CarOutlay

2011 Volkswagen Tiguan reliability record

Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.

Source-verified · 2026NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Official source ↗
NHTSA complaints
238
12 in the last 5 years
Top problem area
ENGINE
62 complaints
Recalls on record
3
see below
Reported harm
6 reported crashes · 1 injury · 2 fires

How this record compares

raw NHTSA counts, not defect rates

Complaint rank

#2,220

of 4,194 vehicle records

Vs Volkswagen median

-11

median 249 across 119 Volkswagen records

Vs 2009-2013

-35

median 274 complaints in 614 records

Top component share

26%

Engine: 62 complaints

What owners report fails — 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan

  • ENGINE 62
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 45
  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING 39
  • AIR BAGS 29
  • STEERING 14

3 recalls on record for the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan

  • NHTSA 15V483000 · 2016 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of
  • NHTSA 13V569000 · 2014 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING If the holder melts, there may be a partial loss of exterior lighting. Reduced vehicle illumination diminishes the vehic
  • NHTSA 14V441000 · 2014 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
Look up these campaign numbers at NHTSA.gov →

Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan

A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.

Open TCO calculator

These are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?

NHTSA has 238 consumer complaints on record for the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (62 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan?

Owners most often report problems with: engine (62), electrical system (45), exterior lighting (39), air bags (29). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

How much does it cost to own a 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan?

Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.

Related vehicles

Browse all vehicle reliability records →