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.
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.