VolkswagenTiguan2023Overview/volkswagen/tiguan/2023/base/

2023 Volkswagen Tiguan

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2023 Tiguan.

Transmission Automatic (S8)

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan pairs its Automatic (S8) transmission with EPA ratings of 23 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. Owner-reported data shows 57 total complaints for this model year, with engine issues representing the top concern alongside one recall—a relatively contained issue profile within the nameplate’s broader history. Set against the 2009–2026 complaint trajectory that peaks at 274 grievances for the 2018 model and bottoms at 20 for 2026, the 2023 edition sits well below the historical maximum, signaling fewer systemic headaches than the generation’s most troubled periods.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020172016

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque103.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy23/30/26 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 06L115562B. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tire size215/65R17 99HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim7 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter06L115562B
Engine air filter5Q0129620B
Spark plug06K905601K
Serpentine belt06K903137A alt 06L903137A
Cabin air filter5Q0819669

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length185.8 in
Overall width72 in
Overall height66.5 in
Wheelbase109.8 in
Curb weight3856 lb
Track (front / rear)62.6 / 61.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)56/44

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined23 / 30 / 26 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Tiguan of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.7–9.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.70 sec — 2026 SEL R-Line Turbo 4MOTION
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2022SE R-Line Black 2.0L Turbo I-48.10 sec16.20 sec184 hpFWD
2022SEL R-Line 4MOTION 2.0L Turbo I-49.10 sec16.90 sec184 hpAWD
2024SEL R-Line 4MOTION 2.0L Turbo I-48.20 sec16.30 sec184 hpAWD
2025SE 2.0L Turbo I-47.70 sec15.80 sec184 hpFWD
2025SEL R-Line 4MOTION 2.0L Turbo I-48.10 sec16.20 sec201 hpAWD
2025SEL R-Line 4MOTION 2.0L Turbo I-48.50 sec16.30 sec201 hpAWD
2025SEL R-Line 4MOTION 2.0L Turbo I-48.60 sec16.50 sec201 hpAWD
2020SEL 4MOTION 2.0L Turbo I-48.30 sec16.40 sec184 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Torque lug nuts to 103.0 ft-lbs.

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts103.0 ft-lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 80,000 mi; coolant every 20,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 20,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 20,000 miBattery (inspect) · Body Water Drains (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
At 40,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Instrument Cluster Warning Indicator (inspect) · Sunroof Assembly (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 40,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Instrument Cluster Warning Indicator (inspect) · Sunroof Assembly (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 80,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan sits at a striking low point in the second-generation arc, which began in 2018 with a major spike of 274 complaints and 13 recalls. Complaints generally declined through 2021 (128 complaints), then unexpectedly surged in 2022 to 245 complaints before falling sharply in the target year to just 58 complaints and a single recall — the lowest figures of the entire generation. That drop holds into 2024 (56 complaints, 2 recalls) and 2025 (38 complaints, 2 recalls), suggesting the 2023 model benefits from genuine mid-cycle maturation rather than merely reflecting limited time on the road. The 2023 complaint profile is dominated by engine issues (13 of 58 complaints), with smaller clusters in unknown/other and electrical categories, and only one crash-related complaint with zero fire complaints reported. The data does not specify root causes for any of these areas, but the overall volume is minimal. For a buyer, the 2023 Tiguan represents one of the strongest years in its generation from a federal-record standpoint — low complaints, minimal recalls, and a trend that continues downward — making it a sound choice among used second-generation Tiguans.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
334
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
57
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 57 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine13
Unknown Or Other6
Electrical System4
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Forward Collision Avoidance2
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Power Train,Electrical System,Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

25V082000Back Over Prevention:SoftwareReported 12/02/2025

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Tiguan, 2023 Arteon, and 2024-2025 Audi Q3 vehicles. An error may occur in the camera control unit at vehicle startup, resulting in the… Remedy: Dealers will update the camera control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed to Audi owners April 3, 2024, and Volkswagen owners November 18…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 334 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TT 10-18-02_22026-06-18EngineLubricating engine components before reassembly.
TT 13-20-01_32026-06-18EngineInstruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start.
Customer email_91UB2026-06-15Unknown Or OtherYour vehicle is currently eligible for the 91UB software update designed to:
Dealer 91UB2026-06-15Unknown Or OtherThis OTA update addresses a potential issue with special characters being broadcast over…
V6919012010479_172026-06-11Air BagsInquiries

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Tiguan. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2023 Tiguan have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Tiguan get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 30 highway / 26 combined mpg.