2012 Volkswagen Tiguan Engine Problems

Your 2012 Tiguan is consuming oil excessively and has stalled while driving at highway speeds, though it restarts afterward. The check engine, EPC, and TPMS warning lights come on during these incidents, and the problem keeps happening. A mechanic diagnosed this as engine failure requiring a full engine replacement.

Your engine won't start and a mechanic found it has lost compression—the spark plugs were soaked in gas because the engine couldn't properly compress and ignite fuel. Despite having new spark plugs, ignition coils, and a PCV valve installed a year ago, and recent oil changes, the most likely cause is a stretched timing chain, though the mechanic couldn't confirm this without extensive disassembly. The repair will likely require timing chain replacement and possibly engine valve work, which could cost more than your vehicle's current value.

Your engine's timing chain jumped at startup around 77,000 miles, which severely damaged the engine. You heard a loud rattling noise, and your scanner showed the camshaft timing was off. The repair cost $25,000 from the dealer, so you opted to replace the engine with a used one instead, which will take several weeks and cost $9,500.

Your car's engine water pump failed for the second time in less than five years. The original pump was replaced under a warranty extension in 2020 due to a known defect, but the replacement pump has also failed as of March 2025. A failing water pump can lead to engine overheating and potential engine failure. The fix will require replacing the water pump with a properly functioning unit.

While accelerating on the highway, your engine started rattling and your check engine light came on. A mechanic diagnosed that your timing chain and tensioner need to be replaced, which is an expensive repair costing over $5,000 despite regular maintenance at a VW dealership. Fixing this issue will require replacing the timing chain and tensioner components.

Your ignition coil failed while driving on the highway, causing your car to hesitate, shake, and lose power. This created a dangerous situation where you had to quickly merge across lanes to exit safely. The ignition coil will likely need to be replaced to restore normal engine performance.

GRADUAL COOLANT LEAK WITH DEALERSHIP KNOWLEDGE UPON SALE OF THE CAR (44,000 MILES). REFILL OVERFLOW EVERY 8 TO 10 MONTHS. LEAK UNKNOWN. HAD TO INCREASE REFILLING GRADUALLY OVER TIME, THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO USE FROM WORK IN 2016. INCREASED TO ONCE EVERY FEW MONTHS 2017. FILL EVERY WEEK OR TWO FROM 2018 TO 2019....DAILY SINCE LATE 2019 TO NOW. ENGINE DOES NOT OVER HEAT. REFILLING OVER FLOW COOLANT TANK EVERY TIME I NEED TO DRIVE THE CAR. I HAVE TO TURN ON THE CAR, POP THE HOOD, AND SEE HOW MUCH IT GOES BELOW THE MINIMUM LINE. THEN FILL TO MAXIMUM. DAILY REFILL STARTED AROUND OCTOBER 2019. RECEIVED TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND FUEL INDUCTION SERVICE. MECHANIC SAID I NEED A WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR. HE THOUGHT THE RECALL WOULD COVER MY CAR BUT SAID MY VIN WASN'T SHOWING A DEFECT. I'M NOT SURE WHY IT'S NOT. DEALERSHIP KNEW ABOUT THE LEAK UPON THE SALE OF THE CAR. HELP!! I HAD NO IDEA THE LEAK WAS GOING TO GET WORSE. THE DEALERSHIP MADE IT SOUND LIKE SOMETHING MINOR I JUST HAD TO DEAL WITH. *TR

THE VEHICLE CHECKS ENGINE AND OIL LIGHT OFTEN APPEAR IN THE PANEL, EVEN AFTER CHANGE THE OIL AND THE CAR SHOW NO LEAKING. THE OIL WAS CHANGED ALWAYS BY VW, WHO NEVER DETECTED ANY PROBLEM, EVEN WHEN THE PAPER THEY GAVE TO US SAYS, 'OUR TECHNICIAN HAS INSPECTED YOUR VEHICLE'. WE LEFT THE CAR IN VW SERVICE WE RECEIVED THE DIAGNOSTIC: "REPLACE TIMING CHAIN AND TURBO." BY THE WAY, THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THEY REPLACE THE TURBO: ORIGINAL ONE, AND 2 REPLACEMENT. AFTER THEY CHANGE THE TURBO, THEY DISCOVERED A NEW PROBLEM WITH CAMSHAFT. OUR CAR HAS THE MPP COVERAGE, THE LAST OWNER HAS TOO. ALL THE REPAIR AND OIL CHANGE NEVER BE MADE BY OUTSIDE OF VW. THIS COST TO OUR COVERAGE AND FOR US A LOT OF MONEY AND WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITHOUT THE CAR. WE WOULD DO LIKE AN ANSWER FROM VW ABOUT THIS SITUATION BECAUSE THE CAR STILL HAS A PROBLEM WITH VIBRATION. *TR

THE WATER PUMP HAS BEEN CRACKED, LEAKING THE COOLANT. THE CAR ENGINE WAS OVERHEATED BUT DIDN'T LEAD TO ACCIDENTS IN MY CASE. VW GROUP IS PRODUCING THE WATER PUMP OUT OF PLASTIC, WHICH EVENTUALLY CRACKS FOR MANY OF VW AND AUDI CAR OWNERS, AND COULD LEAD TO THE ROAD ACCIDENT INDIRECTLY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF OIL IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOISE VOLKSWAGEN (8400 W FRANKLIN RD, BOISE, ID 83709) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TURBO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TURBO IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018 AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECURRENCE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 190720353. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

VEHICLE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN IDLING ROUGHLY WHILE STOPPED AT CITY STREET INTERSECTION. WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE STILL FELT ROUGH AND WOULD OCCASIONALLY STOP RUNNING. AFTER GETTING IT TO A VW SERVICE MECHANIC IT RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING DIAGNOSTIC - "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT: FOUND CAMSHAFT SPOOL VALVE HAS COME APART. FOUND CAM SHAFT BEARING BRACKET OIL SCREEN DAMAGED." AT 81,000 MILES THIS CAR SHOULD NOT EXHIBIT SUCH PROBLEMS. THERE APPEARS TO BE A RECALL ON 2015 VW TIGUAN ENGINES RELATED TO THE SAME PART, CAM SHAFT. I REACHED OUT TO VW FOR ANY INFO ABOUT THIS, AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE.

THE TIMING CHAIN & TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER MALFUNCTIONING PRIOR TO 93,000 MILES, BELOW THE PROJECTED OWNERS MANUAL 120,000 MILES, CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO FAIL AND THE ENGINE TO NOT HAVE THE CORRECT OIL PRESSURE/VOLUME. THIS LED TO OIL LEAKING FROM ALL OF THE COVERS AND LED TO COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE WAS SERVICED REGULARLY BY CERTIFIED MECHANICS FOR OIL CHANGES AND MULTIPLE WATER PUMPS ( 3 WATER PUMPS IN 4 YEARS) THE ENGINE EXPLODED DUE TO HIGH OIL PRESSURE CAUSED BY THE FAULTY TIME CHAIN TENSIONER AND TIMING CHAIN MALFUNCTIONING.

WATER PUMP MALFUNCTIONS AND OIL LEAKS LEADING TO WATER PUMP MALFUNCTIONS THAT OVER HEAT THE ENGINE AND CAUSE SIGNIFICANT ENGINE DAMAGE. THREE WATER PUMPS IN THREE YEARS AND ULTIMATELY BLOWN ENGINE.

I HAVE FAITHFULLY TAKEN MY VOLKSWAGON TIGUAN 2012 TO A VW DEALERSHIP EVERY 10,000 MILES, AS RECOMMENDED, SO I WOULD SAVE THE LIFE OF MY ENGINE, IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED A CERTIFIED PREOWNED VEHICLE AND LAST ME 10-15 YEARS. MY CAR WOULDN'T START SATURDAY MORNING 12/16/18 IN MY GARAGE, I HAD JUST DRIVEN IT THE NIGHT BEFORE AND PARKED IN IT MY GARAGE ABOUT 8PM. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE VW DEALERSHIP THAT HAS BEEN SERVICING MY VEHICLE.. THEY CALLED ME ON 12/20/18 AND TOLD ME MY TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND THAT MY ENGINE HAD CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE AND I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE WHICH WOULD BE $9500. (?) REALLY I THEN PROCEEDED TO CALL VOLKSWAGEN MAIN HEADQUARTERS. THE GENTLEMAN TOOK ALL OF MY INFORMATION DOWN, ASKED ME WHAT I THINK SHOULD HAPPEN AND I TOLD HIM I WANTED HELP WITH REPAIRING THE ENGINE. I PAID A LARGE PRICE FOR THIS 'QUALITY VEHICLE', HAD IT SERVICED FAITHFULLY AS INSTRUCTED BY VW AND WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT A RECAL ON THIS FAULTY TENSION CHAIN FAILURE AND WAS NEVER INFORMED TO HAVE MY TIMING CHAIN REPLACED AT 60,000 MILES. IT'S ONLY 6 YEARS OLD FOR GOD'S SAKE. HE PUT ME ON HOLD, CAME BACK AND TOLD TELL ME HE WAS SO SORRY THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE OF 138,000. (HIGHWAY MILES)

