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Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 TSI 160hp BMT R-Line Edition common faults.

2011–2016, SUV, petrol, 160 HP.

The fault list covers: CAVD engine, DQ200 transmission.

What you save stays on this device only. My saves

6 fault write-ups. 5 important. 8 recalls.

If you know the year, pick it. Faults for other years drop out of the list.

Before you buy

Known faults

5 important faults

critical1

1.2 / 1.4 TSI (EA111): timing chain and chain tensioner

critical

A few seconds of chain rattle on a cold start, later a permanent noise; the chain stretches and the tensioner does not hold it. If the chain jumps, the engine is badly damaged inside, and the repair is a rebuild. The tensioner is driven by oil pressure, so it does not hold with the engine stopped: a car left rolling in gear is the typical trigger for the chain jumping.

between 65,000 and 100,000 km

What to check

  • Start it cold, and in the first 2 to 3 seconds watch for the rattle from the chain side
  • Ask whether the chain and the tensioner have been replaced, and ask for the invoice
  • Check the oil change history in the service book: stretched intervals speed up the wear
1 more steps in the write-up

expensive4

DQ200 (7 speed dry DSG): mechatronics

expensive

A thin wall of the mechatronics valve body can crack, which causes a loss of pressure. The typical signs: jerking and harsh shifting from 1st to 2nd at low speed, a flashing PRNDS display, then a gear engagement fault, intermittently at first.

What to check

  • Pull away slowly from standstill and watch the 1 to 2 shift: does it jerk, is it harsh
  • Check whether the PRNDS display flashes or the dash reports a gearbox fault
  • In creep mode (brake released), does the car move off evenly
1 more steps in the write-up

I: above average wear of the front suspension

expensive

The springs, dampers and control arm bushes wear far earlier than average. In the roadworthiness test the suspension failure rate on this model is many times the average: the TUV statistics have shown this for years. Symptoms: knocking on uneven roads, less confident cornering, uneven tyre wear. A broken spring also occurs, typically on overloaded cars.

What to check

  • On an uneven road with the window open, listen for knocking from the front suspension
  • Look at the inner and outer edges of the tyres: uneven wear indicates a suspension fault
  • Push the car down at each corner: if it rebounds several times, the damper is tired
2 more steps in the write-up

I: the brake discs warp early

expensive

Waves and grooves appear on the surface of the brake discs under 30,000 km, accompanied by pulsing felt through the steering wheel and the brake pedal when braking. The phenomenon is not a question of driving style: it is traced back to faulty production batches. VW sometimes contributed to the cost as a goodwill gesture, but rejected many claims. A full brake overhaul is a substantial item.

What to check

  • On the test drive brake from 80 with moderate force: pulsing felt through the steering wheel is the sign of a warped disc
  • Look at the disc surface through the wheel: the grooves and the lip around the edge are visible to the eye
  • Ask when and how many times the discs were replaced: a repeat replacement within a short time points to wavy discs
1 more steps in the write-up

Tiguan I: the panoramic roof water channel cracks

expensive

The water channel around the roof is plastic and the support frame is steel; the two expand differently, and a stress crack forms where they meet. Add to that a rear drain squashed during assembly. The water gets onto the headlining, and from there into the cabin and the electronics. The repair is often not durable: the workshop seals it or cleans a drain, and months later it comes back.

What to check

  • Feel along the headlining all around the roof, especially at the rear corners
  • Open the roof and look at the channel running around it for cracks
  • Pour a little water into the four corners of the channel, and see whether it drains out underneath
2 more steps in the write-up

cheap repair1

DSG selector lever: failure of the P position switch

cheap repair

The dash shows "Error: Workshop! Only leave vehicle in position P" with an audible warning. The message appears in whatever language the car is set to, for example "Fehler: Werkstatt! Fahrzeug nur in Stellung P verlassen" in German.

Show the rest

The message points at the gearbox, but the fault is not there. A tiny switch sits in the module under the selector lever and signals that the lever is in park (P). Its contact wears and can also burn. That makes the signal unreliable, and the car warns you. The fault codes appear as 617752, P173400 or B116229.

At first it is intermittent. Sometimes the message comes up, sometimes not, so a short test drive easily misses it. Later it becomes permanent, and the gearbox can drop into limp mode.

This fault looks more expensive than it is. The maker released a separate retrofit switch kit for it (5Q0713128A for the black module, 3Q0713128 for the white one), which can be fitted in half an hour. The kit costs 70 to 100 pounds. At a franchised dealer, however, the whole selector lever module sometimes gets replaced, which costs 626 to 1,000 pounds there. So the difference between the two routes is roughly tenfold.

