Overview & Reviews

The 2009 Tiguan is Volkswagen's first entry in the compact crossover SUV segment. It's based on VW's small-car platform and boasts a turbocharged engine and European-flavored driving dynamics.

• Peppy turbo engine, composed handling, comfortable ride, upscale cabin ambiance, solid build quality.

• Shy on cargo space, pricey compared to the competition.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 127.00

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  I will not get another VW again - - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By jaypc6711 - January 24 - 2:20 pm

  As a prior VW fan (4 times) ..It was with great regret I had to report back to Edmunds how shoddy I thought the Tiguan 2009 model was. I see were well into the 2011 timeframe now and newer versions are out, however, problems still persist. Sure, the service teams get it taken care of and paperwork is smoothed over. Driving it out of the dealership on Day 1 was pure bliss, but one seriously short-lived. The issue is with engine / instrumentation and vehicle performance. I had multiple Electronic Power Steering and Engine checklights appear during the past 2 years recently towed back by VW. I would be hard-pressed to get another VW

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  Un-Reliable after 50K miles! - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By negaverse - October 16 - 2:56 am

  I bought the car brand new in 2009 and it was a great drive at first. The car was awesome for the first 2 years. I drove it about 20k miles a year. It was so comfy and fun to drive esp on long trips. But, after about 50k miles, I had so many problems!! Those dreaded EPC lights would always come on! I ended up taking a huge loss on the car with another 1.5 years to pay off but I had safety concerns with a car that would stop accelerating in the middle of the road. I have heard the myths bout VW electrical issues but did not believe them until I bought my own VW. Unfortunately they are true.

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  Lots of Problems...where do I start? - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By John Q Public - May 30 - 9:10 pm

  Bought the car as 2009 certified. It was great for about a month or so and then a coil went bad. OK, no biggie, $50 co-pay and im good to go. Next, the car starts to overheat when the AC is on. I bring it in, they cant find anything wrong, I drive it, it gets hot, I bring it back, etc. Eventually they replace one of the fans. Then the other fan. Then the water pump, then the radiator. OK, that seems to do it. But then, what is that moldy smell and why is there an inch of water on the floor boards? OMG, there is mold growing under all of the floor mats. Turns out the sunroof drain tubes had separated and the water poured into the cabin. Just waiting for the other show to drop now.

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  So Many Problems!!!! - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By cap723 - January 12 - 10:56 pm

  I am just ending my 4 year lease and I have had so many issues with this car that have added up. Although the look of the car is very nice and its fun to drive and I never had any major mechanical problems - I still had issue after issue with this car. A few weeks after I drove it off the lot the guage that showed how much gas I had in my tank was broken. I had to take it back twice for them to fix it. Since then my radio just goes off when it wants, the back-up camera stopped working, I had to get new tires and breaks, there is a horrible moisture problem and it always smells like mold, the AC doesnt come out cold .it goes on!I would stay away from this car ulnless you want a heacache

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  flawed - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By flawed - November 21 - 3:16 am

  after 3900 miles, my EPC warning light appeared on the dash. Acceleration was lost and the car sporadically regained power, only to lose it again. A few days later the Engine Malfunction icon also appeared. The car is now destined for a few days in the shop.

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  Strong, Not comfortable,dials difficult - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Michael - December 1 - 2:06 pm

  Its a nice looking car, you just need to improve the cushioning in the seating and back, the radio is very difficult to read in the dark, and the red lights for the dash are difficult. But, it drives into the mountains, and through them nicely. It also does well so far in the city. A number of men and women have said its a nice looking vehicle.

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  I would not recommend this SUV - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Noir Authentique - March 13 - 8:20 am

  Coming from a 2002 Toyota RAV4 which was 100% reliable, I can say this so far has not been the SUV I imagined. The test drive went well at Potamkin VW. I like the interior and exterior design- typical clean design. The interior has a few cheap pieces but you get used to it. On par with the Toyota. The inside is quite roomy but the seats are not so comfortable. Cargo area is useless. With 4k miles- the power around town is peppy but it lacks power on the highway. I also notice the gas goes quicker than expected. It should average 21 MPG and I barely see 15MPG average. On the highway I have seen 23 with the cruise set at 60MPH. Around town it dips to 12-13MPG. Overall, not the best small SUV.

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  Ouch - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Why Me - August 7 - 9:50 pm

  I loved the looks and still do, but I have had this thing in the shop 4 times: transmission, engine light, major vibration at highway speed - twice. I spent a great deal of time researching before I bought a VW. I wish I had paid more attention to a few reviews that I had seen referencing quality problems. I feel like I have no choice but to sell before the warranty runs out.

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  Past, Present but NOT future owner - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Peter - March 19 - 4:26 pm

  Shame on us for not taking a closer look at the car during delivery, after we arrived home we noticed holes in the front bumper. Apparently the car was transferred from a dealer in a state that required front licence plates, in Michigan they are not required. First call was to the dealer - "sorry nothing we can do, but good news we do have a new bumper in stock if you would like to buy a replacement". Well, OK, then. So step two: call VW customer support. They happily assigned a "customer advocate" who called the following day. To quote: "sorry but this is an issue between you and the dealer, there is nothing we will do!" - WOW - what a great case study poor for customer support.

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  Lots of issues - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By bkhal - September 20 - 5:48 am

  I leased the 2009 Tiguan and after doing that I will never buy another VW again. Within the first 6 months one of the door handles came off in my hand. I had it put back on but it would fall off every few months. I also had severe leakage problems with my sunroof and had the interior ceiling reupholstered- twice. This car has serious moisture problems and the windows are completely fogged up every day. I need to keep a towel in my car to wipe down the window everytime I need to drive somewhere. The mildew smell is awful and there is growing in the car. Im grossed out by the car & cant wait to get rid of it. Its ashame b/c its adorable and drives well- just has too many issues.