Used car safety, rank #48 of 188
Volkswagen Tiguan 4WD Safety Rating (2020-23)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2020-23 Volkswagen Tiguan 4WD, a midsize SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
IIHS 2026 edition Β· 2021β2024 crashes. Results apply only to the model years and drivetrain shown. Read the new release and its limits Β· Browse the older edition. Prices and reliability from older model years have not been carried forward.
The 2020-23 Volkswagen Tiguan 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 17 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize SUVs average of 24, which is 29% below the class average. That places it #48 of 188 used vehicles with a safety score of 72.6/100.
What the Volkswagen Tiguan death rate means
At 17 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Volkswagen Tiguan 4WD beats the midsize SUVs average of 24 by 29%. The 95% confidence interval is 6 to 29, so the upper end of the range overlaps the class average and the advantage is not certain.
The other-driver death rate of 38 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Volkswagen Tiguan. Its 95% confidence interval is 19β57. It is higher than the Volkswagen Tiguan's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used SUVs
The safest midsize SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Volkswagen Tiguan 4WD highlighted. It ranks 9 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Volkswagen Atlas 2WD at a death rate of 5.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Atlas 2WD | 2020-23 | 5 (0 to 16) | 89.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Highlander 4WD | 2020-23 | 7 (1 to 13) | 87.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Volkswagen Atlas 4WD | 2020-23 | 7 (0 to 16) | 87.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Kia Telluride 2WD | 2020-23 | 8 (0 to 22) | 84.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford Bronco 4WD | 2021-23 | 10 (1 to 19) | 83.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Traverse 4WD | 2022-23 | 10 (0 to 23) | 83.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Highlander hybrid 4WD | 2020-23 | 11 (1 to 20) | 82.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee L 4WD | 2022-23 | 11 (0 to 25) | 82.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Volkswagen Tiguan 4WD (this page) | 2020-23 | 17 (6 to 29) | 72.6 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize SUVs: 24 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Volkswagen Tiguan
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Volkswagen Tiguan we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Volkswagen Tiguan | No award | 68.9 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 72.6 used-car score above.
International crash test results
Euro NCAP (2024)
ANCAP (2024)
International test results are for the same-generation model sold in those markets. Body structures are typically identical across regions. Euro NCAP vs IIHS explained.
Safety recalls for the Volkswagen Tiguan 4WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
1 recall campaign on the 2023 model year, covering back over prevention.
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Back over prevention: software
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the camera control unit software, free of charge.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2023. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Volkswagen Tiguan 4WD: Common Questions
Is the Volkswagen Tiguan 4WD a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 17 per million registered vehicle years for the 2020-23 Volkswagen Tiguan 4WD, 29% below the class average (24 for midsize SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 72.6 out of 100 and rank #48 of 188 used vehicles.
What is the Volkswagen Tiguan 4WD driver death rate?
17 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 6 to 29. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Volkswagen Tiguan died at a rate of 38 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2020-23 models.
How does the Volkswagen Tiguan 4WD compare with other midsize SUVs?
The midsize SUVs class averages 24 driver deaths per million; the Volkswagen Tiguan 4WD sits at 17. Among the 9 midsize SUVs compared above it ranks 9 by safety score; the top of that group is the Volkswagen Atlas 2WD with a death rate of 5.