2013 Volkswagen Tiguan Airbags Problems

While driving and turning the steering wheel, you heard a cracking noise, and then your airbag warning light came on with a notification displayed on the dashboard. This indicates a potential problem with your airbag system that needs immediate diagnosis. A technician will need to scan your vehicle's airbag computer and inspect the system components to identify what triggered the warning.

Your steering wheel was making a crackling sound, then stopped working properly. Your airbag warning light came on with an "Airbag error" message, and none of your steering wheel controls—including the horn—work anymore. This suggests an electrical or mechanical problem with your airbag system that needs professional diagnosis. A technician will need to scan your vehicle's computer codes and inspect the airbag wiring and steering wheel contact components.

Your airbag warning light turned on when you started the vehicle, and at the same time your horn stopped working. A mechanic found that the clockspring (the component that connects your steering wheel to the airbag and horn systems) had failed. This issue needs to be fixed because a faulty clockspring can prevent your airbags from deploying in a crash. Replacing the clockspring should resolve both the warning light and restore your horn function.

Your steering wheel's clockspring—the coiled spring that controls your airbags and turn signals—has broken. While Volkswagen has acknowledged this is a faulty part covered under warranty, the company has been severely backlogged and hasn't completed the repair in over 11 months. Since a functioning clockspring is critical for airbag deployment in a crash, this delay poses a safety risk. The fix will require replacing the clockspring assembly in your steering column.

Your airbag warning light has come on, and your steering wheel controls have stopped working—including the horn, tire pressure reset, and functions for the phone and radio. Your driver's seat belt latch is also broken and won't stay fastened on its own. Additionally, your engine is stalling and bucking even after your mechanic replaced the spark plugs twice, and your overheating warning light comes on and off intermittently. These issues may require diagnosis of the airbag system electrical connections, seat belt latch replacement, engine fuel and ignition system inspection, and cooling system evaluation.

While driving at 25 mph, your airbag warning light came on and all the steering wheel buttons stopped working. You couldn't use the steering wheel controls to navigate the service menu. Even though you brought it to a dealer and found online that this matched a known airbag recall, the dealer said your vehicle's VIN wasn't included in that recall campaign. The issue is likely an electrical problem in the steering wheel that needs professional diagnosis and repair.

Your airbag warning light came on when you started the vehicle, and your steering wheel control buttons stopped working. A dealer diagnosed that the clock spring (a component that connects your steering wheel controls to the rest of the vehicle) needs to be replaced. This repair involves replacing the clock spring assembly in your steering column.

Water from your sunroof leaked into the vehicle and caused the headliner and frontal airbag clock spring assemblies to corrode, triggering the airbag warning light and causing stalling while driving. The dealer flushed the sunroof drains, but the leak returned and water damage required replacement of multiple components. The repair took three months and cost over $4,700, with no rental vehicle provided by the dealer.

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the air bag warning light illuminated. Additionally, the horn became inoperable. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed that the clockspring cable needed to be replaced; however, the replacement part was unavailable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,271.

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that he had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V483000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool showed no open recall.

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while his spouse was driving approximately 65 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle with a clock spring failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 104,222.

The air bag clock spring keeps breaking in my Tiguan 2013. This deactivates the air bag as well as all other features in the steering wheel such as the horn and electronic controls. Risk of injury is high when the air bag does not deploy in a collision. Also, I cannot use the horn to alert others of a hazard unable to prevent a collision. VW has replaced the part 4 times but this does not solve the problem. Part keeps breaking. There's no warning to driver before air bag clock spring it breaks again.

I TURN THE CAR ON ONE AFTERNOON AND THE FRONTAL AIR GAVE ME ERROR ON THE SCREEN AND I DO NOT KNOW WHY, I AM EXTREMELY NERVOUS DRIVING MY CAR BECAUSE I HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL ABOUT THESE AIR BAGS BEFORE, I AM A HEALTH CARE WORKER AND I NEED MY CAR TO GET TO WORK SO I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE IT

ON JULY 13,2020 I WAS DRIVING ON A MAIN CITY STREET THE AIR BAGS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING NOR WAS I HIT.