I WAS DRIVING MY TIGUAN WHEN IT STALLED OUT AT THE END OF THE STREET. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN AND IT STARTED JUST FINE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR UP THE STREET WHEN IT STARTED JERKING, SPUTTERING, AND LURCHING, LIKE IT DID NOT WANT TO GO FORWARD. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT THIS TIME. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ABOUT 1000 FEET TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. WE STARTED THE CAR AGAIN THIS MORNING, AND IT DID THE SAME THING: LURCHING, JERKING, AND SPUTTERING. IT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ABOUT 500 FEET. AGAIN, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON.

MY VEHICLE LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. LATER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY TIMING CHAIN HAS "BROKEN TIME" AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER BY IMPORT SERVICE CENTER (122 SUNSET LN, CLEVELAND, TN 37312, (423) 478-5766), BUT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,657.

TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED (COMMON ISSUE WITH VW TSI ENGINE) AND CAUSED AN INTERFERENCE WHICH RESULTED IN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DURING A REGULAR ENGINE START-UP. THIS ISSUE HAPPENED AT ABOUT 115,000 MILES AND RESULTED IN AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND WAS WORKING PROPERLY EARLIER IN THE DAY. THE CAR WAS UP TO DATE WITH ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE/ SERVICE TASKS. UPON SEARCHING THE WEB, IT WAS NOTED THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE TO A POINT THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL SITES THAT OFFER "KITS" TO REPAIR THE ENGINE (JUST SEARCH "TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER ISSUE + VW TSI" ON GOOGLE). ONE EXAMPLE OF SUCH SITE IS THIS ONE: HTTPS://WWW.SHOPDAP.COM/BLOG/2-0T-VW-AND-AUDI-TSI-TIMING-CHAIN-TENSIONER-PROBLEMS.HTML THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN A REPAIR JOB OF OVER USD 5000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE ON A RELATIVELY NEW CAR THAT SUPPOSEDLY HAS A TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM THAT SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE TO VW AS THEY HAVE UPDATED THE TENSSIONER DESIGN. I WISH VW WOULD HAVE ISSUED A TSB/ RECALL TO UPDATE THE TENSIONER TO THE LASTED DESIGN AND PREVENT SUCH FAILURE.

TIMING TENSIONER CHAIN BLEW AND SHREDDED OUR ENGINE AT 65,000 MILES. METAL PIECES WERE FOUND IN THE OIL PAN. THIS HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE CAR FAILED TO START - THANKFULLY NOT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. VW SERVICE TRIED TO INSINUATE THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE CHANGED THE OIL OFTEN ENOUGH, WHICH IS LOW CONSIDERING WE HAVE ALL RECORDS SHOWING WE CHANGED THE OIL EXACTLY WHEN PRESCRIBED BY VW, AS THE SERVICE GUY LATER ADMITTED. THE REAL ISSUE IS THE TENSIONER CHAIN IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE. THIS IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS (I.E. IF THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE ON A HIGHWAY WITH YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE BACK) BUT EXPENSIVE, AND IT IS INFURIATING THAT VW DID NOT RECOMMEND A SIMPLE REPLACEMENT WHEN THEY BECAME AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND TRIGGERED CODE REFLECTING MISFIRES. DEALERSHIP CHECKED OUT AND IT IS A CARBON BUILDUP ON INTAKE VALVES. I AM TOLD THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH DIRECT INJECTION SYTEMS ESPECIALLY ON VOLKSWAGENS, BMWS, AUDIS. THE SUGGESTED FIX IS TO HAVE A SHOP OR DEALER REMOVE MANIFOLD AND USE A MEDIA BLAST OF WALNUT SHELLS TO REMOVE THE CARBON. THIS WILL ONLY LAST UNTIL THE BUILDUP COMES BACK. THIS SUV HAS APPROX 62,000 MILES ON IT. THE COST OF GETTING THE VALVES CLEANED RANGES ANYWHERE FROM $400 TO 1200. THIS PROBLEM IS AN INHERENT ISSUE WITH DESIGN AND THERE IS NOTHING A CONSUMEER CAN DO TO PREVENT IT. AS ONE REPAIR SHOP SAID, IT IS INEVITABLE AND ALL DIRECT INJECTION ENGINES WILL SUFFER THIS PROBLEM. I AM APPALLED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND WHEN THE DEALER SAYS IT IS A MAINTENANCE TYPE ITEM IT REALLY MAKES NO SENSE TO ME. PROPER MAINTENANCE SHOULD NEVER INCLUDE WALNUT BLASTING OF CARBON DEPOSITS ON VALVES!!! MANUFACTURERS NEED TO STEP UP AND ADMIT THEIR MISTAKES AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAWS. IF I HAD BEEN TOLD WHEN PURCHASING THE CAR THAT YOU WILL NEED TO DO THE MEDIA BLASTING AT 60K, I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT HAVE MADE THE PURCHASE.

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING CODE P0341. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OFF. TWO DRIVES LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON, AND WHILE DRIVING THE EPC LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LIGHT WHEN A NASTY RATTLE BECAME AUDIBLE. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENED UPON ACCELERATION, NEAR 2K RPM. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT OVER 30 MPH SINCE THIS ISSUE STARTED, ONLY ACCELERATING VERY GINGERLY. I TOOK THE CAR BACK INTO THE MECHANIC, AT WHICH POINT THEY INFORMED ME THE CAM CHAIN TENSIONER AND GUIDES HAD FAILED OR WERE IN THE PROCESS OF FAILING. THEY INFORMED ME THAT REPAIRING THE TIMING CHAIN COMPONENTS WOULD COST $4000, BUT THAT THE ENGINE IS ALSO BURNING OIL. THEY RECOMMENDED A TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT FOR $5400. I PURCHASED THE TIGUAN USED FROM LARSON VW IN TACOMA, WA NOVEMBER 2015 (JUST UNDER 2 YEARS AGO) WITH 59000 MILES ON IT. IT CURRENTLY HAS ~89000 MILES.

TIMING CHAIN FAILED AND RESULTED IN ENGINE FAILURE AT 80,000 MILES. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO HELP ME. I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I SEE THERE ARE MANY VW OWNERS WITH THIS VERY SAME ISSUE.

I'VE HAD OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES FOR A COUPLE YEARS...BUT WAS ALWAYS BRUSHED OFF BY THE DEALER BEING TOLD IT'S 'WITHIN VW SPECK' UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRED (THEY ALSO NEVER DOCUMENTED THESE VISITS). THEN MIRACULOUSLY THEY FOUND AN ISSUE WHICH WAS NOW A $3000 FIX. I TOOK IT FOR A 2ND OPINION TO ANOTHER VW DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE TURBO DIDN'T NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. NOW MY CAR IS COMPLETE FAILURE DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN SKIPPING AND ALSO FIRED ALL THE PISTONS AT ONCE. NOW IT'S A $7500 REPAIR TO FIX THE TURBO AND THE ENGINE. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON; NO OIL LIGHT; NO ISSUES DRIVING IT. IT WORKED PERFECTLY UNTIL I TRIED TO START IT TO LEAVE. NEITHER ONE OF THE DEALERS WILL ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND VW OF AMERICA REFUSED TO HELP WITH THIS 'WARRANTY ISSUE'. (I HAVE MY ENTIRE SERVICE RECORD)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TIMING CHAIN SKIPPED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

