Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 20 | 27% |
| Steering | 7 | 9% |
| Engine | 6 | 8% |
| Unknown or other | 6 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 3% |
| Steering | 2 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 3% |
| Power train | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Ive had every now and then a steering wheel light come on then come off. Well today 9/1/26 I had lost all steering to my 2017 vw tiguan. The electronic power steering has failed and I believe this is a safety issue that
NHTSA complaint: Steering
A/C has been a consistent issue since I purchased this from Columbia SC- CarMax's dealership in 2022. I've replaced the compressor and valves, and no resolve. The car sucks up oil and the electrical system is wacky!
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
No crash or incident occurred. While starting the vehicle normally, the airbag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed fault code P0588 — driver side airbag igniter at re
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I am filing this complaint to seek a full buyback and debt cancellation for a 2017 VW Tiguan (VIN: [XXX] ) sold to me by Carvana for $40,000. Summary of Deception: Carvana sold this vehicle as "Certified" with a "150-Po
NHTSA complaint: Steering
On December 3, 2025, Volkswagen of XXX performed an intake manifold recall repair on our 2017 Tiguan (VIN: [XXX] ) while the vehicle was under factory warranty. Approximately six weeks later the low coolant warning light
NHTSA complaint: Power train
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 un
NHTSA complaint: Steering
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 p
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
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 (
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 ma
Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Fix: 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.
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 2
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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
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 Mot
Risk: In the event of a crash, the incorrect air bags may not protect the driver as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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 serv
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 requi
Risk: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
Fix: 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 i
| Reliability raw | 70 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 69 | good |
| Maintenance | 66 | good |
| Depreciation | 66 | good |
| Performance | 52 | average |
| Efficiency | 39 | below average |
| Safety | 80 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 20 of them (27%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 70/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 69/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2017 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 65/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.