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS THE EXACT ISSUE DESCRIBED IN VW RECALL NOTICE RECALL NUMBER 15V483000 RECALL DATE 08/04/2015 COMPONENT AIR BAGS:FRONTAL THE RECALL NOTICE SAID IFTHE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING REQUIRES REPLACEMENT, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING. IN MARCH OF 2016 VW SAID THEY PERFORMED THE RECALL WORK BY CLEANING THE CLOCK SPRING, NOT REPLACING IT. THE ISSUE FOR ME IS VW SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE.

MY CAR WAS RECALLED IN 2016 TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING AND IT JUST FAILED 2 YEARS LATER AND I AM BEING ASKED TO PAY $800 FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A BAD FIX

THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED WITHIN TWO YEARS OF THE RECALL, AND BASED ON MY INTERNET RESEARCH, ALMOST 100 OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE ORIGINAL "FIX" WAS JUST TO PUT A COVER OVER THE CLOCK SPRING UNLESS THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED BEFOREHAND. IN MY CASE IT FAILED AFTER THE COVER WAS ADDED, AND FOR SOME REASON I DIDN'T GET THE BENEFIT OF AN ACTUAL REPLACEMENT PART AS PART OF THE RECALL. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE "FIX" FOR ALL OF THE CARS IN QUESTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLOCK SPRING REPLACEMENTS VS. A COVER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALER (ANCIRA VOLKSWAGEN SAN ANTONIO, 6125 BANDERA RD, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78238). AFTERWARDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN FAILED TO SOUND WHEN DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000. **TR UPDATED 10/19/18*JB

ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING AND HEARD THIS CLICKING NOISE IN MY STEERING WHEEL WHENEVER I TURNED. IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND ABOUT 4 HOURS LATER FROM WHEN I INITIALLY HEARD IT, MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY CLOCK SPRING AND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS A FEW YEARS AGO HOWEVER MY VIN WAS NOT ONE THAT WAS NOTED UNDER THAT RECALL. I HAVE NO POWER TO MY STEERING WHEEL TOUCH CONTROLS AND MY HORN DOES NOT WORK WHICH HAS BEEN VERY SCARY AS I HAVE NO WAY TO ALERT THOSE AROUND ME WHEN THEY SWERVE INTO MY LANE-WHICH HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES.

NOT SURE IF THIS INVOLVES THE TAKATA RECALL OR NOT. WHILE WAS EXECUTING A RIGHTHAND TURN ON A CITY STREET, I HEARD A SNAP/CLICK FROM INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL. IMMEDIATELY, THE AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON AND I DISCOVERED THE NEXT DAY THAT THE HORN AND STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS HAD STOPPED FUNCTIONING. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT 2013 TIGUANS WERE INCLUDED IN THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING RECALL IN 2015, SO I CHECKED TO SEE IF MY CAR'S VIN WAS INCLUDED. IT WASN'T, SO I REACHED OUT TO VW CUSTOMER CARE AND TOLD THEM THAT MY CAR WAS EXHIBITING THE SAME ISSUES THAT WERE OUTLINED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. THEY INITIALLY TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE WASN'T INCLUDED BECAUSE IT DIDN'T RECEIVE THE FAULTY FACTORY PARTS, THEN LATER CHANGED THEIR STORY TO SAY THAT MY VEHICLE ALREADY HAD BEEN REPAIRED IN RESPONSE TO THE RECALL. WHEN I EXPLAINED THAT THE REPAIR HADN'T PREVENTED THE SAFETY HAZARDS, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL REPAIR IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO I WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR MYSELF.

