Recalls: Volkswagen 5N Tiguan
Overview
Manufacturers, or importers, issue recalls for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Generally, manufacturers will inform the original buyers if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. Please note that the recalls below (if any) are for Australian-delivered vehicles only. Furthermore, the number of recalls should not be taken as an indication of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.
Recalls: Volkswagen 5N Tiguan
2009-11 Volkswagen 5N Tiguan TDI: potential fuel leak
In February 2012, a recall was issued for Volkswagen 5N Tiguan models fitted with 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engines and manufactured between 2009 and 2011. In these vehicles, the engine’s fuel injection pulses could coincide with the natural frequency of the injector line, producing a resonance that creates additional stress in the fuel line. As a result, the injector line for the number two cylinder could develop small cracks and cause fuel to leak. In the presence of an ignition source, a fire could therefore result. To fix, Volkswagen installed an improved fuel injector line for the number two cylinder and vibration dampers on all of the injector lines (PRA 2012/13017).
2008-11 Volkswagen 5N Tiguan: external lights could fail
In November 2013, a recall was issued for Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles that were manufactured between 2008 and 2011. In these vehicles, thermal overload of a fuse that operated some of the exterior vehicle lights could blow and cause the external lights would fail, thereby posing a hazard to the driver and other road users (PRA 2013/13836).
2008-15 Volkswagen 5N Tiguan TDI: excessive NOx emissions
In October 2015, a recall was issued for 2008-15 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles with 2.0-litre EA189 diesel engines. According to the recall notice, ‘the emissions levels may not meet regulatory requirements when the affected vehicle is driven under normal conditions’ (see ‘Diesel engines: NOx emissions “defeat device”‘, below). For the 2.0-litre EA189 engine, a software update will be introduced which takes advantage of improved simulation of air currents inside the air intake system. Volkswagen aims to implement the software update from January 2016; the labour time for installing the updated software is around half an hour. Owners could determine if their vehicles were part of the recall by visiting volkswagendieselinfo.com.au (PRA 2015/14950).
Volkswagen 5N Tiguan: side airbags may deploy abormally
In April 2016, a recall was issued for three (3) Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles because the side airbags may deploy abnormally during an accident such that they posed a risk of injury to vehicle occupants. The VINs of the recalled Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles were WVGZZZ5NZFW074976, WVGZZZ5NZFW074999 and WVGZZZ5NZFW075003 (PRA 2016/15295).
2016 model year Volkswagen 5N Tiguan: child lock may fail
In June 2016, a recall was issued for certain 2016 ‘model year’ Volkswagen 5N Tiguan vehicles because the detent lever of the child lock was damaged during the production process and could break. As a result, an active child lock could be unnoticeably switched off – this could enable a child to open a rear door from the inside when the child lock appeared to be on. As such, this condition could increase the risk of injury to vehicle occupants (PRA 2016/15463).
2015-16 Volkswagen 5N Tiguan: airbag could be deactivated or activate inadvertently
In November 2019, recall campaign 69Z5 was issued for Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles that were available for sale in Australia from 1 May 2015 to 30 June 2016. These vehicles may have had a faulty condenser fitted inside the airbag control unit and this could cause:
- Deactivation of the airbag. If the airbag was switched off, the airbag warning lamp would illuminate; and,
- Inadvertent activation of airbags or seatbelt pretensioners. The control unit may interpret the faulty condenser as a crash signal (faulty front crash detection), which could cause the airbag(s) and/or seatbelt pretensioner(s) to be triggered incorrectly.
If the airbag was deactivated or was inadvertently activated, these events increased the risk of a collision and injury to vehicle occupants and other road users. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2019/17958.
Problems and faults: Volkswagen 5N Tiguan
Overview
This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.
To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.
