2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN Air Bags Problems

The clockspring has failed and there are recalls on similar models of Tiguans of the same year.

Sunroof lets water in and floods in car causing electrical problems, mold, rust, ruining roof interior and carpets. The air bag and horn stopped working and clock spring needs to be replaced. I had no prior warning of that these problems would occur. I have spent thousands of dollars in repairs for electrical trying to figure out why the car stopped working and also how water was getting into car when there is no leaks around the sunroof. This puts the safety of my family as well as others on the road when my car breaks down. I wasn't able to drive my car for months during the winter because the area around the fuel tank froze from rain water sitting in area unknown.

I made a report on 11/1/19 about issues with my vehicle due to a manufactures defect that the panoramic roof drains did not drain properly and water leaked throughout the vehicle. Please refer to ODI# 41277589 and Ref.# 238025. This is a known issue with these vehicles and should have been recalled by volkswagon. On September 18, 2023 my daughter got into an accident because the vehicle shut off and couldn't stop. Air bags never went off either. It has officially been determined that there was in fact an electrical short.

While making a uturn my neighborhood with steering wheel turned to the left I started to hear and feel a "clicking and grinding" noise in steering wheel. Moments later, the airbag error light illuminated on dash and has not turned off. Front driver airbag error, airbag will not deploy in the event of a collision. Horn no longer works. Steering wheel controls do not work. Airbag error warning light displayed on dash and alarms during vehicle ignition. Clock spring seems to be defective and complete power steering failure has happened on multiple occasions, in very dangerous and inconvenient situations (i.e getting on the freeway). Once the engine and computer is powered down and restarted, no longer power steering failure for the time being. No active recall but all sources say this is the recall that has been covered previously. Car is unsafe to drive.

Water pump melted and needed to be replaced, car won't start, airbag light is on and clock spring needed to be replaced, heated seat gets extremely hot on driver's side when turned on.

Pulling out of parking space with steering wheel turned to the left. Heard and felt a "click/grind" in steering wheel and airbag error light illuminated on dash.Front driver airbag error, airbag will not deploy in the event of a collision. Horn does not work. Steering wheel controls do not work. Airbag error warning light displayed on dash and alarms during vehicle ignition. Clock spring defective. Problem was confirmed with independent service center and dealership. VW of America notified. Clock spring is covered under warranty but is on an indefinite national back order, could be months, years or eternity. Car is unsafe to drive without resolution from dealer or Volkswagen.

Bought vehicle used--had apparently been taken in at some point prior to our purchase for clock spring recall. Clock spring has failed and cannot find replacement part at any US-based source. Driver's airbag now deactivated.

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYS FAULT: ABS/STABILIZATION CONTROL. TIRE PRESSURE ERROR AND AIRBAG ERROR WHEN DRIVING AND CAR BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. *TR

Mileage: 81,120

MY AIRBAG LIGHTS ARE ON. BOTH ON THE DASHBOARD AND ON THE SCREEN. IT SAYS AIRBAGS: ERROR. *TR

SEVERAL MONTHS TO A YEAR AFTER I HAD THE CLOCK SPRING REPLACED MY CAR WAS PARKED AT THE AIRPORT FOR 4 DAYS. WHEN I GOT BACK THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON AND THE HORN STOPPED WORKING. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER AS WELL AS VW AMERICA. I WAS TOLD ITS NO LONGER COVERED AND IT WOULD BE OVER $600 TO REPAIR IT. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT AN AIRBAG RECALL WOULD BE COMING SO DON'T REPAIR IT AS THEY WILL ONLY REIMBURSE YOU UP TO 50%. SO HERE I WAIT FOR A RECALL ITS BEEN 2 YEARS......

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEGEND VOLKSWAGEN (SIDE A, 158 MERRICK RD, AMITYVILLE, NY 11701) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION (POD) UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

Mileage: 72,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEGEND VOLKSWAGEN (SIDE A, 158 MERRICK RD, AMITYVILLE, NY 11701) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION (POD) UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

Mileage: 72,000

IN DECEMBER 2015, AN ISSUE WITH THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPAIRED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONS CEASED TO WORK. THIS WAS NOT A VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL, BUT THE REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. JUST THIS WEEK, THE PART AGAIN FAILED, WITH A CLICKING SOUND FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. AGAIN, AIRBAG LIGHT ON WITH NO CONTROLS ON STEERING WHEEL WORKING. THE CAR NOR PART IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN THIS OCCURRED.

