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2014 Volkswagen Tiguan problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
34%
13 of 38 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

34% of relevant owner complaints on the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 63% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 46 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 15%).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan have engine problems?

More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 13 of 38 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%), and the largest group is filed under engine (11). For comparison, the 2013 scores 53% and the 2015 scores 32%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
13
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
84
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
3
2 crashes · 0 injuries

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS46 · 55%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM22 · 26%
STEERING20 · 24%
ENGINE11 · 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER9 · 11%
SERVICE BRAKES4 · 5%

The years either side

2010
63%
56 of 110
2011
73%
71 of 161
2012
57%
66 of 153
2013
53%
40 of 139
2014
34%
13 of 84
2015
32%
11 of 62
2016
29%
16 of 96
2017
50%
23 of 75
2018
50%
125 of 290
2019
34%
59 of 192
2020
25%
32 of 140
2021
51%
69 of 141
2022
53%
139 of 269
2023
49%
32 of 68

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan

What one owner reported

ENGINE09/01/2026
My vehicle stalls and completely stops at red lights, stop signs, and low speeds. Currently my vehicle is stalling and stopping at accelerated speeds at 20 mph.

One of 13 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

fuel system, gasoline14V441000 · Jul 2014

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 to June 2014. When using winterized fuel, in certain conditions bubbles may form in the fuel system which could result in the vehicle stalling.

Risk: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle's software to increase the fuel pump pressure, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin August 19, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer…

2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
unknown or other18V329000 · May 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and…
air bags: frontal15V483000 · Aug 2015
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan

Does the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan have engine problems?

More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 13 of 38 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 14V441000 (fuel system, gasoline). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Volkswagen Tiguan years are better?

Among the Volkswagen Tiguan years we track, the 2020 (25%), the 2016 (29%) and the 2015 (32%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2014 (34%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2014 Volkswagen Tiguan has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.