NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
REVERSE LIGHTS ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE ARE NOT WORKING WITH 580 MILES ON THE CAR AND AFTER 1 MONTH OF OWNERSHIP. *TR
WHEN FUELING WITH DIESEL, SOME DIESEL PUMP HANDLES DON'T FIT INTO FILL NOZZLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REFUEL VEHICLE. FUEL WILL SPILLED OVER ONTO PERSON FILLING, GROUND AND VEHICLE. YOU ARE UNABLE TO SAFELY FILL VEHICLE WITHOUT SPILLING FUEL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORTWAGEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES AND BECAME INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 700.
NEW VOLKS JETTA 2012. PURCHASED NEW FROM VOLKS DEALERSHIP WITH APPROX. 40 MILES ON VEHICLE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. SINCE DAY ONE AND CONTINUING THROUGH TODAY WITH 12,000 MILES ON ODOMETER, TRANSMISSION LURCHES AND JERKS, EITHER SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF GEAR OR SEEMINGLY NOT ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHICH GEAR TO BE IN. USUALLY OCCURS WHILE TRYING TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT SPEED. FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE IN SCHOOL ZONE WITH 20 MPH SPEED LIMIT, CAR WILL LURCH, JERK AND SHUDDER, SOMETIMES VIOLENTLY WITH THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ABOVE. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT FOR INSTANCE TWO CONDITIONS FREQUENTLY PRESENT. 1. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, TRANSMISSION IS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF DOWNSHIFTING. IN OTHER WORDS, ONCE COMPLETELY STOPPED, YOU CAN FEEL THE TRANSMISSION STILL SHIFTING DOWN THROUGH THE LAST COUPLE OF GEARS. 2. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A LIGHT, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, CAR IS NOT IN GEAR AND REQUIRES DEPRESSION OF GAS PEDDLE BEFORE CAR WILL ENGAGE IN FIRST GEAR. ALL OF THE ABOVE ARE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. DEALER CONTINUES TO INSIST THAT TRANSMISSION IS "LEARNING" MY DRIVING HABITS. *TR
PER SERVICE ADVISOR RATTLE OCCURS FROM REAR DECK ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH "FENDER" SOUND SYSTEM AND THEY HAVE A "CAMPAIGN" TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT NOT ON THIS MODEL YEAR. *TR
CAR STALLS. IT IS A 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. TDI. CONTINUALLY STALLS. HAVE ALSO HAD 2 INSTANCES OF BRAKE GOING TO FLOOR BOARD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SPORT WAGON TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND STEERING COLUMN COMPUTER CHIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATELY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,281. *TR
WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY ROAD. CHECK ENGINE AND GLOW PLUG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WAS JUST ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. CAR WOULD TURN OVER, BUT ENGINE WOULD NOT START. CAR TOWED TO DEALER. WAS TOLD THERE WAS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, AND METAL SHARDS WERE FOUND THROUGHOUT THE FUEL SYSTEM. VW REPLACED THE ENTIRE FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEM (INCLUDING FUEL TANK) AND FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. I CAN PROVIDE LIST OF PARTS, IF NEEDED. *JS
RH REAR SEAT RETRACTABLE BELT FROZE AND WAS INOPERABLE. WHEN RH REAR SEAT WAS IN THE FULLY FLAT FOLDED POSITION, THE INERTIA PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT LOCATED INSIDE THE SEAT BACK FROZE AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. WHILE THERE WAS NO PASSENGER AND THE BELT WAS NOT BUCKLED DUE TO THE SEAT BEING FOLDED FOR USE OF THE CARGO SPACE, BY FREEZING THE REAR SEAT COULD NOT BE RETURNED TO THE NORMAL UPRIGHT POSITION FOR PASSENGER USE. SEAT BELT WAS DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE BY DEALER AND REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AFTER 1 MONTH DELAY IN PART AVAILABILITY. *TR
2012 VW JETTA TDI SPORTWAGON 10408 MILES. FLASHING GLOW PLUG LIGHT, AND CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 40 MPH. DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PRESSURE GAUGE. DAY AFTER REPAIR BOTH THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WOULD NOT GO OVER 40 MPH. DEALER THEN REPLACED THE HPFPUMP PER VW TECH RECOMMENDATIONS. FUEL (DIESEL) WAS CHECKED ON BOTH REPAIRS AND NOT FOUND TO BE FAULTY. A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR, THOUGH SUPPOSEDLY "FIXED". MY CONCERNS ARE FOR ADDITIONAL FAILURE, POTENTIALLY LEAVING US STRANDED OR ON A FREEWAY GOING 40MPH. *TR
