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2010 Volkswagen Tiguan Steering Problems

13 owner-reported steering complaints from NHTSA data

13
Complaints
1
Crashes
Jan 2017Dec 2010
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (13)

criticalSTEERING
Filed: Aug 2025

Your 2010 Tiguan's power steering randomly stops working, leaving you without power assistance and making the steering wheel much harder to turn. This happens unexpectently while driving, which creates a significant safety risk. The issue appears to affect multiple model years and vehicles, suggesting a widespread problem with the electric power steering system. Fixing this will likely require diagnosis and replacement of the electric power steering motor or control module.

NHTSA #: 11680243
criticalSTEERING
Filed: Aug 2023

While driving at 65 mph, your power steering suddenly stopped working and your steering wheel began shaking violently. A red warning light appeared on your dashboard. Turning the car off and back on restored power steering, but the problem has happened multiple times since then. A mechanic diagnosed that your power steering assist system and rack and pinion gear need to be replaced.

NHTSA #: 11541882
criticalSTEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Apr 2023

While driving, your steering wheel began to shake badly and your power steering warning light came on, then the power steering locked up completely. You had difficulty steering around oncoming traffic and had to turn the car off and restart it several times before the warning light stayed off long enough to drive home, though the steering continued to wobble. The power steering system likely needs diagnostic testing and may require replacement of the power steering pump, hoses, or control module.

NHTSA #: 11516141
criticalSTEERING
Filed: May 2021

Your power steering warning light has turned on multiple times and usually goes off after restarting the car. However, one time the light came on and your steering wheel shook violently side to side, and you lost power steering completely while driving home. The fix will likely involve diagnosing the power steering system, which may include checking the pump, hoses, fluid level, or electrical connections.

NHTSA #: 11418774
highSTEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2020

Your power steering system fails intermittently, causing the steering wheel to wobble on its own—sometimes at red lights, sometimes after driving for 20+ minutes on the highway. After parking overnight or restarting the engine, the problem temporarily goes away, but the steering becomes unpredictable and difficult to control. The issue appears related to the electronic power steering rack or control module. Repairs will likely involve diagnosing and potentially replacing the power steering control unit or electrical components in the steering system.

NHTSA #: 11318121
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Apr 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

NHTSA #: 11202984
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Jul 2018

WHILE MERGING ONTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC - ON THE FREEWAY, TAKING A TURN, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. WHEN THIS HAPPENED MY CAR WAS HEADING STRAIGHT INTO A CURVED CONCRETE WALL. I MANAGED TO SLIGHTLY TURN THE WHEEL JUST ENOUGH TO NOT HIT THE BARRIER. A RED LIGHT IN THE SHAPE OF A STEERING WHEEL COMES ON. ACCORDING TO VOLKSWAGEN THIS IS THE POWER STEERING RACK'S SCANNER. THE SCANNER JUST FAILS. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE, IT JUST FAILS.

NHTSA #: 11110483
mediumSTEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE
Filed: Dec 2017

TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGON RUATUAN ----VEHICLE DOES HAVE RECALL BUT CONTACT STATED VOLKSWAGON STATED VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL... CONTACT CALLED DEALERSHIP AND DEALERSHIP STATED EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE HAS SAME PROBLEMS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ... ENGINE TURNS OFF WITH KEY IN IGNITION AND IGNITION BECOMES LOOSE KEY TURNS TO OFF POSITION AND CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING..CONTACT GIVEN NUMBER TO VOLKSWAGON. CB .0RECALLSASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN

NHTSA #: 11056567
mediumSTEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS
Filed: Jan 2017

STEERING WHEEL ELECTRONIC CONTROLS STOPPED WORKING FOR A FEW MINUTES. NEXT TIME THE CAR WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG ERROR LIGHT CAME ON. THERE IS A LOUDER THAN NORMAL "BRUSHING" FRICTION NOISE DURING STEERING, AND A METALLIC PING UPON THE FIRST TURN OF THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER STARTUP THAT WAS REPORTED TO TWO VW DEALERS MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. DEALERS CLAIMED NOT TO HEAR ANYTHING. ISSUES WERE NOT ADDRESSED. READING THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED BY THE CLOCK SPRING/AIRBAG RECALL, I BELIEVE THERE IS A CONNECTION TO THE ISSUES I'VE BEEN HAVING, THAT HAVE NOW RESULTED IN A PERMANENT AIRBAG MALFUNCTION WARNING.

