2012 Volkswagen Jetta

Above average

Owners filed 499 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 8 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
55,600 milesMedian miles at failure

410 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System107
330
Unknown or Other79
104
Engine55
110
Fuel/Propulsion System39
000
Air Bags33
9011
Service Brakes29
610
Power Train29
000
Steering20
301
Fuel System, Diesel18
000
Visibility/Wiper16
000

8 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder20E064000
Filed Sep 23, 202038 vehiclesTenneco Automotive

Defect. 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.

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

Remedy. Beck/Arnley will notify the distributors that sold the master cylinders and will work with the distributors to notify the end users. Affected master cylinders will be exchanged for a new master cylinder (part number 072-9990), free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2020. Owners may contact Tenneco customer service at 1-800-625-9319.

Unknown or Other19V679000
Filed Sep 25, 2019113 vehiclesVolkswagen Group Of America, Inc.

Defect. 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.

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

Remedy. 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.

Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control Module19V615000
Filed Aug 22, 2019679,027 vehiclesVolkswagen Group Of America, Inc.

Defect. 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."

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.

Remedy. 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.

Air Bags › Frontal15V483000
Filed Aug 4, 2015415,825 vehiclesVolkswagen Group Of America, Inc.

Defect. 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.

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.

Remedy. 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.

Suspension › Rear14V656000
Filed Oct 20, 2014442,066 vehiclesVolkswagen Group Of America, Inc.

Defect. 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.

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.

Remedy. 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.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine14E007000
Filed Mar 7, 201450 vehiclesThe Gates Corporation

Defect. 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 affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt may develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.

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

Remedy. Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.

Fuel System, Diesel11V490000
Filed Oct 3, 2011168,275 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America, Inc

Defect. 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.

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.

Remedy. 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.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System11E036000
Filed Sep 8, 201199,322 vehiclesVolkswagen Of America, Inc

Defect. 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.

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

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST TIPS AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Jun 14, 2026PA

A microswitch malfunction. My car will not lock and while I am driving it there is clicking on the doors for locking and unlocking. My night lights will not shut off when I park the vehicle. There is a pinging noise when the vehicle is shut off and in park and the door is open with no lights on.

Electrical System
Filed Jul 21, 2025131,260 milesCA

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that for the past eight months, the contact was unable to remove the key from the ignition. Several warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that to start the vehicle, the contact had to plug in the two fuse boxes and connect the battery cable. The contact feared the vehicle might catch on fire. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V615000 (Electrical System, Steering). The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the contact was informed that pre-existing repairs needed to be performed before the recall repair could be performed. The contact stated that the dealer had not provided an official repair estimate, however the total repair cost was provided. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The manufacturer confirmed that the pre-existing repairs needed to be performed prior to the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 131,260. Parts distribution disconnect.

Unknown or Other
Filed May 21, 2025TN

The ignition switch where the key is placed in the ignition and turned to start the car failed. The ignition would not turn with the key engaged inside the ignition switch. It will require a new ignition switch kit and new key in order for the car to function properly again.

Electrical System
Filed May 2, 2025NY

This is my 4th volkswagen jetta 2.5L I've own that has had the same issue with the charging system the car would just shut off while driving due to dead battery almost causing an accident this needs to be addressed 2011 to 2018

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 15, 2025GA

I recently bought vehicle seen there is a recall

Electrical System › Horn
Filed Mar 15, 2025GA

Seller sold vehicle without a working horn and hasn’t fixed it

Air Bags
Filed Oct 6, 2024WA

Clock spring went out and would have failed to deploy the airbags if i was in an accident. there was no notification that said it went out. NHTSA campaign number - 15V483000

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 21, 2024UT

I was driving on the road going up a hill and my fuel was just alittle low about 120 miles my car sputtered and died and didn't start back up stuck on the road with barley any gaurd rail so I'm partially in the lane and I got it looked at and my high pressure fuel pump failed and sent metal scrapes all throughout my fuel system so it's estimated around 10k to replace I got told it's because the pump barley lost fuel and it uses that to lubricate itself so somthing as simple as one of the pumps going out and this problem can occur or a slight short im just reporting because many others have had this issue with the pump and mine shouldn't have even had nothing going on at 120 miles 1/4 of a tank and I did look in my tank and confirmed I had fuel that I filled up at my local gas station in the middle of the city so it's not bad diesel I own a 2012 volkswagen jetta 2.0l tdi cjaa

