2021 Toyota Highlander vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 23, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2021 Toyota Highlander | 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 513 | 140 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 180 | 504 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 16 | 2 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–36 | 25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 31,000 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Toyota Highlander | Volkswagen Tiguan |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 219 | 11 |
| Engine | 45 | 52 |
| Service Brakes | 66 | 5 |
| Structure | 51 | 11 |
| Electrical System | 27 | 25 |
| Air Bags | 42 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 31 | 11 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 12 | 11 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Hesitation / surging | 33 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 25 | 6 |
| Stalling | 19 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 19 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 13 | 15 |
| Shifting problems | 8 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 7 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 6 | 0 |
2021 Toyota Highlander
2021 Volkswagen Tiguan
Compare all Toyota Highlander vs Volkswagen Tiguan years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.