Used car guide

2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSIs, from 817 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

817MOT tests in 2025
90%pass first time (all 2022 cars: 89%)
8,600typical miles a year
4.1×the usual rate for brake pads

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSIs than on all cars registered in 2022.

  • Brake pads4.1× usual
    Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI
    18.8% All 2022 cars
    4.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 0.8% of all 2022 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Shock absorbers6.3× usual
    Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI
    7.6% All 2022 cars
    1.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.5%, against 0.2% of all 2022 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

By area

The share of 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSI MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    25% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    23% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    10% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    6% of testsRough price £80–£250

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

  • Lights and electrics
    2% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    2% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Known faults

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

  • Several recalls
    All engines

    Recalls cover a roof spoiler that could come off, overheating starter motors, front seat backs, seatbelt pre-tensioners and airbags.

    At the viewing: Ask a VW dealer to check the VIN.

    Source: Auto Express: used VW Tiguan Mk2 buyer's guide

  • Cambelt checks
    All except 2.0 petrol

    All engines except the 2.0 petrol use a cambelt that should be checked after five years and changed if worn.

    At the viewing: Look for a cambelt check or change in the history.

    If it needs doing: Timing belt (cambelt) change, about £300–£700 (often with the water pump). ClickMechanic

    Source: Auto Express: used VW Tiguan Mk2 buyer's guide

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Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Active TSIs registered in 2022. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score