MY CAR SUDDENLY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND GOT A PART REPAIRED. AFTERWARDS I WAS ALERTED TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION IN THE CAR (HAVING TO FILL OIL EVERY WEEK) AT NO POINT IS THERE A WARNING ABOUT THE OIL BURNING OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THEN WITHOUT WARNING AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, MY TENSIONER BELT SLIPS CAUSING MASSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE, RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE AND THE ENGINE NOW NEEDS REPLACED ON A 5 YEAR OLD CAR. THERE ARE NUMEROUS LAWSUITS CURRENTLY PENDING AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN DUE TO THIS EXACT ISSUE AND YET THERE IS NO RECALL AND NO SAFETY WARNING BEING ISSUED. INDIVIDUALS ARE AT RISK BOTH SAFETY-WISE AND FINANCIALLY.

AT AROUND 50,000 MILES I WAS TOLD BY MY VW DEALER AND VWOA THAT MY DIRECT INJECTION ENGINE NEEDED TO HAVE ITS INTAKE VALVES CLEANED DUE TO CARBON BUILD UP. AND IT WOULD BE LABOR INTENSIVE, AS THE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REMOVED AND WALNUT SHELLS NEEDED TO BE SANDBLASTED INTO THE VALVES TO REMOVE THE BUILD UP. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING MISFIRES DUE TO THE BUILD UP. THIS CARBON BUILD UP IS A KNOWN NEGATIVE RESULT OF A DIRECT INJECTION ENGINE, AND I'M NOT THE FIRST TO EXPERIENCE IT. MY DEALER ADDED A FUEL ADDITIVE TWO DIFFERENT TIMES TO TRY TO REMEDY THE SOLUTION, AT VWOA'S ADVICE, BUT THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM--AND REALLY, HOW COULD IT SINCE THE DIRECT INJECTION ENGINE DOES NOT LET FUEL INTO THE VALVES (WHERE FIRING WOULD BURN OFF THE CARBON BUILD UP). THE DIRECT INJECTION ENGINE SEEMS FINE FROM AN MPG STANDPOINT, BUT THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH REGULAR CLEANING ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT VW AND OTHER AUTOMAKERS SHOULD AT LEAST DISCLOSE AT PURCHASE, OR RESOLVE VIA ENGINEERING.

THE COILS KEEP GOING BAD. REPLACED ALL FOUR COILS TWICE WITH IN A ONE YEAR TIME FRAME. TWO COILS WENT BAD, REPLACED THEM AND THEN THE OTHER TWO WOULD GO BAD. WENT APPROX. THREE MONTHS WITH NO PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY WENT BAD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE ABOUT WHAT PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,949.

TWO SEPARATE FAILURES OF ENGINE IGNITION COIL. VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN RAN ROUGH AND LACKED POWER (4 CYLINDER). FIRST INCIDENT CHRISTMAS MORNING; DEALER FOUND NON-FUNCTIONING IGNITION COIL AND REPLACED -UNDER WARRANTY. SOME THIRTY DAYS LATER SIMILAR PROBLEM. DEALER DIAGNOSED ANOTHER IGNITION COIL FAILED. CONSUMER REQUESTED VW REPLACE ALL FOUR (4) COILS AT THIS TIME WITHOUT CHARGE. VW PROVIDED REPLACEMENTS AT NO COST TO OWNER. *TR