AN AIRBAG ERROR WARNING ILLUMINATED ON MY DASHBOARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO MAKE A CLICKING NOISE. AFTER RESEARCHING POTENTIAL CAUSES AND RECEIVING A RECOMMENDATION FROM A CAR SERVICE DEALER, I FOUND A RECALL ISSUED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 15V483000. MY VIN DOES NOT LIST MY VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING IS BROKEN. I'D LIKE TO REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION INTO MY VEHICLE'S FAULTY AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING AND REQUEST A RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER LISTED ABOVE.

AIRBAG CLOCK SWITCH FAILED ON MY 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, TURNING A 45 DEGREE CORNER, AND A 'GRINDING' AND 'POPPING' SOUND OCCURRED.

VW RECALLED THIS VEHICLE FOR A DEFECT IN THE CLOCKSPRING WHICH CONTROLS THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG. THIS REPAIR WAS MADE IN JULY 2016. JUST 15 MONTHS LATER AND LESS THAN 3000 MILES LATER THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED AGAIN IN THE EXACT SAME FASHION. THE SAME CLASSIC CLOCKSPRING FAILURE MODE AS REPORTED BY VW. I HAD IT REPLACED AGAIN THIS MORNING.

OUR VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN 2013 WAS RECALLED LAST YEAR FOR A FAULTY AIRBAG CLOCK SPRING WHICH, IF IT WENT OUT, CAUSED A LOSS OF THE DRIVERS FRONT AIRBAG AND ALSO USE OF THE HORN. OUR AIRBAG AND HORN FULLY WENT OUT AT THAT TIME, AND WE TOOK THE CAR IN AND HAD THE CLOCK SPRING REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL. NOW, JUST MORE THAN A YEAR LATER, THE EXACT SAME THING HAS HAPPENED -- THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE OUT, THE HORN DOES NOT WORK NOR DO ANY OF THE ELECTRIC CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. WE CALLED OUR LOCAL VW DEALER IN STAMFORD CT ABOUT THIS-- THEY HAVE SAID THEY WILL CHARGE US FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND THE REPAIR SINCE THE CAR IS CURRENTLY NOT RECALLED, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT WAS ADDRESSED UNDER THE RECALL LAST YEAR. IN ADDITION, THE FIRST AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT THEY ARE OFFERING US IS 30 AUG -- TWO AND A HALF WEEKS FROM TODAY. THEY HAVE SAID WE COULD ALSO BRING THE CAR IN NOW, BUT THAT IT WILL TAKE THEM A WEEK OR MORE TO GET TO IT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS NO STEERING FUNCTIONALITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE OSTIEN DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. AFTER DRIVING 20 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (PARAMOUNT AUTOMOTIVE GROUP LOCATED AT 1234 S CENTER ST, HICKORY, NC 28602) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE. DUE TO THE SAFETY CONCERN, THE CONTACT LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE ON APRIL 4, 2017. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THAT THEY WOULD SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE A RECALL AND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SERVICED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,200.

WHILE MAKING A NORMAL-RADIUS LEFT-HAND TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A SOFT POPPING SOUND. IMMEDIATELY, THE AIRBAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, ALONG WITH A MESSAGE INDICATING THAT THE DRIVER AIRBAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL. FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND THAT THE DRIVER AIRBAG, DRIVER STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS, AND HORN WERE NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE VW DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING HAD TORN, AND WAS THEREFORE REPLACED. A RECALL (15V483000) WAS ISSUED IN AUG 2015 FOR VW TIGUAN 2013S, BUT THIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WHEN CONTACTING VW'S CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM, THEY INDICATED THAT THIS VIN WAS INTENTIONALLY NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER EVIDENCE INDICATES OTHERWISE. THIS VIN, AND LIKELY OTHERS WITH THE SAME TRIM, SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN A NEW RECALL FOR THE SAME, AS THE PROBLEM EXTENDS BEYOND THE VINS IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL, 15V483000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AS THE HORN AND THE FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO OPERATE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ALSO FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,560.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT HEARD A CHIME SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500. UPDATED 10/29/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TRADED IN. THE CONSUMER FELT THE REPAIRS WERE TAKING TOO LONG TO BE COMPLETED. UPDATED 04/23/2015 *JS