Answer
Oct 11, 2025 - 07:29 PM
If your Volkswagen Tiguan (2007–2016) isn’t communicating with the stereo — like the head unit won’t power up, or it’s not talking to the CAN bus — a few things can cause that. Here’s where to start:
- Check the fuses first – VW hides stereo fuses in both the dash fuse box and the fuse panel on the side of the dash (driver’s side). Look for “Radio,” “Infotainment,” or “Control Unit.”
- Inspect the connectors – pull the stereo out and make sure the quadlock connector at the back is fully seated. Sometimes the CAN pins (orange/brown and orange/green) get pushed out.
- Scan the car – use a VCDS or similar tool to see if the radio module shows up on the CAN network. If it’s missing, you’ve got a wiring or ground issue.
- Grounds – bad grounds behind the dash or under the console can cause total communication loss.
- Aftermarket head unit? – if someone swapped the stereo, make sure they didn’t cut the CAN lines or forget a converter harness.
This manual has the full infotainment wiring diagrams and CAN system diagnostics, so you can trace where communication drops — from fuse to connector to module. That should tell you exactly what’s breaking the signal.
Good luck!
