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KLUNK
KLUNK

2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

The Verdict

48 Proceed with Caution

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan has 243 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (111 complaints) and body (71 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 48/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Volkswagen Tiguan, consider the 2025 model year which has 84% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2025 has 84% fewer complaints

View the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan dashboard →

48

Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution

About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 2

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

25V082000 BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Tiguan, 2023 Arteon, and 2024-2025 Audi Q3 vehicles. An error may occur in the camera control unit at vehicle startup,...

Risk

A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will update the camera control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed to Audi owners April 3, 2024, and Volkswagen owners November 18, 2025.Volkswagen owners...

Reported Dec 2, 2025

21V853000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan vehicles. The nut that secures the brake pipe near the right-front wheel well may be loose.

Risk

A loose brake pipe nut may allow brake fluid to leak, extending the distance required to stop and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and tighten the brake pipe nut, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 23, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-80...

Reported Mar 11, 2021

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
200922734949
201017630542
201114469684
201239737635
201324667393
201419447111
20151343492
201627348161
201716331194
20189717439918
20196121474212
2020551134283
202151216535
20227134211116
20232037243
202423111190
2025173783

By Category

Engine
111
Body
71
Electrical
42
Transmission
16
Brakes
3

By Severity

1
111
2
126
3
3
4
3

Worst Problems

Compare Against

See how the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stacks up against rivals.

Complaints

Engine 2

The vehicle intermittently fails to accelerate normally from a stop, especially in hot weather and when the A/C is running. When pressing the accelerator, the vehicle can hesitate for an extended period before moving. In a recent incident recorded on video (reference attachment), I pressed the accelerator and the vehicle failed to respond normally for more than 10 seconds, requiring me to pull over. This creates a serious safety risk when entering intersections, making U-turns, crossing traffic, or pulling into traffic, because the vehicle does not respond when acceleration is needed. The issue is intermittent and more frequent and severe during summer temperatures, when the AC is running continuously. The concern has been reported to the Volkswagen dealer multiple times. Dealer repair attempts were made in 2025, but the issue still exists. An independent mechanic also inspected/tested the vehicle and confirmed there is an issue, but advised that it likely requires Volkswagen-specific diagnosis, software, adaptation, or calibration. No consistent warning light appears before the hesitation occurs. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. I have video evidence showing the delayed acceleration condition.

16d ago
Engine 1

I have a 2022 Tiguan 2.0L gas engine with a 10yr 120k mile Volkswagen warranty and all previous maintenance and services performed by the Volkswagen dealer. Just over 40k miles and a check engine light comes on so I go to the dealer. The oil separator, an emissions device, failed and needs to be replaced with the oil pan and timing chain cover. This separator is not noted anywhere on the manufacturer service schedule but based on talking to the dealership and my own research its is a known issue failing frequently over the last 5-6 years with Volkswagen redesigning parts several times in failed attempts to correct the issue but, to date, they have not issued a recall. As such, owners are having to pay significant repair bills as Volkswagen refuses to repair this under emission control or extended warranty coverage.

19d ago
Electrical 1

Keyless system warning continuously goes off. Lane assist continually is unavailable Start stop system continually unavailable Dealership has serviced the vehicle and warning indicators continue to go off.

21d ago
Engine 1

I am submitting this complaint regarding my Volkswagen vehicle because it has experienced two recurring defects during the warranty period that remain unresolved despite repeated repair attempts by the dealership. Issue 1 – Excessive Oil Consumption The vehicle has had a persistent excessive oil consumption problem since the warranty period. The dealership has attempted to repair this defect six times, including replacing an engine valve, but the issue continues. The vehicle still consumes excessive oil, requiring frequent monitoring and topping off. This creates a serious safety concern because low engine oil can result in engine damage, sudden loss of engine power, engine seizure, or an increased risk of fire while driving. Issue 2 – Electrical System Failure The vehicle has also experienced ongoing electrical problems involving the keyless entry system, repeated 12V Battery Low warnings, inoperative interior lights, and loss of connectivity with the Volkswagen mobile app. These problems have persisted despite nine repair attempts by the dealership and remain unresolved. The vehicle has spent a significant amount of time at the dealership throughout 2025 and 2026 for these recurring defects. The repeated electrical failures raise significant safety concerns. The keyless entry system can fail to unlock or recognize the key, the low 12V battery warnings indicate an unresolved electrical issue, and the loss of interior lighting reduces visibility inside the vehicle. The repeated failures also raise concerns about the reliability of other critical electrical systems and the possibility of the vehicle failing to start or operating unpredictably. Despite six repair attempts for excessive oil consumption and nine for electrical defects, Volkswagen has been unable to permanently fix these issues. I request NHTSA investigate whether these recurring failures indicate a broader safety defect requiring corrective action. Currently car is back to dealership for repair again

23d ago
Body 1

My travel assist warning light and warning bell randomly goes on. Sometimes it does it a couple times, most times it continues nonstop. I have warranty left and the dealer has charged me twice to diagnose it only to say there's nothing wrong. They claim unless it is doing it when i come in, there is nothing they can do. I find it hard to belive that this doesn't log in the computer. This becomes terribly distracting while driving as I look down every single time to read the warning in case it is something different. I showed the dealer a 3 minute video of it happening. I tried to traded the car for a different brand and it did it to the people inspecting the car.

