Volkswagen Tiguan named least reliable used car

What Car? survey of nearly 40,000 owners finds the 2024‑25 Volkswagen Tiguan the least reliable used SUV, scoring only 55.3% and prompting dealers to reconsider warranty expectations.

Key takeaways

• Tiguan scored 55.3%, the lowest of 61 models surveyed.
• 75% of Tiguan owners reported at least one fault.
• Common issues include battery, bodywork, brakes, engine electrics and infotainment.
• One in five faults were not fixed for free, some costing over £1,500.
• Petrol models were the most dependable, with only 20% fault rate.

Survey scope and reliability scores

What Car? collected data from 39,800 vehicle owners in its 2026 Reliability Survey. Models needed a minimum of 15 respondents to be included, resulting in 225 eligible models across 30 brands.

The Tiguan, built from 2024 and still on sale, fell to the bottom of the list with a 55.3% score. The Renault Arkana and Mercedes GLE occupied the second and third places, respectively.

Typical Tiguan fault areas

Owners most frequently cited problems with the 12‑volt battery, bodywork corrosion, brake wear, engine electronic systems and the infotainment unit.

These components represent costly repair items, especially when warranty coverage is limited or the dealer’s service contract does not include free parts replacement.

Repair costs and warranty implications

The survey found that 20% of reported faults were not repaired at no charge. Of the charged repairs, 12% of owners faced bills up to £500 and 3% incurred expenses above £1,500.

Dealers handling Tiguan stock may need to factor higher after‑sales costs into their pricing strategy, and ensure clear communication of any warranty extensions to buyers.

Reliability by fuel type

Petrol models were the most dependable, with only 20% of them experiencing faults. Hybrids followed at a 23% fault rate, while electric cars saw a 27% rate and diesel models the highest at 32%.

Repair turnaround also varied: 34% of faulty petrol cars were fixed within a day, whereas 47% of electric vehicles remained off the road for more than a week.

What this means for dealers

The Tiguan’s low score suggests tighter margins on resale values and a potential rise in warranty claims, urging dealers to reassess purchase decisions on this model.

Emphasising models with proven reliability, such as the Mini Countryman or Suzuki Swift, can help maintain customer confidence and reduce after‑sales expenditure.

Frequently asked questions

Why did the Volkswagen Tiguan rank so low in the survey?

The Tiguan suffered a high incidence of faults across several key systems, and 75% of owners reported issues, pulling its score down to 55.3%.

How should dealers adjust their pricing for used Tiguan stock?

Dealers should consider the elevated risk of repair costs and potential warranty claims, possibly offering lower purchase prices or adding extended warranty packages to retain profitability.

Which vehicle categories showed the best reliability in the survey?

Petrol‑powered models topped the reliability chart, with the Mini Countryman and Suzuki Swift achieving perfect 100% scores, indicating no reported faults among surveyed owners.