2025 Volkswagen Tiguan Tie Rod Assembly Recall (25V526)

Recall 25V526 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan in recall 25V526?

A tie rod bolt on the rear axle assembly may be loose, which can lead to a loss of vehicle control.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 Tiguan vehicles. A tie rod bolt on the rear axle assembly may be loose, which can lead to a loss of vehicle control.

Is it safe to drive a 2025 Tiguan with recall 25V526?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A loss of vehicle control increases 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 tie rod assembly, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 25V526?

Recall 25V526 covers 15 vehicles: 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan.

NHTSA lists 15 vehicles in this campaign, built April 17, 2025 to May 28, 2025. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Tiguan tie rod assembly recall?

Yes. Dealers will replace the affected tie rod bolt, free of charge.

Dealers will replace the affected tie rod bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 5, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42E7.

When was recall 25V526 announced?

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 25V526 to NHTSA on August 13, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as September 5, 2025.

This recall was filed 14 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 41 days. 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 25V526?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V526 is open on your Tiguan, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 25V526000 is open on your Tiguan, it will be listed there, along with Volkswagen recall number 42E7. 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 25V526?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 25V526000 applies to your Tiguan.
2. Call a Volkswagen dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. 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.
4. Keep a simple log of any tie rod assembly symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are Tiguan owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 2 of them about the steering.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the steering have been filed since recall 25V526 was reported (2) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 49 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 2 of them involve the steering. 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.

• 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan: 49 complaints in total, 2 about the steering

Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):

The contact owns a 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan. The contact stated that twice while driving 50 MPH, an unknown message was displayed, indicating that the vehicle was not detecting a passenger. The horn inadvertently beeped three times, and the vehicle stalled and lost steering and braking functionality. The vehicle was restarted each time.

2025 Volkswagen Tiguan owner, PA, NHTSA complaint 11732422, filed April 20, 2026

Can recall 25V526 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.

Recall 25V526000 does not automatically make your Tiguan a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?

Steering defects go straight to safety. Under California's lemon law, a defect likely to cause death or serious injury can create a presumption after just two repair attempts, if the manufacturer was also notified directly.

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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 25V526