Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 9% | — |
| 2024 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2023 | 2 | 3% | — |
| 2022 | 4 | 1% | 20,000 miles |
| 2021 | 2 | 1% | 13,000 miles |
| 2020 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2019 | 7 | 4% | 38,000 miles |
| 2018 | 16 | 5% | 12,000 miles |
| 2017 | 30 | 39% | 28,000 miles |
| 2016 | 37 | 38% | 58,000 miles |
| 2015 | 28 | 45% | 66,000 miles |
| 2014 | 46 | 55% | 51,000 miles |
| 2013 | 63 | 45% | 57,000 miles |
| 2012 | 33 | 22% | 57,000 miles |
| 2011 | 30 | 19% | 82,000 miles |
| 2010 | 3 | 3% | 50,000 miles |
| 2009 | 10 | 6% | 120,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V854000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions for the recall repair; however, the contact was informed that the tool needed for the recall repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was notified of the issue, and the contact was informed that it was the vehicle owner's responsibility to find the tool needed to repair the vehicle. The contact was also instructed to call other dealers in the area to see if the part needed to do the recall repair was available. The contact discovered that the tire label placed on the of the driver's side door displayed incorrect information. The label indicated that the tires were 17- inch tires; however, the vehicle at the time of purchase was manufactured with 18 inch wheels. …
In mid-March 2026, the airbag error light came on in my vehicle. I took the car into the dealership I leased it from for service. They were ale to replicate the issue and discovered "a fault for passenger seat belt tensioner igniter". After this discovery it was recommended that no one sit in the passenger seat until the igniter was replaced. The dealership claimed they ordered a replacement part that has been on backorder since March, so my vehicle has not been fixed still. In my research, I've seen 3,000+ 2025 Tiguans were called for an airbag error issue, but somehow my VIN is not showing up as part of the recall even though it is having a similar airbag issue.
Driver fell asleep and vehicle want off the road into a ditch that led to a stone wall protecting a culvert. Vehicle hit the stone wall and was launched into the air across the driveway where it came to a rest on its right side. I estimate that the vehicle left the highway at 45 mph (the cruise control setting) and hit the stone wall at approximately 25-30 mph. During this violent event all airbags deployed EXCEPT DRIVER'S AIRBAG located in the center of the steering wheel. I have a severely bruised and very painful sternum as a result. All systems were normal with no indication of a safety system fault.
The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated without a passenger seated in the seat. Additionally, there was an audible sound heard. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.
I was involved in a collision where I hit another vehicle with the front passenger side. The air bags did not deploy on mine, and the seat belt did not lock into place causing me to hit the steering wheel. The police verified this upon inspection immediately after the accident happened. I have spoken with Volkswagen many times about the transmission lagging and requiring excessive acceleration. Because of the lag I have almost been hit many times, as well as almost hit others due to the increase in speed after the lag.
Vehicle was purchased from Volkswagen Marin Dealership As Certified Pre-owned 2019 model year Tiguan SE 4motion Turbo Color Red on August 24, 2021 and has 18,664 mileage already upon delivery. We have received a recall letter for the water pump & made an appointment to the Dealership& brought the car there In VW Sunnyvale, Ca.. According to the service advisor (Tanya) that the recall we are acquiring is not in their database, but oil change service performed on 27,450 mileage (estimated) during that scheduled appointment for water pump service recall letter received. …
I was involved in a head-on collision going 35mph. The airbags failed to deploy. Due to this fact, my leg arms, and shoulder took all the force of the accident causing edema and bursitis to my left shoulder. The car was towed to one of State Farm's Collison centers where it was inspected. There were no warnings or symptoms prior to total failure of the system.
One time the car Just Lost power on the freeway and the e-card engine light came on and the cat Ran rugh and stalled and jerked hard almost causing me to cause a serious accident...I took it to vw and explained the severity and they bypassed that And installed a new water pump..2months later the same thing happened exactly to where I was very lucky and very upset...and took it to them once again and explained more issues where I'm urging . As to the front warning light and motion has came into play a few times witch was shocking...also the car would be on slow mo mode....and constant warning lights would come on the dashboard as well as the car would feel so unstable and Feel as if it were On gear 1/L while in the drive position...also the Eco turn of feature would playout ..and stall from time to time..then the car would get stuck on speed when foot would come off the accelerator to …
Related recalls (6)
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification › Front passenger
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 Tiguan vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may experience a fault in the wiring and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to allow occupants to sit in the front passenger seat until the remedy is complete. Dealers will repair the affected wiring harness in the front passenger seat, free of charge.
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and Tiguan vehicles. In the event of a crash, the passenger frontal air bag may tear or not properly unfold during deployment.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
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.
Air bags › Side/window
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles manufactured January 15, 2015, to January 21, 2015, and 2015 Audi Q5 vehicles manufactured January 13, 2015, to February 3, 2015.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began July 7, 2016.
Show 1 more recall
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
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…
Frequently asked questions
Which Volkswagen Tiguan years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2013 (63), 2014 (46), 2016 (37), 2012 (33) and 2011 (30) model years. Airbag complaints make up 45% of all complaints for the 2013.
Is there a recall for Volkswagen Tiguan airbag problems?
Yes — 6 recalls, including 25V-854 (front passenger, Dec 10, 2025); 19V-535 (air bag/restraint control module, Jul 17, 2019); 18V-375 (inflator module, Jun 6, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Volkswagen Tiguan airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles; 36% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal › driver clockspring/spiral cassette (27 mentions), followed by the frontal (1).
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.