2020 Volkswagen Tiguan problems and complaints
Owners have filed 141 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan. The most-reported areas: Unknown Or Other (52), Electrical System (34), Engine (26).
Key takeaways
- 141 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 5 involve a crash, 0 a fire, 7 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 52 | 37% |
| Electrical System | 34 | 24% |
| Engine | 26 | 18% |
| Structure | 16 | 11% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 16 | 11% |
| Service Brakes | 11 | 8% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 10 | 7% |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | 6% |
| Power Train | 5 | 4% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 | 3% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 3% |
| Back Over Prevention | 3 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan SUV AWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan SUV FWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-10-06
While driving my 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan (equipped with approximately 39,000 miles), the vehicle suffered a sudden and catastrophic total engine failure without prior warning, resulting in an immediate loss of power and propulsion while in motion. This sudden stall on an active roadway created a severe, immediate safety...
Electrical System,unknown Or Other - filed 2026-09-15
Vehicle threw SOS emergency call feature error two years ago. I replaced the module at the dealership. Today, the same SOS emergency call feature again showed up and I am unable to make an emergency call. This is a known and common issue with VW.
Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-08-28
I was driving the car it died while driving. The dealership can’t figure out what’s going on. And it will die WHILE driving and then say check starter ignition system. I open the door it says the engine is on but it is not. This vechicle had a physical key and you have the press the breaks to start the car
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More for the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.