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.
Key got stuck in ignition and car will not shut off. Car was in park on a flat driveway. Key broke in half while still in ignition. Was able to remove key with pliers
My key keeps getting stuck in the ignition. It won't turn at all. I had to take it to the dealership, and even they had trouble turning if off. Then they couldn't turn it back on. Luckily I had just gotten home from work, so I wasn't stuck anywhere. Apparently this is not a new issue, and it's quite ridiculous that I'm now going to have to spend $500 to replace a part that VW should be responsible for. My car is only 4 years old.
Key gets stuck in ignition when turning off the engine. When I arrive at a destination, I put the car into park and then try to remove the key and it won't come out. I have to jiggle the key and maneuver it for several minutes until it comes out. This is very dangerous and annoying.
The turn signal lever broke under normal use conditions - failed to reset from "on" position with signal operational / unable to turn off signal - headlight high/low-beam function also disabled. Apparent internal part failure or breakage of plastic components.
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Sometimes the key will not turn on. It goes in, but will not turn. It seems to be when the weather is warmer. Also, sometimes it takes several minutes to turn the key off. When that happens, I just sit there trying, while the car continues to run. I hear it's $550-750 to have this repaired, but is very common based on what I'm finding online. It started happening in April 2014. It's ridiculous.
When turning off the ignition, the key remains in the on position, not allowing me to turn off the engine and remove the key. The key is stuck in the ignition. This has happened over 100 times, the local dealer says it is not their issue and will cost me $550 to replace.
While in park my key was stuck in the ignition and would not come out. Car was on and I tried to turn it off and remove the key as normal but it would not turn fully to the off position or come out. I eventually stalled my car out as it is a manual to shut it off and fiddled with it for an hour and was able to get the key out. This has happened a couple times.
The key is stuck in the "on" position in the ignition with the car running. The key will not physically move from the "on" to "off" position to turn the car off. After looking this up it is a common problem with this type of VW. The car is able to shift between park, drive, and neutral. When putting the car in park to turn the vehicle off the key doesn't budge
Key jammed in the ignition, unable to turn car off. Initially it was just difficult to switch off and required some time to get it just right. Eventually it locked up entirely and the key broke off while trying to switch the car off. Had a VW dealer replace the ignition cylinder, new key etc. Even the dealer said this was a common issue. Contacted VW customer service, their response "it's out of warranty". car has 59 000 miles on it. This is not a part that should ever fail.
The vehicles engine would rev by its self with the pedal stuck to the floor and the clutch would not disengage during this leaving the vehicle accelerating on its own.
After driving and arriving at destination, cannot turn the car off, nor get the key out of the ignition. Sometimes it takes 15 minutes of turning the steering wheel and trying to turn the key over and over when the key will finally turn and the car will turn off. They key feels stuck in the ignition and the car will not turn off.
Starting as the warranty expired at 40K miles, my horn became intermittent. It would work fine for a while, then completely stop for a period; sometimes a week or so. But as time progressed, it was not working more than working. By 50K miles it not longer worked and now at 60K it hasn't worked for a long time. Very dangerous. Dealer said twice they would try to get it fixed but never came through. So with my diesel "good will" package, I will use the $500 credit to replace my horn that they should have replaced earlier. Lot's of people online have the same problem. I think it's part of the 2011 recall for horn and alarm system problems, don't think they carried through with the problem.
The horn failed twice in the first year of ownership (late 2012) and a third time a little after three years. The first time, the horn system was replaced under warranty with a part from another vehicle at the dealership. About two months later, it went out. The second time the horn relay was replaced under warranty using new parts. This horn fix worked for 2013-late 2015. This third time most likely will need to be replaced as well (and less than a month out of warranty). In all instances, the horn begins to produce a muted/weak honking sound most noticeable when locking the vehicle. This will happen for about a month or so before it finally goes out. Pressing the key (locking & emergency alert button) or the center of the steering wheel confirms that the horn is inoperable.
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.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Marriottsville, MD, USA