Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2016 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 ECU May Malfunction
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- Deactivated air bags increases the risk of injury. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags increase the risk of a crash.
- 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.
Rear Child Locks May Disengage
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 CC vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016, to February 3, 2016, Golf R and Tiguan vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 28, 2016, and e-Golf vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 11, 2016. Vibrations, such as those created by opening and closing a vehicle door, may cause the rear child door locks to disengage, allowing a child to open a rear door while inside the vehicle.
- Consequence
- If an unrestrained child unexpectedly opens a door, they may fall from the vehicle increasing their risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the child lock(s), free of charge. The recall began on August 22, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 58C9.
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 (96)
96 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The air bags is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 96 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 37 | 38.5% |
| Electrical system | 27 | 28.1% |
| Unknown or other | 23 | 24% |
| Steering | 12 | 12.5% |
| Engine | 10 | 10.4% |
| Structure | 6 | 6.3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 4.2% |
| Power train | 3 | 3.1% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 3.1% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 3.1% |
How 2016 compares with other Tiguan years
Best and worst Tiguan years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 153 | 3 |
| 2013 | 139 | 3 |
| 2014 | 84 | 3 |
| 2015 | 62 | 4 |
| 2016 | 96 | 2 |
| 2017 | 75 | 4 |
| 2018 | 284 | 14 |
| 2019 | 192 | 5 |
| 2020 | 140 | 3 |
| 2021 | 142 | 5 |
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.
Crash tests: 4 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan suv fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 23 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,550
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 393 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 23 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 | 21 / 26 / 23 | $3,550 | 393 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 26 / 22 | $3,750 | 395 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2016 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
2016 Volkswagen Tiguan FAQ
How many recalls does the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 19V535000 (air bag), 16V464000 (latch). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan problems?
Owners filed 96 complaints with NHTSA. Air bags (37), Electrical system (27), Unknown or other (23) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 21 city, 26 highway and 23 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan get?
NHTSA rated the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan suv fwd 4 stars overall, with 3 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (17.4% rollover risk).
How does the 2016 Tiguan compare with other years?
Among the 2012–2021 Volkswagen Tiguan model years at least five years old, the 2015 drew the fewest complaints (62) and the 2018 the most (284). The 2016 drew 96. 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.