2012 Volkswagen Jetta Problems, Recalls & Reliability
692 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, alongside 8 recall campaigns and 5 defect investigations. It scores 55/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 62,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2012 Volkswagen Jetta sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1991–1992, 1994, 2008, 2018, 2020–2022.
Avoid
Where 2012 sits among all Jetta years
What owners report
“The car will not turn off. The ignition switch will not allow the key to be turned into the off position and it continues to run. The key cannot be removed. The vehicle is stationary and in park.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Jetta
“Key gets stuck in ignition when turning off the engine. The key will not turn back- it is just stuck on”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Jetta
“I am unable to turn off the engine when i stop. The keys are stuck in the enigen and the car not turn off. Really heart breaking because i like volkswagen but i think this will be my last.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Jetta
“Gas cap problem waring light on do to gas cap and gas leaking feums when gas tank is full can smell gas while driving”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Jetta
“As i went to change gears into reverse i heard a very hard thump, then into drive and the thump got louder and the whole engine shifted forward. Now it sounds as if everything ( motor ) is about to fall out the vehicle .”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Jetta
“Key gets stuck in the on position. Have to wiggle steering wheel and key to turn off”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Jetta
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 543 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 55,600 miles. Half of those reports fall between 33,000 and 80,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (8)
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
Fix: 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.
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…
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…
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…
Fix: 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…
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE
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…
Led to recall campaign 15V483000.
Led to recall campaign 11V490000.
Technical service bulletins
1,479 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?
The 2012 Volkswagen Jetta drew 692 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 55/100, scored against the model's worst year (2002).
What are the most common 2012 Volkswagen Jetta problems?
The top reported problems for the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta are electrical (155 complaints), other (119), and engine (92).
At what mileage do 2012 Volkswagen Jetta problems show up?
Owners most often report 2012 Volkswagen Jetta problems around 55,600 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 33,000 and 80,000 miles.
Does the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta have recalls?
8 recall campaigns apply to the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.