2020 Volkswagen Tiguan: What to check before buying

A "Check Starter System" warning appears and the car loses electrical power while the engine keeps running. Headlights, brake lights, turn signals, hazards, gauges, and climate control all go dark. Many reports tie this to hot weather or parking in the sun, and some point to a faulty ignition switch. The overhead console also falls here, and one driver was hit in the head. Other patterns include red SOS emergency-call errors with costly out-of-warranty module replacement, wipers that switch on with turn signals or bumps, and a door switch fault that sets the parking brake while driving.

Oil consumption is the most common complaint. Some engines need a quart added within the first few thousand miles, and one owner reports a quart every 1,000 miles. Dealers often call this within normal limits. Related reports describe PCV or crankcase breather failures, white exhaust smoke, and in one case a condemned engine. The oil filter adapter gasket leaks coolant and has been replaced repeatedly on one car. Stalling at idle and sudden engine shutdown also appear. One crash, with 2 injuries, followed violent shaking and an Electronic Throttle Control warning.

The overhead console detaches from the headliner and swings by its wires, blocking the rearview mirror and the right side mirror. It happens while parked or driving, sometimes in high heat, with no warning. Reported mileages run from about 26,000 to 91,000. Repairs are often delayed because the replacement part is on national backorder, and some dealers suggest tape in the meantime. Some cars fail again after a warranty replacement. A separate report describes a driver door contact switch error that sets the electronic parking brake.

A "Brake booster fault" warning appears and the pedal turns hard or drops to the floor. The fault often clears on its own and shops cannot reproduce it. In one case it returned after the booster was replaced. Other complaints describe squealing under light braking from about 1,000 miles, uneven pad wear, and rear pads wearing faster than the fronts. Automatic emergency braking can engage on gentle slopes when pulling onto a highway. One rental car pulled across lanes at highway speed with the ABS light on, at about 70,000 miles.

Automatic emergency braking engages with nothing in the road and brings the car to a near or full stop. Drivers report this at around 40 to 45 mph, in traffic and on empty roads, and on several occasions per car. Reported mileages are low, from about 7,722 to 17,000. Dealers and independent shops usually find no fault code, and one dealer called the system "sensitive." Sudden stops in moving traffic create a real rear-end collision risk.

Acceleration hesitates or lags from a stop or when turning into traffic. The pedal can be pressed to the floor for a few seconds before the car responds. Other reports describe jerking from a faulty transmission sensor, hard shifts, and an ERC code that limits the car to 30 mph. Dealers often cannot duplicate the problem, so many cars go unrepaired. One reported mileage is about 40,000. Drivers describe near misses with traffic behind them.

Few complaints are filed here, and most are not about lighting. Two of the three describe the overhead console breaking its brackets and hanging by its wires after the car sat in summer heat, blocking the windshield and mirrors. The third concerns cheap aftermarket headlights that failed within minutes, not the factory lamps. No pattern of factory headlight or taillight failure appears in these reports.

Only 2 complaints are filed, but one is serious. A car accelerated on its own while parking at about 1,700 miles and struck two vehicles, injuring the driver. No warning light came on and a mechanic could not find a cause. The other report describes a throttle delay of 2-3 seconds when merging or turning left, with no fault codes. That leaves the car stuck in oncoming traffic.