2009 Volkswagen Tiguan Electrical System Problems

Problems start with ABS and Steering warning lights with EPIC warning on dash, flickering of lights and radio shut off by loosing power steering and rough acceleration and idling. Has been in to VW dealership 5 times now with repairs "fixing" problem for a few days - a week before returning again. This is a safety issue because this happens very quickly and without warning. Once I was on a highway and had to carefully move to side of the road and limp to a safe area (luckily I was in the right lane already).

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE COOLANT HOSE WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED MY RADIO GOES BLANK TO WHERE I CAN'T SEE MY BACK UP CAMERA ! THIS VEHICLE HAS TO MANY ELECTRICAL ISSUES! *TR

2009 TIGUAN 2.0 TSI ALL WHEEL DRIVE IN 2012 I DISCOVERED SOME WETNESS IN THE TIGUAN FLOOR MAT. (LESS THEN 3 YEARS OLD CAR) I TOOK IT TO VW DEALERSHIP, THEY FOUND A MALFUNCTION OF THE ROOF DRAIN HOSE. THE ESTIMATE WAS SO HIGH $700 THAT I FIGURE WELL, I CAN LIVE WITH A LITTLE WETNESS WHEN IT RAINS HARD. 2012 TO 2015 THE CAR WAS AT PIZZA ARDMORE VW SEVERAL TIMES (THE SAME DEALERSHIP) DUE TO AN ONGOING RED AND ORANGE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD. "CHECK ENGINE"INCLUDING MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRBAG. IN MAY 2015 THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING. "YOU NEED A NEW ENGINE" I WAS TOLD, WITHOUT PROVIDING ME WITH ANY EXPLANATION IN SPITE OF MY REQUEST. HOW COME 25,000 MILE ENGINE BRAKES? NEARLY $8,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE ON A SIX YEAR OLD TIGUAN. TWO YEAR LATER, THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING AGAIN, THE ENGINE WILL NOT START, ALL ELECTRIC ARE SHOT, NO RADIO, NO LIGHT, NO AIRBAGS, NO POWER, ALL GONE. BACK TO PIAZZA ARDMORE VW, THE CAR WAS THEN DECLARED TOTAL LOSS, IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE TO FIX. IT ALL HAPPENED FOR TWO REASONS. THE VW MANUFACTURER PRODUCTION DEFECT OF THE DRAIN HOSE. AND LOUSY PIAZZA VW DEALERSHIP NEGLECTED TO DETECT AND FIX THE PROBLEM TWICE BEFORE IT WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS.

TIGUAN. PURCHASED THE CAR IN DECEMBER 2015 REPLACED THE WATER PUMP IN FEBRUARY 2016 AND AGAIN IN JANUARY 2017. THE WATER PUMP ON THIS CAR HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES IN ITS LIFETIME. VW SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND OFFER EXTENDED WARRANTIES TO ALL OWNERS OF ITS CARS.

THE WIRING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS INSULATION THAT DEGRADES WITH THE HEAD GENERATED BY THE LOW BEAM/DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS. IT BECOMES BRITTLE AND FALLS OFF CREATING BEAR WIRE SHORTING HAZARD. THE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES ARE SUCH THAT THE WIRING CANNOT BE ACCESSED TO REPLACE WITH HIGH TEMP INSULATION. VW ONLY REPLACES W/ THE SAME ENTIRE ASSEMBLY WHICH DOES NOT CORRECT THE HAZARD & COSTS $800 TO REPLACE BOTH ASSEMBLIES. I CAUGHT THE DEFECT WHEN REPLACING A LIGHT BULB. THIS AFFECTS MORE THAN THE TIGUAN MODEL.

CAR WOULD NOT START OR EVEN TURN OVER. BATTERY WAS FINE AND FIRMLY CONNECTED. LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. NO ERROR MESSAGES. ON THIRD OR FOURTH TRY, IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I BACKED THE CAR OUT OF DRIVEWAY ONTO MY STREET WITH DISTANT APPROACHING TRAFFIC. I SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND THE CAR BEGAN TO MOVE FORWARD AND LEFT, THEN WITH A LOUD CLUNK IT DIED COMPLETELY, ENGINE OFF, ALL LIGHTS DARK. NOW IN DANGER FROM THE NOT-SO-DISTANT ONCOMING TRAFFIC, I TRIED TO RESTART. SAME TROUBLE AS BEFORE---NO REPONSE BUT THE ALL LIGHTS CAME ON. TWO OR THREE TRIES AND THEN IT STARTED. THE SAME THING OCCURRED THE FOLLOWING MORNING. NO OIL DUMP OR ANY OTHER FLUID. UNKNOWN CAUSE. VW DEALERSHSIP UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND THUS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE. THE DYING WHILE IN MOTION PROBLEM IS A POTENTIALLY INJURY-CAUSING OR EVEN FATAL HAZARD.