NHTSA #: 10945122
mediumSTEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Jul 2014

I BOUGHT THE VW TIGUAN BECAUSE IT WAS RATED #1 FOR SAFETY BUT THE MORNING OF FRIDAY JULY 25 2014 AS I WAS LEAVING TO WORK I STARTED MY CAR BUT THE POWER STEERING WAS GONE COMPLETELY. I COULD DRIVE FORWARD AND BACK BUT THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT MOVE AT ALL AS IAND THE POWER STEERING FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE DASHBOARD. THE TIGUAN IS ALMOST 4 YRS OLD WITH 73,000 MILES. THE AGE IS THE ISSUE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THIS HAS ME VERY CONCERN BECAUSE WHAT IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED THEN? I COULD ONLY IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPEN. WHAT IF MY CHILDREN WERE WITH ME? THIS PROBLEM IS UNACCEPTABLE, INEXCUSABLE AND LIFE THREATENING. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE TIGUAN. AT THE VW DEALERSHIP'S CAR SHOP I WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH PROBLEM WITH THE TIGUANS. I SEARCHED ON THE WEB AND IT TURNS OUT THERE ARE SEVERAL HUNDRED 2009-2011 VW TIGUANS OWNERS THAT HAD THAT SAME PROBLEM, I GOT AN ESTIMATE TO FIX IT OF $2,045. I CALLED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY WHERE VERY NICE AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP ME WITH THE REPAIR. NEXT DAY I GET A CALL FROM THEM AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE MY TIGUAN HAD MORE THAN 70,000 MILES AND WAY OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS POWER STEERING PROBLEM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TIGUANS AGE. OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME EXPERIENCE AND ONLY HAD THEIR TIGUAN FOR 2 MONTHS WITH 1,800 MILES ON AND THE PROBLEM KEEPS RECURRING! WARRANTY OR NO WARRANTY THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY VW. ALSO IN MY OPINION THIS IS AN ISSUE WORTH A MAJOR RECALL BUT SO FAR VW SEEMS TO BE WAITING FOR THE FIRST DEATHS TO OCCUR BEFORE THEY WILL REACT. THERE IS ALWAYS POSSIBILITY THAT IN TRAFFIC, THE POWER STEERING REALLY COULD GO ANY MOMENT. I AM NOW VERY SCARED TO BE DRIVING THE TIGUAN IT'S NOT SAFE AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE! *TR

NHTSA #: 10618057
mediumSTEERING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CrashFiled: Apr 2014

2010 VW TIGUAN, WITH REPEATED ENGINE FAILURES ASSOCIATED WITH POWER STEERING MODULE, BOOST SOLENOID / ENGINE COILS, WIRING HARNESS, FUSE RE-CALL, LOSS OF POWER / THRUST / ELECTRICAL PANEL INSTABILITY, BEGINNING IN JULY 2013 UPON THE LIMITED WOLFSBURG PLATFORM. SERVICE WAS PROVIDED BY A VW DEALERSHIP, 16 DAYS PRIOR TO THE AUGUST 2013 ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS NOT RETURNED TO ME UNTIL OCTOBER 1, 2013. (ALMOST 8 WEEKS) A RENTAL CAR WAS APPLIED, BUT THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE FOR TAXES / FEE'S FOR A 2 MONTH RENTAL. THE VW UPON RETURN OCT 1, 2013 THEN BROKE DOWN AGAIN ON OCT 9TH, FOR ELECTRICAL FAILURE AGAIN. THE CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO VW DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. I WAS GIVEN A COMPLIMENTARY LOANER CAR. THE VW WAS THEN RETURNED AND THEN RAN WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT INCIDENT UNTIL MARCH 16TH, OF WHICH THE ENGINE FAILED FOR ENGINE COILS, AND WAS TOWED BACK TO THE VW DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, THE CAR THEN EXPERIENCED ANOTHER ELECTRICAL MECHANICAL FAILURE ON 3/25, RESULTING IN A 2ND FRONT END COLLISION. I RECEIVED A NOT AT FAULT DECISION ON THE FIRST ACCIDENT, PER THE COMMONWEALTH OF MA. *TR

NHTSA #: 10583565
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Dec 2010

WE HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING CUT OUT MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE VEHICLE. IT HAS NOT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, THE RED POWER STEERING LIGHT SEEMS TO BE ON WHEN WE START IT THE SECOND TIME FOR THE DAY AND DOESN'T ALWAYS RESET WHEN RESTARTING THE CAR. WE HAVE YET TO BRING IT TO GET FIXED AS THE NEAREST DEALER IS 1200KMS AWAY. *TR

NHTSA #: 10373644
mediumSTEERING
Filed: Jul 2010

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY IN MY 2 MONTH OLD 2010 TIGUAN WHEN A CAR IN THE LEFT LANE CAME OVER INTO MY LANE. I SWERVED TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HIM HITTING ME AND WHEN I DID THE TIGUAN STARTED JERKING BACK AND FORTH (LEFT TO RIGHT AND BACK) SO HARD THAT IT JERKED THE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF MY HANDS. IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT. I HAD TO HOLD ON SO TIGHT WITH BOTH HANDS THAT I WASN'T EVEN ABLE TO LET GO LONG ENOUGH TO HONK AT THE OTHER CAR. *TR

NHTSA #: 10342337

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