ON 9 MARCH 2012, I BOUGHT A VW TDI JETTA SPORTSWAGEN WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. FROM THE TIME I TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION BUCKED, HESITATED, AND LUNGED. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 26 APRIL TO HAVE IT EXAMINED, BUT THEY SAID THAT IT WAS ?NORMAL? AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I TOLD THEM THAT IF THAT WAS NORMAL, I WAS SURPRISED THAT ANYONE WOULD WANT TO BUY ONE. AFTER 2 MONTHS OF THIS, I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND EXCHANGED IT FOR ONE WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE THE SO-CALLED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (WHICH IS REALLY A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH 2 CLUTCHES CONTROLLED BY A COMPUTER) IS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS. *TR
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
I PURCHASED MY 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA APPROX OCTOBER 31, 2011. WITHIN THE FIRST 3-4 MONTHS THE CAR COMPUTER SYSTEM LOCKED UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING. (I WAS UNABLE TO PUT DOWN THE WINDOWS, THE A/C STOP WORKING, ENGINE LIGHTS LID UP ON THE DASHBOARD) SO I DROVE IT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY IMMEDIATELY APOLOGIZED AND KEPT THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. IN 2013 THE STEERING LOCK WENT BAD WHILE DRIVING AND WE COULDN'T TURN THE CAR OFF. THIS HAPPENED AT 6:45PM AFTER THE DEALERSHIP CLOSED. SO THE CAR CONTINUED RUNNING IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE FROM 6:45PM TO 7:30AM WHEN THE DEALERSHIP OPENED. I EXPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP HOW FRUSTRATING, PHYSICALLY, AND MENTALLY DRAINING THAT NIGHT WAS. WE COULDN'T PARK THE CAR IN A GARAGE AND RISK THE GASES GETTING INTO THE HOME SO WE LEFT IT IN FRONT THE HOUSE AND HAD TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT AND WATCH IT SO NO ONE WOULD STEAL IT. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A BAD STEERING COLUMN. THE CAR SOMETIMES ACCELERATE FAST ON ITS ON WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL. NOW CURRENTLY THE STERLING LOCK IS GONE BAD ON THE CAR AGAIN. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN AND THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS PART/ISSUE THIS YEAR AND THEY TOLD ME THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. A STEERING COLUMN GOING BAD IN A CAR EVERY YEAR IS NOT NORMAL. MY PROBLEM IS PAYING FOR THIS FAULTY, DEFECTIVE DANGEROUS CAR. I HAVE INVOICE AND REPAIR INVOICE ON THIS CAR DATING BACK TO THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF OWNING IT. VOLKSWAGEN IS ON A MAJOR COVERUP TO AVOID A MASSIVE RECALL OF SEVERAL OF THE VEHICLES THEY KNOWINGLY ARE PUTTING DRIVERS AT RISK.
I PURCHASED A NEW VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI IN 2012. I AM UNABLE TO ADJUST THE LEFT OUTSIDE MIRROR SO THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE A BLIND SPOT. THAT BLIND SPOT ALLOWS A CAR SLOWLY PASSING IN THE LEFT LANE TO BE OUT OF VIEW OF THE INSIDE MIRROR BUT NOT YET IN VIEW OF THE LEFT OUTSIDE MIRROR! THE PILLAR SEPARATING THE TWO DOORS ON THE DRIVER SIDE IS LOCATED SO THAT A DRIVER CANNOT SEE A CAR IN THE DESCRIBED BLIND SPOT. *TR
DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME FROM WORK FRIDAY 1/13, WEATHER WAS BELOW FREEZING CAUSING ICE BUILD UP. PARKED THE VEHICLE IN MY GARAGE ~45 DEGREES. ICE BEGAN MELT, AND WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE SATURDAY AFTERNOON IT TURNED 1/4 TURN AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT THE ENGINE INHALED WATER CAUSING A HYDRO-LOCK, I CONTINUED TO TRY TO START THE VEHICLE A TOTAL 5 TIMES (IT TURNED OVER ONCE AND RAN EXTREMELY ROUGH AND DIED ONCE). THE LAST TIME TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE I SMELLED SMOKE, I POPPED THE HOOD TO FIND THE STARTER AND WIRING ON FIRE. I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE RELATIVELY QUICKLY, CONSIDERING THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE ATTACHED TO MY HOUSE THIS COULD HAVE EXTREMELY CATASTROPHIC IF I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE FIRE OUT. *** THIS IS THE SECOND TIME FOR THE HARD / NO START PROBLEM, THIS ONE HOWEVER RESULTED IN THE FIRE. VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT FOLLOW THE BELOW TSB SINCE THE VEHICLE STARTED AFTER WIRING AND STARTER REPLACEMENT. ISSUE MIRRORS TSB # 21 11 06 / 2025464, WHICH INCLUDES ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER, "DEAD BATTERY" STARTER ACTION (DUE TO HYDRAULIC RESISTANCE IN CYLINDER), AND STARTER/ELECTRICAL FIRES (DUE TO STARTER OVERHEATING DURING ATTEMPTS TO START LOCKED ENGINE). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER. THE VEHICLE ALSO FAILED TO ACCELERATE ON ANOTHER OCCASION.THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1500.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO IDLE EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO BE RESTART THE VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