I WAS ON A CITY STREET IN NOVA SCOTIA WITH THE FAMILY IN VACATION, I WAS DRIVING LIKE 50 KM/H AND EPC LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ON THE DASH BOARD IT SAID ENGINE FAULT WORKSHOP . MY CAR WAS STARTING TO ACT WEIRD , NOT TAKING SPEED , NOT CHANGING GEARS MY ACCELERATION PEDAL WAS PUSHED AT MAX AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE CAR WAS LOOSING SPEED. I PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TURN ENGINE OFF AND WAIT FOR 4-5 MIN , WHEN I STAR CAR AGAIN EPC LIGHT WAS OFF ONLY ENGINE LIGHT REMAIN ON AND NO MESSAGE ON THE BOARD. CAR SEEMS TO BE GOOD FOR DRIVING. I REACH AT THE CAMP GROUND WHERE WE WORE AND PARK THE CAR. 20-30 MIN LATER MY WIFE WANT TO TAKE A LOAD OF LAUNDRY TO THE CAMP LAUNDRY PLACE AND WASH THEM, I GIVE HER THE KEY FOR CAR AND WHEN SHE TRIED TO START , THE CAR WASN'T STARTING. I UNPLUG BATTERY PUG IT BACK IN NOTHING WAS WORKING. I CALL A TOE TRACK TO TAKE THE CAR TO A VW SHOP IN TRURO (VANTAGE MOTORS). THEY TOLD ME THEY FIX THE PROBLEM, THEY HAVE TO CHANGE A RELAY 460 UNDER THE DRIVER DASH AND MOVE A FUSE #5 TO #7 UNDER THE HOOD AND THEY TOOK THE CAR FOR A TEST DRIVE AND EVERYTHING WAS GOOD, NOW I CAN COME AND PICK THE CAR FROM THEM 279$ BILL. BECAUSE I WAS IN A SUCH A HURRY TO GET BACK HOME IN NEW BRUNSWICK I DIDN'T CHECK TO SEE IF CAR IS FULLY OPERATIONAL, AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO, BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME THEY TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE. NOW ON MY WAY DOWN TO HOME I REALIZE MY FANS ARE NOT WORKING,CIGARETTE PLUGS,WINDSHIELD PUMPS ON FRONT AND BACK, AND WINDSHIELD WIPER ON THE BACK ARE NOT WORKING, I CALL THE VW SHOP IN TRURO TO FIND OUT WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND IF IS A WAY FOR ME TO FIX IT.THEY TOLD ME IT CAN BE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS TO TAKE THE CAR WHEN I REACH HOME TO MY VW SHOP IN ST. JOHN NB.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V441000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 07/01/16*LJ UPDATED 11/21/2017*JS

I DRIVE A 2009 VW TIGUAN 2.0 AUTOMATIC FRONT WHEEL DRIVE ABOUT 63000 MILES SITUATION #1: $782.67 INTAKE MANIFOLD (COVERED UNDER VW WARRANTY EXTENSION) DE CARB FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR PVC VALVE PRESSENS SEPARATOR SITUATION #2: $903.20 REAR MAIN SEAL FILTER OIL CHANGE AFTER CAR RETURNED: ISSUES WITH POWER WINDOWS, CD PLAYER, AND SUN ROOF DURING INSPECTION FOR ABOVE AT SHOP- CAR OVER HEATED WHILE ON A TEST DRIVE ISSUE # 3: ABOUT $1000- HAVEN'T YET GIVEN GO AHEAD CD PLAYER MAY BE FROM 'PLAYING BURNED CDS... SEE BEST BUY TO FIX.... SUNROOF- MAY BE TRACKING ISSUE- SEE AFTER MARKET SUNROOF PERSON TO FIX... WATER PUMP ARE ANY OF THESE CAUSING THE OTHERS? CAN I HOLD THE MECHANICS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF THIS? IS THIS NORMAL FOR A CAR THIS AGE/ MILEAGE?? HELP!!!! *JS

THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON MANY TIMES BETWEEN 2011 AND 2014 AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE KICKED OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL. MILLER VW CHECKED THE CAR JULY 2011, DID NOT HAVE A SOLUTION AND CLEARED THE CODES. I ASKED OUR LOCAL MECHANIC ABOUT IT IN JULY 2013 WHO IDENTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A TSB FOR THE THROTTLE BODY WIRING HARNESS. WE CONTINUED TO OBSERVE THE INTERMITTENT EPC FAULT RESPONSE BUT EXPERIENCED NO PROBLEMS. THE FIRST MAJOR INCIDENT OCCURRED 28 JUNE 2014 ENTERING I-89 NORTH WHEN ENTERING TRAFFIC THE EPC AND ENGINE FAULT LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER JUST AS WE ENTERED THE TRAVEL LANE. THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND WOULD GO NO FASTER THAN 35 MPH I SWITCHED OFF THE ENGINE WHILE TRAVELING WHICH RESET THE THROTTLE FAULT ALLOWING US TO CONTINUE TRAVELING. THIS IS A SHORT RAMP AND THERE IS NO SHOULDER AT THE END OF THE RAMP. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE CAR AT WALKER VW TO REPAIR THE CAR ON 2 JULY. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS THAT DAY AS THEY DID NOT HAVE ALL OF THE REQUIRED PARTS ON HAND. ON 22 JULY MY WIFE WAS PREPARING TO ENTER I-91 FROM ROUTE 5 SOUTH VIA A LEFT TURN ON RAMP WHEN THE EPC AND ENGINE FAULT LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO LIMP MODE JUST AS SHE WAS PREPARING TO TURN INTO THE ON RAMP. A TRACTOR TRAILER WAS RAPIDLY OVERTAKING HER IN THAT LANE IN A DRIVING RAIN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT EXCEED 20 MPH. SHE TURNED ON THE FLASHERS AND THE OVERTAKING TRUCKER VEERED INTO THE RIGHT LANE AVOIDING COLLISION. I THEN MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH OUR LOCAL CAR REPAIR SHOP AND TRUSTED MECHANIC AT KINGDOM IMPORTS. THEY ORDERED THE PARTS AND INSTALLED THE REPLACEMENT WIRING IAW THE TSB ON 29 JULY 2014. EVEN AFTER ORDERING TWO COMPLETE SETS OF PARTS VW DID NOT INCLUDE THE SHRINK TAPE REQUIRED TO STABILIZE THE WIRING. VW HAS CHOSEN THE WORST SOLUTION AND SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND INSTALL A PURPOSE BUILT WIRING HARNESS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, THE RIGHT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT CAME ON - I STOPPED THE CAR AND LOOKED TO SEE WHAT HEADLIGHT WAS OUT AND NOTICED THE RIGHT SIDE LOW BEAM WAS OUT. I WENT BACK INTO THE CAR TO HEAD HOME (ONLY ABOUT THREE MILES AWAY 0 BUT AT NIGHT), AND THE OTHER LIGHT WENT OUT AS WELL - BOTH HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAM) STOPPED WORKING - I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP MONDAY MORNING. I HAD PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TWO WEEKS AGO TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT - WAS TOLD IT WAS TAKEN CARED OF BUT EXPERIENCED ISSUES THERE AFTER. I JUST WANTED THIS INFORMATION RECORDED AND MAKE SURE THE LIGHTS DO NOT FAIL BECAUSE OF A RECALL ISSUE AND SAFETY CONCERNS WHILE DRIVING WITH THE FAMILY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AND GOT THE LAMP OUT WARNING. MORE THAN A FEW LIGHTS WERE OUT. WENT TO THE FUSE BLOCK UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND A BAD FUSE AND MELTING FUSE BLOCK. I REPLACED THE FUSE WITH A STORE BOUGHT REPLACEMENT. THE BLOCK STILL IS SOME WHAT MELTED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD NOT TO MENTION UNSAFE SITUATION AT NIGHT. *TR

