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#BS-2009-VOLTIG-23E72009 Volkswagen Tiguan
Based on reports from 247 owners and 3 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Red Flag
Based on 247 complaints, 8 crashes, 9 fires, and 3 recalls.
Top reported problems
water pump failure
17 complaints β’ Severity 8.6/10
plastic intake manifold failure
11 complaints β’ Severity 7.5/10
timing chain tensioner
11 complaints β’ Severity 8.5/10
Preview: What's in your full report
Each card shows a real sample from your report β unlock all 10 sections from $1.20
Mechanic Inspection Checklist
87 owners reported engine issues β failures commonly reported around 71K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 60β90K miles (68 reports) β’ Median: 71K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Engine (87 reports).
Also in your report
Owner Intelligence
AI-synthesized themes from real complaints
Buyer Lot Checklist
Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers
Negotiation Talking Points
Data-backed dollar deductions
Buy / Skip Verdict
Final recommendation with conditions
Where the complaints fall
2009 Volkswagen Tiguan: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Engine Issues
Engine complaints account for 35% of all reports filed for the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, with 87 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 70,798 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 71K-mile mark.
Electrical Issues
Electrical complaints account for 16% of all reports filed for the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, with 40 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Drivetrain Issues
Drivetrain complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, with 16 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Lights Issues
Lights complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, with 15 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to lights-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.
Complaint trend by year
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan. Recent trend: increasing.



Don't negotiate blind β know what this car costs to own
Repair costs β’ Negotiation scripts β’ Mechanic checklist β’ Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (3 recalls)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 4,079 MY 2008 PASSAT AND 2,500 MY 2009 TIGUAN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0T FSI ULEV II ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) CONTAINING SOFTWARE THAT MAY NOT PROPERLY CONTROL ENGINE IDLE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING TURNED ON. IN RARE CASES, THE ECM MAY UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASE ENGINE RPM.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 to June 2014. When using winterized fuel, in certain conditions bubbles may form in the fuel system which could result in the vehicle stalling.
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
The worst model year for the Volkswagen Tiguan is the 2018 β worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.
2009 Volkswagen Tiguan vs. Class Average (Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD)
This vehicle
247
Class avg
220
Complaint volume is roughly in line with other sport utility vehicle - 2wd vehicles from 2009.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume β popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 247 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 3 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Volkswagen Tiguan Model Years
View all Volkswagen Tiguan years β2009 Volkswagen Tiguan: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Is the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?
How much does it cost to fix 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan problems?
Does the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan have any recalls?
What mileage do Volkswagen Tiguan problems start?
Whatβs in the full report?
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
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Get the Full 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 247 owner reports. Know before you buy.