2018 Volkswagen Tiguan driver assist problems

LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

A few weeks ago i noticed that a car passed me and the little blind spot alert light didn't light up. when i arrived at my destination I did some scanning through the menus and i discovered that the blind spot (side assist) was not on, but when i attempted to turn it on, the car said "function not available". After some investigation (using a odbeleven scanner) i discovered that the blind spot assist functionality has a fault with "no communication". This system, upon failure, give NO indication anywhere, plus this also means my rear back up alert ( a kid running behind my car, for example, which would normally cause a huge alert, nothing happens). I also learned that there is a technical bulletin : [XXX] related to this. This should be a recall, its dangerous to have no indication that a safety feature system like this is completely nonfunctional (without an ODBeleven read). a light on the dash should alert me, or a message on the screen. this is just plain dangerous! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11742512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS

A few weeks ago i noticed that a car passed me and the little blind spot alert light didn't light up. when i arrived at my destination I did some scanning through the menus and i discovered that the blind spot (side assist) was not on, but when i attempted to turn it on, the car said "function not available". After some investigation (using a odbeleven scanner) i discovered that the blind spot assist functionality has a fault with "no communication". This system, upon failure, give NO indication anywhere, plus this also means my rear back up alert ( a kid running behind my car, for example, which would normally cause a huge alert, nothing happens). I also learned that there is a technical bulletin : [XXX] related to this. This should be a recall, its dangerous to have no indication that a safety feature system like this is completely nonfunctional (without an ODBeleven read). a light on the dash should alert me, or a message on the screen. this is just plain dangerous! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11742512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

One time the car Just Lost power on the freeway and the e-card engine light came on and the cat Ran rugh and stalled and jerked hard almost causing me to cause a serious accident...I took it to vw and explained the severity and they bypassed that And installed a new water pump..2months later the same thing happened exactly to where I was very lucky and very upset...and took it to them once again and explained more issues where I'm urging . As to the front warning light and motion has came into play a few times witch was shocking...also the car would be on slow mo mode....and constant warning lights would come on the dashboard as well as the car would feel so unstable and Feel as if it were On gear 1/L while in the drive position...also the Eco turn of feature would playout ..and stall from time to time..then the car would get stuck on speed when foot would come off the accelerator to brake before a stop sign or red light intersection witch just started to concern me and I again took these concerns to Rick case vw and They thought I was inventing this story..then the car leaked coolant..and it rusted out the whole bottom of my car ..hoses...and they replaced the thermostat this time around and now the car has misfired..could not start ..idle was ver rough and just vibrated dramatically and damaged coils and spakplugs and blew out fuel inject #2 and can't hold pressure past 30 ..changed out the spak plugs and coils and the car is just crippled and its a safety hazard and in many occasions has almost caused me to cause a serious accident...

NHTSA complaint #11704422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST

On September 19th 2025, while driving on the highway at normal speed, the instrument cluster fuel gauge misread the fuel level and indicated that the tank still had fuel. Without any warning light or low-fuel alert, the vehicle suddenly lost power because it was actually out of gas. I was traveling with my boyfriend and our three dogs. We became stranded on the shoulder of a busy highway as vehicles passed at 70–80 mph. The outside temperature was about 85-90 at the time. This created a serious safety hazard: The cluster’s inaccurate fuel reading prevented me from knowing we were nearly empty. The engine shut down unexpectedly, leaving limited steering and braking control as we coasted to the shoulder. We were exposed to high-speed traffic and extreme heat while waiting for assistance. Additional cluster/safety issues observed: No audible turn-signal “click” or indicator sound when using the blinker. No warning chime if the car is left running when the driver exits (for example, if the ignition is on but the door is opened or the key is removed). The vehicle is out of warranty, but the dealership diagnosed a failed instrument cluster and quoted about $2,500 for replacement. Why This Is a Safety Concern: The instrument cluster provides critical driver alerts. Inaccurate fuel readings, lack of turn-signal audio, and the absence of an engine-on warning chime all reduce driver awareness and can directly lead to dangerous situations on the road. Requested Action: I urge NHTSA to investigate whether the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan’s instrument cluster/fuel-level system and related warning features contain a design or manufacturing defect and to consider a recall or other remedy to prevent accidents or injuries.