24d ago
Body 1

This is a very common issue with the car and everytime I touch the steering wheel it says “travel assist not available”. But when it notify that message it makes a very loud noise. It is very distracting because everytime I move my hands or grab the wheel it will keep making the loud noise making it very hard to focus. This is a problem that Volkswagen knows about and wants the customer to pay over $1000 out of pocket to replace the whole steering wheel. There is no user error or way for the drive to cause this it is a faulty sensor in the wheel. In the end its makes it very hard to drive and focus when everytime I move my hand on my wheel the car makes a loud ringing noise

27d ago
Body 1

In February 2026, my windshield was replaced by a third-party glass company after a crack. Shortly after, my vehicle’s driver assistance system began activating falsely — beeping, displaying warnings, and on a few occasions attempting to auto-correct the steering wheel while my hands were already on it. The ‘hands on wheel’ warning has displayed while I was actively holding the wheel. The glass company has serviced the vehicle four times since, including replacing the camera bracket, resetting the windshield seal, and installing a full OEM windshield and bracket as recently as June 15, 2026. Camera recalibration has passed successfully each time. Despite this, the false activations have continued and worsened. On June 17, 2026, the system activated approximately 25 times during a single commute of about 30 minutes, including while braking and during slow-speed maneuvers such as parking. The vehicle’s steering wheel was replaced in January 2025 under a manufacturer Technical Service Bulletin for an unrelated known defect and functioned without issue for over a year before this began. I am scheduling a dealership appointment to diagnose the cause. This is a safety concern because the system unpredictably intervenes with steering input and produces frequent distracting false alerts while driving

1mo ago
Body 2

Lane Assistance Warning comes on repeatedly for no apparent reason. It is very distracting and dangerous as it makes a loud noise and flashes on the dashboard. The dealership has replaced the steering wheel to rectify the issue, but it has begun happening again and is no longer covered under the warranty. There seems to be no fix or answer from VW other than replacing the wheel again. Which has only been a temporary fix.

1mo ago
Electrical 2

At around 60,000 miles my infotainment system started acting strange. The backup camera wouldn’t engage intermittently. After doing that for a couple months, it stopped working completely and is just a black screen. Several times randomly it has come on briefly to display the Welcome to VW message but will do nothing more than that. I have no back up display.

1mo ago
Body 1

Out of the blue, the Travel Assist warning will start ringing. Sometimes it does it once, other times it can go nonstop for 10 minutes. It happens randomly and I can't make it come on. It has become a terrible distraction while I am driving. The dealer claims unless they observe it, they won't repair it under warranty. There is a TSB describing exactly what my car is doing. While I was on the phone with customer care it started doing it and the other person could hear it. His reply was to keep letting the dealer drive it until it happens to them. They have done this twice already and charged me both times. I'm afraid of the distraction while I'm driving. I even have video of it happening but they say it isn't enough.

1mo ago
Engine 1

My backup camera stopped functioning not too long after the warranty was expired. It began by not coming on sometimes and then it went completely out. The entire unit is no longer functioning which prevents me from being able to use my backup camera and that is a safety issue.

1mo ago
Engine 1

Oil Change and Check Engine Light continuously appear. Have gotten oil changes during the prescribed timings and still after being within the timeframe of the oil change the sensor appears. The car has stalled while driving due to this and have on multiple occasions have had to buy oil to add to the vehicle even after getting a oil change at a dealership.

1mo ago
Engine 1

My 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan (VIN: [XXX] ) is experiencing excessive engine oil consumption. The vehicle requires oil replenishment every less than 1,000 miles, which is far beyond what any reasonable consumer would expect from a properly functioning engine. I reported this issue to the Volkswagen dealership while the vehicle was still under the manufacturer’s warranty. The dealership stated that this level of oil consumption is “normal” and only added oil without performing any diagnostic testing or repairs. No repair order documenting a defect was issued, and no corrective action was taken. This problem is consistent with the known defect in the EA888 2.0L TSI engine, specifically the defective piston rings that fail to create a proper seal, allowing oil to leak into the combustion chamber and burn off during operation. A class action lawsuit has been filed against Volkswagen regarding this exact defect in 2022–2023 Tiguan models. The excessive oil consumption poses a serious safety risk. If oil levels drop critically low without warning, the engine could suffer catastrophic failure, stall unexpectedly, or overheat while driving — all of which significantly increase the risk of a crash. Despite this being a warranty-covered vehicle and a known manufacturing defect, Volkswagen and its authorized dealership have refused to repair the issue or acknowledge it as a defect. I am requesting that NHTSA open a formal investigation into this matter and consider a safety recall for all affected 2022–2023 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

1mo ago
Body 1

This is related to reference TSB 48-23-01. There is a rapid, unpredictable chime causes intense cognitive distraction while trying to navigate highway traffic. It is accompanied by warning messages covering navigation information and other displays on the dash. It is impossible to focus on driving the car and is incessant with no way to turn off. This is a safety hazard. I've almost been involved in several crashes due to the distraction and trying to manage the problem as it's occurring.

1mo ago
Body 2

a vehicle warning notice flashes across the dashboard saying “vehicle assistance system not available” and the switch to engage this system causes the same message to flash and the systems do not engage

1mo ago
Electrical 1

2022 Tiguan overhead consule just fell down hanging by wires. No glasses compartment so not sure what would cause the stress on it due to usage. Dealer said 2020 models had issue and have an extended warranty. The 2022 does not have any recall. Seems like design flaw VW should correct as issue comes up. If I was driving at the time. it would have hit me or passenger in the head. This is a safety concern. I have seen multiple posts where this has happened. VW said I am out of warranty and will not do anything. It is 2022 and I have seen 2020 and 2021 models with owners posting same issue.

1mo ago
Engine 2

2022 Volkswagen Tiguan SE, ~70,000 miles. The vehicle experienced a cylinder head failure in the EA888 2.0L TSI engine, causing the check-engine light to illuminate. The cylinder head developed internal cracks, resulting in excessive oil consumption over a period of more than one year prior to the current repair. During multiple service visits to the authorized VW dealership over the past year or more, I reported abnormal oil consumption and expressed concern about a possible engine problem. On each occasion I was told no fault was found. On at least one visit I was discouraged from requesting a deeper diagnostic by being told it would require a significant out-of-pocket fee, despite the vehicle being under the manufacturer's warranty. The vehicle was dropped off for the current repair on [DATE] after the check-engine light came on. The dealership confirmed the cylinder head failure is covered under Volkswagen's New Vehicle Limited Warranty. However, the required cylinder head part has been on backorder for over 60 days with no confirmed ETA. No loaner or rental vehicle has been provided despite the extraordinary duration of the repair. The dealership's own service advisor stated that in the state of Texas alone, approximately 7,000 cylinder heads are currently pending replacement across Volkswagen vehicles — indicating this is a widespread, systemic defect actively being managed within the dealer network, not an isolated incident. The dealership has also proposed that I bear 50% of the repair cost, despite the vehicle being under warranty and having a complete and consistent maintenance record. This cost-sharing proposal was framed as a courtesy, which I do not accept. I own a second 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan SE with the same engine and model year, which I am also concerned may be affected by the same defect. Public records, owner forums, NHTSA complaint databases, and ongoing class action filings confirm this is a known, widespread issue affecting numerous 2022

1mo ago
Electrical 1

"Travel Assist Not Available" chime and yellow notification came on intermittently from around July 2024 to July 2025 in my VW Tiguan. I complained about it to the Heritage VW in [XXX] and nothing was done in 2024. The noise and notifications became more frequent around July 2025 and came on every time I drove the vehicle incessantly. I took the car back to Heritage VW and they said it was by battery and replaced this for a fee. This did not eliminate the problem and the dealer kept it for 2 days and found that it was the steering wheel. They charged me to replace this because the vehicle was out of warranty. However, in July 2024 it was still under warranty but Heritage VW neglected to make the repair. This noise was a huge distraction to my driving as it was loud and incessant. I made a complaint to the Georgia Attorney General and VW corporate headquarters and neither helped me. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

2mo ago
Engine 1

The light appears on my dash indicating low oil level frequently between oil changes. I have to add oil to my car every 2-3 weeks. An abundant amount of white smoke comes from the exhaust pipes. I’ve been told it’s burning oil. This could ruin my engine or become catastrophic by fire. I was told it could be something to do with the pistons or cylinder head. Mechanic shops don’t want to/have the ability to work on Volkswagens. The dealership says this is normal. I’m afraid for my children and my safety. This is a major safety issue that needs to be corrected. This is potentially life threatening.

2mo ago
Engine 2

2.0 liter engines suffer from excessive oil consumption due to defective piston rings which can lead to engine failure. This is a class action lawsuit in other states. We now need a new engine at the cost of $6,500

2mo ago

243 total

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