2011 Volkswagen Tiguan electrical problems

47 complaints (29% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 45,116.

owner complaints: 47
of this car's complaints: 29%
typical mileage: 45,116
crashes: 0
recalls: 1

Which part fails

Wiring: fuses and circuit breakers
1
Horn
1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k

25k-50k

50k-75k

75k-100k

100k-125k

125k-150k

150k-175k

175k-200k

200k+

Volkswagen Tiguan electrical problems in other years

Related recalls

Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakersReported November 22, 2013 · 62,155 vehicles affected

What is wrong: 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.
Risk: 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.

Recall number 13V569000 · Recall details

Related investigations

Partial Loss of Exterior LightsOpened November 4, 2013, closed February 28, 2014

Volkswagen Group of America (VW) is conducting a safety recall of approximately 62,155 model year (MY) 2009-2011 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles to address a partial loss of the exterior lighting (see the federal safety agency recall 13V‑569 for more information).These vehicles' exterior lighting system is protected by two separate fuses contained in a fuse box located in the engine compartment.According to VW, high thermal cycling and soft-coated fuse coating material used at the F16 (also referred to as SB16) location causes movement between the fuse blade and socket, resulting in abrasions on the fuse coating material.This increases resistance and results in overheating of the fuse and disruption of electrical current flow to roughly half of the vehicle's exterior lighting circuits. Examples include loss of one of each of the following: low beam headlight, high beam headlight, brake light, and turn signal light involving the front and rear of the vehicle.VW has stated that the subject F16 fuse in the Tiguan model was used in several other Volkswagen models.According to VW, the temperature of the vehicle's engine and the fuse box varies by vehicle model.ODI found that the complaint and warranty rates for the MY 2009-2010 Tiguan are more than four times greater than that of MY 2009-2010 Volkswagen Jetta sedans.ODI is aware of VW's plan to take a service action of some, but not all, of the other vehicle models.The action will cover MY 2009-2010 Jetta sedan and MY 2009 GTI vehicles.ODI will monitor complaints to the federal safety agency on all other Volkswagen models equipped with the same subject fuse and take further action if warranted.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/owners/Searchreference under the following identification numbers: 10362206, 10471503, 10490408, 10501271, 10504495, 10508638, 10512642, 10520573, 10521147, 10522909, 10523748, 10526032, 10534679, 10538004, 10538410, 10543629, 10544805, 10545540, 10547334, 10547530, 10547775, 10549584, 10550140, 10550903, 10551486, 10551503, 10551538, 10551776, 10551816, 10551848, 10551853, 10552153, 10552322, 10552740, 10552811, 10552866, 10553122, 10553299, 10554352, 10554441, 10554443, 10554730, 10554890, 10555047, 10555080, 10555527, 10555540, 10555988, 10556475, 10558014, 10559441, 10559447, 10561642, 10562693.

PE13036

What 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Sep 9, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · PA

Car only starts when it wants to. Rpms dont go over 4,000. Low idle.

Filed Jul 26, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · OR

My Tiguan randomly shuts down or stalls while driving. I have come very close to accidents because It is in the middle of the road where I can't pull over, people coming around a curve behind me that may not have time to brake, specifically RV's and Semi-trucks. It is terrifying. I have maintained my vehicle meticulously and payed thousands in repairs only to be told by dealerships and VW corporate offices that there is nothing they will or can do and that there are no recalls and out of warranty. However...There WAS one in 2014 citing DANGEROUS to drive because of stalling. According to KBB. I don't know what else to do and I am not able to get a new vehicle.

Filed May 3, 2022 · Airbags, Electrical · CO

The clock spring is broken in my 2011 VW Tiguan at 114,000 miles. Therefore, the driver airbag on the steering wheel does not work. Therefore, there is a safety issue if one drives the car. The problem is not fixed because there are no parts to fix it. Apparently there is a chip in the clock spring and there are no chips available to manufacture replacement springs. I was told that the part has been on back order since October 2021. I was told that the part may be available in July 2022, but there are no guarantees. Until a replacement part is available, the vehicle is potentially unsafe to drive.

Filed Jun 24, 2020 · Airbags, Electrical · CA

The lights on the car start flasing ,when you turn of the car , every light on the dash board & the sterring wheel have a noise sound like the clock ring has some dust in side.

Filed May 30, 2020 · Airbags, Electrical · CA

Air bag clock spring and the car star flashing.

Filed May 26, 2020 · Electrical · 80,000 miles · IL

F16 fuse box melting and fuse burnt but not tripped in hood. All exterior lights were lost while driving and was almost rear ended at high speeds on highway.

Filed Oct 28, 2019 · Electrical, Lights · 83,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 volkswagen tiguan. The contact received a recall notice for the federal safety agency campaign number: 13v569000(exterior lighting). The contact took the vehicle to leith volkswagen of cary (2300 autopark blvd, cary, nc 27511, (919) 297-1640) for the recall repair. While driving 55 MPH, the exterior lighting failed and turned off without warning. After the lighting failure, several error messages appeared on the instrument panel. The contact took the vehicle back to the same dealer and was informed that the fuse box needed to be replaced, which was not covered in the initial recall. The contact was informed that he would have to pay out of pocket to have the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was informed that they could not assist because the vehicle had previously been serviced per the recall. The vehicle has been repaired. The failure mileage was 83,000. *ln

Filed Sep 4, 2018 · Airbags, Electrical · 57,000 miles · OH

When doing a full turn my steering wheel started clicking and then my airbag light illuminated. I also lost all steering wheel controls and horn. After doing some research, I found out it was a clock spring. Volkswagen has had many models affected by this even my 2011 year tiguan but when volkwagen pulls up my VIN, they are claiming it is not part of the recall which is very frustrationg.

Filed Aug 24, 2017 · Airbags, Electrical · 60,000 miles · DE

Vw has recognized a defected part in the steering wheel clock spring. We took our vehicle to have the repair, dealership said that the previous owner had the vehicle repaired and a dust cover was put on 7/20/16. Well the dust cover has broke and the air bag light is on and horn is not working. Service department said it wasn't covered because of previous fix, mind you they said dust cover and not a new part. We called vw and they will not honor the repair for the defected part. The part was never replaced, just a band aid put on the problem. Vw said they only had to honor their repair for 1 year. How is this possible when they never really replaced the part????? The dust cover they previously put on snapped when I was turning into a parking spot, airbag light immediately came on. The part cost $348.08 and $170.00 in labor.

Filed Aug 16, 2017 · Electrical · 103,163 miles · TX

Defective fuse link in wiring harness melted together rather than separating causing very high voltage damaging the cpu and ignition coils causing piston misfiring and possibility of engine fire. I have retained the defective part. Mechanic reports both fuse links connecting to two coils are melted and 30,000 volt power bridged these links to damage the other electrical components. Repair was over $2700. Fire was avoided by taking vehicle out of service but severely melted links and high voltage feeding back into electrical system caused very high potential of electrical fire in vicinity of fuel sources. Vw notice to mechanics about problem has been issued but no recall.

Questions about the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan electrical

Does the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan have electrical problems?

Owners have filed 47 complaints about the electrical of the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan, 29% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan electrical problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 45,116 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan electrical?

Yes, 1 recall: 13V569000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Volkswagen Tiguan have the most electrical problems?

The Volkswagen Tiguan model years with the most electrical complaints are 2022 (65 complaints), 2019 (57 complaints) and 2011 (47 complaints).