What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2012 Volkswagen Jetta

Typical pattern

7.8% of complaints about the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2012 vehicle — around the middle of the 201 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.2 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (142 complaints), typically at 5.3 yr or about 60,000 miles.

Complaints
690
Median age at failure
5.2 yr
Median mileage
53,216 n=567
Crash / fire / tow
7.2% of reports
Safety recalls
8

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
142 reports · 60,000 mi
5.3 yr
7.7%
Other
107 reports · 64,000 mi
5.9 yr
3.7%
Engine
84 reports · 45,000 mi
4.9 yr
7.1%
Fuel / propulsion
47 reports · 50,000 mi
3.8 yr
2.1%
Power train
45 reports · 42,000 mi
4.5 yr
2.2%
Steering
41 reports · 53,000 mi
5.5 yr
12.2%
Air bags
34 reports · 63,000 mi
6.2 yr
26.5%
Service brakes
34 reports · 60,000 mi
7.8 yr
20.6%
Fuel system, diesel
24 reports · 25,350 mi
2.1 yr
0%
Visibility / wipers
20 reports · 52,000 mi
6.3 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

20E064000 2020-09-23
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder

Tenneco Automotive (Tenneco) is recalling certain Beck/Arnley Master Cylinders, part number 072-9831, sold as aftermarket or replacement parts for 2004-2018 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2012-2019 Volkswagen Beetle vehicles. The fluid seal crimp on the master cylinder may be insufficient, causing brake fluid to leak or the cylinder to come apart.

If there is a brake fluid leak, it can reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.

19V679000 2019-09-25
Other

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.

If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

19V615000 2019-08-22
Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module

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."

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.

15V483000 2015-08-04
Air bags:frontal

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.

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.

14V656000 2014-10-20
Suspension:rear

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.

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.

14E007000 2014-03-07
Engine and engine cooling:engine

The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the af

A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

11V490000 2011-10-03
Fuel system, diesel

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

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.

11E036000 2011-09-08
Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST TIPS, PART NUMBER 1K0 071 910 U, SOLD AS ACCESSORY EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 JETTA SEDAN VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 18, 2010, THROUGH AUGUST 22, 2011. THESE EXHAUST TIPS MAY EXTEND BEYOND THE ORIGINAL LENGTH OF THE FACTORY-INSTALLED EXHAUST PIPES. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR INADVERTENT CONTACT TO OCCUR WITH A PERSON'S LEG.

IF THE TAILPIPE EXTENSION IS HOT DURING INADVERTENT CONTACT, A BURN COULD OCCUR.

In owners’ own words

Air bags 427 mi 0 mo in service
AT APPROXIMATELY 425 MILES, THE VEHICLE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS NOW MALFUNCTIONING (AIRBAG SYSTEM LIGHTS AND ERROR) OUT OF NOWHERE REQUIRING IN DEPTH DIAGNOSIS BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
Air bags 5 mi 5 mo in service
I WAS SOLD A BRAND NEW 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WITHOUT A PASSENGER AIRBAG. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WERE MULTIPLE OTHER DEFECTS WITH THE VEHICLE, AND BY DEFINITION, I WAS SOLD A LEMON. I'VE TRIED BRINGING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEMS, AND THEY HAVE YET TO BE ABLE TO CORRECT THE ISSUES. THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A NEW AIRBAG WHICH HAS MALFUNCTIONED ON MORE THAN A FEW OCCASIONS, RESULTING IN THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON AND CAUSING FAULTS IN THE TERMINALS LEADING TO THE TAIL LIGHTS AND SHORTS IN THE DASHBOARD. *TR
Air bags 56,000 mi 2.8 yr in service
THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. ALSO REFERRED TO AS THE STEERING COLUMN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE FAILURE ILLUMINATED THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND ALL THE STEERING WHEEL SWITCHES AND HORN STOPPED WORKING. IT WAS JUST OVER THE 50,000 MI WARRANTY SO DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR. *TR
Power train 1,000 mi 1 mo in service
UPON ENTERING AN ON-RAMP AND ALSO ACCELERATING AROUND A TURN, EXPERIENCED NO RESPONSE TO DEPRESSION OF GAS PEDAL. BASICALLY CAR HAD SERIOUS LAG BEFORE TAKING OFF. WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY ISSUE WHEN TRYING TO GET OUT OF SOMEONE'S WAY. VERY UNPREDICTABLE IN OCCURRENCE AND DO NOT WANT TO HAVE A WRECK. ALSO EXPERIENCED "STUTTERING" AROUND 30 MPH AS IF VEHICLE DID NOT KNOW WHICH GEAR TO GET INTO. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY AND CREATES A PHYSICAL SHUTTER OF VEHICLE FELT BY DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. *TR

Other Jetta model years

20212020201920172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

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