Short answer
Among Volkswagen Tiguan model years through 2024, 2023 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2018 has the most (14). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Volkswagen Tiguan: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 18 (2009–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 39
- Fewest recalls
- 2023 (1)
- Most recalls
- 2018 (14)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (11)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2 more years
Volkswagen Tiguan Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Steering |
| 2024 | 2 | 4 stars | Back over prevention |
| 2023 | 1 | 4 stars | Back over prevention |
| 2022 | 5 | Not rated | Back over prevention, Equipment, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2021 | 5 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Equipment, Seats |
| 2020 | 3 | 5 stars | Seat belts, Seats, Structure |
| 2019 | 5 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Equipment, Structure |
| 2018 | 14 | 4–5 stars | Suspension, Air bags, Structure |
| 2017 | 4 | 4 stars | Unknown or other, Air bags, Seat belts |
| 2016 | 2 | 4 stars | Air bags, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2015 | 4 | 4 stars | Air bags, Equipment, Unknown or other |
| 2014 | 3 | 4 stars | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Unknown or other |
| 2013 | 3 | 4 stars | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Unknown or other |
| 2012 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Unknown or other |
| 2011 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Exterior lighting, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2010 | 2 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2009 | 3 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting, Fuel system, gasoline |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20260 recalls
- 20253 recalls
- 20242 recalls
- 20231 recall
- 20225 recalls
- 20215 recalls
- 20203 recalls
- 20195 recalls
- 201814 recalls
- 20174 recalls
- 20162 recalls
- 20154 recalls
- 20143 recalls
- 20133 recalls
- 20123 recalls
- 20113 recalls
- 20102 recalls
- 20093 recalls
Volkswagen Tiguan: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Volkswagen Tiguan recalls are air bags (11), unknown or other (7), fuel system, gasoline (6), structure (6) and suspension (6). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 13 of these 18 model years, and 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Volkswagen Tiguan Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Volkswagen Tiguan?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2023 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which Volkswagen Tiguan model years have the most recalls?
2018 has the most, with 14 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Tiguan", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy