Free Preview
#BS-2018-VOLTIG-23E72018 Volkswagen Tiguan
Based on reports from 432 owners and 13 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Red Flag
Based on 432 complaints, 8 crashes, 3 fires, and 13 recalls. This is the worst model year for this vehicle.
Top reported problems
burning oil
8 complaints • Severity 8.5/10
hesitation and or stalling on acceleration
4 complaints • Severity 9/10
premature brake wear
2 complaints • Severity 10/10
Preview: What's in your full report
Each card shows a real sample from your report — unlock all 10 sections from $1.20
Mechanic Inspection Checklist
76 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 7K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (218 reports) • Median: 7K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Engine (76 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
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Engine Issues
Engine complaints account for 18% of all reports filed for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, with 76 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 7,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 7K-mile mark.
Drivetrain Issues
Drivetrain complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, with 48 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Electrical Issues
Electrical complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, with 39 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Structure:body Issues
Structure:body complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, with 37 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to structure:body-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 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan. Recent trend: decreasing.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (13 recalls)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The back-up lights in the taillight assemblies may not be bright enough. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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."
ENGINE
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The engine support bolts on these vehicles may not have been properly tightened.
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan long wheelbase (LWB) vehicles. A lower loop of a rear shock absorber may separate from its base due to an incorrect welding process
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan and Tiguan long wheel base (LWB) vehicles. The nut that holds the lower ball joint of the front wheel on each side of the vehicle may be loose or improperly tightened.
+ 8 more recalls in the full report
Recall severity analysis & seller scripts
The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
This is the worst model year for the Volkswagen Tiguan according to owner complaint data. The biggest problem area is engine.
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan vs. Class Average (Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD)
This vehicle
432
Class avg
436
Complaint volume is roughly in line with other small sport utility vehicle 2wd vehicles from 2018.
Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.
About this data
NHTSA Complaints
Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 432 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 13 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 →2018 Volkswagen Tiguan: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Is the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?
How much does it cost to fix 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan problems?
Does the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan have any recalls?
What mileage do Volkswagen Tiguan problems start?
What’s in the full report?
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
How is this different from Carfax?
What if the report isn’t useful?
Get the Full 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 432 owner reports. Know before you buy.