Mileage: 78,500

CLOCK SPRING FAILURE IN MOTION WHILE TURNING ON A CITY STREET WITH A LITTLE OVER 40K MILES ON VEHICLE. THIS VIN NUMBER DID NOT APPEAR ON 15V-483 RECALL. RECOMMEND INCLUSION OF THIS COMPLAINT ON THE RQ 17-009 INVESTIGATION TO WIDEN THE RECALLED VIN'S. REPAIR DONE BY OKC VOLKSWAGEN AT A COST OF $600

Mileage: 40,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG ERROR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. IN ADDITION, THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUNRISE VOLKSWAGEN (931 SUNRISE HIGHWAY, LYNBROOK, NEW YORK 11563, 516-596-5970) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

Mileage: 44,000

CLOCK SPRING IN STEERING COLUMN BROKE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. AS A RESULT, AIRBAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING AN AIRBAG FAULT. AIRBAG ERROR ALSO INDICATED ON THE DASHBOARD INFORMATION SCREEN. IN ADDITION, ALL STEERING WHEEL BUTTONS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. UPON RESEARCHING, THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE, AND ALSO A RECALL ITEM. IN CALLING THE LOCAL DEALER, I WAS REFERRED TO VW OF AMERICA FOR ASSISTANCE. THEY LOOKED INTO MY VIN, SND INFORMED ME THAT MY VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN IN UNDER RECALL TO HAVE THE CLOCK SPRING REPLACED (2016), AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY FURTHER WORK RELATED TO THIS ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE. IT IS MY OPINION THAT VOLKSWAGEN, UNDER THE ORIGINAL RECALL, REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING WITH THE SAME, OR EVEN A MORE INFERIOR QUALITY PART. THUS LEADING TO AN UNSAFE CONDITION, IN AN AIRBAG SYSTEM FAULT. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO RECTIFY ANY 'SUPPOSED" PRIOR FIXES THE VW HAD DONE, AS SO MANY ARE HAVING ISSUES AFTER HAVING THE RECALL WORK DONE.

Mileage: 56,700

THERE WAS NO CRASH OR PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE, AIRBAG SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING. FOR ABOUT A WEEK NOW, "ERROR: AIRBAG" MESSAGE IS SHOWN UP ON DASHBOARD AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS TURNED ON. IN ADDITION TO THAT, EVEN I BUCKLED UP, WHEN I MAKE A RIGHT TURN SEAT BELT ALARM IS BEEPING AND SEAT BELT LIGHT HAS TURNED ON WHILE I AM DRIVING. I AM CONCERNING ABOUT THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I AM DRIVING MY CAR EVERYDAY WITH POTENTIAL THREAT OF ACCIDENT WITHOUT AIRBAGS BEING DEPLOYED.

Mileage: 76,000

AIRBAG INFIGHTER CLOCK SPRING FAILS EVEN AFTER INSTALLING RECALL 15V483000. THIS IS A $664+TAX REPAIR AT TH VW DEALER. IN THE M A TIME, NO HORN, AIRBAG OR STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS WORK. ERROR CODE 00588 IS THROWN. AIRBAG IDIOT LIGHT IS ON AS WELL AS AN ERROR MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY WHEN YOU START THE CAR

Mileage: 88,000

I HEARD A LOUD CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL AND SINCE THEN MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AND MY HORN DOES NOT WORK ON MY VEHICLE. I SAW THE RECALL FOR THE CLOCK WHEEL SPRING IN 2015 AND THEY CLAIM IT HAS BEEN FIXED, BUT I HAVE SINCE SEEN FURTHER INVESTIGATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT VW ACTUALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. MY CAR WAS STATIONARY AND I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN OUT OF A PARKING SPOT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I STILL HEAR CLICKING NOISES IN THE STEERING WHEEL SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN.

Mileage: 48,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

Mileage: 35,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CLOCKSPRING MALFUNCTIONED IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN BEEPED INCESSANTLY AND THERE WERE NOISES IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. OURISMAN VOLKSWAGEN IN LAUREL, MARYLAND WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

Mileage: 70,000

AIR BAR CLICK SPRING FAILED ON VEHICLE ON OR ABOUT 12/6/17. RECALL (15V483000- CLOCK SPRING) INCLUDED 2010-14 TIGUANS BUT WAS TOLD BY VW OF AMERICA THAT OUR 2012 VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. VW SERVICE AGENT AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE RECALL 'EXPIRED'. VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF 'BUMPER TO BUMPER' AND POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP CHARGED $669 PLUS TAX TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING. THE SPRING FAILED FROM ROUTINE, NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE SPRING FAILURE CAUSED A LOSS OF POWER TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG AND THE VEHICLE'S HORN THUS COMPRISING THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. CLOCK SPRING FAILURE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR VW. VW HAS BEEN RELUCTANT TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES INVOLVED OR PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH ANY COMPENSATION FOR THE HEFTY REPAIR BILL TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART.

WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, I HEARD A CRACK FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. AN ERROR: AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE HORN AND STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS STOPPED WORKING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A CLOCK SPRING FAILURE. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THIS PART, AND IT WAS PROBABLY REPLACED UNDER PREVIOUS OWNERSHIP. WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE DEALER ASAP.

Mileage: 93,600

IN AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING REAR HIT, WHICH SENT THE VEHICLE INTO A DITCH APPROX. 8 FEET DEEP, WITH AN IMPACT SEVERE ENOUGH TO HOSPITALIZE THE FRONT SEAT PASENGER WITH FRACTURED STERNUM AN INTERNAL BLEEDING CAUSED BY A SEAT BELT. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED . PER THE DOTOR, INJURY COULD BE AVOIDED IF FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOYED.

Mileage: 80,000

2012 TIGUAN WAS RECALLED FOR THE AIR BAG DUE TO THE CLOCK SPRINGS BUT MY VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL HOWEVER OCT 2014 APRIL 2017 AND AGAIN TODAY NOV 17 I HAD TO BRING MY CAR IN DUE TO THE AIR BAG ( CLOCK SPRINGS) I HAD TO PAY IN 14 AND APRIL 17 TODAY I DID NOT SINCE IT HAPPENED WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF THE LAST REPAIR I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES AND THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW . I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR 2014 AND APRIL 2017. ALL 3X WHERE DONE AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP

AIRBAG MALFUNCTION PREVENTING THE HORN FROM WORKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASH IS LIT .

Mileage: 55,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (ONTARIO VOLKSWAGEN IN ONTARIO, CA) WHO STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED IN 2016. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,928.

Mileage: 56,928

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE STEERING CLOCK SPRING WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS REPAIRED PER A PREVIOUS RECALL VIA THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR FAILED AND IT WAS THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS COMPLETED AND WOULD NOT BE DONE A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE RECALL DETAILS WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

Mileage: 82,000

MY CAR HAD TWO RECALLS AND I BROUGHT IT IN AS VW OF AMERICA RECOMMENDED AND I DID HAVE OIL CHANGE AT THE SAME TIME ON 2/19/2016. I WENT ON VACATION AND WHEN I CAME BACK I NOTICE THE VEHICLE DROVE ROUGHER THEN BEFORE THIS SERVICE. ON WEDNESDAY 03/02/2016, I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND NOTICE MY CAR LOST BRAKE FUNCTION, I TRY USING EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TRY DOWN SHIFT NOTHING WORK. I FEEL BLESS THAT I MANAGE TO AVOID TWO CAR ACCIDENT AND IT WOULD OF BEEN MY FAULT. I MANAGE TO HIT THE CURB TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I SHIFT MY CAR TO PARK AND SHUT THE ENGINE RIGHT AWAY. LOTS OF ICONS INDICATOR WAS ON (AIRBAG, ABS, ENGINE...) AND I TOOK A VIDEO OF THE DASH. I THEN CALL MY INSURANCE HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER SERVICE. NEXT MORNING I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S GOING TO COST ME $3K+ TO FIX ALL THE STUFF THEY TELLING ME THE FOUND AND CLAIM IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALLS OR OIL CHANGED THEY DID, PRIOR TO SERVICE I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED VW AMERICA THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND HAVE CALLED THEM A FEW TIME NOW AND NOTHING WORD ON WHAT THEY GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. I DON'T FEEL SAFE TO GET BACK IN MY VEHICLE AND ALSO NOT SURE THEY ENSURE MY VEHICLE IS SAFE TO OPERATE PLUS THEY ASKING FOR $3K+ TO ADDRESS SOMETHING CLEARING DEFECTIVE.

Mileage: 60

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 02/19/16*LJ

DAUGHTER DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 50MPH WHEN INVOLVED IN 8 CAR CHAIN REACTION COLLISION. SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE. DAUGHTER INJURED WHEN SHE STRUCK STEERING WHEEL. DESPITE SPEED AND DEGREE OF DECELERATION, NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS OR SIDE CURTAINS.

Mileage: 40,000

THE CAR WAS TOTALED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH THREE PASSENGERSAND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, THERE WAS NO INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWING AIRBAG DYSFUNCTION PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE INFORMATION THAT VW PROVIDED ABOUT THE AIRBAG RECALL SEEMS INCOMPLETE AND TO UNDERSTATE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ISSUE.

Mileage: 19,900

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED INTO AN INTERSECTION AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, INJURIES ON THE LEFT LEG, AND NECK PAIN, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 6,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ABRUPTLY INTO THE CONTACT'S FACE AND ARMS. AS A RESULT, THE MANUFACTURING SYMBOL WAS PERMANENTLY BRANDED INTO THE CONTACT'S LEFT ARM. THERE WERE NO FURTHER INJURIES. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

Mileage: 15,000