Used car guide · 2016–2024

Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2: best and worst years, and what goes wrong

How every year of the Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2 did at its MOT in 2025 compared with other cars the same age, the weak spots that keep coming up, and what to check before you buy one. From 106,571 MOT tests.

2017best year: 86% pass first time, 8 points above all 2017 cars
2022weakest year: 86% pass first time, 3 points below all 2022 cars
Suspension arm bushes and jointsthe weak spot that shows up in 4 different years

Year by year

First-time MOT pass rate for each year of the Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2, against all cars registered the same year. Older cars fail more, so the comparison with cars the same age is what matters.

60%80%100%2016: 81% pass first time (all 2016 cars: 75%) 81% 2016*2017: 86% pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%) 86% 20172018: 85% pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%) 85% 20182019: 87% pass first time (all 2019 cars: 84%) 87% 20192020: 88% pass first time (all 2020 cars: 86%) 88% 20202021: 88% pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%) 88% 20212022: 86% pass first time (all 2022 cars: 89%) 86% 2022
This model, first-time pass rate All cars registered that year · * changeover year: some cars are the previous or next generation
YearPass first timeAll cars that yearStands outMOT tests
2016*81%75% +6Suspension arm bushes and joints 1.8× usual18,488
201786%78% +8Engine warning light 2× usual26,139
201885%81% +4Suspension arm bushes and joints 1.8× usual29,132
201987%84% +3Suspension arm bushes and joints 2.8× usual15,447
202088%86% +2Suspension arm bushes and joints 3.4× usual9,071
202188%87% +1Brake pads 2× usual5,461
202286%89% -3Brake pads 3.9× usual2,833

Weak spots across the Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year of this generation. Repeat findings like these are much less likely to be chance.

  • Suspension arm bushes and jointsup to 5.3× usual

    Stands out in 4 years: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Shock absorbersup to 3.2× usual

    Stands out in 3 years: 2022, 2020, 2019.

    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.

  • Nail or damage in a tyreup to 2× usual

    Stands out in 3 years: 2022, 2021, 2020.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges. Uneven wear can point to tracking or suspension problems.

  • Brake padsup to 3.9× usual

    Stands out in 2 years: 2022, 2021.

    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.

Known faults

From owners, mechanics and UK buying guides, in our own words. Not every car will have them.

  • Several recalls

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

    Check: Ask a VW dealer to check the VIN.

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

  • Cambelt checks

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

    Check: 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

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting each car's main test of the year (not retests). A weak spot needs at least 30 cars flagged and must stay 1.5× the usual rate even at the cautious end of a 95% confidence range. Generation years are approximate: cars registered in a changeover year (*) can be either generation. How we score

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