VW Tiguan I facelift 2.0 TDI, 177 PS, 7-speed dual-clutch, all-wheel drive (2012–2015)

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. Ask for the DSG oil change records, every 60,000 km. Bad result: no records. Missed oil changes raise the risk of a mechatronic (gearbox control unit) failure.
2. Check for black smoke, judder, rough idle or lost power on the diesel, and read the fault codes. Bad result: any of these.
3. 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.
4. On a DSG car, test drive from cold, through traffic. Bad result: jerky shifts or judder on pull-away.
5. 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.
6. 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