Volkswagen Tiguan III

Engines

Faults typical of this model

Faults by engine

1.4 / 1.5 TSI plug-in hybrid (GTE, eHybrid, iV, TFSI e)

1.4 / 1.6 / 2.0 TDI (EA288)

1.8 / 2.0 TSI / TFSI (EA888)

1.0 / 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.5 TSI (EA211)

Gearboxes

DSG / S tronic (wet clutch: DQ250 / DQ381 / DL501)

Scheduled service

Intervals and typical prices for the 1.4 / 1.5 TSI plug-in hybrid (GTE, eHybrid, iV, TFSI e) engine. Other engines differ in oil, timing drive and some filters; the app gives the exact plan.

Most common engine versions in the EU

New cars of this generation registered in the EU, Iceland and Norway 2010–2025: 158,089, of which 1,216 in Croatia. The share shows how common each version is.

Source: European Environment Agency (EEA), monitoring of CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars, CC BY 4.0. CO₂ and fuel use are official type-approval values (WLTP from 2021), not real-world consumption.

Official recalls

Recalls the manufacturer published in the United Kingdom for this model (1). The same recalls usually apply across Europe. Ask an authorised dealer to check by VIN whether your car is affected and whether the work has been done.

• Seat belt Lever for seat height adjustment19/12/2024 · R/2025/004

Common questions

Does the Volkswagen Tiguan III have a timing chain or a timing belt?

1.4 / 1.5 TSI plug-in hybrid (GTE, eHybrid, iV, TFSI e): belt · 210,000 km / every 120 mo; 1.4 / 1.6 / 2.0 TDI (EA288): belt · 210,000 km / every 120 mo; 1.8 / 2.0 TSI / TFSI (EA888): chain; 1.0 / 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.5 TSI (EA211): belt · 210,000 km / every 120 mo.

What are the known problems with the Volkswagen Tiguan III?

The faults with the highest risk: timing chain tensioner (pre-2013) (80,000–160,000 km, €1,000–2,000); DCT mechatronic / solenoids (120,000–220,000 km, €800–2,000); DPF clogging (120,000–200,000 km, €150–1,500); EGR cooler leak or clogging (120,000–200,000 km, €600–1,200). The full list by engine is on this page.

What should you check when buying a used Volkswagen Tiguan III?

Before you buy, ask an authorised dealer to check by VIN that the recalls have been done (1 have been published for this model). If the engine has a timing belt, ask for the invoice for its replacement: with no proof, assume it has not been done. On the test drive, watch for these signs: rattle on start; harsh shifts. The full checklist is in the guide to buying a used car.

Other generations

Volkswagen Tiguan I 2007–2016Volkswagen Tiguan II 2016–2024

Models with the same engines

These models share engines with this car, so they share some of its faults too.

Audi A4 (B9) 2015–2024Volkswagen Polo VI (AW) 2017–Škoda Octavia IV 2020–Volkswagen Golf VIII 2019–Volkswagen T-Roc 2017–Škoda Kodiaq I 2016–2024Škoda Karoq 2017–Volkswagen Transporter T6 / T6.1 2015–2024

Other Volkswagen models

Volkswagen Amarok II 2023–Volkswagen ID.7 2023–Volkswagen Passat B9 2023–Volkswagen ID.Buzz 2022–Volkswagen ID.5 2021–Volkswagen Taigo 2021–Volkswagen Caddy V 2020–Volkswagen ID.3 2020–Volkswagen ID.4 2020–Volkswagen T-Cross 2019–

Sources and notes

Faults, intervals and prices are indicative and collected from public sources and owner experience; always rely on the service book and a qualified workshop. Test statistics: DVSA – Anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0. Dutch tests: RDW Open Data (CC0). Engine versions: EEA, monitoring of CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars (CC BY 4.0, DG CLIMA). Owner complaints: NHTSA ODI (public domain). Recalls: DVSA Vehicle Safety Branch Recalls Database, OGL v3.0. Brand and model names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to describe the vehicles.

Updated 08/10/2026