I am reporting a safety-related electrical defect on my 2019 Tiguan that has been intermittently occurring since March 2026. This typically has happened during the hotter parts of the day when the tempreature in in the 90's. While driving, I get two different warnings that displays; "Check starter system" followed by "ignition-system-shut down". Within a few minutes, the engine continues running but the instrument cluster, HVAC and turn signals lose power. Other electrical systems also shut down like, the radio, navigation, head lamps, and side view mirror adjustment. This creates a serious safety hazard because I lose turn-signal and vehicle-information functions while the vehicle is moving." I have found multiple complaints involving 2019 Tiguans with this exact failure mode, including complaints specifically connecting it to Volkswagen recall 28H7 / the federal safety agency 23V‑604 involving the ignition switch and polyfuse. Volkwagen has not aknowledge, reproduced, nor confirmed this issue. I belive that ithe issue is related to the same problem as Volkswagen's 28H7 / the federal safety agency 23V‑604 ignition-switch recall, which currently applies to certain Jettas. That complaint describes the same combination of engine continuing to run while A/C, instrument cluster, headlights and turn signals lose power. I believe that 28H7 should be expanded to the 2019 Tiguan.
2019 Volkswagen Tiguan: headlights failing or too dim
14 of the 196 complaints about the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan describe headlights failing or too dim.
- owner complaints
- 14
- of this car's complaints
- 7%
- typical mileage
- 3,600
- recalls
- 0
Headlights failing or too dim by model year
What owners say
Relates to the Volkswagen Recall: 28H7-Ignition Switch that for some reason is only applied to Jetta's but needs to be expanded to include 2019 Tiguans . In vehicles equipped with a conventional ignition switch, the polyfuse can fail, particularly when the vehicle is operated in high temperature environments. If the polyfuse fails, it can result in the engine stalling while driving and failure of the vehicle's electrical system, increasing the risk of a crash. I have had this issue happen over 5 times since the initial incident last week. Now anything above 70 degrees Fahrenheit causes the interior to "lose power" but the engine will continue to run. The A/C, infotainment system, all the ADAS, instrument cluster, headlights, and turn signals shuts off completely. No brake lights, no blinkers, no odometer reading, nothing. I can still drive (accelerate & brake) when this is happening but without all of those systems working I cannot safely operate this vehicle.
On three (3) separate occasions, my 2019 VW Tiguan has produced an error stating "Check Starter System" on the console and shut down electrical systems such as instrument panel, brake lights, headlights, taillights, back up camera, and other electrical systems while driving. All three (3) situations followed the same series of events whereas the car was out in the sunlight on warmer days (70+ degrees) and occurred within 5 or so minutes of starting. After shutting the vehicle off and attempting to restart, the ignition will not always work and the car will not turn over. When it does, the key will need to be turned farther than a normal ignition start and most likely produce an immediate error and electrical system shut down. In the most recent occurrence, I found a parking garage and left the car for around an hour and did not experience the issue for the rest of the trip. It appears that there was a recall for a similar issues with the Jetta models made in the same year (2019). Volkswagen Recall: 28H7-Ignition Switch / the federal safety agency campaign number: 23V604
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving in extremely hot weather, the fault code message stating that the ignition was switched off, check the starter system, and to please pull over to the side of the road was displayed, while emitting a beeping sound to alarm the driver. The electrical systems, excluding the engine, became disabled. The contact stated that the headlights, taillights, instrument panel, and several other electrical functions were inoperable. The driver coasted to the side of the road and waited until the engine had cooled off before continuing to drive. The failure occurred consistently, in approximately 2 to 3 minutes, causing the driver to repeat the actions for the vehicle to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The code starter fault error message was displayed; however, the dealer did not believe the failure was related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V60400 (Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact stated that the Part Number: 521905865; for the ignition switch, was the same and believed that the failure was related to the recall. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure because the temperature was not 90 degrees or higher. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,103.
The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed at night, the headlights unexpectedly failed to illuminate until the vehicle passed over a bump in the road, and shortly afterwards the headlights became illuminated again. Additionally, the engine oil and TPMS warning lights remained illuminated after the vehicle had an oil change and the tires were properly inflated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the vehicle was purchased, but the dealer provided no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the VIN was included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V815000 (Tires). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
A month ago I started my vehicle and 1/2 a mile into driving, all my electronics turned off with no warning(radio, instrument cluster, A/C, gauges, turn signals, headlights). The only electrical component working was the power windows. I couldn't see my speed, any warning lights or my turn signals. I immediately pulled over as I couldn't even tell if my car was still drivable. I Turned off the car (just the engine at this point) and tried to start it again with no response when I turned the key. When it finally turned back on, all the electronics turned on and immediately turned off again. The display on the instrument cluster briefly said "check starter system". Since then it will happen any time it is hot out. Heat is definitely what is triggering the symptoms. This same issue has been seen in the VW 2019 Jetta. This is a huge safety issue.