NHTSA complaint #11689357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

On September 19th 2025, while driving on the highway at normal speed, the instrument cluster fuel gauge misread the fuel level and indicated that the tank still had fuel. Without any warning light or low-fuel alert, the vehicle suddenly lost power because it was actually out of gas. I was traveling with my boyfriend and our three dogs. We became stranded on the shoulder of a busy highway as vehicles passed at 70–80 mph. The outside temperature was about 85-90 at the time. This created a serious safety hazard: The cluster’s inaccurate fuel reading prevented me from knowing we were nearly empty. The engine shut down unexpectedly, leaving limited steering and braking control as we coasted to the shoulder. We were exposed to high-speed traffic and extreme heat while waiting for assistance. Additional cluster/safety issues observed: No audible turn-signal “click” or indicator sound when using the blinker. No warning chime if the car is left running when the driver exits (for example, if the ignition is on but the door is opened or the key is removed). The vehicle is out of warranty, but the dealership diagnosed a failed instrument cluster and quoted about $2,500 for replacement. Why This Is a Safety Concern: The instrument cluster provides critical driver alerts. Inaccurate fuel readings, lack of turn-signal audio, and the absence of an engine-on warning chime all reduce driver awareness and can directly lead to dangerous situations on the road. Requested Action: I urge NHTSA to investigate whether the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan’s instrument cluster/fuel-level system and related warning features contain a design or manufacturing defect and to consider a recall or other remedy to prevent accidents or injuries.

NHTSA complaint #11689357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

Activates while driving on a flat road at random

NHTSA complaint #11687206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

Persistent and Dangerous Malfunction of Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Traffic Assist The safety features of Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Traffic Assist, designed to enhance driving safety, have unfortunately been plagued by a persistent and alarming malfunction. Despite the dealership's diligent efforts to troubleshoot the issue, the sudden and unannounced shutdown of these critical systems continues to pose a significant hazard during driving. The erratic and unanticipated shutdowns of the Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Traffic Assist systems create an extremely hazardous situation. These systems, essential for ensuring road safety, can cease to function without any prior warning. This sudden malfunction significantly increases the potential for accidents and poses a considerable threat to the well-being of both drivers and other road users. In an attempt to rectify this unsettling problem, the dealership has made efforts to identify the root cause. However, no fault codes have been detected, leaving the issue unresolved. This persistent malfunction continues to occur on a weekly basis, further exacerbating the gravity of the situation. The ongoing malfunction of Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Traffic Assist systems not only undermines the trust drivers place in these safety features but also compromises the overall safety of the vehicle. The inability to identify the root cause of this issue hinders the dealership's ability to provide an effective solution, leaving drivers and passengers vulnerable to the potential dangers that may arise from their sudden and unpredictable failure. The recurring and unexpected shutdowns of Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Traffic Assist systems represent a serious concern for drivers, as they compromise the safety of both the vehicle occupants and other road users.

NHTSA complaint #11577953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING

Persistent and Dangerous Malfunction of Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Traffic Assist The safety features of Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Traffic Assist, designed to enhance driving safety, have unfortunately been plagued by a persistent and alarming malfunction. Despite the dealership's diligent efforts to troubleshoot the issue, the sudden and unannounced shutdown of these critical systems continues to pose a significant hazard during driving. The erratic and unanticipated shutdowns of the Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Traffic Assist systems create an extremely hazardous situation. These systems, essential for ensuring road safety, can cease to function without any prior warning. This sudden malfunction significantly increases the potential for accidents and poses a considerable threat to the well-being of both drivers and other road users. In an attempt to rectify this unsettling problem, the dealership has made efforts to identify the root cause. However, no fault codes have been detected, leaving the issue unresolved. This persistent malfunction continues to occur on a weekly basis, further exacerbating the gravity of the situation. The ongoing malfunction of Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Traffic Assist systems not only undermines the trust drivers place in these safety features but also compromises the overall safety of the vehicle. The inability to identify the root cause of this issue hinders the dealership's ability to provide an effective solution, leaving drivers and passengers vulnerable to the potential dangers that may arise from their sudden and unpredictable failure. The recurring and unexpected shutdowns of Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Traffic Assist systems represent a serious concern for drivers, as they compromise the safety of both the vehicle occupants and other road users.

NHTSA complaint #11577953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

My vehicle has had repeated issues with passenger airbags, after last repair all of the safety sensors failed and received warning on dashboard (no collision protection, no Adaptive cruise control) after bringing back to dealer car was returned to me and told the parts are unavailable. Currently I have had a vehicle under warranty which has no collision protection features that came with the car. Car by dealer’s own statement it is unsafe to drive yet was returned to us. It has been nearly 3 months and are continually told that there is no fix in site.

NHTSA complaint #11543476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

My vehicle has had repeated issues with passenger airbags, after last repair all of the safety sensors failed and received warning on dashboard (no collision protection, no Adaptive cruise control) after bringing back to dealer car was returned to me and told the parts are unavailable. Currently I have had a vehicle under warranty which has no collision protection features that came with the car. Car by dealer’s own statement it is unsafe to drive yet was returned to us. It has been nearly 3 months and are continually told that there is no fix in site.

