10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
57,876 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Volkswagen Jetta electrical problems

electrical problem

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2012 Volkswagen Jetta Owner Comments (Page 5 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #49

Jul 112016

Jetta

  • 46,600 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Like the recall on 2011 Jetta horn the 2012 Jetta horn have the same issue. While driving through a parking lot was hit by a driver backing up and vould not warn the driver due to ahorn that does not work. Today I was almost sandwiched between a semi-truck and a car moving into my lane. Luckily for me and thekid the driver in the car got back in their own lane. It appears the trunk light does not work either. This is the second time the horn and trunk light stopped working, last time it fixed it's self this time it seems to need help to resolve the problem. Horn clicks no sound, no alarm warning sounds.

- Allen, TX, USA

problem #48

Aug 152016

Jetta

  • 65,000 miles
Ignition key will not turn off after starting car. Have to jiggle and tap on key to eventually get key to turn to the off position. Once out of ten times the key may turn off normally. I have tried moving the steering wheel back and forth while turning key off. I've also tried moving the gear shifter to see if the lock is preventing the key from turning. Nothing really seems to work. Then for no reason at all I you will be able to turn it off. Seems like the tumblers get out of line or something. Car is parked on flat level driveway when this happens.

- Newport News, VA, USA

problem #47

Aug 142016

Jetta

  • 54,000 miles
The ignition switch is becoming increasingly difficult to turn off and remove the key from. I've done my research and have found a community of other VW owners experiencing similar issues with the VW models (many Jettas like mine). The vehicle is safely parked, etc, and the key must be turned so hard that it feels like one could break/damage the key in the ignition switch before it releases.

- Sussex, WI, USA

problem #46

Aug 112016

Jetta

  • 63,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Key stuck on the on position and not able to turn key, to turn car off.

- Fairfax, VA, USA

problem #45

Jul 262016

Jetta

  • 73,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. When starting the vehicle, the epc warning light illuminated and the vehicle stalled when attempted to drive. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the failure code was cleared for the ABS fuse. In addition, while driving 60 mph, the brake light failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake switch and brake booster failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #44

Apr 152016

Jetta

  • 62,000 miles
Car's fuse # 6 keeps blowing which controls the back lights that turns on at night, when fuse blows lights on back go out and cars behind you can't see you and may cause a collision where serious injury and death may result. I think this an engineering flaw where they connected the back lights to other modules in the car, so the short remains and car is not safe to drive at night fuse keeps blowing every time you put a new one in VW is not willing to look at the problem and give me a solution, the short is not in any of the lights on the back of the car, or inside the car, VW is refusing to give me the schematic diagram for that circuit so we can trace the problem, they insist on taking it to the dealer where it is going to be a very expensive fix to track down the short where it is an engineering flaw. Also the air bags warning lights come on intermittently, and seat belts warning lights come on and start chiming while you have seat belts on and properly fastened, do not know if seat belt or airbags are defective which is very unsafe in my opinion, and VW refuses to look at my problem without a hefty dealer charge. Please help

- Jamestown, NC, USA

problem #43

Oct 102014

Jetta

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Driver side bulb keeps burning out. Was replaced by dealer with oem parts, but it keeps burning out every month. The daylight running light on the driver side does not work. They keep replacing it and it keeps burning out. I see many other Jetta's like mine with the same problem on the road.

- Goshen, NY, USA

problem #42

Aug 122015

Jetta

  • 69,868 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the horn and security system did not function when attempting to lock the vehicle. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact attempted to replace the sparks plugs on four different occasions, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 69,868.

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #41

Nov 072015

Jetta

  • 56,000 miles
Both of the low-beam headlights stopped working as I was driving home on a unlit highway at night. The daytime running lights worked when I turned off the headlights, and the high-beam headlights worked when I tried using them. The next morning I replaced both low-beam headlights and they still do not work.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #40

Oct 052015

Jetta

  • 38,000 miles
Vehicle has 38,000 miles, we're the original owner, horn became intermittent, then stopped working. We took it to the VW dealer in brandon, fl. They said there's a recall about to be announced in November that will cover the horn, and the potential for an airbag earning light. We're left with major safety hazard with not having a horn. The dealership said it would cost over $2000 to fix, they won't have the parts until the recall is sent. This can't be right and feel we're being put at risk while they figure out what they want to do.

- Lithia, FL, USA

problem #39

Sep 152015

Jetta

  • 45,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2012 Jetta tdi. Horn intermittent and about the same time my moon roof stopped working. As a military member stationed near seoul, South Korea, I was in heavy traffic and someone pulled out in front of me even though I was a low speed I still had to smash on the brakes causing the anti-skid system to work. As soon as they pulled out in front of me I was pressing the horn and nothing happened. I believe this is a major safety defect with many people having issues with faulty horns/wiring, especially for a car with less than 50K miles on it. (conveniently out of warranty). I am aware of the recall on the horn for the 2011 models, obviously they didn't resolve the problem when building the 2012 model. In seoul I feel the need to use my horn daily as there are over 150 accidents a day just in the seoul area. This is a major safety issue and should be covered by VW.

