire
24–25
MPG combined (EPA)

5 safety recalls for the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Software (equipment) and camera (back over prevention)

    NHTSA 22V514000 Reported 43,091 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Jetta NF, Arteon FL, Tiguan LWB, 2022 Taos, Jetta PA, Tiguan PA, 2021-2022 Atlas Cross Sport, and Atlas FL vehicles. The manufacturing process of the eMMC memory module in the infotainment system may cause the rearview camera image not to…

    Remedy: Dealers will update the infotainment software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's…

  2. Body (structure)

    NHTSA 22V226000 Reported 6,553 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan and 2018-2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. Due to incorrect installation instructions, the accessory rear hatch spoiler may be insufficiently attached to the vehicle.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the spoiler, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66N5.

  3. Suspension

    NHTSA 22V176000 Reported 10,119 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan, Taos, and 2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. A second notice will be sent once remedy parts become available. The left or right rear suspension knuckles may corrode, crack, and break.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace one or both rear suspension knuckles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 13, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at…

  4. Critical fasteners (seats) and seats

    NHTSA 21V038000 Reported 57 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Long Wheelbase and Jetta vehicles. Bolts may be missing from the front seat tracks.

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat tracks and, as necessary, install the bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 18, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at…

  5. Camera (back over prevention)

    NHTSA 20V716000 Reported 32,048 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan LWB, Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas FL and Arteon vehicles. The rear view camera could malfunction during an ignition cycle, leading to a black screen or infotainment system freeze. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the…

    Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the infotainment system software, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.…

142 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan have filed 142 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 40,031 miles. Complaints peaked in 2025 with 41 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The high pressure fuel pump has failed within 40,000 miles and now again at 110,000 miles. It causes the vehicle to randomly turn in drive and while idle. It has had oil consumption issues and oil lea”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 2, 2026 · Engine

“At 58,218 miles, the engine on this 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan failed after excessive oil consumption progressed to engine knocking. The vehicle was brought to Volkswagen of Orange Park on July 24, 2025,”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 22, 2026 · Engine

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan (Tiguan 4motion). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined24–25 mpg
City / Highway21–23 / 27–29
FuelRegular
EPA classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engine4 cyl, 2 L
TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Compare Volkswagen Tiguan model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Volkswagen Tiguan model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2009 Volkswagen Tiguan3168
2010 Volkswagen Tiguan2110
2011 Volkswagen Tiguan3162
2012 Volkswagen Tiguan3153
2013 Volkswagen Tiguan3139
2014 Volkswagen Tiguan384
2015 Volkswagen Tiguan462
2016 Volkswagen Tiguan296
2017 Volkswagen Tiguan476
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan14284
2019 Volkswagen Tiguan5192
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan3141
2021 Volkswagen Tiguan5142
2022 Volkswagen Tiguan5270
2023 Volkswagen Tiguan168
2024 Volkswagen Tiguan272
2025 Volkswagen Tiguan349
2026 Volkswagen Tiguan032

Checking a specific 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

How do I know if my 2021 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. 5 campaigns currently list the 2021 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 20V716000).

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

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.