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2012 Volkswagen Jetta Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 500 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, most often about the electrical (28% of complaints, typically around 58,500 miles). It is 9th of 27 Jetta model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2012 Volkswagen Jetta problems
Electrical
138 complaints · 28%Half of these problems showed up before 58,500 miles. Parts named most often: horn, ignition, instrument panel.
While pulling into intersection, ignition quit. Tow truck driver restarted vehicle. Dealer found fault with electronic ignition. Replaced ignition switch.
Both of the low-beam headlights stopped working as I was driving home on a unlit highway at night. The daytime running lights worked when I turned off the headlights, and the high-beam headlights worked when I tried using them. The next morning I replaced both low-beam headlights and they still do not work.
Other or unspecified
107 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 64,000 miles.
The key is stuck in the "on" position in the ignition with the car running. The key will not physically move from the "on" to "off" position to turn the car off. After looking this up it is a common problem with this type of vw. The car is able to shift between park, drive, and neutral. When putting the car in park to…
The key will not release from ignition. Cant turn car off. Happens with increasing frequency. Forced to drive around and try again. Has happened approx 1 time per month for past 3 years.
Engine
91 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 44,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
I had two no start conditions due to a frozen inter cooler. This happened in january a week apart. This happened while the car was in the garage.
The vehicles engine would rev by its self with the pedal stuck to the floor and the clutch would not disengage during this leaving the vehicle accelerating on its own.
Fuel system
80 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 37,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery.
I was on an approximately 6 hour road trip. Approximately 100 miles from my home, my 2012 Volkswagen Jetta tdi was being driven at approximately 70 MPH on the highway. The glow plug light on the instrument cluster began flashing. Vehicle then went into "limp mode", slowing to approximately 45 MPH on the highway. I was…
Glow plug warning light flashed and check engine light came on accompanied by a loss of power while driving. Dealership diagnosed the problem as a failure of the high pressure fuel pump.
Transmission
46 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 41,000 miles.
The car unintentionally accelerates and there seems to be an issue with the clutch disengaging at highway speeds. The car has 42k miles on it and the dealer wants a per-authorization signed of $1600 before they will look at the issue. Unsafe and insane!
Same problem as described in NHTSA action number: pe09035 and NHTSA recall campaign number:09v333000 car is currently at Volkswagen dealer awaiting a replacement megatronics unit to replace original unit. Vehicle would not accelerate after stopping at a traffic light. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of…
Steering
42 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 51,500 miles.
The contact owned a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving 70 MPH, the vehicle failed to remain in position and the rear of the vehicle moved to the opposite position when the steering wheel was turned. The contact veered to the left and the steering wheel seized. As a result, the contact crashed into a concrete…
Airbag light continues to stay on. I had an accident back in 2014 and the airbag never deployed. The steering column ignition switch locked and my key was stuck with the car still running on in a station place. I was trying to park the car and my ignition switch locked and would not moved and kept the key locked in…
Brakes
37 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles.
While driving my car on normal driving conditions, no rain, daylight hours, when coming up on a stop sign I pushed the brake pedal and it wouldn't push, the breaks didn't work, I pumped them and still the pedal wouldn't move, on the fourth of fifth pump finally the pedal would compress. This has happened approx 6-8…
While in motion brakes were engaged to slow vehicle down. Brakes "stuck" at top of motion and would not depress. Had to pump and after putting vehicle in park and then drive again they would engage. Used emergency brake to stop on way home. Failure happens every 3 stops or so.
Air bags
34 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 63,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
When starting my 2012 vw Jetta, the ABS light, brake light, passenger air bag light come on on the dashboard along with a long beeping sound. The sound eventually stops but the lights stay on. Vehicle is trying to run through diagnostics upon starting (vehicle is stationary but lights remain on while driving) when…
Car's fuse # 6 keeps blowing which controls the back lights that turns on at night, when fuse blows lights on back go out and cars behind you can't see you and may cause a collision where serious injury and death may result. I think this an engineering flaw where they connected the back lights to other modules in the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 Volkswagen Jetta recalls
Other: unknown or other
Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began november 6, 2019. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01d7. Note: this recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18v-329.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 volkswagen passat, 2018 tiguan lwb, 2007-2009 jetta sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 jetta, 2013 jetta hybrid, 2008-2009 jetta sportwagen, 2015 golf sportwagen, 2013 golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 beetle and beetle convertible, 2008-2010 beetle, and beetle convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Electrical: control module
Risk: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began november 19, 2019. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37m2.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 gti, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 golf, 2012-2019 beetle and beetle convertible, 2017-2019 golf sportwagen and 2011-2018 jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "park."
