2023 Volkswagen Tiguan: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
66 NHTSA owner complaints · 1 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
Avoid the 2018 and 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan, which have 283 and 252 complaints and scores of 45 and 40, and treat the 2019 car (188 complaints, score 69) with caution. Buy a 2014 to 2017 car, which score 86 to 89 on 62 to 96 complaints, or a 2023 car, which has 60 complaints and scores 84. Read the full note on the model page. 2023 specifically: a year the record favours — 66 complaints, score 83/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Volkswagen Jetta and Passat: the years the record favours, including 2023 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 66 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 22.0
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving and accelerating, the vehicle hesitated while moving forward. The vehicle jerked while accelerating. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised that the failure was not duplicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was …
My VW Tiguan 2023 has a systematic problem on the Emergency Call function. The car has the module replaced twice within couple of months. Recently, it has failed by the 3rd time. You can find attached: - VW App showing an active problem with the emergency call function - A WV service invoice from 05/16/26, stating the first replacement of the SOS communication module - A WV service invoice from 07/24/26, stating t…
XXX my Tiguan was serviced at Byers VW and received the recommended 80k maintenance. During this recommended service my vehicle passed the multi-point inspection except tires and brakes. On XXX I contacted your service department because as I was driving to [XXX] my check oil level came on. An appointment was scheduled for Tuesday. After the inspection was completed Tuesday it was determined that the value seal ne…
Recalls: 1 campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 25V082000 | Back Over Prevention:Software | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Tiguan, 2023 Arteon, and 2024-2025 Audi Q3 vehicles. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 26 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,500
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine24 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Unknown Or Other11 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Electrical System11 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Forward Collision Avoidance9 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
- Power Train8 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Fuel/Propulsion System6 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
Other Volkswagen Tiguan years
Volkswagen Tiguan years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (24 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 83/100, computed from 66 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan's most common problem?
24 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan cost to run per year?
About $4,008 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $20,040 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan, 0 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 12/02/2025. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsizes of about the same age.
What will a 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 66 complaints, 1 recalls on record
- 66 NHTSA complaints on record (22.0/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (22.0/yr)
- 1 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems