Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Bubbles in Fuel may Result in Engine Stall
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 to June 2014. When using winterized fuel, in certain conditions bubbles may form in the fuel system which could result in the vehicle stalling.
- Consequence
- A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to increase the fuel pump pressure, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin August 19, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24AV/2W.
Partial Loss of Exterior Lights
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 through June 2011. Due to a problem with the fuse for the exterior lights, the holder for the fuse that controls the vehicle's exterior lights circuit may melt.
- Consequence
- If the holder melts, there may be a partial loss of exterior lighting. Reduced vehicle illumination diminishes the vehicle's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuse, free of charge. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's recall number is 97Z9/2V.
ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) SOFTWARE UPDATE
- Summary
- VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 4,079 MY 2008 PASSAT AND 2,500 MY 2009 TIGUAN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0T FSI ULEV II ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) CONTAINING SOFTWARE THAT MAY NOT PROPERLY CONTROL ENGINE IDLE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING TURNED ON. IN RARE CASES, THE ECM MAY UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASE ENGINE RPM.
- Consequence
- AN ENGINE SURGE CAUSED BY AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ENGINE RPM MAY SURPRISE THE VEHICLE OPERATOR AND CAN RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND UPDATE THE ECM SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-893-5298.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (168)
168 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 168 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 80 | 47.6% |
| Electrical system | 40 | 23.8% |
| Power train | 20 | 11.9% |
| Exterior lighting | 15 | 8.9% |
| Steering | 15 | 8.9% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 11 | 6.5% |
| Air bags | 10 | 6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 10 | 6% |
| Unknown or other | 10 | 6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 4.8% |
How 2009 compares with other Tiguan years
Best and worst Tiguan years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 168 | 3 |
| 2010 | 110 | 2 |
| 2011 | 162 | 3 |
| 2012 | 153 | 3 |
| 2013 | 139 | 3 |
| 2014 | 84 | 3 |
| 2015 | 62 | 4 |
| 2016 | 96 | 2 |
| 2017 | 75 | 4 |
| 2018 | 284 | 14 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 21 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,900
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 423 g/mi
- EPA class
- Sport Utility Vehicle -
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 21 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 26 / 21 | $3,900 | 423 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 21 | $3,900 | 423 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $4,100 | 444 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2009 Tiguan for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2009 Volkswagen Tiguan FAQ
How many recalls does the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 14V441000 (fuel system), 13V569000 (electrical), 08V235000 (engine). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan problems?
Owners filed 168 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (80), Electrical system (40), Power train (20) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual version at 19 city, 26 highway and 21 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2009 Tiguan compare with other years?
Among the 2009–2018 Volkswagen Tiguan model years at least five years old, the 2015 drew the fewest complaints (62) and the 2018 the most (284). The 2009 drew 168. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.