Air bags: frontal
Risk: A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on january 15, 2016. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 volkswagen cc, and passat, 2010-2013 eos, 2011-2014 golf, gti, jetta, and tiguan, and 2012-2014 jetta sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
Suspension: rear
Risk: The reduced durability of the trailing arm may result in its sudden fracture, possibly causing loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a sheet metal inlay on the rear axle trailing arms designed to prevent a sudden loss of control in the event of trailing arm sudden fracture, free of charge. The recall began april 7, 2015. Owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 jetta vehicles manufactured march 1, 2010, to november 30, 2012, and 2012-2013 beetle vehicles manufactured march 1, 2011, to july 31, 2013. The durability of the rear trailing arms may be reduced in vehicles whose rear trailing arms have been previously deformed, such as a result of a rear or side-rear impact crash.
Fuel system: fuel system, diesel
Risk: Due to the resonance condition, injector line number 2 could develop small cracks which could lead to fuel leakage. Leaking fuel in the presence of an ignition source, may lead to a fire.
Fix: Volkswagen will install an improved fuel injector line for the number 2 cylinder on certain vehicles and will install vibration dampers on all of the injector lines. Volkswagen and audi will notify owners to have the vehicles repaired free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during november 2011. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen is recalling certain model 2009-2012 jetta and jetta sportwagen vehicles, manufactured from may 2008 through september 2011, model year 2010-2012 volkswagen golf vehicles, manufactured from may 2009 through september 2011, and model year 2010-2012 audi a3 vehicles, manufactured from september 2009 through september 2011, that are equipped with a 2.0l tdi common rail diesel engine/clean diesel engine. The fuel injection pulses could coincide with the natural frequency of the injector line #2, in specific load and RPM conditions. This resonance creates additional stress in the fuel line.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Air bag clockspring failure
Summary
In august 2015, volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) launched safety recall 15v-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 model year (my) cc, passat, eos, golf, gti, tiguan, jetta and jetta sportwagen models.contamination of the clockspring can cause the ribbon cable to tear resulting in loss of the electrical connection to the front driver air bag and any steering wheel mounted controls.the loss of the electrical connection to the front driver air bag will result in i
Air bag clockspring failure
Summary
In august 2015, volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) launched safety recall 15v-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 model year (my) cc, passat, eos, golf, gti, tiguan, jetta and jetta sportwagen models.contamination of the clockspring can cause the ribbon cable to tear resulting in loss of the electrical connection to the front driver air bag and any steering wheel mounted controls.the loss of the electrical connection to the front driver air bag will result in i
Air bag clockspring failure
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of steering wheel clock spring/steering column control module (sccm) failures in model year (my) 2012 volkswagen passat and cc models.the sccm is a module within the steering column that incorporates a spiral conductor (a ribbon cable) to electrically connect the steering wheel to the vehicle's electrical system while allowing for the turning of the steering wheel.complainants alleged that that the clock spring failed while driving and without warning.when the sccm fails electrically, an air bag warning light is illuminated on the dash of the vehicle.if a vehicle with a failed sccm were to be invo
Diesel fuel injector line leakage
Summary
By letter dated october 3, 2011, volkswagen group of america, inc. (vw) notified the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) that it will conduct a safety recall to address a defect in approximately 168,275 model year (my) 2009-2012 volkswagen jetta, jetta sportwagen, golf, and audi a3 vehicles equipped with the 2.0l tdi common rail clean diesel engine (NHTSA recall no. 11v-490).the recalled jetta and jetta sportwagen vehicles were built from may 2008 through september 2011, the golf vehicles were built from may 2009 through september 2011, and the audi a3 vehicles were built from september 2009 through september 2011.according to volkswagen, in u.s. Applications of the above
High-pressure fuel pump failure
Summary
The office of defects investgation (odi) opened ea11-003 on february 7, 2011, based on 160 complaints to odi and volkswagen involving high pressure fuel pump (hpfp) failures in model year (my) 2009 through 2010 volkswagen jetta and golf and audi a3 tdi vehicles and questions regarding fuel sample results provided by volkswagen as part of its response to pe10-034.during ea11-003, odi analyzed design information, field experience and test data for my 2009 through 2012 volkswagen jetta, golf and touareg and audi a3 and q7 vehicles equipped with tdi engines. Volkswagen has not identified any design or manufacturing defects in the subject tdi clean diesel pumps and has stated that the subject pum
Questions about the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (138 complaints, typically around 58,500 miles); other or unspecified (107 complaints, typically around 64,000 miles); engine (91 complaints, typically around 44,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 25, 2019 (other). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Volkswagen Jetta?
- It is 9th of 27 Jetta model years by number of complaints, with 500 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.