Volkswagen Tiguan extended warranty: cost, coverage and plans
Why an extended warranty could make sense

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Volkswagen Tiguans are known to have below-average reliability, so an extended warranty can help cut down on expensive repair bills and provide peace of mind.
We’ll break down what a Volkswagen Tiguan warranty covers, how much it costs, what your options are and whether a warranty is worth it in the long run.
All new Volkswagen Tiguans come with a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty from the factory.
Jump to insightQuotes we received for an extended auto warranty on a 2021 Tiguan ranged from $1,103.64 to $4,595.26 a year. That’s more expensive than the average cost of an extended warranty.
Jump to insightVolkswagen has below-average reliability compared with other vehicles.
Jump to insightGetting an extended warranty on a Tiguan gives you peace of mind and protection against repair bills once the factory warranty expires.
Jump to insightVolkswagen Tiguan extended warranty coverage
An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your Tiguan comes with. For context, Volkswagen Tiguans come with the following warranties from the factory:
- A four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
- A five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty
Factory warranties follow the vehicle, not the owner. So if you buy a 3-year-old car with 20,000 miles on it, you still have one year or 30,000 miles worth of factory bumper-to-bumper warranty remaining.
For an extended warranty on your Volkswagen Tiguan, you have two options:
- Buy the official Volkswagen extended warranty, called VW Drive Easy Protection Plan.
- Buy a plan from a third-party extended warranty company, which allows you to take your car to any ASE-certified mechanic for repairs.
Regardless of whether you go with an extended warranty from a dealer or a third-party provider, you’ll typically get the most value by purchasing whichever plan offers comprehensive, exclusionary protection (often called bumper-to-bumper or Platinum). These plans cover 90% or more of the parts on your vehicle. Less comprehensive Gold, Silver and powertrain plans are less expensive, but the coverage they provide may leave you no option but to pay out of pocket for pricey repairs.
Most Americans can't pay for a $1,000 repair bill with cash, according to a ConsumerAffairs investigation. Nearly 13% of drivers have no way to handle a bill that large — even by borrowing.
Auto warranties don't cover damage or accidents, and repairs generally aren't covered if you don't properly maintain the vehicle or you make aftermarket modifications. They only pay for repairs and replacements of specifically covered parts that fail from normal wear and tear.
In general, here are the differences between what a bumper-to-bumper warranty and a powertrain warranty cover:
Warranty type | Typically covered | Not covered |
---|---|---|
Bumper-to-bumper | ||
Powertrain | Parts that create power and deliver it to the wheels | Parts not related to the engine, transmission or drive axle |
Note that some extended auto warranty plans fall somewhere between bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage.
» LEARN: What to know about manufacturers’ extended warranties
How much does a Volkswagen Tiguan extended warranty cost?
We were quoted $4,595.26 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan registered in Austin, Texas, with 55,000 miles. From Endurance, the quote for similar coverage was $1,103.64 annually for 30 months of coverage for the same vehicle with the same mileage. Both quotes assumed a $100 deductible. Note that both of these are third-party extended auto warranty companies.
The “official” Volkswagen extended warranty is called VW Drive Easy Protection Plan, and it may cost less than a third-party option. Be sure to get a quote from your local Volkswagen dealer to compare your options.
In general, quotes for extended auto warranties vary based on coverage, vehicle, deductible, location and other factors. A 2022 Tiguan with zero miles typically has cheaper extended warranty options than a 2020 model with 50,000 miles, for example.
For context, the average cost of an extended warranty is around $1,000 per year of coverage. The quotes we collected for our hypothetical 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan were more expensive by comparison.
Extended warranty pricing varies significantly among providers. Compare quotes from multiple companies to ensure you're getting a good deal.
While you may get a lower quote for a powertrain plan, the downside is your coverage will be significantly less comprehensive. If the damaged part doesn't create power and deliver it to the wheel (e.g., engine, transmission, drive axle), you'll likely have to pay out of pocket for repairs.
Keep in mind that some extended auto warranties start from the original owner's purchase date of the vehicle. So if the factory warranty lasts for four years and 50,000 miles, a six-year/100,000-mile plan may only provide two additional years or 50,000 additional miles of coverage.
Is a Volkswagen Tiguan extended warranty worth it?
Yes, a Volkswagen Tiguan extended warranty is worth it. In general, an extended auto warranty is worth it if any of the following are true:
- Your vehicle has a bad reputation for reliability.
- The warranty costs less than you expect to spend on repairs.
- A big repair bill could hurt you financially.
- You don’t mind paying for peace of mind.
Volkswagen as a brand has below-average reliability, with J.D. Power ranking Volkswagen 26th out of 29 car brands for overall dependability.
As for the Tiguan specifically, RepairPal gave it a 3.0 out of 5.
Many ConsumerAffairs reviewers reported issues with their Volkswagen Tiguans.
Tim in Illinois reported an engine issue with a Tiguan: “My timing chain needed to be replaced on a 2017 Tiguan (or so they said). Only 70,000 miles. I changed the oil with synthetic per VW's maintenance schedule. Even though they had a massive recall on this same issue and claimed it was resolved, it hasn't been.”
Love my Tiguan but I urge you to purchase a warranty. I keep my car very well maintained but there have been some costly repairs.”
“My 2017 Tiguan had the crankshaft go after 67,000 miles,” said Ken in Pennsylvania.
Even positive reviews mention the value of a warranty: “Love my Tiguan but I urge you to purchase a warranty,” said Suzanne in Oklahoma. “I keep my car very well maintained but there have been some costly repairs.”
These stories from real customers mentioning issues with Volkswagen Tiguan maintenance suggest that an extended warranty is a good idea. The likelihood of needing repairs and the prices we found for Volkswagen Tiguan extended warranties means you’re likely to come out ahead by purchasing a protection plan.



Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:- J.D. Power, “Vehicle Dependability Slumps as Rate of Deterioration Increases, J.D. Power Finds.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
- RepairPal, “Volkswagen Tiguan Reliability Rating.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.