The contact's friend owns a 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the power steering assist failed with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and a diagnostic test was performed. The diagnostic test showed that the vehicle and determined that the steering rack, wheel speed sensors, and engine cooling fans needed to…
2016 Volkswagen Tiguan steering problems
moderate 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 12 steering complaints filed for the 2016 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Clockspring failures render 2016 Tiguans undriveable by disabling airbags, horns, and steering wheel controls—parts were on indefinite backorder as of 2021 affecting thousands of owners. Power steering can fail suddenly without warning, creating dangerous loss-of-control situations, and Volkswagen has not issued a recall despite multiple complaints.
Owners describe two main steering failures in the 2016 Tiguan. The first is clockspring breakdown, which starts with a clicking or crunch sound from the steering column during normal turns. Within days the airbag malfunction light illuminates, the horn stops working, and all steering wheel controls fail. This renders the vehicle unsafe and unable to pass inspection. As of late 2021, Volkswagen had this part on indefinite backorder with thousands of customers waiting; the company refused to provide loaner vehicles and owners were told repair costs would come out of pocket.
The second failure is sudden loss of power steering assist while driving. Power steering cuts out with no warning—one owner lost it mid-turn in heavy Boston traffic—and the driver cannot steer the vehicle normally. A red steering wheel light comes on the dashboard. Failures can be temporary, with steering returning briefly before cutting out again. One owner reports the problem worsens in cold winter months; another notes it typically occurs 2–10 minutes into driving. A dealer diagnostic showed steering rack and electronic control module failure. Despite multiple complaints, Volkswagen has not issued a recall for either issue.
Same Volkswagen Tiguan steering reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Clockspring failure
The clockspring assembly fails, disabling airbag, horn, and steering wheel controls. Owners report hearing a crunch or clicking sound followed by loss of functionality. Volkswagen parts were on indefinite backorder as of late 2021, affecting thousands of owners.
When: December 2021 reported; varies by owner
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag malfunction light illuminated; Horn non-functional; Steering wheel control buttons inoperative; Clicking or crunch sound when failure occurs; Entire dash reported unusable by one owner
Codes mentioned: Airbag system fault, Horn circuit failure
Repairs/costs cited: Clockspring replacement required; owners report indefinite parts delay and thousands of backorders; repair costs not specified in narratives; one owner quoted for out-of-pocket repair at unknown cost
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Volkswagen refuses alternative transportation or rental vehicle coverage under warranty; parts remain on backorder; no recall issued despite widespread complaints
Electronic Power Steering loss of assist
Power steering assist fails suddenly while driving, leaving the driver unable to turn the wheel easily or at all. Failures occur without warning and across temperature conditions, though one owner reports correlation with cold winter months. Red steering wheel warning light illuminates on dashboard.
When: Varies; one owner reports cold winter months; failures occur 2-10 minutes into drive or immediately without prior warning
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering assist cuts out completely; Inability to steer vehicle normally; Red steering wheel warning light on dashboard; Wheel jerks slightly when power returns; Alarm sounds during failure event; Failure may be temporary then recur
Codes mentioned: Power steering system fault, Steering control module error
Repairs/costs cited: Steering rack and steering electronic module replacement required per dealer diagnostics; one owner declined $88k-range repairs; costs not specified in narratives
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued; Volkswagen acknowledged multiple reports but has not issued massive recall
Steering wheel clicking with clockspring degradation
Clicking or crunch noise emanates from the steering column when turning the wheel left or right, often preceding or accompanying clockspring failure. Noise persists regardless of road conditions or ambient temperature.
When: Occurs during normal steering input; one owner reports initial crunch at driveway entry
Symptoms owners cite: Clicking noise every time wheel turned left or right; Crunch sound reported on initial failure; Noise persistent across all driving conditions; Often precedes airbag light and control button failure
Codes mentioned: Clockspring circuit continuity failure
Repairs/costs cited: Clockspring replacement required; no costs cited
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
I’ll be driving for 2-10 minutes and power steering cuts out. Wheel will jerk a little and alarm will sound with the alert light remaining red through remainder of drive. Sometimes it will not work at all while driving, but I’ve found the it usually works for the first few minutes until I speed up a little more.
My car has never been in an accident. One day while turning into my driveway, I heard a large clicking sound. Since then, my airbag malfunction light is on and my car horn does not sound/work. All steering wheel controls are broken. This has been an issue for about 6 months. I've been waiting on a recall impacting my specific VIN/year/make/model, however I am being informed that I will need…
My check engine light keeps turning on and off. I took it to the dealership and they gave me a list of things to fix in the future but nothing too serious. They fixed the intake manifold, which I was not aware or informed that it had a recall on it, and they cleaned the valves. They turned off the check engine light and when I picked up the car, it came back on. I informed them about it and they…
Steering wheel began making a clicking noise every time I would turn the wheel either right or left. Then the volume and skip buttons stopped working on the steering wheel, left side only, the right side control buttons are working just fine. A couple of days later, the airbag light came on the dashboard and my steering wheel is still clicking when I turn the wheel. Doesn't matter if I'm on the…
Had steering trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 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?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 54,400 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2016/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.