NHTSA complaint #11543476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

Blind spot assist warning shows up from time to time even when there is no vehicle near me.

NHTSA complaint #11466616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

The Blind Spot warning, forward collision warning and parking collision warning suddenly stopped working even though they showed that the features were enabled in the car's dashboard settings. Fortunately, I realized this and took it to the dealer for repairs.

NHTSA complaint #11455226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

The Blind Spot warning, forward collision warning and parking collision warning suddenly stopped working even though they showed that the features were enabled in the car's dashboard settings. Fortunately, I realized this and took it to the dealer for repairs.

NHTSA complaint #11455226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS

The Blind Spot warning, forward collision warning and parking collision warning suddenly stopped working even though they showed that the features were enabled in the car's dashboard settings. Fortunately, I realized this and took it to the dealer for repairs.

NHTSA complaint #11455226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

The blind spot warning of the car has again stopped working. I had a similar issue in 2020 and that was repaired by VW Dealer. This is again an issue and is a safety risk.

NHTSA complaint #11455229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

The automatic emergency braking activated and slammed on the brakes, for no apparent cause. There were no cars, people, animals around. And luckily, no car was behind mine. This has happened NUMEROUS times previously, especially when going through roundabouts and downhill. This issue needs to be addressed by VW. I have mentioned it to service at a VW dealer, and they just tell you to turn off the front brake assist, but that is not a solution. Plus, you would have to turn it off EVERY time you start your car.

NHTSA complaint #11444797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

The automatic emergency braking activated and slammed on the brakes, for no apparent cause. There were no cars, people, animals around. And luckily, no car was behind mine. This has happened NUMEROUS times previously, especially when going through roundabouts and downhill. This issue needs to be addressed by VW. I have mentioned it to service at a VW dealer, and they just tell you to turn off the front brake assist, but that is not a solution. Plus, you would have to turn it off EVERY time you start your car.

NHTSA complaint #11444797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: CRASH IMMINENT BRAKING

The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while the cruise control was activated with a vehicle in the lane directly next to the vehicle or two lanes over, the Collision Avoidance System would determine that the vehicles were too close and the Crash Imminent Braking System would activate and stop the vehicle. The issue most recently occurred while driving 70 MPH causing the contact to aggressively depress the accelerator pedal. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who informed him that there was no malfunction detected. The contact spoke to the manufacturer who informed him that the issue was known however, there was no recall on the VIN for the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.

NHTSA complaint #11440219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

My VW Tiguan was out of alignment, as happens to every car. Unfortunately, the VW Dealership informed me that I cannot get a simple alignment for $100 because VW requires calibration of the Adaptive Cruise Control any time an alignment is done. I could not find this anywhere in the Owner's Manual, nor are there any other warnings on the car or in any paperwork I signed. The VW dealership wanted an additional $400.00 (for a total exceeding $500) to provide both services. I am concerned about this 1) because VW does not communicate that this is a limitation of the ACC system, and 2) while an alignment should be the customer's responsibility to pay for, calibrating the ACC system should not. Anyone could go get an alignment done at a tire or brake shop for about $100 - what happens if they try to use their ACC afterwards and an accident happens? VW should cover ACC calibration as part of the limited warranty, and clearly warn customers not to perform one service without the other.

NHTSA complaint #11438385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

This vehicle's forward collision warning system is inaccurate and dangerous. It is very prone to errant activation. At least once a month, the vehicle's collision system would detect objects that were not there (often, when there was no traffic and also no roadway barriers like guardrails). These activations would result in the vehicle slamming on it's breaks, which culminated in warped brakes and premature wear on the vehicle. It was also hazardous to any vehicles driving behind me, as well as occupants of the vehicle - due to sudden jarring. My local VW dealer acknowledged this is a common problem with no solution, and not worth doing diagnostics on.

NHTSA complaint #11438386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

I WAS DRIVING WITH A FRIEND IN CAR DOING SPEED LIMIT AND ALL OF OF SUDDEN THE RED VEHICLE ACCIDENT IMAGE CAME ON THE CAR SHUDDERED AND THE AUTO BRAKES CAME ON THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED MY FRIEND FREAKED OUT I BOT IT IN SEPT 18 AND IT HAPPENED A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER THAT I IMMEDIATELY CALLED VW