2008-12 Volkswagen 5N Tiguan 125TSI, 147TSI, 132TSI and 155TSI: chain tensioner retainer failure
For 1.8 TFSI/TSI and 2.0 TFSI/TSI EA888 engines that were manufactured from 2008 to 1 May 2012, the chain tensioner retainer was susceptible to failure. If this occurred, the pistons and valves could collide and cause serious engine damage. The chain tensioners could fail as early as 30,000 kilometres and it is recommended that owners have the most recent chain tensioner retainer fitted as a preventative measure. For Australian deliveries, affected vehicles included:
- Volkswagen 5N Tiguan 125TSI (engine code: CAWA), offered from 2008 to 2010;
- Volkswagen 5N Tiguan 125TSI (engine code: CCZC), offered from 2010 to 2011;
- Volkswagen 5N Tiguan 147TSI (engine code: CAWB), offered from 2008 to 2010;
- Volkswagen 5N Tiguan 147TSI (engine code: CCZA), offered from 2010 to 2011;
- Volkswagen 5N Tiguan 132TSI (engine code: CCZD), offered from 2011 to 2012; and,
- Volkwagen 5N Tiguan 155TSI (engine code: CCZB), offered from 2011 to 2012.
Background
The tensioner on the camshaft chain used oil pressure to maintain tension. When there was no or low oil pressure, the tensioner would fall back on its ratchet to maintain tension. The ratchet, however, could slip and release chain tension – this would cause the chain to move on the sprockets and skip a couple of teeth before sufficient oil pressure accumulated to tension the chain. By skipping teeth, the engine’s camshaft timing was altered and the ECU would continue to adjust camshaft timing – generally, this caused either rough running or the vehicle would not start. It is understood that if the chain skipped around six teeth, then the pistons could collide with the valves in the cylinder head such that the engine had to be rebuilt or replaced.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a failed chain tensioner retainer include:
- The engine won’t start;
- On start-up, there is a rattling noise from the engine bay for a few seconds (until sufficient oil pressure accumulated);
- Illumination of the ‘check engine’ light illuminated, potentially accompanied by camshaft timing errors; and,
- Misfires (if the valves are bent).
Retainer revisions
The part number for the original chain tensioner retainer was 06H 109 467 AB. While a revised chain tensioner retainer was first introduced in engines built from 17 May 2010 and a second revision was introduced for engines built from December 2011, it is the third revision of the retainer – part number 06K 109 467 K – which was introduced for engines built from 1 May 2012 which fixed the problem. For further information on this problem, please see Golf GTi UK Forum: Timing Chain Tensioner Failure.
VW Tiguan with 1.4 Twincharger (TSI) engine: stretched timing chain
In an autobild.de article published in April 2012, a Volkswagen employee admitted that its 1.4 ‘Twincharger’ TSI engine was susceptible to stretched timing chains. According to Volkswagen, worn stamping tools caused:
- The holes in the chain links to miss the targeted manufacturing tolerances; and,
- Small burrs on the chain links that would cause abrasive wear to the timing chain.
If the timing chain stretched, the change in the engine’s camshaft timing could cause the valves and pistons to collide such that the engine would have to be re-built or replaced. A common symptom of a stretched timing chain is a rattling noise from the engine bay (see video below).
It is understood that the manufacturing defect was rectified for post-2012 1.4 TSI ‘Twincharger’ engines, though Volkswagen has not identified the production dates or engine codes of affected engines. As such, the 118 TSI CAVD engine in the Volkswagen 5N.II Tiguan may be susceptible to this problem. According to Volkswagen, the number of poorly manufactured chains was in the ‘low hundreds’.
Volkswagen USA: DQ250 DSG fault and extended warranty
In December 2009, Volkswagen USA initiated a ‘Customer Satisfaction Campaign‘ for 2007-09 ‘model year’ Volkswagen vehicles that had six-speed DSG transmissions.
Faulty component and jerky gearshifts
According to Volkswagen, the six-speed DQ250 DSG transmissions of a limited number of 2007-09 ‘model year’ Volkswagen vehicles had a faulty component inside the transmission’s Mechatronic unit. Specifically, the bushings of two solenoid valves inside the mechatronic unit could wear prematurely, causing the clutches inside the transmission to ‘operate less smoothly than before’ and provide jerky gearshifts. According to Volkswagen, the vehicle remained safe to drive since it did not affect forward or rearward motion of the vehicle. As part of the ‘Customer Satisfaction Campaign’, Volkswagen would replace mechatronic units that were identified as faulty by Volkswagen’s diagnostic tool.