My car dash and all electrical components are shutting off WHILE I’m driving! All needles go to 0, radio shuts off, AC/HEATER, turn signals, brake lights, headlights, ect. The engine seems to run for a moment and then shuts off. Once the car is pulled over to the side of the road (if I make it!) and turn the car completely off and try to start it again, it won’t turn on immediately. I’ve had to sit for 5 -10 minutes on the side of the freeway multiple times on my way home from work as the car would continue to shut down on me. It’s absolutely terrifying. Luckily I wasn’t driving at night and was visible in the daylight and LUCKILY I didn’t have my children in the car with me when this has happened.
While driving an alert comes on that states check engine system. As soon as this happens all power in the car turns off. Engine is still running but you no longer have any turning signals, brake lights, headlights, air conditioning, etc. It happens randomly and has almost cause me to be rear ended due to car behind me not knowing I was slowing down or stopping. This happens when I am not close to a dealership so they have not been able to witness this.
While driving at night the cars IP displayed a warning "ignition system shutdown please check your start system", the Instrument panel and information display then went dark with no symbiology speed, revs or turn signals. The head lights and tail lights shut off and cabin fan and side windows stopped working. The engine continued to run so I was able to safely exit the highway but was a stressful and dangerous moment. When the vehicle was taken for repair VW service says issue was caused by a malfunctioning battery which was replaced at my cost with an OEM part. this has not fixed the issue though and I am attempting to get a new appointment for service.
We bought a new 2019 tiguan for my 16 year old daughter. At just over 5 thousand miles, she was driving the car home from school when all the electric power was lost. The engine kept running, but she lost all the lights, headlights, break lights, radio, ac, speedometer, etc. Basically everything stopped working except the engine. Obviously this was a safety concern for me because she's 16 and didn't have headlight, or break lights, or a speedometer, just to name a few. Volkswagen dealership in mckinney, TX, began diagnosing the issue. They changed the battery and said the car was fixed. Unfortunately, as my now 17 year old daughter was driving, the car all the sudden lost all power again. The danger is that the car starts and performs perfectly at first, but will shutdown everything but the engine while she's driving! So this is the 2nd time this has happened. The car went back to the dealership and they a "software update", and claimed that corrected the problem eventhough I suspect they dint truly believe they fixed it. So my daughter starts her car and drives down the road with no problems, until, for the individual time, she loses power while driving over 50 mph. So the car is at the dealership for a 3rd time. The car has just over 5 thousand miles on it. Volkswagen keeps claiming they've corrected the problem, and keeps returning an unsafe vehicle to my daughter.
This is a second complaint about the headlights on my vehicle. The low beams do not illuminate the roadway safely. I complained to the manufacturer who referred me to the dealer. Who stated that there is no adjustment that can be made. Per the dealers description the vehicle only utilizes one bulb for high and low beams. There is a shield that comes down to create the low beams. With that being said, in the low beam position the shield creates distinct line that only illuminates a short distance of road in front of the vehicle. This also creates a wall of darkness beyond that. No diffusion of light just going into the darkness blind. This to me is a very dangerous situation..
The headlights are LED and this vehicle is equipped with afs. Adaptive front lighting system. I believe the headlights do not illuminate the roadway adequately. There is an area that is just in front of the vehicle that one can see the roadway. Then there is a definite line that basically creates a wall of darkness, that prevents one from seeing anything beyond that, this creates a blind area. Any other vehicles that I have driven over the years provide lighting that illuminates the area in front of the vehicle and then defuses the light further to see down the roadway, and does not create a wall of darkness. I have brought this up to vw and the dealer who states that the system is operating correctly. I have been told that the system only utilizes one bulb for both low beams and high beams, with a shield that covers a portion of the lighting to create the low beams. I guess that is why the lighting has a very definitive line cutting it off bluntly, therefore creating a wall of darkness, this literally creates a blind area for which one cannot see a sufficient area in front of the vehicle. To operate it safely. To me this creates a very unsafe condition when driving under normal conditions with low beams on. As explained to me the shield goes up for when the high beams are activated, I have seen some online posts that others are experiencing the same thing, please advise as to what to do regarding this issue thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *cc
Service bulletins that may apply
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan headlights
Is headlights failing or too dim a common problem on the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan?
14 of 196 owner complaints about the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan (7%) mention headlights failing or too dim. The model year with the most reports is 2011.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan?
There are 0 recalls and 6 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan
Stalling 14Sunroof shattered 9Check engine light 8Loss of power 7Oil consumption 7Door locks 5Jerking 5
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