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Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 TSI 150hp ACT Trendline common faults.

2016–2020, SUV, petrol, 150 HP.

The fault list covers: CZEA, CZDA engine, DQ250 transmission.

What you save stays on this device only. My saves

6 fault write-ups. 3 important. 9 recalls.

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

Before you buy

Known faults

3 important faults

expensive3

DQ250 (6 speed wet DSG): mechatronics and clutch pack

expensive

The solenoids of the mechatronics unit wear out: slow or harsh shifting, then limp mode. A characteristic sign is the partial or complete loss of reverse. Wear of the clutch pack or the wrong spring force causes jerking and slipping. Because of the wet design it fails less often and at higher mileage than the dry DQ200, but when it does fail, it is expensive.

above 150,000 km

What to check

  • Pull away slowly from standstill and watch how smooth the 1 to 2 and 2 to 3 shifts are
  • Select reverse several times, cold and warm: is it delayed, does it engage at all
  • Under load (on a slope) watch whether the clutch slips
2 more steps in the write-up

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

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 150hp ACT Trendline

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 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

CZEA · 1.4 TFSI COD

110 kW (150 HP) · petrol

DQ250 · 6-speed DSG, wet clutch

DSG · 6 speed

Clutchwet
Torque limit400 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
Trendline
Body
SUV
Fuel
petrol
Transmission
automatic
Engine size
1395 cc
Power
110 kW (150 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)

  • DSG oil change, WET clutch gearbox

    • 60,000 km or 4 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