48 HRS AFTER DRIVING OFF DEALER LOT, "DIESEL ' ODOR THRU FAN AND IDLE AT STOP SIGNS/LIGHTS, DEALER NOTIFIED TOLD IT WOULD GO AWAY AFTER BROKE IN, CONTINUED W/O IMPROVEMENT, TOOK TO DEALER, STATED CHECKED EVERYTHING NO PROBLEM, BRING BACK MAY BE ANIMAL OR SOMETHING BLOCKING EXAHUST (WITHIN DAYS). RETURNED TOLD SEAL WAS BROKE JUST UNDER INTAKE MANIFOLD, PICS SENT TO VOLKSWAGEN,, CALLED TO CHECK STATUS ONLY TO BE TOLD "TURBO CRACKED." 2 WEEKS LATER CAR PICKED UP, STATED ALL RECALLS PERFORMED PRIOR TO DRIVING OFF LOT NOV 26,2011, STILL HAVENT BEEN PROVIDED WITH DOCUMENTATION. CONCERNED FOR SAFETY, AS WELL AS NAUSEA ASSOCIATED WITH ODOR IN CABIN.
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2012 JETTA TDI AND IT WENT INTO LIMP MODE ON THE HIGHWAY, LOSING NEARLY ALL POWER. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE PROBLEM HAD GONE AWAY. IT OCCURRED AGAIN THE NEXT DAY AND WE TOOK IT IN AGAIN. THEY ENDED UP REPLACING THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. MY FUEL PUMP DID NOT FAIL CATASTROPHICALLY AS OTHERS HAVE, BUT IT STILL FAILED. THIS IS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE WITH COMMON RAIL VW DIESELS AND IS SOMETHING THAT I FEEL SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. I WAS LUCKY THAT MY PARTICULAR PUMP DID NOT FAIL CATASTROPHICALLY AND JUST SUPPLIED LOW FUEL PRESSURE AND THAT I'M STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN AND VW SHOULD DEFINITELY ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PART. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1500.
2012 JETTA TDI MANUAL, THE FIRST OCCURRENCE HAPPENED AFTER TRAVELING ON A DOWNHILL GRADE WHEN I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT THE STOPLIGHT THE CAR STARTED TO SHUTTER AND ACTED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL. THIS EXACT INCIDENT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES A MONTH FOR NO RHYME OR REASON. THE CAR HAS NOW STARTED TO DO THE SAME THING MORE FREQUENTLY AND WILL NOW STALL OUT. IT USED TO BE ON COLD STARTS AND WOULD HAPPEN WITHIN THE FIRST 10 MILES OF DRIVING. IT NOW DOES IT ANYTIME YOU ARE DRIVING. I TRIED TO START THE CAR AFTER WORK THREE DAYS AGO AND WHEN I STARTED THE CAR IT SHUTTERED AND STALLED, I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR THREE MORE TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY STAYED STARTED. WHILE DRIVING HOME THE CAR ACTED UP AGAIN AT THE STOP LIGHT SHUTTERING AND ACTING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL OUT. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I AM SCARED THAT I WILL BE OUT IN THE INTERSECTION OR WORSE BE ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND THE CAR WILL STALL OUT AND I WILL END UP GETTING HIT. *TR
FIRST COMPLIANT NUMBER-10442730 I AM REPORTING YET ANOTHER OCCURRENCE WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR AT THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE DEALER FIXED A CHECK VALVE BECAUSE THE FUEL RAIL PRESSURE WAS TOO LOW. APPROX. 1600 MILES AFTER IT WAS FIXED THE CAR STARTED TO DO THE EXACT SAME THING SHUTTERING AND STALLING. THE CAR IS NOW BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT IT IS THE FUEL THAT WE ARE USING IN MY CAR. THEY TOOK A FUEL SAMPLE AND ALSO DROVE THE CAR 300 MILES AND CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR ANY LONGER FOR FEAR OF BEING IN A WRECK. THE CAR HAS STALLED ON MY 3 TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH. VW DOESN'T SEEM TO THINK THIS IS A BIG DEAL I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AND THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES I AM PAYING FOR MY CAR TO SIT IN THE SHOP! I WANT MY MONEY BACK. I WILL NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THERE FUEL SAMPLE TEST FOR THREE WEEKS. *TR
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
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
THE CAR WILL OCCASIONALLY SHUTTER UPON ACCELERATION. *TR