Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2020 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 ↗Insufficiently Attached Spoiler May Separate
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan and 2018-2021 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. Due to incorrect installation instructions, the accessory rear hatch spoiler may be insufficiently attached to the vehicle.
- Consequence
- An insufficiently attached spoiler may separate from the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the spoiler, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 66N5.
Improperly Torqued Third Row Seat Belt Anchor Bolt
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020 Tiguan LWB vehicles. The third row seat belt anchor bolts may not have been properly torqued.
- Consequence
- Improperly torqued bolts may prevent the third row seat belt from performing as designed in a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles. Owners are advised: No one should occupy the third row seat due to the safety risk. The recall began October 7, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen number for this recall is 69BA.
Front Seat Backrest Frame Not Welded Properly
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen ) is recalling certain 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan and Audi Q5 and SQ5 and 2021 Volkswagen Atlas vehicles. Parts of the front seat frame and backrest adjuster may not have been welded properly.
- Consequence
- In the event of a rear-end crash, the backrest adjustment could break, possibly reducing the amount of occupant restraint, thus increasing risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seats, and, as necessary, replace the seatback frames, free of charge. The recall began September 11, 2020. Volkswagen owners may contact their customer service at 1-888-241-2289. Audi owners may contact their customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 72L1, 72K8, and 72K9.
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 (140)
140 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The unknown or other is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 140 |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 53 | 37.9% |
| Electrical system | 34 | 24.3% |
| Engine | 25 | 17.9% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 16 | 11.4% |
| Structure | 16 | 11.4% |
| Service brakes | 11 | 7.9% |
| Visibility/wiper | 10 | 7.1% |
| Exterior lighting | 8 | 5.7% |
| Power train | 5 | 3.6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 2.9% |
How 2020 compares with other Tiguan years
Best and worst Tiguan years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 96 | 2 |
| 2017 | 75 | 4 |
| 2018 | 284 | 14 |
| 2019 | 192 | 5 |
| 2020 | 140 | 3 |
| 2021 | 142 | 5 |
| 2022 | 269 | 5 |
| 2023 | 68 | 1 |
| 2024 | 71 | 2 |
| 2025 | 49 | 3 |
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: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan suv fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 25 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,700
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 356 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 25 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 · 8-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 / 29 / 25 | $2,700 | 356 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 27 / 23 | $2,900 | 388 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2020 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
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan FAQ
How many recalls does the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 22V226000 (structure), 20V579000 (seat belt), 20V505000 (seat). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan problems?
Owners filed 140 complaints with NHTSA. Unknown or other (53), Electrical system (34), Engine (25) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic version at 22 city, 29 highway and 25 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan get?
NHTSA rated the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan suv fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (0% rollover risk).
How does the 2020 Tiguan compare with other years?
Among the 2016–2021 Volkswagen Tiguan model years at least five years old, the 2017 drew the fewest complaints (75) and the 2018 the most (284). The 2020 drew 140. 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.