2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Brake Fastener Recall (21V853)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · 1,285 vehicles · Reported November 3, 2021
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling 1,285 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles. The nut that secures the brake pipe near the right-front wheel well may be loose. A loose brake pipe nut may allow brake fluid to leak, extending the distance required to stop and increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V853 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V853000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 19Q4 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 3, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan |
| Units affected | 1,285 |
| Component | Service Brakes, Hydraulic > Critical Fasteners |
| Safety risk | A loose brake pipe nut may allow brake fluid to leak, extending the distance required to stop and increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan in recall 21V853?
The nut that secures the brake pipe near the right-front wheel well may be loose.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Tiguan vehicles. The nut that secures the brake pipe near the right-front wheel well may be loose.
Is it safe to drive a 2022 Tiguan with recall 21V853?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A loose brake pipe nut may allow brake fluid to leak, extending the distance required to stop and increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A loose brake pipe nut may allow brake fluid to leak, extending the distance required to stop and increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Tiguan shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the critical fasteners, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V853?
Recall 21V853 covers 1,285 vehicles: 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan.
NHTSA lists 1,285 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Volkswagen | Tiguan |
What is the fix for the Tiguan brake fastener recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and tighten the brake pipe nut, as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect and tighten the brake pipe nut, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 23, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 19Q4.
When was recall 21V853 announced?
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 21V853 to NHTSA on November 3, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as November 23, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 3, 2021 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V853000. |
| November 23, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 59 months ago. If your Tiguan was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Tiguan is part of recall 21V853?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V853 is open on your Tiguan, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 21V853000 is open on your Tiguan, it will be listed there, along with Volkswagen recall number 19Q4. You can also ask any Volkswagen dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Tiguan owners do about recall 21V853?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V853000 applies to your Tiguan.
- Call a Volkswagen dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the critical fasteners happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Tiguan owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 269 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 7 of them about the brakes.
Since recall 21V853 was reported on November 3, 2021, owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 2 of them (29%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the brakes and were received on or after November 3, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related brakes issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 269 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 7 of them involve the brakes. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan: 269 complaints in total, 7 about the brakes
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that after an oil change, additional oil needed to be added to the engine. The oil light was illuminated. The contact stated that when the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle was slow to respond.
2022 Volkswagen Tiguan owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11681561, filed August 19, 2025
The car was in the cruise control with auto mode and it just veered to the left from a car in front and crashed into the median and totaled the car.
2022 Volkswagen Tiguan owner, IN, NHTSA complaint 11683773, filed August 28, 2025
On 7/22/25, I started an oil consumption test. It was eventually diagnosed that it was an issue because the cylinder head was replaced 9/25/25. Then a total engine replacement 1/26/2026 and on 2/10/2026 the dipstick tube was replaced. The car has consistently had engine oil consumption and still under the manufacturer warranty.
2022 Volkswagen Tiguan owner, GA, NHTSA complaint 11717424, filed February 11, 2026
Can recall 21V853 make my Tiguan a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this critical fasteners recall means their Tiguan qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
If the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan brakes have needed more than one trip to the dealer, keep every repair order. Brake defects are treated as serious safety problems under California law.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Tiguan been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Volkswagen Tiguan recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V853
Did the recall 21V853 fix work?
Since recall 21V853 was reported on November 3, 2021, owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 2 of them (29%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed November 23, 2021.
Is the 21V853000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Tiguan is part of recall 21V853000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V853000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Volkswagen. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.