Model year

2009 Volkswagen Tiguan

NHTSA lists 3 recalls and 168 complaints for the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). The components listed on the most complaints are ENGINE (80), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (40), POWER TRAIN (16). NHTSA lists 1 investigation. NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here. EPA rates it 20–21 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $3,900–$4,100, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.

ABOUT THIS DATA

Recalls

14V441000 · Jul 21, 2014

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 to June 2014. When using winterized fuel, in certain conditions bubbles may form in the fuel system which could result in the vehicle stalling.

13V569000 · Nov 22, 2013

EXTERIOR LIGHTING; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 through June 2011. Due to a problem with the fuse for the exterior lights, the holder for the fuse that controls the vehicle's exterior lights circuit…

08V235000 · May 28, 2008

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 4,079 MY 2008 PASSAT AND 2,500 MY 2009 TIGUAN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0T FSI ULEV II ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) CONTAINING SOFTWARE THAT MAY NOT PROPERLY CONTROL ENGINE IDLE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING TURNED ON.…

Complaints

168 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 5, fire flag on 6, injury field 4, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.

  1. ENGINE80
  2. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM40
  3. POWER TRAIN16
  4. EXTERIOR LIGHTING15
  5. STEERING15
  6. FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM11
  7. AIR BAGS10
  8. UNKNOWN OR OTHER9
  9. VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL8
  10. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING7

Investigations

Investigations in the NHTSA file (1). "No close date" means the file has no close date. It is not a statement that the investigation is still active.
ActionSubjectOpenedClosed
PE13036Partial Loss of Exterior Lights · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS:SWITCH;…Nov 4, 2013Feb 28, 2014

Safety ratings

NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here.

Fuel economy

EPA configurations. Electric rows show MPGe in the combined column and kWh/100 mi separately. Annual fuel cost is EPA's published fuelCost08 figure.
ConfigurationFuelCityHwyCombkWh/100 miRangeAnnual fuel cost
Tiguan · 2L · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel DrivePremium Gasoline192621——$3,900
Tiguan · 2L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel DrivePremium Gasoline182421——$3,900
Tiguan 4motion · 2L · Automatic (S6) · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremium Gasoline182420——$4,100

Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.

Check a vehicle

This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.

All Volkswagen Tiguan model years