My airbag light come up and my horn is not working.
2013 Volkswagen Tiguan steering problems
moderate 27 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 27 steering complaints filed for the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 12 model years of Volkswagen Tiguan we track for steering problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 27.
Owners have filed 27 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2013 Tiguan steering system has widespread documented failures including clock spring breakage, power steering loss, and steering rack failure—some occurring as early as 46,000 miles. A recall exists (15V483000) for clock spring issues, but many owners report their VINs are inexplicably excluded despite identical failures; repairs cost $650–$3,000+ with some requiring multiple fixes.
Owners describe two main steering system problems. First, the clock spring in the steering column breaks or fractures, knocking out the horn, steering wheel buttons, and airbag system. Owners hear crunching or clicking before failure; the airbag warning light comes on, and you lose all wheel-mounted controls. VW issued recall 15V483000 for this exact failure, but many owners say their VIN is excluded from coverage despite having the same year, model, and failure symptoms. Dealers quote $650–$1,200 to replace the clock spring, though some report the replacement itself can trigger further steering electrical problems costing another $1,500.
Second, power steering fails or becomes unresponsive without warning. Some owners experience this cold-start, stuck in parking lots; others lose power steering while driving at highway speeds. The steering wheel becomes impossibly heavy to turn. A red warning light and chime accompany the failure. Power steering sometimes returns on its own after waiting, but returns with a violent jerk or stays excessively loose. Dealers often cannot reproduce the failure during diagnostic, leaving owners stranded with an unfixed car. One case involved complete steering rack failure at 40 mph that locked the system entirely until restart.
Owners also report steering that cycles between stiff and loose, failing diagnostics and recalibration attempts, with one case of total steering column failure.
Same Volkswagen Tiguan steering reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Clock Spring Failure
Steering wheel clock spring breaks or fractures, disabling horn, steering wheel buttons, and airbag system. Many owners report their VIN is excluded from recall 15V483000 despite matching vehicle year/model and exhibiting identical failures.
When: Occurs across mileage range from ~46,000 to 130,000 miles; some owners report crunching or clicking noise before failure.
Symptoms owners cite: Crunching or clicking noise from steering wheel; Airbag warning light illuminates; Horn fails to function; Steering wheel control buttons (cruise, audio, etc.) stop working; Airbag error message on startup
Codes mentioned: 15V483000 (NHTSA recall for airbags/clock spring)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers quote $650–$1,200 for clock spring replacement; some report replacement can trigger additional steering electrical system issues costing another $1,500. Parts shortages have delayed repairs indefinitely.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 15V483000 exists but excludes many VINs; owners report VW denies coverage based on VIN range despite identical symptoms. VW told some owners vehicle is still safe to drive; refused further assistance to out-of-warranty owners.
Electronic Power Steering Failure or Loss
Power steering becomes unresponsive or completely fails while driving, requiring manual steering effort or forcing driver to pull over. Often accompanied by steering warning light and warning chime.
When: Occurs unpredictably after cold starts or while parked; mileage varies from ~62,000 to 130,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering unresponsive or inoperable at startup; Red or yellow steering wheel warning light on dashboard; Warning chime sounds; Steering wheel becomes extremely heavy or immobile; Sudden jerking or lurching of steering; Steering feels excessively loose after power returns; Power steering intermittently cycles on/off
Codes mentioned: EPC warning light
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer diagnosed battery replacement; another recommended steering rack replacement (~$3,000). Recalibration attempted by independent shop without resolution. Many failures cannot be reproduced at dealership diagnostic.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers unable to diagnose intermittent failures; one stated no error found on diagnostic, advised owner to return when failure occurs again. VW offered no recall or warranty extension for this issue.
Steering Rack Failure
Complete steering rack failure disables vehicle steering with no warning. Electronic steering system locks entirely, preventing any steering input until engine is shut off and restarted.
When: At ~40 mph on local roadway; no prior warning signs reported.
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of steering ability; Steering system lock-up; No warning indicator before failure; Steering restored only after engine shutdown and restart
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer confirmed total steering rack failure but repair details not provided by owner.
Steering Stiffness and Looseness Cycling
Steering alternates between becoming stiff/hard to turn and excessively loose, occurring shortly after starting vehicle. Issue persists despite recalibration attempt.
When: Occurs within minutes of starting vehicle; issue reported ongoing for two years.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering becomes stiff and difficult to turn; Sudden transition to extremely loose steering; Steering wheel jerks or lurches; Yellow steering wheel warning light remains on dashboard; Problem repeats cyclically
Repairs/costs cited: Independent shop attempted recalibration without success. Owner suspects steering assist control module or rack-and-pinion malfunction; repair estimated in thousands of dollars.
Steering Column Failure
Complete steering column failure reported in one case; circumstances and specific failure mode not detailed in narrative.
When: At approximately 15,000 miles on 2012 model (note: owner replaced with 2013 model after dealer intervention).
Symptoms owners cite: Steering column failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: VW agreed to replace vehicle and provided $4,500 credit toward 2013 model.
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
While driving the vehicle down a major local roadway (approx 40 miles per hour), the steering rack failed disabling the vehicles ability to steer. This failure happened with no warning, and the vehicle was unable to be steered again until it was shut off. Due to the electronic steering system (versus a standard steering pump) the vehicle steering system locked entirely. The vehicle was taken to…
Air bag light on dashboard is lit up. At first steering wheel felt harder to turn left and right and then it sounded like a spring was moving back and forth on plastic. I was pulling out of the driveway when this occurred turning left.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen tiguan. While driving approximately 70 MPH, there was a clicking sound that came from the steering wheel. All of the controls on the steering wheel failed to work, including the horn, and the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The contact pulled over and powered the vehicle off and back on; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the…
Steering of the vehicle, gets stiff and looses the ability to drive smoothly, this happened after driving the car a couple of minutes, this put other people at risk because it happens when you start the vehicle and makes the steering hard to steer, also when the steering light goes off the steering wheel feels very loose. it appeared on my dashboard about 2 months ago and took it to the shop and…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen tiguan. While driving, the contact heard a crunching sound coming from the steering wheel. In addition, the air bag warning indicator illuminated and all the control buttons on the steering wheel failed to function. The contact called mossy Volkswagen at (760) 745-7551 (located at 1695 auto park way s, escondido, ca 92029) and was informed that the vehicle…
Had steering trouble with your 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 27 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 46,000 and 75,000 miles, with the median around 62,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 46,000; a quarter make it past 75,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Volkswagen/Tiguan.
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. Some links on this page are affiliate links.