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 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while his wife was reversing, the vehicle emitted abnormal clicking sounds with the air bag warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the horn was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the clock spring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the replacement part was on backorder. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. Additionally, the buttons on the steering wheel for the horn and gauges were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with clockspring failure. The contact was informed that the clockspring needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving, the horn and radio became inoperable. The TPMS and airbag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the clockspring needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated when the vehicle was started, the instrument cluster was inoperable. Additionally, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and diagnosed with an air bag failure however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 37,147.
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 horn and my air bag may or may not work. I have no way to warn a pedestrian or another vehicle should an issue arise, safety issue. No air bag could cause severe personal injury or death. Both are unacceptable and this part failure has been on going for more than 4 years. The sign of this failure is no horn, air bag light "ON" and no controls on the steering wheel function. I asked VW Customer Care twice what is VWs protocol for driving with a broken clock spring in writing, no response. I asked to speak with a manager, none got back to me. …
The clock spring in my vehicle broke back in December of 2021. This was diagnosed by a Volkswagen dealership service department. It is now 5 1/2 months after the part was ordered and still no part. This makes the car undriveable. The air bag and horn do not work and the entire dash is unusable. It is a safety issue that has rendered my car undriveable for the past 5 months. We can't get dealership to answer calls. We have found many others complaining of same thing being wrong with their Tiguan and have all been told the part is indefinitely delayed with thousands of people needing the part but none are being made. Volkswagen needs to do something to help people who purchased their product and can't even use them. My daughter was driving the vehicle when she heard a crunch and her air bag light came on and the steering was affected. …
Clock spring in steering wheel failed and the airbag, horn and steering wheel controls no longer work on my daughter's Tiguan which is still under warranty. ( a very expensive extended warranty) Volkswagon is no longer manufacturing the part, so the only way to repair the car is to replace the whole steering wheel column which costs 5 times as much.(So they don't want to fix it that way) I was told they have multiple cars sitting on their lot since last year waiting for that part, but from what I heard from a mechanic/parts guy is VW is just simply no longer making that part and stringing their customers along saying it is "backordered". The warranty is not being honored. The car is sitting at the dealership collecting dust. They will not provide me with a loaner, or reimburse me for a rental car.
The clock spring has broken. When the wheel turns, this results in a loud clicking from the steering wheel post. The airbag light is on, the horn does not work, and the electrical controls on the wheel do not either. This is a known issue on VW Tiguans. Earlier years have a recall while the 2016 is only covered by an extended warranty. Dealer confirmed the clock spring is the issue. This is the real problem: VWs response is unacceptable. There are no replacement clock springs available in the country. There is no time estimate for the delivery of the replacement part. According to the service center, they are not even in production. I have been waiting weeks for VW to fix a known issue - affecting the horn, airbag and electrical controls - and there is no estimate for when it will be fixed.
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 light goes on. VW just tells you it's fine to drive even though this is a safety issue. I was not able to pass my inspection, it was over the 30 day extension so my registration was revoked! Corporate said there was nothing they can do so my car was just sitting in my driveway undrivable. I traded it in for a Honda after 4 months because this was stressful not having a car to drive. VW needs to be held responsible and this needs to go public.
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 do to inability to obtain a new clock spring. I have found forums of other people complaining about the same issue. This is atrocious. My car is up for inspection this month and will therefore be undriveable until the issue is fixed. Other Volkswagen owners are talking about contacting news outlets at this point. I DO NOT HAVE A FUNCTIONAL HORN OR AIRBAG AND THERE IS NO SOLUTION IN SIGHT. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE!!!!!!!!
Related recalls
Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module
Volkswagen 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.
Remedy: Volkswagen 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 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…
Airbag complaints in other Tiguan years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the air bags of the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan, 38% of the model year's 97 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › driver clockspring/spiral cassette (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-535 (air bag/restraint control module, Jul 17, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 58,000 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.