2017 Volkswagen Tiguan Safety Report

2017 Volkswagen Tiguan Safety and Reliability Report

70Complaints
4Recalls
★★★★☆Safety Rating
55/100Reliability Score
6Crash Reports
4Injuries
1Deaths
Most reported components: Air Bags (19)Steering (6)Engine (6)Unknown Or Other (6)Electrical System,Air Bags (3)Service Brakes (3)Electrical System,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System (2)Steering,Air Bags (2)Electrical System,Engine (2)Power Train (2)

Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan

This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.

2017 Volkswagen Tiguan Safety Signal Summary
SignalValueWhat to inspect next
Recall burdenHigh (4)Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below.
Owner complaintsModerate (70)Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates.
Crash and fire reports6Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item.
Primary component hubAir BagsCompare air bags issues across vehicles.
Cleaner nearby model year2015Compare against the 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan with 62 complaints and 4 recalls.
Riskier nearby model year2018Check the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan before buying across this generation.

Volkswagen Tiguan Year-by-Year Comparison

The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Volkswagen Tiguan years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.

Nearby Volkswagen Tiguan Model Years
Model YearComplaintsRecallsUse case
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan 269 13 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2016 Volkswagen Tiguan 95 2 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2019 Volkswagen Tiguan 170 5 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2015 Volkswagen Tiguan 62 4 Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative.
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan 120 3 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.
2021 Volkswagen Tiguan 109 5 Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year.

2017 Volkswagen Tiguan Complaint Theme Map

Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.

Air Bags

19 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Air Bags issues Volkswagen only

Steering

6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Steering issues Volkswagen only

Engine

6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Engine issues Volkswagen only

Unknown Or Other

6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Unknown Or Other issues Volkswagen only

Electrical System,Air Bags

3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Electrical System,Air Bags issues Volkswagen only

Service Brakes

3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.

All Service Brakes issues Volkswagen only

AI Safety Analysis for the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN has accumulated 70 complaints and 4 recalls in the NHTSA database. It received an overall NHTSA safety rating of good (4/5). Among the complaints, 6 involved crashes and 0 involved fires. There have been 4 reported injuries and 1 reported deaths. The most frequently reported problem areas are air bags (19 complaints), steering (6 complaints), engine (6 complaints). Steering issues, including power steering failure, are common. Airbag malfunctions and electrical system problems also occur. These issues can affect safety and vehicle operation. Engine and fuel system issues, such as timing chain problems, can lead to engine failure and check engine lights. These problems can reduce vehicle reliability and safety. Key known issues to be aware of include Steering Rack and Pinion Failure, Airbag Malfunction, Electrical System Issues. Be cautious of steering and airbag issues. Regular inspections and maintenance are crucial.

Reliability Score

The 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.

NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.

Overall
★★★★☆
4/5
Frontal Crash
★★★☆☆
3/5
Side Crash
★★★★★
5/5
Rollover
★★★★☆
4/5

Known Issues for the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan

The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan:

IssueSeverityFrequencyTypical Mileage
Steering Rack And Pinion Failure
Steering rack and pinion failures are frequent, causing loss of power steering. This issue is common between 30,000 to 60,000 miles.
Medium Common 30k-60k miles
Airbag Malfunction
Airbag malfunctions, including front airbags, are reported. These issues can be critical during collisions.
Medium Common 0-100k miles
Electrical System Issues
Electrical system problems, including fuel system and timing chain issues, are frequent and can lead to engine failure and check engine lights.
High Common 0-100k miles
Unknown Or Other Issues
Recalls for unknown or other issues are common, affecting various components including seat belts and airbags.
High Common 0-100k miles

Common Problems Reported by Owners

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan:

Steering 23% of complaints

23% of reported issues involve steering problems, including power steering failure.

Airbags 19% of complaints

19% of reported issues involve airbag malfunctions.

Electrical System 12% of complaints

12% of reported issues involve electrical system problems, including fuel system and timing chain issues.

Engine 6% of complaints

6% of reported issues involve engine problems.

Recall Details for the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan

The following 4 recalls have been issued for the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan by NHTSA:

Unknown Or Other
Campaign #21V321000 05/05/2021

Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Consequence: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Unknown Or Other
Campaign #18V329000 16/05/2018

Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Air Bags:Frontal
Campaign #18V102000 09/02/2018

Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Tiguan Limited vehicles. The front driver air bag installed on these vehicles may not be intended for use in vehicles sold in the United States. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence: In the event of a crash, the incorrect air bags may not protect the driver as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel and front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69V2.

