There are 26 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguanin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The fusebox that was included in the NHTSA recall #13V569000 for lighting defects was never resolved correctly on this car and many other VW Tiquans like this. I am a 45 year ASE licensed professional automotive technician. I am an ASE Master tech with current L1-L9 licensing. I am also an ex GM mastertech as well. Part time automotive instructor too. I've seen the multiple cases filed with the NHTSA regarding this melting fuse box that causes multiple issues whether they be with lighting, causes the engine & whole electrical system to shut down, same with several computers. I've scanned the system using VAG-COM and have two different sets of scan data to show clearly the issue. The car will load a multitude of erroneous codes because the central electrical, ABS, engine computer & other modules lose power causing a VERY dangerous situation for the operator of the vehicle. Not to mention a fire danger. I have pictures of the before and after repair I did on this vehicle. It still needs the fuse box replaced. I replaced the melted #6 wire that attaches to the fuse box (VW part# 1K0 937 125D) which was included in the original NHTSA recall I mentioned at the beginning of this essay. The vehicle & component is available for inspection at any time. This vehicle stalled & left my wife & kids stranded several times making it incredibly unsafe to drive. The car has been ok now for 2 weeks after my temporary repair. Prior NHTSA complaints from other owners with similar issues were 10551509, 10552308, 10553122, 10553811, & 10776567.
I DROVE TO A FRIENDS HOUSE AND ABOUT TWO HOURS LATER GOT IN THE CAR AND STARTED TO DRIVE THEN 10 OF MY EXTERIOR LIGHTS ALL WENT OUT THE SAME TIME. MY FOOTWELL LIGHTS I CANNOT DIM OR BRIGHTEN THROUGH THE CONTROLS AND BACK UP SENSOR STOPPED WORKING. I HAD NO HEADLIGHTS WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AT AROUND 11PM. ALL THIS HAPPENED AT ONCE AT THE SAME TIME. ALL OF THE BULBS WERE FINE. I REPLACED THEM. THEY WEREN'T EVEN BLOWN. FUSES WERE FINE. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD AND CAN LEAD TO CRASH IF NOT LOOKED INTO.
I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS TRUCK FOR 13 MONTHS NOW I HAVE MORE THAN 20 PAYMENTS STILL TO MAKE ON THIS TRUCK EVERY TIME IT RAINS THE TRUCK GETS FILLED WITH WATER IN THE PASSENGER SIDE FILLS MORE THAN 5 GALLONS OF WATER DEPENDING ON HOW BAD IT RAINS MY HEATED SEATS DON'T WORK AM ASSUMING IT'S DUE TO THE WATER DAMAGE AND MY BACK LIGHTS CONTINUE TO BLOW OUT I AM ACTUALLY FIGHTING A TICKET DUE TO THIS MATTER THERE IS WATER DAMAGE ON TOP OF THE ROOF TOP AND FEEL I GOT RIP OFF WITH THIS JUNK
THE SUNROOF OF THE CAR LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS OR SNOWS. ANY PRECIPITATION WILL GET INTO THE VEHICLE. THE DRAINS ARE CLEARED AND VOLKSWAGEN HAS SAID THE SUNROOF DRAIN TUBS DETERIORATE AND WATER DOES NOT MAKE IT OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. INSTEAD, ALL THE WATER LEAKS INTO THE FOOT WELL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAS CAUSED MOLD AND OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED US $3,650 TO FIX THE ISSUE OF PUTTING IN NEW TUBES AND REPLACING THE CARPETS. HOWEVER, NOT THE ENTIRE CAR HAS MOLD AND NEEDS THE SEATS REPLACED AS WELL.
HEADLIGHTS GO OUT ABOUT EVERY MONTH AND NEED REPLACING. ONE GOES OUT, IS REPLACED AND THEN THE OTHER. I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 4 TIMES.
