Most common 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan problems
Share of the 76 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volkswagen Tiguan complaints by model year
Best Tiguan years: 2015, 2014, 2017. Years to avoid: 2022, 2018, 2025, 2024, 2019. Compare all years →
2017 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls (4)
Unknown or other
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles.
Remedy: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.
Unknown or other
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018.
Air bags › Frontal
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Tiguan Limited vehicles. The front driver air bag installed on these vehicles may not be intended for use in vehicles sold in the United States.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel and front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018.
Seat belts › Pretensioner
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may not deploy properly.
Remedy: Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017.
What 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan owners say
Air bags all 30 →
The contact's daughter owns a 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated while his daughter was driving at various speeds and turning the steering wheel, the steering wheel emitted abnormal sounds. The tire pressure monitor system warning light and the airbag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the clock spring needed to be replaced however, the part was not yet available. Additionally, the contact stated that the horn would fail to honk when engaged. The contact stated while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the horn was engaged but failed to honk, causing another vehicle to crash into the front passenger side of his daughter's vehicle. The contact stated that it was a minor crash. The airbags did not deploy. There were no injuries sustained. A police report was filed. There was no further information provided. …
My [redacted] daughter was a front seat passenger in her friend's car the 2017 Tiguan when the driver swerved to avoid another car and struck a pole. The damage was primarily on the front passenger side of the car. My daughter hit the windshield. It was broken in two places and she sustained several other injuries. The airbags never deployed. The car was totaled. I'm interested in knowing whether or not it can be determined if the airbags should have deployed and did not, and if the seatbelt worked properly or not, and whether or not you've had other complaints about this make and model. My daughter has sustained a concussion and has been out of work since he accident thank you.
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who serviced the engine, and the check engine warning light was deactivated; however, the failure persisted. No further information was available. The contact stated that the vehicle also experienced excessive oil consumption. An oil consumption test was performed, and the vehicle failed the test. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 30,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The contact pumped the brake pedal several times before the vehicle would start up. The speedometer started to fluctuate, and the vehicle would shudder or hesitate. Occasionally the vehicle would stall and shut-off. The contact stated that they were no longer able to operate the vehicle. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 58,000.
Steering
I suffered a front-end collision on 11/15/2022 in my 2017 VW Tiguan. I was going on I-66 in Virginia 40-45mph back to college at Howard University, and a car stopped suddenly after being cut off, but it was raining horribly and I was in half a foot of water, so even with braking, I hydroplaned into the vehicle in front of me, causing insubstantial damage to them but very significant damage to my vehicle as well as whiplash.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Steering rack and pinion, yes. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? There is no power steering and unable to make a quick turn to maneuver the car around a potential hazard in the road. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, two independent service centers. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Just a power steering light when it failed.
2017 Volkswagen Tiguan engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 24 / 22 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 20 / 23 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan a good car?
Based on 76 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 Tiguan rates average: 29% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Tiguan at the same age. It is one of the best Tiguan years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan?
The air bags — 30 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal › driver clockspring/spiral cassette. Next are the engine & cooling (16) and steering (13).
How many recalls does the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan, the most recent from May 5, 2021 (unknown or other). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volkswagen Tiguan?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015, 2014 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2022, 2018, 2025, 2024 and 2019. See the full Volkswagen Tiguan years comparison.
At what mileage do 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 26,000 miles; 83% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 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.