WE RECENTLY (12-23-2014) BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR THE AUGUST 11TH 2014 RECALL OF THE TIGUAN ECM/AIR BUBBLE ISSUE RELATED TO THE FUEL PUMP IN THE CARS. OUR CAR WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY ISSUES RELATING TO THE RECALL AND DESCRIBED, BUT DUE TO POTENTIAL ISSUES DECIDED TO BRING IT IN TO HAVE IT APPLIED ANYWAYS. UPON LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING FUNNY, AND WE NOTICED GAS MILEAGE HAD GONE DOWN. DUE TO ECM BEING REFLASHED AS A PART OF THE RECALL, WE CHALKED IT UP AS THE COMPUTER NEEDING TO RE-"LEARN" DRIVING HABITS, SHIFT POINTS, ETC.. ABOUT 25 MILES LATER WE WERE ON THE WAY HOME FROM AN EVENT ABOUT A FEW MILES FROM HOME. WE WERE ON A VERY BUSY 6 LANE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR LOST ALL ENGINE POWER. IT PUT US IN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS POSITION, 4 ADULTS IN A CAR ON A BUSY 6 LANE HIGHWAY. WE MANAGED TO COAST OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TO AN OFFRAMP. THE CAR RESTARTED AND THE EPC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR WAS ABLE TO RUN, BUT ONLY IN LIMP MODE, ENOUGH TO GET US THE FINAL COUPLE MILES HOME. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. ISSUE WAS A FAILED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IT APPARENTLY IS A VERY COMMON PART TO FAIL, AND AT LOW MILEAGE ON CARS, IN ANY CONDITION. IT FAILED AFTER THE "NEW CAR WARRANTY" BUT WAS REPLACED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PROVIDED BY VW. DUE TO IT'S HIGH FAILURE RATE AT LOW VEHICLE MILEAGE, AND THE IMPACT IT CAN HAVE ON SAFETY, THE FUEL PUMP RECALL FROM AUGUST 11TH SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER THE FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT AND EXTEND THE WARRANTY OF THE PART. *TR

TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT TURNED OVER BUT WOULD NOT RUN. CRANKED ENOUGH TO GET A SOUND LIKE A BICYCLE WHEEL WITH BASEBALL CARDS IN THE SPOKES ALONG WITH A FLASHING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND SLIPPED TIMING CHAIN DUE TO FAULTY SPROCKET WHERE TEETH WERE ROUNDED OFF, REQUIRING A COMPLETE ENGINE REBUILD OR REPLACEMENT IN SPITE OF RECOMMENDED OIL CHANGES HAVING TAKEN PLACE. *TR

MY FIRST COMPLAINT IS THE A/C UNIT WENT OUT IN SOME TIME AFTER OCT.2013 WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR. AND NO ONE WANTS TO RESPECT THE FACT IT HAD ONLY 30,000 MILES ON IT. THE SECOND COMPLAINT IS THE ENGINE CUTS OUT EVERY SO OFTEN ABOUT ONCE EVERY MONTH AFTER YOU START IT PUT IT IN GEAR AND BEGIN TO ROLL THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN ONE PARKING LOT WHILE IN TEXAS FOR CANCER TREATMENT! I LOVE MY CAR BUT NOT THE FACT NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ERRORS IN IT'S SYSTEMS. *TR

SEVERAL TIMES, AFTER STARTING MY TIGUAN AND BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE OR DRIVING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WITHIN MINUTES OF STARTING THE ENGINE, WHILE IN REVERSE OR IN DRIVE, THE CAR JUST TURNS OFF WITH IT IN GEAR, SO THEN I HAVE HAD TO RESTART THE ENGINE TO CONTINUE ON WITH MY TRAVELS. THIS APPEARS TO HAPPEN AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR AWHILE, THEN IS TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR AND THEN I GO TO DRIVE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE, SO IT IS WARMED UP. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP TWO TIMES NOW FOR THIS ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME, THEY SUGGESTED REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP MODULE, WHICH WE DID DO, HOWEVER IT IS OCCURRING AGAIN. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO VW AND THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT, BUT HAVE SUGGESTED REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP ITSELF, FOR A MERE $600 OR MORE, WHICH I HAVE NOT OPTED TO DO YET, AS I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THIS COSTLY PART FOR SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING ISSUE WITH MANY TIGUAN OWNERS. I THINK VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO STEP UP AND ISSUE A RECALL ON THESE FUEL PUMPS IF THAT IS THE CASE. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE READ OF SEVERAL PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR TIGUANS. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS SOMETHING DRASTICALLY WRONG WITH THESE CARS, WHETHER IT BE THE FUEL PUMP OR WHAT NOT, BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD AS THE VEHICLE JUST TURNS OFF WHILE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE IN PUBLIC PLACES, HOPING THAT SOMEONE CAN LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND TAKE THE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO RECTIFY IT.....UPDATED 02-28-14 *BF. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS RECTIFIED AND WOULD LIKE TO WITHDRAW HER COMPLAINT. UPDATED 03/07/14