Visibility/Wiper
Filed May 23, 2024TX

The contact's daughter owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at undisclosed speeds in the rain, an abnormal popping sound was heard. The wipers were moving slowly and became inoperable. The contact stated that after turning on the windshield wipers, the wiper blades went into the down position. The driver was able to pull over. There were no warning lights illuminated. The owner called an unknown local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

Power Train
Filed Mar 17, 2024WI

A bolt holding my CV Joint backed out causing the bracket between two of the bolts to come lose. The bracket then swung as I drove a created a hole in my transmission. This caused me to lose transmission fluid and damage my transmission. My car has only been serviced at VW certified dealers so I am very disappointed with this issue

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Feb 22, 2024NC

Everytime I fill with gas car will not start.i have to pump accelerator, then it will start.it starts normally on all other occasions. This has been happening for about 6 months or 5 thousand miles.

Power Train
Filed Jan 6, 2024TX

I remember having my keys in my hand and my car was slowly reversing out the driveway. I panicked, i was stomping on my brakes for a while jerking back and it took me about 2 minutes to finally get the key back in and try to put in park again. I went to a shop the following weekend because all the jerking and jabbing to get my key back in seems to have caused my ignition switch to misfire or whatever the word he (mechanic) used, so now i cannot take my key out like a regular person, I have to flick my key a certain way out anytime i want to turn my car off.(even mechanics have a hard time taking it out. I was also given a qr code to scan and was brought the this exact recall of the situation with my car. I now have my engine light on and [XXX] gave me the fault code for my map sensor. I’m not sure if the two are related but this was following the incident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Electrical System
Filed Nov 27, 2023140,000 milesTX

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V615000 (Electrical System, Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while using the key to start the vehicle, the key spun around in the ignition cylinder and failed to start the vehicle. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 4, 2023TX

ABS module controlling the Anti-Lock brake system has failed. I am told there is a recall for earlier models of this car for the very same issue but not for 2012 model year. This is a safety issue that is very expensive to fix and primarily by the dealer requiring factory programming of a new expensive ABS module

Electrical System
Filed Sep 29, 2023TX

Horn only occasionally works when honking and/or locking car, which increases the risk of a crash since I can’t always use my horn to alert other drivers of presence. One front headlight only occasionally works (lightbulb is not the issue), which increases the risk of a crash since other drivers may not be able to see me as well & I am not able to see the road as well in the dark. Cruise control does not work at all, which increases risk of speeding and therefore increases risk of crash. Dealer has inspected horn/headlight issue but could not determine cause. No warning signs. Issues first appeared a couple years ago.

Engine
Filed Aug 3, 2023OH

My DPF system failed after my warranty ran out, about 128,000mi. and VW charged me $3000 to replace the DPF, then two days later the Nox Catalyst failed and they wanted another $2500 out of me. I tried the regen like the manual says, and the car went in limp mode 75 miles from my house in the middle of the highway. The car is not safe to drive, and they would not tell me if replacing the Nox catalyst will fix my problem, or just reveal another multi thousand dollar problem. The car is parked for the past 6 months and is not drivable.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 20, 2023TX

Cannot turn engine off. Key gets stuck in ignition when turning off the engine. Dealer confirmed it's an on-going and common issue. Replacement parts also fail. Only way to turn car off was to pull the fuel pump fuse.

Engine
Filed Jun 13, 202340,000 milesWA

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate properly. Additionally, the contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle was shuddering. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

Unknown or Other
Filed May 5, 2023OH

Key stuck in ignition, can't turn off

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 22, 2023FL

The brakes randomly engage while driving and sometimes while parking, without touching the brake pedal. After this happens and you're driving for a while, there is a burning smell, likely from the brakes being engaged while driving and not applying the brakes.

20 of 499 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2009
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20265100Routine
202528200Routine
202443010Routine
202343000Routine
202242100Routine
202168402Fatalities reported
202052600Routine
20195481130Do not drive
201831300Routine
2017159731Fatalities reported
2016161550Routine
2015194810Routine
2014386520Above average
2013516630Above average
2012 — this page499860Above average
20116071090Above average
2010852550Above average
2009888780Above average
2008188640Routine
2007201670Above average
2006580660Above average
20052487140Above average
20042315200High concern
20034574701Fatalities reported
200270277110Fatalities reported
20016687121Fatalities reported
20004395142Fatalities reported
1999349790Above average
1998192380Routine
1997141251Fatalities reported
1996174251Fatalities reported
19952206110Above average
1994117750Routine
199317600Routine
199230430Routine
199131700Routine
199022710Routine

Compare every Jetta year →

Reading this record

Complaint volume is well above typical for a single model year.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Sep 23, 2020. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.