ON 6/3/17. OUT OF THE BLUE WHILE DRIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE CAR SEEMED TO " HESITATE" - WANTING TO TURN OFF - LASTED ABOUT 20 SECONDS THEN IT WAS FINE UNTIL I ARRIVED TO MY DESTINATION, PARKED THE CAR.. 4 HRS LATER READY TO GO BACK HOME, THE CAR DIDN'T START. CALLED AAA, CHECKED BATTERY- FINE, POSSIBLY ALTERNATOR. ALTHOUGH AAA GUY SAID THE "CRAKING "NOISE WHEN TRYING 2 START THE CAR; DIDN'T THINK WAS ALTERNATOR EITHER. HE WAS PREPPING UP THE CAR 2 B TOWED; THE LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD STARTING FLASHING, STARTED WITH BRAKE LIGHT; LATER ALL THE LIGHTS WERE FLASHING FOR SECONDS & CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD. TODAY, 6/5/17 THE MECHANIC TOLD ME DIDN'T FIND ANY COMPRESION IN ENGINE. WOULD HAVE 2 TEAR DOWN 2 SEE WHAT EXACTLY FAILED. SAID TIMING CHAIN COULD HAVE JUMPED TIME . THIS IS A CAR WITH ONLY 88.000 MILES. I BOUGHT IT LAST YEAR- MAY2016- EXACTLY 3 MO. LATER I HAD 2 REPLACE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM; COUPLE MONTHS AFTER THAT I HAD TO GET A NEW ENTIRE FLUSH SYSTEM. ALSO I HAD TO SPEND ON GETTING A KEY LOCK KIT TO REPLACE BREAKS A ROTATE TIRES.,ALIGNMENT- CAR WASNT ALIGNT & OTHER MINOR EXPENSES . WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS WITH THIS CAR? I HAVE A LOAN ON A VEHICLE THAT REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE AND DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 90 000 MILES. ?PLEASE HELP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE A FUSE FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE FUSE PANEL TO BECOME DAMAGED. THE FUSE PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V569000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
VEHICLE LEFT TURN INDICATORS FLASH WHEN TURN SIGNAL CONTROL ARM PLACED IN THE POSITION TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHETHER IN MOTION OR STATIONARY AND EVERY TIME THE CONTROL ARM IS PLACED IN THE RIGHT TURN POSITION. I BELIEVE THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT IS THE ENTIRE TURN SIGNAL CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY.
FOLLOWING SECOND TIME OF CHANGING BOTH HEADLAMPS BULBS, ONLY ONE BULB TURNED ON, AFTER OPENING THE FUSE BOX ON THE ENGINE COMPARTMEN, IT WAS DISCOVER THE 30AMP FUSE MELTED ON ONE SIDE OF THE BLADE HOWEVER THE FUSE ITS SELF DID NOT MELT INSIDE AS ITS DESIGN AND THE SOCKET OF THE FUSE BOX APPEARS TO SUFFER A HI HEAT TEMPERATURE WITCH DEFORMED THE PLASTIC SUROUNDING THE FUSE.
EMAILED TO TO VW CUSTOMER CARE ON 9/26/15, ONE COULD ARGUE THESE ARE SAFETY RELATED, THE FUSE BOX WAS MELTED. THE ENGINE TIMING CHAIN SLIPPED & CAUSED ENGINE DAMAGE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR THAN THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE. TO CUSTOMER CARE: WE'VE HAD SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS WITH OUR 2010 TIGUAN - DOES VW OFFER ANY FINANCIAL HELP WITH THESE (FACTORY DEFECTS?) - REPLACE FUSE BOX: $550, 8/16/2013 PARTS & LABOR, ODOMETER WAS NOT STATED ON INVOICE - NEW ENGINE: $6,866.16, 05/13/2015 PARTS AND LABOR, ODOMETER 66,539 MILES THE DEALER OFFERED NO WARRANTY COVERAGE & THEIR PRICE WAS HIGH SO WE WENT ELESEWHERE - DO NOT PLAN TO BUY OR RECOMMEND VW IN THE FUTURE CONSIDERING THESE LARGE ISSUES I HAVE THE RECEIPTS, WILL SCAN & E-MAIL IF THAT HELPS - SERVICE LOCATION: VOLKS & RINGS, 13669 WARWICK BLVD, NEWPORT NEWS, VA 23602 - VOLKS & RINGS PHONE: 757-874-0018 [XXX] [XXX] YORKTOWN, VA 23693 CELL: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB
WARNING MESSAGE "CHECK FRONT LEFT HEADLIGHT". TESTED THE LIGHT AND IT WAS NOT WORKING. PURCHASED A NEW BULB, REPLACED THE BULB AND THE NEW BULB WAS NOT WORKING. TESTED THE BULB AND IT WAS GOOD. OPENED THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE 30 AMP FUSE (TOP LEFT CORNER OF BOX) WAS BURNED/MELTED. ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE AND WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE. IN ADDITION THE CORRESPONDING 15 AMP FUSE WAS BURNED OUT BUT NOT MELTED. CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION FOR FAULTY FUSE BOX. RESEARCHED FURTHER AND DISCOVERED THAT TIGUAN MODELS FROM 09-12 WERE UNDER INVESTIGATION. IN ADDITION TO THE FRONT HEADLIGHT I ALSO REPLACED THE RIGHT REAR LIGHT WHICH WAS ALSO OUT. I DID NOT TEST THE EXISTING BULB ON THIS LIGHT. JUST REPLACED. I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS TO SERVICE A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA REGARDING WHAT APPEARS TO ME AS AN UNSAFE CONDITION IN THE FUSE BOX. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FUSE BOX HAD OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V569000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
RIGHT HEADLIGHT AND HIGH BEAM OUT, RIGHT TURN SIGNAL OUT, LEFT FRONT PARKING LIGHT OUT AND LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL OUT ALL AT THE SAME TIME. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE FAULT INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON SAYING THAT THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. AFTER PARKING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND RESTARTING THE CAR, THE MMI WAS INDICATING NUMEROUS FAULTS WITH ABOUT HALF OF THE LIGHTING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A VW DEALER THAT DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE RESULT WAS THAT A FUSE HAD MELTED INTO THE FUSE BLOCK AND THAT WAS CAUSING THE LIGHT OUTAGES. THE ENTIRE FUSE BLOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE TOTAL REPAIR WITH LABOR WAS JUST OVER $600.00. I CALLED VW NORTH AMERICA ON 12-6-2013 AND THEY SAY THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THAT ISSUE ON MY VIN AND THAT OF COURSE IF THERE IS ONE IN THE FUTURE THAT I COULD POSSIBLY BE REIMBURSED AT THAT TIME FOR SOME OR ALL OF MY EXPENSES. *TR
UPON STARTING MY CAR ONE MORNING, I WAS GREETED WITH MANY ALERTS HAVING TO DO WITH THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLIGHT, FOG LIGHT, BLINKER, BRAKE LIGHT, REAR PARKING LIGHT AND LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, ALL OF WHICH DID NOT WORK. THE ALERTS CONTINUED TO CYCLE THROUGH DURING THE ENTIRE TRIP (20 MINUTES FROM HOME TO WORK) AND THE STATUS DID NOT CHANGE WHEN I RESTARTED MY CAR TO GO HOME THAT NIGHT. AS I WAS DRIVING HOME THAT NIGHT (10 MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE) MY RIGHT HEADLIGHT SUDDENLY TURNED ON AND ALL OF THE ALERTS WENT AWAY. THE NEXT MORNING, THE ALERTS WERE BACK ON AND NONE OF THE RIGHT EXTERIOR LIGHTS WERE WORKING. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED AND IT TURNS OUT THE 30 AMP FUSE IN THE BACK OF THE FUSE BOX WAS MELTED ALONG WITH PART OF THE FUSE BOX THAT SITS AROUND THE FUSE. IT IS GOING TO COST ME OVER $600 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND THIS IS CLEARLY NOT CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND IT SEEMS THAT A LOT OF OTHER DRIVERS ARE POSTING ABOUT HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR TIGUANS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IT IS IMPERATIVE TO HAVE BOTH HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THE MELTING OF THE FUSE BOX AND FUSE INDICATES THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY VOLKSWAGEN AND THE SAFETY HAZARD NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *TR
