Lemberg Law is currently examining numerous reports of what are dubbed “dropping overhead consoles” in the 2020-2023 VW Tiguan. Owners describe this as a recurring safety risk and are angry that VW refuses to consider a recall. Many of them are complaining that they’ve discovered parts are on backorder because this has happened to so many Tiguan vehicles.
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The Tiguan Overhead Console Problem
There are serious issues with 2020-2023 VW Tiguan overhead consoles detaching and collapsing. Complaints lodged with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate that the age of affected vehicles doesn’t seem to be part of the problem. For instance, the most recent console-related complaint for a 2023 model was in October 2023 while the most recent filed by a 2020 owner was in September 2023. Also, the problem has reportedly recurred with several 2020 model vehicles.
Owners state that the consoles detach and fall from the vehicle roof for no apparent reason. Very few owners or drivers have noticed anything visible prior to failure. And to add insult to injury, the large number of backorders for repair parts are causing lengthy delays. In some instances, owners have been advised by dealers to use packaging tape to hold detached consoles in place. In response to this suggestion, an owner from Maryland with a 2020 model Tiguan states, ”Tape does not work. The console is too heavy.”
An owner from Illinois was also told that the replacement part was on backorder. He was told to “use duct tape until the replacement part arrived.”
Here are some more samples of complaints that illustrate the problems owners of 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 VW Tiguan vehicles have lodged with the NHTSA. They all tell more or less the same story. We also look at complaints that indicate VW is well aware of the dropping overhead console issue as well as possible causes.
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
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What are Owners Experiencing?
Most of the complaints state that their overhead consoles fall out for no reason. The Maryland owner quoted above states that he found the overhead console “hanging,” when he was about to leave his place of work. He states that he needed to drive with one hand and hold the console with the other. VW is aware of this and is not notifying owners.”
Another owner of a 2020 model, this time from New York, states that the dealer confirmed the overhead console issue after it had detached in October 2022. He says it “detached on its own” and “will not stay secured. This has prevented my ability to see out of the front windshield and therefore hindered my safe operation of the vehicle. The dealer confirmed the issue but would not cover it under warranty, claiming that it was my fault for installing a dash camera.
An owner from California states that his wife noticed “the overhead console was not properly secured.” But she didn’t realize the potential consequences. And while driving in high temperatures, it suddenly “detached from the roof.” Wires were exposed and she wasn’t able to use the lights, Bluetooth, sunroof, or other features on the console.
Does VW Know About this Issue?
Indeed they do, and dealerships confirm this. Furthermore, there are owners who have experienced the problem on several occasions, but VW apparently has no intention of issuing a recall.
A 2020 model owner from Texas states in a complaint dated August 2022 that the upper overhead console has detached from the headliner three times. The dealer replaced the console all three times under warranty. But when it happened a fourth time, the dealer said the parts for the repair were on backorder. Even though “the console was hanging from the headliner (by) three wires” and it obstructed her vision of the rearview mirror and side mirrors, the manufacturer “offered no assistance.”
Another owner (from Florida) of a 2020 model also states that the problem has recurred. The dealership replaced the console in 2021, but when it recurred in 2022, they didn’t have parts to repair it. The complaint states that the console had been on backorder for a year already, with no resolution. “The dealer said this has been a common issue with my VW vehicles, and I was on a waitlist for repair.”
An owner from California states that the overhead console of his 2023 model fell down and hit his wife on the head. This caused her to swerve, but luckily she wasn’t seriously injured. “When we spoke to the VW dealership where we purchased the vehicle, we were told that this type of incident has happened approximately 10-15 times to other vehicles. The service manager claimed that the affected vehicles were from the model year 2019 and 2020. When asked if there was a recall, we were told no, and that VW only replaces the affected console(s).”
Why Do Overhead Consoles Detach?
According to the dealership in California, the issue is over-torqued screws. When these are exposed to heat stress, and cracks cause the overhead console to fall.
The owner from Florida states that the screws used to hold the console are metal, and the summer heat melted the plastic causing the console to fall.
An owner from Texas states that the console “suddenly fell down due to a failure of the plastic from the vehicle being parked in the sun. I almost lost control
What Should You Do if Your 2020-2023 VW Tiguan has Overhead Console Issues?
If you own a 2020, 2021, 2022, 0r 2023 VW Tiguan that has detached or fallen from the roof, you might qualify for our new class action investigation. All you have to do is fill out a contact form or call our Helpline. We will evaluate your case to see if you qualify. It’s a relatively simple procedure, and it won’t cost you anything because the law says VW must pay the legal bills for lemon law cases. So, don’t waste any time. Contact us now.
About the Author:
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