NHTSA complaint #11402727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS

I'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE REVERSE CAMERA AND THE INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY. THIS HAPPENS 70% OF THE TIME BUT WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, THE SCREEN WILL GO BLACK WITH A POP UP SAYING "THE PARKPILOT IS CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE". THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY, SOMETIMES WHEN I LEAVE HOME THE REVERSE CAMERA WORKS FINE, BUT WHEN I TRY TO PARK SOMEWHERE AT MY DESTINATION THE ISSUE APPEARS. SOMETIMES AN IMAGE FROM THE RVC WILL APPEAR FOR A SPLIT SECOND THEN CUT OUT TO BLACK WITH THE POPUP OF THE PARK PILOT NOT BEING AVAILABLE. I DON'T THE HAVE PARK ASSIST FEATURE AVAILABLE ON THE MODEL I'VE PURCHASED, SO I'M NOT SURE WHY THE CAR EVEN THINKS I HAVE "PARK PILOT". THE ISSUE "FIXES" ITSELF WHEN I'VE LEFT THE CAR ON OFF FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES BUT THE ISSUE WILL REAPPEAR AGAIN SOONER OR LATER. IT'S AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND I'VE TAKEN MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TIME AND TIME AGAIN WITH NO RESOLUTION. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT SAFETY FEATURE AND NOW I CAN'T EVEN USE IT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA complaint #11389911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING

I'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE REVERSE CAMERA AND THE INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY. THIS HAPPENS 70% OF THE TIME BUT WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, THE SCREEN WILL GO BLACK WITH A POP UP SAYING "THE PARKPILOT IS CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE". THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY, SOMETIMES WHEN I LEAVE HOME THE REVERSE CAMERA WORKS FINE, BUT WHEN I TRY TO PARK SOMEWHERE AT MY DESTINATION THE ISSUE APPEARS. SOMETIMES AN IMAGE FROM THE RVC WILL APPEAR FOR A SPLIT SECOND THEN CUT OUT TO BLACK WITH THE POPUP OF THE PARK PILOT NOT BEING AVAILABLE. I DON'T THE HAVE PARK ASSIST FEATURE AVAILABLE ON THE MODEL I'VE PURCHASED, SO I'M NOT SURE WHY THE CAR EVEN THINKS I HAVE "PARK PILOT". THE ISSUE "FIXES" ITSELF WHEN I'VE LEFT THE CAR ON OFF FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES BUT THE ISSUE WILL REAPPEAR AGAIN SOONER OR LATER. IT'S AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND I'VE TAKEN MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TIME AND TIME AGAIN WITH NO RESOLUTION. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GREAT SAFETY FEATURE AND NOW I CAN'T EVEN USE IT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA complaint #11389911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

MY FRONT ASSIST FUNCTION MALFUNCTIONED. I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 50MPH AND THE CAR CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS ALMOST CHOKED ME, AND THE SUDDEN STOP JARRED ME. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE FRONT OF ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I'VE BEEN TERRIFIED EVERY SINCE IT HAPPENED. IT HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE, BUT THIS THIRD TIME WAS THE WORST. THE NEXT MORNING I CONTACTED VW, AND TOOK MY CAR IN. THEY TEST DROVE MY CAR. I WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, AND TO COME PICK UP MY VEHICLE. I EXPRESSED TO THEM THAT SOMETHING DEFINITELY WAS WRONG. I SUGGESTED THEM DO MORE DIAGNOSTICS, BUT THEY DID NOT. I CALLED CORPORATE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THEY DID DOCUMENT MY CLAIM AND GAVE ME A CLAIM NUMBER. IN THE MEANTIME I STARTED DOING SOME INVESTIGATIONS. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT INVESTIGATION GOING ON. I ALSO FOUND A YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THIS INCIDENT HAPPENING ON ANOTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11385693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

MY FRONT ASSIST FUNCTION MALFUNCTIONED. I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 50MPH AND THE CAR CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS ALMOST CHOKED ME, AND THE SUDDEN STOP JARRED ME. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE FRONT OF ME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I'VE BEEN TERRIFIED EVERY SINCE IT HAPPENED. IT HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE, BUT THIS THIRD TIME WAS THE WORST. THE NEXT MORNING I CONTACTED VW, AND TOOK MY CAR IN. THEY TEST DROVE MY CAR. I WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, AND TO COME PICK UP MY VEHICLE. I EXPRESSED TO THEM THAT SOMETHING DEFINITELY WAS WRONG. I SUGGESTED THEM DO MORE DIAGNOSTICS, BUT THEY DID NOT. I CALLED CORPORATE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THEY DID DOCUMENT MY CLAIM AND GAVE ME A CLAIM NUMBER. IN THE MEANTIME I STARTED DOING SOME INVESTIGATIONS. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT INVESTIGATION GOING ON. I ALSO FOUND A YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THIS INCIDENT HAPPENING ON ANOTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11385693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.