2009 VW TIGUAN. THE WIRING TO BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAM LIGHTS IS FAULTY. THE INSULATION AROUND THE COPPER WIRING TO ALL LIGHTS HAS CRACKED OFF EXPOSING THE COPPER WIRING. AS A RESULT THE LIGHTS FREQUENTLY DO NOT WORK PROPERLY LEAVING ME WITH A HEADLIGHT THAT DOES NOT FUNCTION. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE LOCAL VW DEALERSHIPS FAIL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. WHICH LEADS ONE TO THINK THAT VW AMERICAN FAILS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM BUT WIDESPREAD. REPLACING THE BULB IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX. THE PROBLEMS PERSISTS BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY, CRACKING WIRE INSULATION. VW WILL CHARGE $800. TO REPLACE BOTH LIGHT SYSTEMS. THEIR REASON FOR THE HIGH COST IS THE LABOR INVOLVED. THEY SAY THE FRONT BUMPER HAS TO BE TAKEN OFF TO COMPLETE THE HEADLIGHT LAMP REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT THAT VW NEEDS TO ADDRESS. WIRE INSULATION IS NOT SUPPOSE TO CRACK MAKING THE LIGHT INOPERABLE. YET THE DEALERSHIP EXPLANATION SAYS IT'S "DUE TO WEAR". WELL, WHY AREN'T ANY OF THE OTHER WIRING SYSTEMS UNDER THE HOOD CRACKING? BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO. THAT'S WHY. THIS IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING TO KNOW THAT I HAVE TO PAY AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEMS. SOMEONE PLEASE INITIATE SOME ACTION.

EXTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. MY FUSE UNDER THE HOOD WAS MELTED AND PANEL ALSO SHOWS SIGNS OF MELTING. *TR

SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. PASSENGER NOTICED THEIR SEAT WAS HOT. DISCOVERED BURN SPOTS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN DARK, SNOWY, AND ICY CONDITIONS WITH MEDIUM TRAFFIC, SOME OF THE VEHICLE LIGHTS WENT OUT AND VW WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON SAYING MULTIPLE LIGHTS WERE OUT. AFTER PULLING OVER IN A SAFE LOCATION, FOUND RIGHT HIGH BEAM, RIGHT LOW BEAM, RIGHT FRONT BLINKER, RIGHT FOG LAMP, RIGHT REAR BLINKER, AND TAILLIGHT OUT. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH AND TROUBLESHOOTING, FOUND 30 AMP LIGHTING FUSE IN UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOX SEVERELY MELTED. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS IS A COMMON VW PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

HELLO - I STARTED MY 2009 VW TIGUAN ON NOV. 9, 2013. AFTER PLACING THE CAR IN DRIVE, ALL OF MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS FOR "LIGHTING FAILURES" CAME ON, A TOTAL OF 8 DIFFERENT ERROR MESSAGES - LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, DRIVER AND PASSENGER TAILLIGHTS, BACKUP LIGHTS, FRONT HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS. AT THIS POINT I WAS ON THE ROAD, AND QUICKLY PULLED OVER TO THE CLOSEST PARKING LOT I COULD FIND. I WAS ABOUT TO HEAD ON THE HIGHWAY. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED AROUND AND DROVE HOME AND DID SOME RESEARCH. I OPENED THE INTERIOR FUSE PANEL, BUT THAT WAS OK. I WENT IN UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW THE 30 AMP FUSE WAS COMPLETELY MELTED. (I TOOK A PICTURE, AND HAVE IT FOR REFERENCE.) THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SCENARIO, AND THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER HOW THAT FUSE HAS IMPACT THE LIGHTING SYSTEM OVERALL IN MY TIGUAN.

THERE IS A PANORAMIC SUNROOF LEAKAGE. WHICH HAS POSSIBLY CAUSE ELECTRICAL LIGHTING OUTAGE. THE LEAKAGE HAS ALSO CAUSED EXCESSIVE CONDENSATION, CAUSING VISUAL IMPAIRMENT WHEN DRIVING. *TR

FOR THE 2ND TIME IN LESS THAN A YEAR, WE HAD A FRONT HEADLIGHT GO OUT, THE BULB WASN'T BAD BUT THE FUSE WAS. THE FIRST TIME THE FUSE WAS BLOWN AND LOOKED LIKE IT HAD SLIGHTLY BEEN MELTED. THE MOST RECENT TIME THIS HAPPENED ON 10/19/13 THE FUSE WAS ALMOST TOTALLY MELTED AND ALSO SLIGHTLY DAMAGED THE FUSE NEXT TO IT. THIS IS A 2009 MODEL AND WE'VE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE O2 SENSOR, ACCELERATOR COIL AND NOW TWO FUSES FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. *TR

WARNINGS AND ERRORS SHOWED UP ON THE DASH BOARD CONCERNING HEADLIGHT, BLINKER AND BRAKE-LIGHT OUTAGES. RESEARCHED ONLINE, TURNS OUT THE FUSE BOX STARTED MELTING CAUSING ONE OF THE FUSES TO MELT WHICH CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE LIGHTS. THIS CAN APPARENTLY CAUSE A FIRE. *TR