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Seat Belts:Pretensioner
Campaign #16V955000 29/12/2016

Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2017 Audi Q7, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, and 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners may not activate properly.

Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan

Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 4 complaints involved crashes. 2 reported injuries or fatalities.

Crash Reports: 4 Injury/Fatality Reports: 2
Steering
10/17/2025

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Steering rack and pinion, yes. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? There is no power steering and unable to make a quick turn to maneuver the car around a potential hazard in the road. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, t...

ODI #11693994
Fuel/Propulsion System
08/29/2025

when was driven i lost power and got the ECU light and check engine light when scan for codes got fuel system and also car went into limp mode and had low fuel reading from live feeding and since have replaced the high pressure fuel pump and live reading are good now it still won’t start and won’t come out of limp mode

ODI #11683981
Air Bags
Crash 08/13/2025

During a collision in which my vehicle was struck by another driver, the airbag warning light activated, my seatbelt locked in place, and white smoke with a strong electrical smell filled the cabin. No airbags deployed (frontal or side). There is now an "ERROR: Airbag" warning on my dashboard, and the seatbelt is completely locked. The vehicle currently has multiple open safety recalls for airbag...

ODI #11680342
Air Bags
08/10/2025

Turning on the car I got a notification on my dash that says error airbag with the light icon.

ODI #11679642
Air Bags,Structure
07/02/2025

The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle after a rainstorm, the contact became aware that the interior of the vehicle was flooded, and that water had entered the vehicle through the sunroof. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the sunroof drainage sys...

ODI #11670895
Steering
06/26/2025

Steering rack and pinion failed. Lost power steering while driving. Failed part is inside no way to change part without changing whole steering rack and pinion.

ODI #11669391
Engine
06/10/2025

Timing chain and engine issues and repairs

ODI #11666091
Engine
06/10/2025

timing chain repairs and replacement

ODI #11666089
Air Bags,Seat Belts
Crash 1 Injured 04/03/2025

My [XXX] daughter was a front seat passenger in her friend‘s car the 2017 Tiguan when the driver swerved to avoid another car and struck a pole. The damage was primarily on the front passenger side of the car. My daughter hit the windshield. It was broken in two places and she sustained several other injuries. The airbags never deployed. The car was totaled. I’m interested in knowing whether or n...

ODI #11652619
Steering
03/12/2025

Power Steering assist is completely disabled. No power steering. Intermittent problem increasing in frequency. Diagnosed as defective rack'n'pinion steering gear and related electrical components. 63,000 mi. 2017. Tiguan. After many restarts or left over night steering assist may return.

ODI #11647835
Steering
01/27/2025

the power steering system fails sometimes. that happens most of the time when you start the vehicle. A red symbol comes on for the power steering locking the steering. When you turn off the vehicle after some minutes you can start the vehicle. sometimes works and sometimes not. you have to try couple times to make it work.

ODI #11638690
Engine
06/21/2024

The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who serviced the engine, and the check engine warning light was deactivated; however, the failure persisted. No further information was available. The contact stated that the vehicle also experienced excessive...

ODI #11595738
Engine
05/27/2024

My Tiguan does not have airbags, the tire sensors don’t work, none of the buttons on my steering wheel work. My turbo supercharger started failing and I had to spend $2,500 to fix it, which the car is not worth that plus the payments I make. The dealership says the airbags are on back order but won’t say when they’ll have it and that was over a year ago. It’s been inspected by a dealership and t...

ODI #11590891
Electrical System,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System
03/20/2024

I was driving and the fuel gauge quit working randomly. I am unsure how much gas is in my vehicle. I have had to get several repairs since purchasing my car from Carmax including my turbo boost, fuel pump and gas line. I financed the car in 2021 from Carmax.

ODI #11578584
Electrical System,Air Bags
12/05/2023

It is nearly 2 years since the "clock spring wire" in the steering wheel failed. While this results in the buttons on the steering wheel not working, that is a minor inconvenience (such as not being able to reset the tire pressure warning light). The major problem is that the steering wheel air bag is not functional. Local VW dealers and VW of American customer support have been unable to obtain t...