- Stevens Point, WI, USA

problem #38

Oct 052015

Jetta

  • 913,000 miles
The key locks in the ignition while the car is running and in park, will not disengage to turn the car off (steering wheel not locked). I was unable to turn my car off. This first occurred while I was parked in a parking lot (no danger). After the dealership forced the key, I had to pull over to the shoulder on a highway for a flat tire and was unable to turn the car off. I could not change the tire safely and could not get the car towed as I could not turn the engine off. I had to sit at the side of a highway until my car stalled from running out of gas, until I could safely have the car towed. No locksmith was able to correct the ignition lock, as it is an electronic lock in the key housing. I see multiple complaints listed with NHTSA regarding the same issue with VW cars, and many specifically for Jettas, and 2012 Jettas.

- Allentown, PA, USA

problem #37

Jun 052014

Jetta

  • 35,000 miles
The first time my radio caught on fire, it was the summer of 2014. My car was parked in a parking lot while I was at work. When I entered the car to drive home, I turned started the vehicle and there was a extremely loud sound, much like an explosion. The middle dash where the radio is located began pouring smoke. After the incident, I contacted the dealership, who "fixed" the problem (they replaced the stock radio for another VW stock radio). Spring of 2015, the same exact thing happened. My car was parked at work, I started the car and the radio began pouring smoke. I again, had the issue "fixed" by the dealership. August 2015, again this happened and September 2015 again. When I insisted that VW must further investigate the underlying issue, they claimed to have fixed the problem after the August 2015 incident. With this incident not only did the radio burn out, my battery was drained out. The explanation I was given was that the power line to the radio was not shutting off, therefore the radio was overheating and the battery was being drained. With this particular incident, I received my car back on a Monday and the radio again caught fire and burned out on the Friday of that same week.

- Watertown, CT, USA

problem #36

Aug 222015

Jetta

  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the epc warning light illuminated and the accelerator pedal failed to respond each time the failure recurred. The contact indicated that there was a drastic reduction in speed. The contact had to turn the vehicle on and off multiple times in order to reset the epc code. The vehicle was to be taken to a dealer for inspection and diagnosis. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The failure mileage was 92,000.

- Indian Head, MD, USA

problem #35

Dec 012014

Jetta

  • 54,000 miles
On several occasions the ignition will not turn off. The key is stuck in the on position and can not be removed. On one occasion it took over 7 minutes to remove the key. This may not seem like a long time, but sit in your car after parking then time 7 minutes and you'll see how frustrating this is!

- Pompano Beach, FL, USA

problem #34

Jul 102015

Jetta

  • 42,049 miles
Ignition lock/switch stuck in "on" position. Unable to turn off engine or remove key. Safety and security risk being unable to secure vehicle or turn off engine.

- Hampton, VA, USA

problem #33

Jul 102015

Jetta

  • 72,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact's key became stuck in the ignition switch while in the run position. The dealer was able to shut off the engine only by disconnecting four of the five fuel injectors. The dealer stated that they would need to destroy the trim and remove and replace the ignition lock and switch assembly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

- Sarasota , FL, USA

problem #32

Jun 262015

Jetta

  • 50,100 miles
The vehicle was being backed out of a driveway into the roadway when the horn began to sound continuously and the airbag warning light illuminated. The vehicle needed to be turned off completely to stop the horn. Subsequently, the horn sounds whenever the ignition is engaged sometimes stopping once the engine turns on, sometimes not. Once started the vehicle is driveable but the airbag warning light is illuminated, the horn on the steering wheel is inoperable and the steering wheel controls are inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a Volkswagen dealership and diagnosed with a faulty clock spring that requires replacement. The incident appears to be similar to that described in NHTSA investigation PE 15-010.

- Saxtons River, VT, USA

problem #31

May 042015

Jetta 4-cyl

  • miles
2012 Volkswagen Jetta. Consumer writes in regards to key stuck in the ignition. The consumer stated the vehicle could not be turned off. A mechanic un-plugged a wire. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealer.

- Carle Place, NY, USA

problem #30

May 062013

Jetta

  • 9,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. While at a complete stop on an incline, the brake pedal was depressed and there was a two second delayed response. The vehicle was equipped with an electronic hill start assistance feature. The failure recurred numerous times. On a separate occasion, the unoccupied vehicle was parked on a slight incline and the vehicle rolled with the emergency brake engaged. The vehicle crashed into a tree. Failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the vehicle operated as designed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 9,000.

- Lawerence , KS, USA

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