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Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 TSI 125hp Comfortline Business common faults.

2016–2020, SUV, petrol, 125 HP.

The fault list covers: CZCA engine, MQ281 transmission.

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4 fault write-ups. 2 important. 5 recalls.

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

Before you buy

Known faults

2 important faults

expensive2

EA211 (1.0 to 1.5 TSI): water pump and thermostat module leak

expensive

In the EA211 the water pump and the thermostat are one plastic module, and the pump is driven not by the timing belt but by a separate toothed belt behind the exhaust camshaft. There are usually two problems with it: the plastic housing warps or cracks (slow coolant loss, a sweet smell, rising temperature), or the drive belt ages (a chirping noise, then an engine left with no cooling). The housing is particularly sensitive if oil reaches it: for example from a leaking crankcase ventilation. The module has to be replaced whole: dismantling it warps it in itself.

What to check

  • Check the level in the expansion tank, and ask whether it needs topping up
  • After a cold start smell the engine bay: a sweet smell means coolant
  • Look for dried, whitish pink deposits on the exhaust side of the cylinder head
2 more steps in the write-up

II: panoramic roof glass breaking on its own

expensive

The toughened glass of the panoramic roof cracks with a loud bang with no external impact: on a parked car and while driving alike. It is not the drains blocking but the glass itself: stress left in the toughened glass releases with temperature swings. The event is unpredictable, the replacement is expensive, and third party insurance does not cover it. Measured: of the 1,302 consumer complaints on the 2016 to 2024 American Tiguan, 92 mention the roof, and 41 of those describe cracking or shattering. A real but not widespread phenomenon. The data refers to the American, long wheelbase (Allspace) version, whose roof glass is larger than on the European version.

reported complaints only

What to check

  • Go along the edge of the roof glass and look for chips or star shaped damage
  • Ask whether the roof glass has already been replaced, and if so, why
  • On a car with a panoramic roof, check that it has comprehensive cover: without it the glass damage is not covered
1 more steps in the write-up

comfort2

II: fast wear of the brake discs and pads

comfort

The brake disc and the pad wear out far sooner than usual; the roadworthiness test statistics show this for every model year. The same phenomenon was present on the first generation too, so it is not one bad batch: the higher mass and the sizing of the brake system bring it together. Freshly replaced brakes hide the wear.

What to check

  • Look at the lip running around the edge of the disc: a high lip means a lot of material has worn away
  • Ask when the discs and pads were replaced: if recently, ask how many times
  • On the test drive watch for pulsing in the pedal under moderate braking
1 more steps in the write-up

Tiguan II: infotainment freezing

comfort

On cars between 2016 and 2020 the head unit freezes or restarts; the navigation responds slowly. Owners typically go back to the dealer for a software update. After the 2020 facelift the complaint is noticeably rarer.

What to check

  • Cycle the ignition three times and check whether the screen comes up every time
  • Use the navigation and the media player at the same time during the test drive
  • Ask whether it has had a software update, and whether there is a record of it in the service book
1 more steps in the write-up

Checklist

Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 TSI 125hp Comfortline Business

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 recall5 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

16V464000LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGESLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES24 June 2016 · NHTSA (USA)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 CC vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016, to February 3, 2016, Golf R and Tiguan vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 28, 2016, and e-Golf vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 11, 2016. Vibrations, such as those created by opening and closing a vehicle door, may cause the rear child door locks to disengage, allowing a child to open a rear door while inside the vehicle.

Risk: If an unrestrained child unexpectedly opens a door, they may fall from the vehicle increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the child lock(s), free of charge. The recall began on August 22, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 58C9.

The authority's notice

A12/00754/21Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The towbar swivel mechanism may have a defective locking pin. As a result, the pin could break while driving, increasing the risk of an accident.

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

A12/0256/17Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

It is possible that the wheel bolts were not tightened with the correct torque which could result in the loss of the wheel. Also, the running direction of the tyres may not have been taken into account when the winter tyres were fitted which could have a negative effect on driving stability.

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

A12/0387/17Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

Some vehicles have differences in the mixture ratio for the initiating device, which could lead to the driver and passenger airbag or seat-belt pre-tensioner not activating in the event of an accident.

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

CZCA · 1.4 TFSI

92 kW (125 HP) · petrol

MQ281 · 6-speed manual

manual · 6 speed

Torque limit340 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
Comfortline Business
Body
SUV
Fuel
petrol
Transmission
manual
Engine size
1395 cc
Power
92 kW (125 HP)
Drive
FWD
Production
2016–2020

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

  • 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 II 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