ODI #11558523
Steering,Air Bags
12/05/2023

I started to get an "airbag error" message on the dash and then noticed that my horn no longer works, and neither do any of the buttons on either side of the wheel that control the dash menus and sound/phone system. I was able to determine this is a clock spring failure. From what I read, this is not a part that is supposed to wear out or fail from the age of the car and is expected to last the li...

ODI #11558514
Air Bags
10/14/2023

The clock spring is broken on the 2017 Tiguan 4 motion @ 67,017 miles. The airbag light immediately came on. The part was removed for inspection and replacement by my husband. With the airbag/clock spring disabled turn signals, wipers do not work. Steering is very hard and there is a giant hole where the airbag should be making this vehicle unsafe. I see there is a recall on clock springs but appa...

ODI #11549985
Steering
09/19/2023

Steering column locks upon start up. The light is red on the dashboard. You can not power steer the car thus making the car unusable. The code that comes up is to replace the steering rack. This is a $2k part rebuilt and a $3k part new. This is happening on many many VWs. Ours failed at 130k miles and 6 years old. I’ve heard of others failing at 80k miles, etc. this is absurd that this is happeni...

ODI #11545507
Steering,Air Bags
08/22/2023

Clock Spring - Crackling sound in steering wheel when turning right and left; airbag indicator

ODI #11539994
Air Bags
07/31/2023

Airbag light went on at 56k miles. VW service told us it was a faulty airbag. I paid 2k to have passenger side airbag replaced. 500 miles later the airbag light came on again. I had VW service review the problem and this time they said it is the drivers side airbag. The car has never been in any accident. Airbags should last the life of the car and certainly not 57k miles.

ODI #11535621

Showing 20 of 70 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan

Has the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN been recalled?

Yes, the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN has 4 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.

How many complaints does the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN have?

The 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN has 70 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 6 involved crashes. 4 injuries and 1 deaths have been reported.

What is the safety rating for the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN?

The 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN received an overall NHTSA safety rating of good (4/5). Frontal crash: 3/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.

What are the most common problems with the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN?

The most commonly reported problems with the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN involve air bags (19 complaints), steering (6 complaints), engine (6 complaints). Other affected components include unknown or other, electrical system,air bags, service brakes.

How many crash reports does the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN have?

There are 6 crash reports associated with the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN out of 70 total complaints (8.6% of complaints involved crashes).

How many fire reports does the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN have?

There are no fire reports for the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN in the NHTSA database.

Are there any deaths reported for the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN?

Yes, 1 death has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. These are self-reported by complainants and do not imply the vehicle caused the death.

How many injuries are reported for the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN?

4 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.

Should I buy a 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN is acceptable with caveats. It has 70 complaints, 4 recalls, and a good (4/5) safety rating. Note: 1 death(s) have been reported. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.

What components fail most on the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN?

The components with the most failures on the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN are: 1. AIR BAGS (19 complaints), 2. STEERING (6 complaints), 3. ENGINE (6 complaints), 4. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (6 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS (3 complaints). AIR BAGS is the single most-reported problem area with 19 complaints.

What should I know before buying a 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN?

Be cautious of steering and airbag issues. Regular inspections and maintenance are crucial. The 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN has 70 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it good (4/5).

How reliable is the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN?

The 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN receives a reliability score of 55/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 70 owner complaints, 4 recalls, and 6 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Steering Rack and Pinion Failure and Airbag Malfunction.

What are the known issues with the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN?

Known issues with the 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN include: Steering Rack and Pinion Failure, Airbag Malfunction, Electrical System Issues, Unknown or Other Issues. These are based on patterns found across 70 NHTSA complaints. 4 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.

Are steering issues common in the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan?

Yes, steering rack and pinion failures are frequent, causing loss of power steering.

What should I do if I experience electrical system issues?

Have the vehicle inspected to identify the specific electrical problem and address it promptly.

Are there recalls for the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan?

Yes, recalls have been issued for various issues, including airbags and electrical system problems.

Buyer Advice

Our recommendation: Be cautious of steering and airbag issues. Regular inspections and maintenance are crucial.

NHTSA Data Summary for 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan

This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan. The data includes 70 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 4 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 6 reported crashes, 4 reported injuries, and 1 fatalities associated with this vehicle.

The NHTSA has assigned the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 3 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.

All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.

Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.

Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.

Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16