Research · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD

2017 Volkswagen TiguanRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 77 owner complaints for the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan. Most complaints involve air bags (30) and engine (15). The EPA rates it 21–22 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall.

Combined MPG
21–22mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
4of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
4campaigns
Latest May 2021
Owner complaints
77
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
$3,500est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

4 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Unknown or other

Free remedy

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Unknown or otherReported May 5, 2021NHTSA 21V321000

Unknown or other

Free remedy

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

Unknown or otherReported May 16, 2018NHTSA 18V329000

Air bags: frontal

Free remedy

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Tiguan Limited vehicles. The front driver air bag installed on these vehicles may not be intended for use in vehicles sold in the United States. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Air bagsReported Feb 9, 2018NHTSA 18V102000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

77 complaints filed with NHTSA · May 2017 – Nov 2026
  1. Air bags30
  2. Engine15
  3. Steering14
  4. Electrical system12
  5. Fuel/propulsion system6
  6. Power train5
  7. Structure4
  8. Service brakes3
  9. Fuel system, gasoline2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Tiguan model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2009167
2010110
2011162
2012153
2013140
201484
201562
201697
201777
2018289
2019196
2020141
2021144
2022279
202372
202479
202558
202638
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
4
Deaths reported
1
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

30 reports5 crashes
“No crash or incident occurred. While starting the vehicle normally, the airbag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed fault code P0588 — driver side airbag igniter at resistance limit. The mechanic confirmed that all airbags are non-functional as a result of this fault. No accident, collision, or unusual event preceded this failure. The part failed during normal use and operation. This is the same component covered under Safety Recall 69P4, issued February 2017 for driver and passenger airbag igniters on 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles. My VIN was not included in that recall but is experiencing the identical failure. I purchased this vehicle certified pre-owned from a Volkswagen dealership in 2020. The Carfax report provided at purchase shows no record of any airbag recall service ever being performed on this vehicle. When I contacted VW Customer Care, they confirmed my vehicle has an extended clock spring warranty and directed me to a dealership for service. The existence of an extended warranty on this specific component suggests Volkswagen is aware of a defect population broader than the original recall. I…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 19, 2026Air bagsODI 11745250

Engine

15 reports
“I am filing this complaint to seek a full buyback and debt cancellation for a 2017 VW Tiguan (VIN: [XXX] ) sold to me by Carvana for $40,000. Summary of Deception: Carvana sold this vehicle as "Certified" with a "150-Point Inspection" guarantee. This was a fraudulent misrepresentation. Within six months, the vehicle required 45+ mechanical services, including a full internal teardown that revealed catastrophic wiring corrosion caused by a long-term sunroof leak. These were latent defects present at the time of sale. The vehicle has has 2 Turbos: one recalled (now currently being recalled again) and one replaced 3 months into ownership. The vehicle slowed down on [XXX] traffic and I had to make an emergency exit and take to the dealership. This make and model were completely overhauled engine and externally after my model 2017. 45 mechanical services in 12 months justifies a recall and an exchange, Safety & Financial Hardship: As a high-level executive commuting from [XXX] to [XXX] , I required a reliable vehicle. Instead, this car decelerated dangerously on [XXX] , nearly causing a collision. Despite active steering and turbo recalls, Volkswagen mechanics have…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2026Steering, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11729125

Steering

14 reports1 crash
“I started my car and the red power steering light came on and I had no power steering assistance. This has happened multiple times when I have started my car. I can turn it off, let it sit a minute, start again and 9 times out of 10 it will start normally. I don't know if this can happen while I'm driving, but that would be really dangerous. In doing some research I have found that this was a known issue for an earlier model of this car and that there are quite a few complaints of this happening to this year car. With price increases, the dealership will charge about $5000+ for repairs. This is a car that I should be able to drive well over 100k miles without any major issue like this.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 5, 2026SteeringODI 11776018
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic (S6)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Tiguan
Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
202422$3,500412
Tiguan 4motion
Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
202321$3,700424
  • Tiguan
    Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    20 city · 24 hwy · $3,500/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Tiguan 4motion
    Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo
    20 city · 23 hwy · $3,700/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
4/ 5
4 of 5
Volkswagen Tiguan SUV AWD
Frontal crash
3 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
4 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
18.5%
Overall
4 / 5
Volkswagen Tiguan SUV FWD
Frontal crash
3 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
4 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
17.4%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 11068Vehicle 11067
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2017 Tiguan questions

How many recalls does the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan have?

4 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan problems?

Owners filed 77 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (30), engine (15), steering (14). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan get?

The EPA rates the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan at 21–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

How safe is the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan 4 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026