My brake pedal is very firm before started. The pedal softens noticeably once the engine has started as the Brake Servo kicks in.
The brake pedal doesn't have to be fully depressed to start the engine, it's just a failsafe to make sure someone is in the drivers seat.
Nothing to worry about

 

It is normal!

 

As others have said when the cars not running the pedal is hard but once started it will be normal.

 

Many thanks for all your replies so far.

I appreciate the brake pedal is harder when the engine is not running (i.e prior to start up) but even so it still has some give in it so that you can press to start up the car. But on other occasions with my car the brake prior to start up is solid almost like one has pumped it several times to make it really hard. Hope that makes sense

 

Yes, it makes sense. It is normal
Unless of course you are saying that when the pedal is 'solid' you can't start the engine?

 

by mrew42
Unless of course you are saying that when the pedal is 'solid' you can't start the engine?

Yes I could make a case for this statement.

 

by mrew42
Unless of course you are saying that when the pedal is 'solid' you can't start the engine?

Yes I could make a case for this statement.

Is your tig diesel, and are you finding when you turn the key it doesn't attempt to start, so you turn it off and try again?

With the stop/start system, the key isn't directly connected to the starter motor, rather it tells the SS logic to start the car. Normally this is instantaneous, and you don't perceive this. However, behind the scenes the SS on a diesel will check engine temperature and if necessary engage the glowplugs to warm it up. Then and only then will it start the engine.

This can be perceived as the engine not starting, as indeed I did many years ago when I first encountered this system. However for some reason I don't remember I at some point didn't turn it back off and seconds later the car started!

So now I get in, key in, foot on brake (yes it can feel very hard), flick the ignition to start, put my seatbelt on, by which time the car starts itself.

If your's is a diesel, just try this, if it doesn't start, keep the brake 'depressed' and let go the key.

P.S. I hate that message, 'depress the brake' like you have to tell it it's useless worthless and should feel depressed 😊

 

by mrew42
Unless of course you are saying that when the pedal is 'solid' you can't start the engine?

Yes I could make a case for this statement.

P.S. I hate that message, 'depress the brake' like you have to tell it it's useless worthless and should feel depressed 😊

Lol - gets me too
"Useless thing. I wouldn't wipe my shoes on... oh wait"

 

Someone else mentioned this a while ago where their Tiguan would not start as the brake pedal was hard so they were unable to press it down, so there may well be a problem. You say your car was fine for the first few months but obviously something has changed which you've noticed, so I would get it checked at a dealer. A quick Google search show this does happen to quite a few VW group vehicles.
I did a search and this came up:

https://www.tiguanforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2389&p=22353&hilit=hard+pedal#p22353

 

Thanks CNC, have sent a message to see if they had a dealer resolution.

Agreed there are a few others that appear to be experiencing a similar problem so will see how things progress.