I started to get an "airbag error" message on the dash and then noticed that my horn no longer works, and neither do any of the buttons on either side of the wheel that control the dash menus and sound/phone system. I was able to determine this is a clock spring failure. From what I read, this is not a part that is supposed to wear out or fail from the age of the car and is expected to last the…
2017 Volkswagen Tiguan steering problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
1injury
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2017 VW Tiguan has documented steering and control system failures across multiple owners, including power steering loss at low mileage, steering column lock-up, and clock spring failure affecting horn and airbag systems. These are safety-critical components; if shopping used, have pre-purchase inspection focus on steering system operation, warning lights, and horn/airbag functionality.
Owners report three distinct steering-related failures on 2017 Tiguans, all safety-critical.
Power steering loss is the most common complaint. The steering rack and pinion fails, cutting all power assist and leaving the steering wheel extremely difficult to turn. A red warning light appears on the dash. Failures have been confirmed at dealerships and independent shops; mileage ranges from 8,000 to 130,000 miles. One owner's power steering quit at 2°F, and another lost it while traveling 30 mph on a regular road. The problem sometimes clears after restarting or leaving the vehicle overnight, but the intermittent nature makes it unpredictable. Repair requires replacing the entire steering rack—around $2,000 for a rebuilt unit or $3,000 for new.
Clock spring failure (steering column) disables the horn, renders steering wheel control buttons (radio/phone/dash) inoperative, and triggers airbag warning lights. One owner reports a crackling sound when turning the wheel. This is an internal component owners claim should last the vehicle's life.
Engine stalling without warning while driving reduces power steering assist as engine power is lost. One owner first reported it in 2017; the dealership found nothing wrong, but stalling recurred in 2018. The quiet engine makes the stall hard to detect until steering becomes heavy.
Owners characterize these as safety hazards, particularly power steering loss at highway speeds.
Same Volkswagen Tiguan steering reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2016 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Steering Rack Power Loss
Complete loss of power steering assist due to steering rack and pinion failure or electrical malfunction. Red warning light illuminates on dashboard. Occurs at startup or while driving at any speed. Steering becomes extremely difficult or impossible to turn, creating immediate safety hazard.
When: Early in ownership (8k miles reported); later failures at 63k, 80k, 130k miles. One failure at 2°F ambient temperature.
Symptoms owners cite: Red power steering warning light; Complete loss of power steering assist; Steering wheel becomes hard to turn; Problem may resolve temporarily after vehicle restart or overnight sit
Codes mentioned: Power steering system fault code
Repairs/costs cited: Steering rack replacement required. Rebuilt unit ~$2,000; new unit ~$3,000. Failed component is internal to rack assembly, necessitating full rack replacement rather than component-level repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: VW mechanics have inspected failures at dealerships and independent service centers. No recall identified in narratives; owner states 'Volkswagen needs to recall this.' One narrative mentions active steering recalls on subject vehicle, though not specifically for rack failure.
Steering Column Lock at Startup
Steering column locks upon vehicle startup, making the vehicle undriveable. Red dashboard light appears. Electrical or mechanical locking mechanism fails to release normal steering control at ignition.
When: At startup, early in ownership reported
Symptoms owners cite: Steering column mechanically locked; Red dashboard warning light; Vehicle unusable for driving
Codes mentioned: Steering column lock code
Repairs/costs cited: Repair requires steering rack replacement (cost same as power loss repairs: ~$2,000 rebuilt, ~$3,000 new).
Clock Spring Failure
Clock spring component in steering column deteriorates, resulting in loss of horn function, airbag warning light, and failure of steering wheel control buttons (radio, phone, dash menu controls). Some reports include crackling sounds when turning wheel. Component is internal to steering column.
When: Not specified in narratives; described as unexpected failure on relatively new vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Horn inoperative; Airbag warning light / airbag error message on dashboard; Steering wheel control buttons non-functional (radio, phone, dash menu controls); Crackling sound when turning steering wheel left or right
Codes mentioned: Airbag error code, Clock spring failure code
Repairs/costs cited: Clock spring replacement required. Owners note this is an internal component expected to last the life of the vehicle.
Engine Stalling During Normal Driving
Engine stalls without warning while driving at constant speed or decelerating. Engine runs so quietly operator may not immediately notice stall. Loss of engine power results in loss of power steering assistance, making steering more difficult as vehicle slows. Happens regardless of vehicle speed.
When: First occurred in 2017, reproduced in 2018 (8/19/2018) on same vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Unplanned engine stall while driving; No warning before stall occurs; Reduced steering assist upon stall (secondary to power loss); Quiet engine makes stall difficult to detect
Codes mentioned: No codes found by VW dealership at time of original complaint
Repairs/costs cited: VW dealership unable to find cause on first visit.
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
I suffered a front-end collision on 11/15/2022 in my 2017 VW Tiguan. I was going on I-66 in Virginia 40-45mph back to college at Howard University, and a car stopped suddenly after being cut off, but it was raining horribly and I was in half a foot of water, so even with braking, I hydroplaned into the vehicle in front of me, causing insubstantial damage to them but very significant damage to my…
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Steering rack and pinion, yes. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? There is no power steering and unable to make a quick turn to maneuver the car around a potential hazard in the road. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes,…
Steering column locks upon start up. The light is red on the dashboard. You can not power steer the car thus making the car unusable. The code that comes up is to replace the steering rack. This is a $2k part rebuilt and a $3k part new. This is happening on many many VWs. Ours failed at 130k miles and 6 years old. I’ve heard of others failing at 80k miles, etc. this is absurd that this is…
Clock Spring - Crackling sound in steering wheel when turning right and left; airbag indicator
Had steering trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 18,000 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/2017/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.