I have only ever serviced this vehicle at VW dealerships, and took the car in for service every 10k miles. The check engine light came on just under 50k miles and it was due to a cracked Leak Detection Pump. I paid for the repair out of pocket. After it was fixed, just a few weeks later the check engine light came back on. When I took the car back to the same dealership, they diagnosed the problem as a cylinder head issue requiring cylinder head replacement and quoted a significant cost to fix. It is not covered under warranty even though I am just barely over the 50k mile mark. There is a common and known, recurring issue with the engine on the 2022 VW Tiguans and it is a shame that there is no recall already issued for this.
2022 Volkswagen Tiguan: check engine light
25 of the 281 complaints about the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan describe check engine light.
- owner complaints
- 25
- of this car's complaints
- 9%
- recalls
- 0
Check engine light by model year
What owners say
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.
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.
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, the federal safety agency complaint databases, and ongoing class action filings confirm this is a known, widespread issue affecting numerous 2022
Noticed large amount of oil on driveway. Check engine light came on. Took it to the VW dealer. They advised that there is a recurring problem with 2022 Tiguan, where a premature head gasket failure causes engine and coolant leaks. Requires a cylinder head replacement. Since a large number is affected, there is a 8-10 back order of the part. Also, I was told that VW is repairing the defect under Service Bulletin TSB 15-23-01 or TSB /action 2071245, however they would not honor it in my case since the vehicle has 90000 miles.
Check Engine light illuminated, code: P2402 #07E8 EVAP SYSTEM LEAK DETECTION PUMP CONTROL CIRCUIT HIGH. Checked online and same year, same model have recall for same issue.
Excessive oil consumption caused by the PCV Valve failing. The PCV Valve failed causing pressure build up in the engine which luckily for me only caused the valve stem seals to pop out of position on the exhaust valves. This caused oil to leak into the combustion chambers and burn through the exhaust. In other known cases this failure has caused the oil pan and timing covers to Crack and vehicle will lose its oil all over the roadway. No check engine light came on for me only low oil light every 800 miles starting around the 70,000 mile mark. Dealership determined the cause and failure. Manufacturer determined the cylinder head needed replaced. Dropped car off on Nov. 7 2025 and was given a loaner. Part on backorder. Part came in in February and installed. During test drive the cylinder head failed internal and they had to order the same part again. 6 loaner cars later finally got car back on April 10 2026. Extended warranty covered all but $100 of the $4800 cost.
The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to O'Reilly, where an unknown diagnostic result was provided. The vehicle was taken to the used car dealer where it was purchased, and the engine was disassembled. The dealer determined that the cylinder head was cracked. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH after the repair, the vehicle stalled in the middle of the roadway. The vehicle was restarted after an extended while; however, the vehicle was bucking while driving. The vehicle was driven to the dealer, where an unknown repair was performed; however, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was bucking and making an abnormally loud sound while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was test-driven, and the failure was duplicated. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted while attempting to drive the vehicle out of the dealer's parking lot. The vehicle remained with the dealer. The dealer then advised the contact to inform the insurance company of the failure; however, the insurance company referred the contact back to the dealer because the failure was not caused by a crash. The dealer was advised accordingly and threatened to tow the vehicle at the contact's expense and to charge the contact for vehicle rental if the contact did not return the rental. The contact advised the dealer that the vehicle was not repaired and was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The Volkswagen dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
The cylinder head has passages that collect carbon build up that build up outside of general maintenance that clog the cylinder head and can eventually lead to combustion failure. This car has been taken to an independent, reputable mechanic in the area, as well as now the dealer. Dealer has confirmed they have at least 4 other vehicles currently with the same issue in just this one location, and parts replacement to remedy the issue (new cylinder heads) are on back order (over 2500 on order in US). This car has been caught early, before this engine failure, as the check engine light first came up and multiple rounds of mechanic checking and trying to fix have lead to this conclusion. Car at this time has not failed in a safety situation, but has the potential to if not remedied, by engine failing while driving. Engine has been inspected by mechanic, and is currently being inspected by manufacturer. Error code was presented once reading the module, and check engine light is visible to prompt servicing the car (code for emissions)
Problem Description: 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan (VIN: [XXX] ) diagnosed with excessive oil consumption and coolant loss requiring cylinder head replacement. Vehicle at dealer since December 6, 2025, part on national backorder, estimated 6-7 more months wait (total downtime already ~1.5 months). Dealer advised retrieving car tomorrow and driving it while monitoring/adding oil and coolant as needed. This is unsafe: low oil risks engine seizure, low coolant risks overheating—either can cause sudden failure, stalling, or power loss while driving, creating crash risk (especially with my child as frequent passenger). Symptoms: frequent low oil warnings, coolant loss, check engine light, white smoke from tailpipe. Appears linked to known EA888 engine issues in recent Tiguans (ongoing class action on oil consumption). Request the federal safety agency review as potential safety defect, including repair delays amplifying risk. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
5 complaints about oil consumption, 3 check engine lights where had to pull over due to car not running properly. Vehicle putters upon acceleration. Replaced leak detection pump, intake and exhaust system stem seals, oil separator, auxiliary bracket and seal and EVAP sensor.
I am reaching out regarding ongoing and escalating issues with my 2022 VW Tiguan R-Line Black. Over the past year, I have had to stop at Jiffy Lube multiple times because the oil level kept running low, and they repeatedly topped it off. I found this unusual, given how recently oil changes and services had been performed. This summer, the vehicle began experiencing episodes of stuttering and stalling, accompanied by smoke from the tailpipe. Over Labor Day weekend, after another stall, I brought the car into the VW dealership. They investigated but were unable to identify the cause. Unfortunately, the situation has now worsened. Today alone, the car stalled twice — both times in the middle of traffic. The “check oil level” warning light came on, followed shortly by the “check engine” light. There was also a significant amount of smoke coming from the tailpipe. This is not only a mechanical issue but also a serious safety concern. I have two children, and I am deeply concerned for their lives and safety when driving a vehicle that stalls unpredictably in traffic. At this point, the car feels unsafe and unreliable, and I am unsure how to proceed. Please advise me on next steps regarding potential legal recourse, warranty coverage, or claims I may pursue. Thank you for your guidance. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Service bulletins that may apply
- Prevent Sporatic Misfire Faults.
- Checking engine oil level.
- Reprogramming Control Module process
- Engine missfire diagnostic aid
- Identifying and Mixing Volkswagen Engine Coolants
- When replacing Evaporative Emissions System components, it is not always necessary to replace the entire...
- Suggested fuel additive
- Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption Measurement
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan check engine light
Is check engine light a common problem on the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan?
25 of 281 owner complaints about the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan (9%) mention check engine light. The model year with the most reports is 2009.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan?
There are 0 recalls and 118 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan
Oil consumption 45Hesitation 32Backup camera 26Stalling 25Jerking 16Lane assist 15Engine failure 13Screen failure 13Fire or smoke 8Loss of power 7Windshield crack 7Adaptive cruise 6Won't shift 6Sudden acceleration 5Sunroof shattered 5
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