The affected group is post 2013 MQB platform Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda cars with a DSG gearbox. The switch is in these gearboxes, because that is what these cars have in common. The part itself is not part of the gearbox but of the module under the lever.

What to check

  • Watch the dash after starting: the message is intermittent and can be missed on a short loop
  • Move the lever from P to D and back several times, then get out and lock the car
  • Ask whether the selector lever switch has been replaced already, and ask for the invoice
2 more steps in the write-up

Checklist

Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 TSI 160hp BMT R-Line Edition

First what you would check on any car. Then the faults of this model.

Before you buy

Checklist

The printed sheet starts with what you would check on any car. What you tick stays on this device only.

On every car

Ask the owner

Faults of this model

vinkodex.com · Before you buy it, see what can go wrong.

Official recall8 recallsShow

The manufacturer fixes these for free at a franchised dealer. Ask with the VIN whether it was done.

Most recent: 17 July 2019

19V535000AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULEAIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE17 July 2019 · NHTSA (USA)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment of the air bags.

Risk: Deactivated air bags increases the risk of injury. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install new software and replace the air bag ECU as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Z5.

The authority's notice

INFO/00145/21Safety recallInjuries13 May 2019 · EU Safety Gate

Defective material may be used in the rear suspension helical springs. As a result, the springs could break, impairing the driving stability and increasing the risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Importer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: 13/05/2019

The authority's notice

16V045000AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOWAIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW28 January 2016 · NHTSA (USA)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles manufactured January 15, 2015, to January 21, 2015, and 2015 Audi Q5 vehicles manufactured January 13, 2015, to February 3, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with driver and front seat passenger seat-mounted air bag inflators that may rupture in the event of a crash.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of a seat-mounted air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began July 7, 2016. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-822-2834 or Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69M1 (for Audi) and 69L9 (for VW).

The authority's notice

15V311000EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSEQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS26 May 2015 · NHTSA (USA)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Tiguan vehicles manufactured January 22, 2015, to March 20, 2015. These vehicles may be equipped with Certification labels that are missing the required tire pressure information and they may state incorrect weight and loading information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."

Risk: If the labels have incorrect weight and loading information, the operator may overload the vehicle which could cause vehicle instability, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will correct the information on the certification label, free of charge. The recall began on June 12, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01A5.

The authority's notice

A12/00181/21Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

Due to to errors in the adhesive bonding process, the upper rear (roof) spoiler may be insufficiently affixed. As a result, it can become detached from the vehicle and fall onto the road, posing a risk to the following traffic.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/00688/20Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The roof-edge spoiler may not be secured enough due to an incorrect adhesive bond. As a result, the spoiler may become detached in motion, posing a risk to the following traffic.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/1365/19Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

As a result of a production error, a capacitor in the airbag control unit may fail. In rare instances, the control unit may interpret the change in voltage when the capacitor fails as a signal similar to that in a crash and initiate the unwanted activation of the airbag(s) and/or the belt tensioner(s). Unexpected activation of the airbags may increase the risk of injury to the car occupants.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

A12/1535/18Safety recallFireno date · EU Safety Gate

Moisture can reach the LED module of the sunroof's ambient lighting which may cause a short-circuit and a build-up of heat. If this happens, there is a risk of fire.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

Engine and transmission

CAVD · 1.4 TSI

118 kW (160 HP) · petrol

DQ200 · 7-speed DSG, dry clutch

DSG · 7 speed

Clutchdry
Torque limit250 Nm
MakerVolkswagen

We built the code from the model and the gear count. The factory sheet does not state it.

Variant data

What is in this version

Factory data

Trim
BMT R-Line Edition
Body
SUV
Fuel
petrol
Transmission
automatic
Engine size
1390 cc
Power
118 kW (160 HP)
Drive
FWD
Production
2011–2016

Factory service interval

The manufacturer specifies this for this version. Of the mileage and the time, the one that comes first is the one that counts.

  • Air filter

    • 60,000 km or 4 years

  • DQ200: lifetime fill by the maker, not in practice

    • lifetime fill: the maker does NOT specify a change

  • Cabin (pollen) filter

    • 30,000 km or 2 years

  • Engine oil and oil filter

    • LongLife30,000 km or 2 years(valid only with LongLife-approved oil)
    • 15,000 km or 1 year

  • Brake fluid change

    • first: 3 years, then 2 years(first change at 3 years, then every two years)

  • Coolant (antifreeze) change

    • first: 193,000 km or 10 years, then 97,000 km or 5 years(G13 / G12++: first change at 120,000 miles or 10 years, then every 60,000 miles or 5 years)

  • Spark plugs, petrol

    • 60,000 km or 6 years
All I versions

Information, not an expert opinion

We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.

  • A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
  • A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
  • You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.
Details in the terms