WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FOUR YEAR OLD IN THE BACKSEAT OF THE CAR, THE CAR SUDDENLY MISFIRED AND THE ENGINE ROUGH IDLED. THE CAR STALLED AT INTERSECTIONS AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. WE ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT AS WE WERE DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET, AS CARS BEHIND US HAD TO SWERVE OUT THE WAY WHEN OUR ENGINE STALLED. WE TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC IMMEDIATELY, AS IT WAS CLEARLY HAZARDOUS TO HAVE ON …
2009 Volkswagen Tiguan powertrain problems
moderate 19 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
ON OCT. 24, 2015 WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR, IT SHOOK, IDLED ROUGHLY AND STALLED. I TRIED AGAIN AND IT WOULDN'T START. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY VOLKSWAGEN DEALER. THEY CHECKED IT AND TOLD ME THE TIMING CHAIR HAD BROKEN CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS WAS $4952.29. AND IF THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED, IT WOULD BE $6500. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA GROUP WOULD…
WHILE DRIVING THE REAR OIL SEAL FAILED CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE THAT REQUIRED AN IMMEDIATE TRIP TO THE MECHANIC. NO WARNING LIGHTS EVER CAME ON TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. HAD OUR VEHICLE STALLED OR ENGINE FAILED DUE TO LOSS OF OIL WHILE WE WERE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED WE COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. ALMOST A YEAR LATER WHILE PARKED THE ENGINE FAILED TO TURN OVER AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO MEC…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 19 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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