Extended DSG warranty
As part of the Customer Satisfaction Campaign, Volkswagen extended the warranty on the DQ250 DSG transmission to ten years or 100,000 miles (160,900 kilometres) – whichever occurred first – from the vehicle’s original ‘in-service’ date. The ‘in-service’ date was defined as the date that the vehicle was delivered to the original purchaser/lessee or, if the vehicle was a demonstrator, the date that the vehicle commenced service.
Under the extended warranty, the Volkswagen dealer was responsible for diagnosing and repairing the DSG transmission at no cost to the owner provided that the vehicle was maintained in accordance with the requirements in the owner’s manual.
2008-10 Volkswagen 5N Tiguan 2.0 TFSI: wastegate rattle
In August 2010, Volkswagen Group of America issued technical bulletin 2024061 for vehicles which had 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines; while the bulletin identified 2.0 TFSI engines with the codes CBFA and CCTA, the bulletin is also understood to apply to the CAWB, CCZA and CCZB engines and therefore includes the Volkswagen 5N Tiguan 147TSI which was offered in Australia with the CAWB (2008-10) and CCZA (post-2010) engines.
In these vehicles, the driver may hear a rattling noise from the engine or exhaust engine when accelerating and with engine speeds in the range of 1800-3000 rpm. To diagnose that the noise was combing from the turbocharger,
- The turbocharger was to be inspected for internal or external damage;
- If there was no damage, the vehicle was to be taken for a test drive. The rattling noise could typically be reproduced when driving up a moderate incline, starting at 35 mph (56 km/h) in fourth gear and accelerating through the rev range from 1800-3000 rpm under moderate to heavy throttle;
- Once detected, a two ounce wheel weight was to be applied to the wastegate actuator rod and another test drive performed. If the rattling noise was quieter or changed in pitch, this indicated that the noise was due to exhaust gas pulsations that caused the wastegate flap and actuator rod to vibrate at the introduction of boost pressure.
To fix, a replacement clip (part no. 06J145220A) was to be fitted to the end of the wastegate actuator. As shown in the HumbleMechanic video below, however, the clip only prevented wastegate rattle at that location.
Diesel engines: NOx emissions “defeat device”
Australian-delivered Volkswagen 5N Tiguan vehicles powered by 2.0-litre diesel engines that were available for sale from 2008 to 2015 had software in the electronic control module (ECM) that could sense – via sensors measuring the position of the steering wheel, vehicle speed, the duration of the engine’s operation and barometric pressure – when the vehicle was undergoing emissions testing. The ECM would then run a ‘dyno calibration’ to produce lower nitrous oxide emissions during testing. At all other times, the ECM would run a separate ‘road calibration’ which reduced the effectiveness of the emission control system, specifically the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) or the lean NOx trap.
Based on testing conducted by the EPA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), NOx emissions for the ‘road calibration’ were 10 to 40 times higher than US standards – this led the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue a notice of violation under the Clean Air Act. As a result, these vehicles did not meet the environmental standards claimed by Volkswagen.
Problems and faults: Volkswagen 5N Tiguan
- A knocking noise from the engine bay when accelerating may be due to the high pressure air conditioning line coming into contact with the inner fender; if so, the problem can be fixed by fitting some form of cushioning to the pipe.
- Washer fluid may leak from the rear nozzle, requiring a check valve to be fitted in the hose.
- The remote central locking transmitter may work intermittently or stop working due to loss of synchronization with the vehicle.
- If the ‘door ajar’ or ‘trunk ajar’ warning lights illuminate when both are closed, or the parking brake fails to release after the hazard lights have been used, the gateway control module likely requires reprogramming.
