2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
Share of the 274 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan overview page.
What owners report
“FROM A STOP, AND AT LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE HESITATES VERY BADLY. AT TIMES, WITH THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, THE CAR DOES NOT…”NHTSA complaint 11132095 — filed 09/28/2018
“THE TIGUAN HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH HESITATION WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. YOU CAN FEEL AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER, LOSS OF…”NHTSA complaint 11129599 — filed 09/14/2018
“TIGUAN 2018 HESITATES TO ACCELERATE WITH A LAPSE OF A FEW (3 OR 4) SECOND BEFORE THE CAR FINALLY ACCELERATES AFTER A FULL STOP OR…”NHTSA complaint 11127989 — filed 09/06/2018
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan: 48 of 274 complaints on file (17.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.
How many complaints does the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan have in total?
274 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 5 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 11 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.
What does NHTSA's power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
