Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I made a report on 11/1/19 about issues with my vehicle due to a manufactures defect that the panoramic roof drains did not drain properly and water leaked throughout the vehicle. Please refer to ODI# 41277589 and Ref.# 238025. This is a known issue with these vehicles and should have been recalled by volkswagon. On September 18, 2023 my daughter got into an accident because the vehicle shut off and couldn't stop. Air bags never went off either. It has officially been determined that there was in fact an electrical short.
While making a uturn my neighborhood with steering wheel turned to the left I started to hear and feel a "clicking and grinding" noise in steering wheel. Moments later, the airbag error light illuminated on dash and has not turned off. Front driver airbag error, airbag will not deploy in the event of a collision. Horn no longer works. Steering wheel controls do not work. Airbag error warning light displayed on dash and alarms during vehicle ignition. Clock spring seems to be defective and complete power steering failure has happened on multiple occasions, in very dangerous and inconvenient situations (i.e getting on the freeway). Once the engine and computer is powered down and restarted, no longer power steering failure for the time being. No active recall but all sources say this is the recall that has been covered previously. Car is unsafe to drive.
Pulling out of parking space with steering wheel turned to the left. Heard and felt a "click/grind" in steering wheel and airbag error light illuminated on dash.Front driver airbag error, airbag will not deploy in the event of a collision. Horn does not work. Steering wheel controls do not work. Airbag error warning light displayed on dash and alarms during vehicle ignition. Clock spring defective. Problem was confirmed with independent service center and dealership. VW of America notified. Clock spring is covered under warranty but is on an indefinite national back order, could be months, years or eternity. Car is unsafe to drive without resolution from dealer or Volkswagen.
Sunroof lets water in and floods in car causing electrical problems, mold, rust, ruining roof interior and carpets. The air bag and horn stopped working and clock spring needs to be replaced. I had no prior warning of that these problems would occur. I have spent thousands of dollars in repairs for electrical trying to figure out why the car stopped working and also how water was getting into car when there is no leaks around the sunroof. This puts the safety of my family as well as others on the road when my car breaks down. I wasn't able to drive my car for months during the winter because the area around the fuel tank froze from rain water sitting in area unknown.
Bought vehicle used--had apparently been taken in at some point prior to our purchase for clock spring recall. Clock spring has failed and cannot find replacement part at any US-based source. Driver's airbag now deactivated.
Tl* the contact owned a 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the contact's vehicle was struck on the driver's side by another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. There were no recalls associated with the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000. The VIN was not provided.
In an accident involving rear hit, which sent the vehicle into a ditch approx. 8 feet deep, with an impact severe enough to hospitalize the front seat pasenger with fractured sternum an internal bleeding caused by a seat belt. None of the airbags deployed . Per the dotor, injury could be avoided if front airbag deployed.
The car was totaled in a front end collision with three passengersand none of the airbags deployed. To our knowledge, there was no indicator light showing airbag dysfunction prior to the crash. The information that vw provided about the airbag recall seems incomplete and to understate the seriousness of the issue.
Daughter driving on highway at 50mph when involved in 8 car chain reaction collision. Severe front end damage. Daughter injured when she struck steering wheel. Despite speed and degree of deceleration, no deployment of airbags or side curtains.
My car had two recalls and I brought it in as vw of America recommended and I did have oil change at the same time on 2/19/2016. I went on vacation and when I came back I notice the vehicle drove rougher then before this service. On Wednesday 03/02/2016, I was on the freeway and notice my car lost brake function, I try using emergency brake and try down shift nothing work. I feel bless that I manage to avoid two car accident and it would of been my fault. I manage to hit the curb to stop the vehicle. I shift my car to park and shut the engine right away. Lots of icons indicator was on (airbag, ABS, engine...) and I took a video of the dash. I then call my insurance had it towed back to the dealer service. …
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off.
NHTSA investigations
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
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…
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of steering wheel clock spring/steering column control module (SCCM) failures in model year (MY) 2012 Volkswagen Passat and CC models.The SCCM is a module within the steering column that incorporates a spiral conductor (a ribbon cable) to electrically connect the steering wheel to the vehicle's electrical system while…
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
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…
Airbag complaints in other Tiguan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan?
NHTSA has 33 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan, 22% of the model year's 153 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › driver clockspring/spiral cassette (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-483 (frontal, Aug 4, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 57,000 miles, and 19% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 0 fires and 6 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.