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2016 Volkswagen Tiguan problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 29% of relevant complaints.
Better than 73% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 40 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 17%).
Does the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 16 of 56 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (29%). For comparison, the 2015 scores 32% and the 2017 scores 50%. 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.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Volkswagen Tiguan years
Of the 14 Volkswagen Tiguan years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 2nd-best on engine and transmission share (29%). The worst is the 2011 (73%), the best the 2020 (25%). By volume, the 2016 drew 96 complaints (16 drivetrain), against 62 for the 2015 and 75 for the 2017.
Volkswagen Tiguan years to avoid and best years →
2010 Tiguan problems · 2011 Tiguan problems · 2012 Tiguan problems · 2013 Tiguan problems · 2014 Tiguan problems · 2015 Tiguan problems · 2016 · 2017 Tiguan problems · 2018 Tiguan problems · 2019 Tiguan problems · 2020 Tiguan problems · 2021 Tiguan problems · 2022 Tiguan problems · 2023 Tiguan problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 16 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Volkswagen Tiguan engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. 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.
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 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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Does the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 16 of 56 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (29%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan is air bags: 37 of 96 complaints (39%) name it, followed by electrical system (27) and steering (12). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 29% of the relevant total.
Is the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 29% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 73% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Volkswagen Tiguan years we score, it ranks 2nd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan?
No. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Volkswagen Tiguan years are better?
Among the Volkswagen Tiguan years we track, the 2020 (25%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (29%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/volkswagen-tiguan
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Check a VINExperimental 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.