Diagsheet

Compact SUVs · model years 2018 to 2022

Volkswagen Tiguan vs Toyota RAV4: problems and reliability

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the RAV4 looks better on 4 and the Tiguan on 3.

Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

1,024 complaints · 24 recalls

Toyota RAV4

Toyota RAV4

2,374 complaints · 12 recalls

Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026

Counts are not adjusted for sales. The more cars of a model there are on the road, the more complaints it draws, so the raw totals above say a lot about sales. Everything below compares shares of each model's own complaints, the mileage problems start at, recalls per model year and each model's years against its own median.

Scorecard

Measure, 2018 to 2022TiguanRAV4
Complaints that report a crash2.1%5.6%
Complaints that report a fire0.5%1.9%
Complaints that report an injury2.2%3.3%
Median miles when problems are reported12,00015,000
Recall campaigns per model year4.82.4
Do-not-drive recalls10
NHTSA investigations21

The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.

What owners complain about

The system Tiguan owners complain about most is engine, and it is the same for the RAV4. Complaints citing engine make up 30% of all Tiguan complaints, against 20% on the RAV4. The RAV4 leans the other way on airbags: 11% of its complaints, against 2.8% for the Tiguan.

Volkswagen TiguanToyota RAV4

Engine30%20%
Electrical21%18%
Fuel and propulsion9.3%16%
Transmission and drivetrain12%7.5%
Structure7.5%8.6%
Airbags2.8%11%
Collision avoidance9.4%2.6%
Brakes6.2%4.5%
Speed control5.7%3.2%
Steering4.1%4.7%

Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

The most reported problems

The most reported problem on the Tiguan is stalling (12% of its complaints). On the RAV4 it is overheating (13% of its complaints), against 0.0% on the Tiguan.

ProblemTiguanRAV4
Engine stalls or loses power while driving12% 125most in 2022 · 10k mi8.7% 206most in 2019 · 21k mi
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails10% 105most in 2022 · 20k mi5.0% 119most in 2019 · 25k mi
Engine overheats or leaks coolant013% 308most in 2020 · 47k mi
Airbag warning light or recall2.1% 2211% 251most in 2021 · 30k mi
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early6.5% 678k mi4.7% 112most in 2019 · 10k mi
Check engine light or misfire7.7% 79most in 2022 · 36k mi2.5% 60most in 2019 · 42k mi
Burns oil or oil level rises7.7% 79most in 2022 · 30k mi0
Hybrid or EV system warning, loss of power07.4% 175most in 2019 · 4k mi

Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.

When problems start

Tiguan owners report problems earlier. Half the Tiguan complaints that give a mileage come before 12,000 miles; for the RAV4 the halfway point is 15,000. 80% of Tiguan reports and 78% of RAV4 reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.

Volkswagen TiguanToyota RAV4

Under 25k63%57%
25k to 50k17%21%
50k to 75k13%14%
75k to 100k4.1%2.8%
100k to 150k2.6%4.2%
Over 150k0.3%0.7%

Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 342 for the Tiguan and 811 for the RAV4.

Worst and best years

The 2022 Tiguan draws 2.7 times the complaints of a typical Tiguan year for its age. The 2019 RAV4 draws 3.0 times the complaints of a typical RAV4 year for its age.

Volkswagen Tiguan

  • Years to avoid: 2018 and 2022
  • Best years: 2016 and 2017

Every Tiguan model year

Toyota RAV4

Every RAV4 model year

Volkswagen TiguanToyota RAV4

Each model year against its own model's median. Tiguan: 2018 1.6, 2019 1.2, 2020 1.0, 2021 1.2, 2022 2.7. RAV4: 2018 1.0, 2019 3.0, 2020 2.5, 2021 1.7, 2022 0.8.2018 Tiguan: 1.6 times its median2018 RAV4: 1.0 times its median'182019 Tiguan: 1.2 times its median2019 RAV4: 3.0 times its median'192020 Tiguan: 1.0 times its median2020 RAV4: 2.5 times its median'202021 Tiguan: 1.2 times its median2021 RAV4: 1.7 times its median'212022 Tiguan: 2.7 times its median2022 RAV4: 0.8 times its median'221x

Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.

Recalls and investigations

The Tiguan draws more recalls: 4.8 campaigns per model year against 2.4 for the RAV4. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.

Volkswagen Tiguan

24 recall campaigns and 2 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: suspension (4), backup camera (3) and seat belts (2).

  • Do not drive 18V-324 (suspension), model years 2018
  • 22V-226 (structure) covers 5 model years
  • 18V-824 (electrical) covers 2 model years

Investigations

  • EA18005: Seat belt webbing failure (closed, led to a recall)
  • PE18001: Seat belt webbing failure (closed)

Toyota RAV4

12 recall campaigns and 1 NHTSA investigation across these model years. Most recalled: equipment (3), airbags (3) and electrical (1).

  • 19V-503 (equipment) covers 2 model years
  • 20V-682 (fuel system) covers 2 model years

Investigations

  • PE21005: Battery hold down bracket thermal events (closed, led to a recall)

Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Crashes, fires and injuries

A larger share of RAV4 complaints report a crash: 5.6%, against 2.1% for the Tiguan. Fire reports: 5 for the Tiguan and 46 for the RAV4. Complaints on file report 0 deaths in the Tiguan and 2 in the RAV4 for these model years.

Volkswagen TiguanToyota RAV4

Report a crash2.1%5.6%
Report a fire0.5%1.9%
Report someone hurt2.2%3.3%

Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.

Questions

Is the Volkswagen Tiguan or the Toyota RAV4 more reliable?

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the RAV4 looks better on 4 and the Tiguan on 3. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Tiguan has 1,024 complaints and the RAV4 2,374 for model years 2018 to 2022, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.

Which has more recalls, the Tiguan or the RAV4?

The Tiguan has 24 recall campaigns and the RAV4 12 across model years 2018 to 2022. The Tiguan draws more recalls: 4.8 campaigns per model year against 2.4 for the RAV4.

What are the most common problems on the Tiguan and the RAV4?

The most reported problem on the Tiguan is stalling (12% of its complaints). On the RAV4 it is overheating (13% of its complaints), against 0.0% on the Tiguan.

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