DURING A MORNING COMMUTE TO WORK SEVERAL LIGHTS WERE OUT ON THE VEHICLE. WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUED POP UP ON THE INFO DISPLAY IN THE DASH. HALF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS HAD STOPPED WORKING. 1/2 OF EACH TAIL LIGHT, 1 OF THE 2 BACK UP LAMPS, THE LICENSE PLATE LAMP, 1 HIGH BEAM, 1 LOW BEAN 1 OF EACH SETS OF TURN SIGNALS (FRONT AND REAR). I INVESTIGATED THE FUSE PANEL UNDER THE HOOD ONLY TO FIND A COMPLETELY MELTED FUSE (SLOT 16, 30A FUSE). AFTER SPEAKING WITH SEVERAL VW DEALERS, SOME ADMITTED TO SEEING HE ISSUE SOME DID NOT. MOST OF THE DEALERS HOWEVER HAD THE PART AVAILABLE OR COULD GET IT IN 1 DAY. NOT HAVING MANY OPTIONS, I PURCHASED THE PART ($280), AND REPLACED THE ENTIRE (NON SERVICEABLE) FUSE PANEL MYSELF. AT THIS TIME, THE ISSUE HAS NOT RE-OCCURRED WITH THE NEW PART. I STILL HAVE THE PARTS (FUSE BLOCK AND 30A MELTED FUSE) FOR REVIEW IF NECESSARY, ALONG WITH THE RECEIPT FRONT HE DEALER I PURCHASED THE PART FROM. I BELIEVE THIS IS SOMETHING VW SHOULD BE CONCERNED WITH AND SHOULD BE TAKING STEPS TO SUPPORT THE REPAIR , NOT STICKING THEIR OWNERS WITH THE $$$ AND POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARDS INHERENT TO ELECTRICAL FAULTS AND LACK OF VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER (AND TO OTHER DRIVERS). *TR
I STARTED MY CAR AND THE RIGHT SIDE EXTERIOR LIGHTS WERE COMPLETELY OUT. THE DASH DISPLAY SAID TO CHECK 11 DIFFERENT LIGHTS (FOG LIGHT, SIDE LIGHT, LOW BEAM, HIGH BEAM, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT, ETC.). I OPENED THE FUSE BOX AND FOUND A MELTED CAP TO A 30A FUSE IN SOCKET 16. *TR
UPON STARTING MY TIGUAN AN EMERGENCY APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD, A LIGHT BULB. MESSAGE STATED THAT THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT WAS OUT. GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE LIGHT AND IT WAS OUT. THEN IT STATED MY FRONT RIGHT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS OUT, THEN MY BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE LIGHT FOR MY LICENSE PLATE. THIS WAS THE 1ST TIME THE CAR HAD EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. NO PREVIOUS WARNINGS. TOOK THE TIGUAN TO MY DEALER, THE CAR WAS INSPECTED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE FUSE BOX HAD MELTED. I ASKED WHAT THE CAUSE WAS AND THEY GAVE ME NO EXPLANATION, BUT DID STATE IT WOULD COST AROUND $630 TO REPAIR. WORK WAS COMPLETED AND THE SYSTEM IS WORKING FINE, BUT THEY COULD GIVE ME NO GUARANTEE IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
INTERMITTENT ERRATIC BEHAVIOR OF SEVERAL LIGHTS (HEADLIGHTS, BLINKING, REAR BRAKE LIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT). DANGEROUS FOR VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. AFTER INVESTIGATION TURNED OUT TO BE A PARTIALLY MELTED 30 A FUSE IN THE FUSEBOX (30A FUSE AT THE BACK OF THE BOX). THIS EXACT PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OTHER VW TIGUAN OWNERS ON DIFFERENT ONLINE FORA, THUS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MAY EASILY CAUSE MORE SEVERE DAMAGE BECAUSE OF SHORT-CIRCUITING OR ARCING OF 30 AM CIRCUIT. *TR
I STARTED UP THE CAR AND MULTIPLE DASH WARNINGS THEN WENT OFF. THE EPC LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE HEAD LAMPS WARNINGS ALL TURNED ON. I THEN POPPED THE HOOD AND OPENED UP THE FUSE BOX TO MAKE SURE THE FUSES WERE SEATED CORRECTLY. UPON CHECKING THE FUSES I NOTICED THE BOX ITSELF WAS MELTED AND SCORCHED MEANING THERE HAD BEEN FIRE AT SOME POINT UNDER THE HOOD. I THEN TOOK MY VOLKSWAGEN TO THE CLOSEST VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE STATION. IT COST $400 (MICHIGAN) TO REPLACE THE FUSE BOX, ALSO LEAVING ME QUESTIONING IF THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION ONLINE I FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT RARE. THE VW DEALERSHIP THAT DID THE REPAIR STATED THAT THIS WAS THE 8TH ONE HE HIMSELF HAS DONE. HOPEFULLY THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. LIGHTS RANDOMLY GOING OUT IS A SAFETY HAZARD,AND COULD LEAD TO CAR ACCIDENTS, INJURYS, AND FATALITIES. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 26 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026