I WAS PULLING OUT ONTO A MAJOR ROAD. THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR AT LEAST 30+ MINUTES. I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO THE MIDDLE LANE. THE CAR DIED AND I WAS HALFWAY INTO THE LANE. I WAS UNABLE TO GET IT RESTARTED FOR A FEW MINS. IT EVENTUALLY STARTED AGAIN. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNS. THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OAKLAND CA VW SERVICE AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL FILTER WAS CHANGED. "SORRY, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT, THERE ARE NO FAULTS SHOWING BUT IF IT KEEPS HAPPENING BRING IT BACK." AGAIN, I WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE CAR SHUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THERE WAS NO SPUTTERING, NO WARNING LIGHTS - NOTHING. AGAIN THE CAR CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. I WAS KIND OF EXPECTING ANOTHER OCCURRENCE SO I LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. I WILL BE TAKING THE CAR BACK INTO VW OF OAKLAND. I AM DUE TO LEAVE THE STATE FOR VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON AND THEN DRIVE TO PENNSYLVANIA. AT THIS POINT THE PROBLEM IS A CAUSE FOR MAJOR CONCERN OVER THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND MYSELF. I AM TOO WORRIED THAT THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN INTERSTATE WHICH CAN/COULD RESULT IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR

CAR STALLED WHILE MOVING. AFTER DRIVING FOR 30 MINUTES I PARKED THE CAR FOR 20 MINUTES AND WHEN PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE THE CAR COMPLETELY DIED. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURNED THE KEY AND THERE WAS NOT A SOUND. I TOOK OUT THE KEY AND REINSERTED AND THE CAR STARTED. THE IDENTICAL SITUATION OCCURRED 11 DAYS LATER. TOOK THE TIGUAN TO VW. THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND TO KEEP THEM POSTED. LOOKING AT FORUMS THE CONSENSUS IS THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE FUEL PUMP AREA BUT VW IS HESITANT TO REPLACE THEM. THERE ARE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THE SAME STALLING ISSUE FROM OTHER 2012 TIGUAN OWNERS. *TR

WHILE OUT DRIVING WITH MY PARENTS WE JUST CROSSED OVER A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION, TURNED INTO WAWA FOOD STORE AND IT INSTALLED, AS A BIG CADILLAC ESCALADE WAS ENTERING THE OTHER ENTRANCE, AS HE ALMOST HIT ME. I FINALLY CAME TO A STOP AND I WAS SCARED AND VERY SHOCKED AS TO WHAT JUST HAPPENED. I CALL THE DEALERSHIP WHILE IN THE PARKING LOT VERY UPSET, AS I ALREADY HAD AN APPOINTMENT FOR THEM TO REPLACE MY NAV SYSTEM, ALREADY, YES THAT WASN'T WORKING RIGHT .. TOOK IT ON APRIL 11 AND THEY STILL HAVE IT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS SURPRISED THAT IT HAPPENED AND MADE ME GO OUTSIDE WITH HIM AND SHOW HIM WHAT EXACTLY WHAT IT DID. REALLY, LIKE THIS IS NEW NEWS TO THEM. I HAVE BEEN SO UPSET AND REALLY DON'T WANT TO DRIVE IT AGAIN AND HAVE THIS HAPPEN. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT VW IS GOING TO DO TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ANY ONE IS HURT OR KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

2012 TIGUAN (~18,000 MILES) HAS STALLED AT LOW MPH FOUR TIMES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ONE OCCASION BUT NOT THE OTHERS. AT EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AFTER PUTTING IT IN PARK. TOOK IT IN TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, TOLD ME TO MAKE NOTE OF TEMP, MILEAGE, GAS LEVEL IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THANKFULLY THIS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN OTHER CARS WERE NOT NEAR ENOUGH TO CAUSE HARM. *TR

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE EPC AND ALTERNATOR WARNING INDICATORS. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER TEN MINUTES. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE SENOR WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TEN DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,870. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WHILE SLOWLY ROLLING TO A STOP THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND DID NOT ENGAGE. I HAD TO APPLY SEVERE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN I APPLIED THE FORCE THE BRAKE PEDAL RESISTED AND POPPED BACK TWICE BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT I HAVE REPORTED TO VW AND TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENGINE SHAKING. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME 10 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE TWO MAY OR MAY NOT BE RELATED. *TR