Recall 18V102 affects 3,768 2017-2018 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles with incorrect driver air bags. Repair is free at any franchised Volkswagen dealer.
Volkswagen is recalling 3,768 2017-2018 Tiguan Limited vehicles because the wrong front driver air bag was installed, leaving the vehicles out of compliance with the federal occupant crash protection standard. In a crash, the risk is that the air bag does not protect the driver as intended, increasing injury risk; Volkswagen dealers will replace it free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The front driver air bag in a 2017-2018 Volkswagen Tiguan is built into the steering wheel. Its job is to deploy in a frontal crash and work with the seat belt and crash sensors to help protect the driver. For U.S. vehicles, that steering wheel and air bag combination has to match the parts tested for federal occupant crash protection rules.
On affected Tiguans, the factory installed a steering wheel and air bag combination meant for vehicles outside the United States. Volkswagen traced the problem to an incorrect parts list at the factory. The installed combination was not tested and released for the U.S. market under FMVSS 208, so Volkswagen is replacing it with the correct steering wheel and driver air bag.
There is no warning sign before failure. The vehicle can look and drive normally because the issue is the wrong air bag and steering wheel assembly, not a noise, leak, or dashboard symptom.
Who's affected?
The included build window runs from May 24, 2017, through January 16, 2018.
| 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan | front air bag |
| Units affected | 3,768 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash, the incorrect driver air bag can fail to protect the driver as intended, increasing injury risk. You can keep driving, but schedule the repair soon so the steering wheel and front driver air bag module are corrected. Repair is free at any franchised Volkswagen dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2017-2018 Volkswagen Tiguan is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised Volkswagen dealer to schedule the free steering-wheel and driver frontal air bag module replacement that installs the correct driver air bag.
- Bring the recall notice if you received one. If not, reference recall number 18V102 when you call.
- Drive with extra caution until the repair is complete, because the incorrect driver air bag does not protect the driver as intended in a crash.
- Call Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 with questions about scheduling or recall number 18V102.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Volkswagen technician replaces both the steering wheel and the front driver air bag module. The replacement parts and labor are free under the recall. Volkswagen says it is not planning a separate reimbursement program because the affected vehicles are still covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. If you already paid for related work, ask the service desk how the existing warranty applies to your prior repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| February 9, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 10, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| April 10, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| April 10, 2018 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| April 10, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| May 30, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V102?
Recall 18V102 covers 3,768 2017-2018 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles with a front driver air bag that was not intended for use in vehicles sold in the United States. Volkswagen dealers replace the steering wheel and front driver air bag module for free.
What should I do if my 2017-2018 Volkswagen Tiguan is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Tiguan is included in recall 18V102. If it is, contact a franchised Volkswagen dealer to schedule the steering wheel and front driver air bag module replacement. Reference recall number 18V102 or Volkswagen recall number 69V2 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires Volkswagen to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 18V102, a franchised Volkswagen dealer replaces the steering wheel and front driver air bag module free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced driver protection in a crash. The incorrect front driver air bag does not meet the intended United States occupant crash protection requirements, which increases injury risk. The free dealer repair replaces the steering wheel and front driver air bag module.
What if I bought my Volkswagen Tiguan used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Tiguan is included, then call a franchised Volkswagen dealer and reference recall 18V102 or Volkswagen recall number 69V2.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V102000 |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen customer service | 1-800-893-5298 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V102 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V102000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →