VW Tiguan I facelift 2.0 TDI, 140 PS, 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive (2011–2015)

Research for this car

• Generation guide VW Tiguan I 5N (2007-2016): known problems and buying guide

  Check the 1.4 TSI timing chain history and the DSG oil records before you buy.

• Engine guide VW 1.6 and 2.0 TDI (EA189) diesel engines: problems, costs and what to check

  Recall work, EGR and DPF faults and injector repairs are common. Buy with recall proof, a belt invoice and a clean fault memory.

Known issues for this car

Before you buy this car

From the generation guide

1. Check for black smoke, judder, rough idle or lost power on the diesel, and read the fault codes. Bad result: any of these.
2. Ask how the diesel was driven. Bad result: short trips only, and a DPF warning light. A motorway run of at least 30 minutes a month helps the DPF clean itself.
3. On a 4MOTION car, ask for Haldex service records every 60,000 km. Bad result: no records, or the front wheels spin while the rear wheels do not pull.
4. Lift the car and check the rear bushes and shock absorbers. Bad result: knocks over bumps. Bushes typically wear at 50,000 to 100,000 km.

From the engine guide

1. Recall paperwork (no scanner). Ask the dealer for a record of the software update, and of the flow straightener on a 1.6. Bad: no record.
2. Fault memory (needs a scanner). Bad: EGR codes P0401 or P0402, turbo codes P2563 or P2564, or DPF codes such as P2002.
3. Test drive. Bad: judder, lost power or limp mode.
4. Injectors (no scanner). Ask whether the injectors were replaced or revised. Bad: rough running with no injector work on record.
5. Swirl flaps (needs a scanner). Bad: limp mode on a 2.0 TDI.
6. DPF (no scanner). Ask how the car was driven and whether the filter was cleaned. Bad: a DPF warning lamp, or short trips only.
7. Coolant (engine cold). Check the level and look for an exhaust smell in the cabin. Bad: any coolant loss. The EGR cooler is a common cause.
8. Timing belt invoice. Bad: no dated invoice for the belt, tensioner and water pump, or past 210,000 km or 5 years with no change.
9. Turbo (needs a scanner). On a 2.0 TDI past about 150,000 km. Bad: boost codes or oil leaks at the turbo.
10. Flywheel (manual only). Drive in 2nd gear at about 1,400 rpm. Bad: a rattle.

Running costs

ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months

ADAC versions