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Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 TSI 150hp ACT 4Motion Comfortline Business common faults.

2016–2020, SUV, petrol, 150 HP.

The fault list covers: CZDA, CZEA engine, MQ281 transmission.

What you save stays on this device only. My saves

4 fault write-ups. 2 important. 9 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

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

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

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

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 150hp ACT 4Motion 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

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

Official recall9 recallsShow

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

Most recent: 9 February 2018

18V102000AIR BAGS:FRONTALAIR BAGS:FRONTAL9 February 2018 · NHTSA (USA)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Tiguan Limited vehicles. The front driver air bag installed on these vehicles may not be intended for use in vehicles sold in the United States. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: In the event of a crash, the incorrect air bags may not protect the driver as intended, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel and front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69V2.

The authority's notice

16V955000SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONERSEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER29 December 2016 · NHTSA (USA)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2017 Audi Q7, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, and 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners may not activate properly.

Risk: In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

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

A12/02703/24Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The propellant in the driver airbag may deteriorate over time. If the airbags deploy, it can result in fragments from the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants. The product does not comply with 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): 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

A12/0630/19Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The material used for the rear coil springs may be inadequate. There is a possibility that a coil spring may fracture and damage the rear tyres. This may affect driving stability and increase 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

A12/0961/18Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The fixing nut on the right and left front axle ball joint may not have been tightened with the correct torque. The fixing nut may consequently become detached from the ball joint, resulting in loss of forward propulsion and loss of 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

A12/1162/19Safety recallFireno date · EU Safety Gate

Due to a defective main fuse, in the event of an accident involving airbag deployment, the fuel pump is not switched off as intended. As a result, the fuel pump could continue conveying fuel, increasing the risk of fire.

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

The authority's notice

A12/1289/18Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

The fixing nut on the right and/or left front axle ball joint may not have been tightened with the correct torque. The fixing nut may consequently become detached from the ball joint, resulting in loss of forward propulsion and loss of 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

Engine and transmission

2 engines · 1 transmissions

CZDA · 1.4 TFSI COD

110 kW (150 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. More than one engine code is possible. The fault list shows the faults of each.

Variant data

What is in this version

Factory data

Trim
Comfortline Business
Body
SUV
Fuel
petrol
Transmission
manual
Engine size
1395 cc
Power
110 kW (150 HP)
Drive
AWD
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)
  • Haldex coupling: oil and filter

    • 64,000 km or 3 years(40,000 miles, or 3 years per the older VW documentation)
  • 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

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