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 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated, and the horn and the buttons on her steering failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed her that there was a recall on that model vehicle for a similar failure. The contact went to a dealer and was informed that her vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V483000 (Air Bags) and that the vehicle was not under warranty. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and referred her to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 143,550.
My clock spring was diagnosed to be faulty and covered under the manufacturers extended warranty. I was told that the part was on back order and could take a few weeks to get in. That was on November 9, 2021. I have now driven for over 7 months in a car that does have a functioning air bag and have spent hours on the phone with Volkswagen USA and in different dealerships trying to find a remedy. My VIN number currently says there are no open recalls but fits perfectly under NHTSA Recall #15V483000. According to the NHTSA when it comes to recalled vehicles, "Manufacturers are required to fix the problem the problem by repairing it, replacing it, offering a refund, or in rare cases repurchasing the vehicle" (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). The part is not available for this car so dealerships are unable to repair this issue. …
Clock Spring in steering wheel is broken. Driver Airbag is non-functional, as are the controls on the steering wheel. No Driver air bag is a huge safety issue! We immediately "scheduled" an appointment to have this issue repaired. At the appointment, a VW dealer (VW Castle Downers Grove IL) confirmed the issue and noted that this was the subject of a recall (15V483000) with an ongoing & perpetual duty to repair. Despite the recall, the dealer does not have the parts, nor can they provide a date when they might be available (they are "backordered"). We checked with another dealer, and this seems to be a common problem. Also, we did a thorough search online to assess the situation with other drivers/vehicles - this is a common issue! Someone (either the dealer or VW) is dragging their feet on this mandatory, potentially life-threatening issue & repair. …
When turning the car, I heard a sound in the steering wheel and then lost functioning of the horn and all other steering wheel controls and buttons; The air bag light also came on - indicating the driver's side airbag is not functioning. Based on research believe it is identical problem others that have reported with defective steering wheel clock spring. Cannot find evidence that this vehicle was subject to or repaired under the previous recall on this issue. 1) it is available for inspection 2) safety risk because driver side airbag is now malfunctioning 3) not inspected by dealer or service center yet 4) not inspected by any others 5) no, no other warning lamps, message or symptoms appeared prior to the failure - airbag malfunction light went on at the same time the car lost other electrical functioning in the steering wheel. …
Clock spring failed in the steering wheel after having the part replaced 2 years ago under a VW warranty. Now that the clock spring failed a second I am told that there is no ETA to get the vehicle fixed and there are over 10k people waiting for the part needed to fix the vehicle. The wait is likely over 9 months. With a failed clock spring the airbags do not work. The horn also doesn't work. 2 key safety features are no longer working in my vehicle because of a manufactures defect that is highly known. VW taking no responsibility and will not expedite parts replacement or offer an alternate vehicle. Because of VW a vehicle that would fail a safety inspection in most states will be on the road. They are not offering a loaner vehicle and are instead allowing cars to be on the road without horns and airbags. …
Took car to shop with a noise in the steering column and the SRS light is on. Automotive shop (attachment) diagnosed vehicle needs a new clock spring for the SRS system but the part is on back order with no release date as of now. This part has been unfindable for over five months, leaving the vehicle unable to be safely driven or sold/traded-in as the VW dealerships will not pay what vehicle is worth because of VW's own part issue. This leaves the consumer in a really bad position. There is no functioning airbag and VW can't come up with the part. …
Unable to complete vehicle inspection . Horn does not work, some electronics malfunction, airbags light is on. Cannot use dashboard related functions i.e. adjust tire pressure settings, gas tank door lock malfunctions, hands free communication malfunction. This is the 2nd time in a year that the clock spring failed. The manufacturer is not being able to provide the parts due to conflict area manufacturing, perhaps its time to relocate manufacturing. It's been 3 1/2 month and still no ETA on parts. Perhaps it's a poorly designed part. Maybe back to the drawing board. I understand the malfunction can set off airbag without a collision.
I was turning into a parking spot and heard a loud "snap" coming from my wheel. The "error: airbag" light came on and all electrical on my wheel stopped working. And the horn does not work. I googled it and my year and model has a recall for the clock spring. It says my airbag will not deploy. I have no way to change the computer screen. So I can't digitally see my speed and I can't update my tire pressure amongst other things.
Took car to dealer for Air bag Light On, No controls in steering wheel worked. Including Radio control, Tire pressure reset, Inspection reset and oil change reset. Faulty Clock Spring Diagnosed. Clock spring was not replaced at date of invoice ,and still waiting on part as of 03/11/2022. VW Number One Back Ordered Part. With no Air Bag in Steering wheel is a safety concern.
This is the second time my Volkswagen Tiguan's spring clock has broken. As a result I have lost access to my airbags and horn. I also can't contact my driver electrical from the steering wheel. I am being told there is no way of knowing when the dealership may be able to get the part. I will be driving in an extremely unsafe care with my one-year old son. This is terrifying.
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 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan?
NHTSA has 46 complaints about the air bags of the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan, 55% of the model year's 84 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › driver clockspring/spiral cassette (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-483 (frontal, Aug 4, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 51,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
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.