Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2011 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 ↗Air Bag Clock Spring may Fail
- Summary
- 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. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
- Consequence
- A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- 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. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
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.
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 (162)
162 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 162 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 63 | 38.9% |
| Electrical system | 47 | 29% |
| Exterior lighting | 39 | 24.1% |
| Air bags | 30 | 18.5% |
| Steering | 14 | 8.6% |
| Unknown or other | 12 | 7.4% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 4.9% |
| Power train | 8 | 4.9% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 3.1% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 2.5% |
How 2011 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 22 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,750
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 404 g/mi
- EPA class
- Sport Utility Vehicle -
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 22 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 automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 25 / 22 | $3,750 | 404 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | $3,900 | 423 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 25 / 21 | $3,900 | 423 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2011 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
2011 Volkswagen Tiguan FAQ
How many recalls does the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 15V483000 (air bag), 14V441000 (fuel system), 13V569000 (electrical). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan problems?
Owners filed 162 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (63), Electrical system (47), Exterior lighting (39) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 20 city, 25 highway and 22 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2011 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 2011 drew 162. 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.