Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system138
- Unknown or other107
- Engine84
- Fuel/propulsion system47
- Power train46
- Steering42
- Air bags34
- Service brakes34
- Fuel system, diesel24
- Visibility/wiper20
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 17 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 65 2012 Jetta vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 28 people died inside them, and 6 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta failed the safety check 2.88% of the time — 15% more often than the average 2012 passenger car (2.52%). Median odometer at inspection: 119,028 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2012
17,993 new Volkswagen Jetta cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2012; the largest markets were Germany (3,967), the United Kingdom (2,572), Poland (1,665).
- Average mass
- 1,389 kg
- Average power
- 93 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Diesel 61% · Petrol 39%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Engines
The most common engines in 2012 Volkswagen Jetta cars on Dutch roads are the 1.2 petrol (77 kW, 103 hp), 1.4 petrol (90 kW, 121 hp) and 1.6 diesel (77 kW, 103 hp), out of 4 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.2 petrol | 77 kW 103 hp | 305 |
| 1.4 petrol | 90 kW 121 hp | 125 |
| 1.6 diesel | 77 kW 103 hp | 72 |
| 1.4 petrol | 118 kW 158 hp | 36 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
561 first registered in 2012 are on Dutch roads; 16% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €27,222.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde448
- Band onvoldoende profiel204
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld188
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen161
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm132
- Veer gebroken of gescheurd119
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage61
- Band beschadigd54
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
1,471 cars built in 2012 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 183 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 1,280 of these cars first registered in 2012 took their annual MOT test. 65% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2012 the figure was 66%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2012 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 18.2% | 12.2% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.2% | 14.3% |
| Brakes | 7.4% | 7.7% |
| Tyres | 7.3% | 7.0% |
| Visibility | 3.6% | 5.0% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 2.8% | 3.8% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
813 of these cars first registered in 2012 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 196,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
12 2012 cars are on the New Zealand register; 83% arrived as used imports, 8% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 2 variants; 0 of 1 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 Volkswagen Jetta 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | 12.1 % |
| 2012 Volkswagen Jetta SW FWD | — | 12.1 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- No
- Lane departure warning
- No
- Best overall rating
- 4 / 5
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 6 variants: combined 8.9–9.5 L/100 km (about 25–26 mpg US), CO₂ 205–219 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jetta · Compact · Premium gasoline | 10.1 | 7.3 | 8.9 |
| Jetta · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.4 | 7.2 | 9.0 |
| Jetta · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.4 | 7.8 | 9.2 |
| Jetta · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.6 | 8.0 | 9.5 |
| Jetta · Compact · Premium gasoline | 11.2 | 7.4 | 9.5 |
| Jetta · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.3 | 7.4 | 9.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
8 Transport Canada recalls for the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta.
| 2024648 30 Oct 2024 | Heater And Defroster Issue: Volkswagen Group Canada is conducting a parts recovery campaign targeting 2012-2016 Volkswagen vehicles equipped with a TDI (diesel) engine built betwe… |
| 2020353 4 Aug 2020 | Label Issue: On certain vehicles, the warning label for the engine block heater cable is written in English only. As a result, a French user may not receive importa… |
| 2019423 22 Aug 2019 | Powertrain Issue: On certain vehicles, a build-up of silicate on the shift lever switch could cause the transmission to detect that it is in the Park position when it is… |
| 2015344 31 Jul 2015 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, the steering wheel clock spring could become contaminated with long hair or long fibers which may cause a displacement of the internal guid… |
| 2014464 20 Oct 2014 | Suspension On certain vehicles, if the rear axle trailing arms are damaged in a rear or side-rear impact crash and a repair facility does not correctly diagnose or replace… |
| 2012108 23 Mar 2012 | Lights And Instruments Certain Jetta GLI vehicles fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 108 - Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices. These vehicles we… |
| 2011355 3 Oct 2011 | Fuel System On certain vehicles equipped with a 2.0L TDI diesel engine, the fuel injection lines could crack. Diesel fuel leakage may ignite on a hot engine surface and ca… |
| 2011331 8 Sept 2011 | Accessories On certain vehicles, stainless steel exhaust tips (part number 1K0 071 910 U), sold as over-the-counter accessories, can extend beyond the original length of th… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volkswagen told its dealers about the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11010024 | Lack of paint under roof |
| 11010022 | Engine Oil Standards |
| 11010021 | Additional reporting |
| 11010011 | Vehicle Concerns Before Recall Repair Available |
| 11008861 | Fluid requirements |
| 11008860 | Manual transmission noise diagnosing |
| 11008858 | A list of engine oil that meet Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards |
| 11008857 | How to perform the engine oil consumption measurement |
| 11008856 | Checking Engine Oil and correctly reading dip stick |
| 11008853 | How to manage software versions using VW diagnostic Tool |
| 11008852 | Recommended Gasoline Quality |
| 11008851 | Engine Misfire Diagnostic Aid |
| 11008850 | Fuel additive to help with misfire faults |
| 11008846 | Wind & Water Leak Checking |
| 11007402 | Multiple Update closures: 20AH Atlas Quality Package 1, 24AE 1.8T ECM/TCM SW, 24BG Jetta Hybrid ECM SW, 24BM 2.0L Jetta MPI SW Update, 24X7 Jetta ECM SW, 24X8 CC ECM/TCM SW, 24Y4 MPI Jetta SW, 24Z5 Jetta Hybrid System SW, 27G2 Battery, 37H3 DSG SW, 37J2 TCM SW, 69V7 Atlas Quality Package 3, 87F6 Atlas Quality Package 2, 91P3 Adaptive Cruise Calibration |
| 11007398 | Battery testing |
| 11007393 | Engine Oil Standards |
| 11005825 | Engine oil quality standards |
| 11005820 | Engine Assembly Tip |
| 11005819 | Engine Replacement Tip |
| 11002875 | Engine oil quality standards |
| 11001508 | Engine oil quality standards |
| 10253483 | Engine Exhaust Flap Limited Warranty Extension |
| 10253262 | VW Engine oil quality standards |
| 10253216 | Keyless Entry Inoperative after Access / Start (KESSY) Module Replacement |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
Diesel Fuel Injector Line Leakage
High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation