10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
44,550 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2012 Volkswagen Jetta Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #40

Dec 022023

Jetta

  • miles

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

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)

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #39

Nov 012023

Jetta

  • 140,000 miles
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.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #38

Jul 022021

Jetta

  • 155,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while turning into the parking lot at the residence, with a foot on the brake pedal, the contact was unaware that the vehicle was still in drive and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled forward approximately 3-4 feet before the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle was stopped. The vehicle was shifted into PARK and the contact restarted the vehicle and the vehicle operated as designed. The contact stated that a week later while at work, the vehicle failed to start-up. The vehicle remained at the contact-??s place of employment. The contact reached out to a representative on at the Volkswagen website and was informed that the Vin was not under recall. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V615000 (Electrical System, Steering) as a possible solution to the failure however, the Vin was not included. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.

- Wrightstown, NJ, USA

problem #37

Apr 052021

Jetta

  • 125,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the ignition key ceased in the ignition switch and the vehicle failed to start immediately. Also, while driving the steering wheel locked and failed to turn. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000

- Panama City, FL, USA

problem #36

Jun 012019

Jetta

  • 0 miles
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 unavailable. The contact called to Volkswagen of olympia ( 2107 cooper point rd sw, olympia, wa 98502; (360) 515-3349) where it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Olympia, WA, USA

problem #35

Oct 152019

Jetta

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 19V615000(electrical system, steering). The contact had not notified the dealer and manufacturer of the recall notice. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Fair Lawn, NJ, USA

problem #34

Aug 282019

Jetta

  • miles

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

Key doesn't come out of ignition when turning the engine off

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #33

Apr 172019

Jetta

  • 72,000 miles
Key gets stuck in the on position. Have to wiggle steering wheel and key to turn off

- Peoria, IL, USA

problem #32

Apr 052017

Jetta

  • miles
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.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

problem #31

Sep 012017

Jetta

  • 0 miles
The steering wheel often locks and the key gets stuck in the ignition. Sometimes I have to drive around a bit and try parking and taking the key out again. Often the wheels have to be straight to ease the process.

- Pawtucket, RI, USA

problem #30

May 142014

Jetta

  • 50,000 miles

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

Airbag light continues to stay on. I had an accident back in 2014 and the airbag never deployed. The steering column ignition switch locked and my key was stuck with the car still running on in a station place. I was trying to park the car and my ignition switch locked and would not moved and kept the key locked in it. I kept trying to move the jiggle the wheel and turn the key but it cause the key to break off in the ignition switch. I had to pair to get the ignition switch replaced and the key replaced. Also after that the horn stop working and I was told it was because the clock spring had to be replaced. I paid again to had the clock spring replaced however the horn now is going in an out. The horn will sound off one day and then for a couple of days it will not work. This happen only 2 weeks after getting the clock spring fixed. Also the horn is not loud it barely makes a noise. Now the sensor light is on for the engine and I was already told there's nothing wrong with the engine.

- Missouri City, TX, USA

problem #29

Jun 082017

Jetta

  • miles
Steering column lock housing is defective and causes the key to become stuck in the ignition when the vehicle is parked

- Latrobe, PA, USA

problem #28

May 052018

Jetta

  • 0 miles
Well recall U have doesn't cover my car cause it's over 100K so thts rude and wr9ng it's been happening a while ago P but your recall 8 just got over 800 to fix it I think this should be taki G care of regarless cause I will not suggest anyone to yr cars U made it crappy and my keys gonna be jacked up too and wht I should pay for tht too my key gets stuck I waited for recall so I should pay 800 cause its over 100K tht wrong and terrible customer service I want to go get it fixed B 4 my key breaks too I want someone to reply thank U

- Port Charlotte, FL, USA

problem #27

May 152018

Jetta

  • 149,000 miles
I was having troubles turning my car off in December 2015. The key was stuck in the on position and no matter what I did, I couldn't remove it. Called the dealership, and was told to bring my car in immediately. They replaced the steering column lock housing. Everything was going great. I spent over $700 between parts and labor, but my car was fixed. Fast forward to April of 2018, I receive a letter from Volkswagen stating that the part I had replaced was being recalled and they were extending the warranty to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Now, it's may of 2018, and my car will not turn off again. It's not been 10 years (my car is a 2012), but I have 149,000 miles on it, so they will not replace the lock housing. They will however, look over my documentation from 2015 to "possibly" reimburse me. Now, the problem is, I don't believe that I should have to replace that part every 2.5 years. According to the lady from VW customer care, she understands my frustrations, but can't do anything about it. So now, I have to take my car back in to the dealership, and pay for a third part, even though the replacement part I already paid for was faulty when they replaced it ( since it had to come straight from VW). I have read many reviews about the same thing happening to Volkswagen vehicles. Lesson learned, I will never buy another VW.

- Marion, OH, USA

problem #26

Apr 202018

Jetta

  • 30,887 miles
A while ago I felt a little difficult to get the key out at parking but usually pushed it harder in and turned the key would be out. Last year the guy working on safety check called me for emergency because he couldn't get my car turned off, he's scared to break my key. This year costco tire center called me for emergency while changing tires because of the key stuck issue. I told them to try few more times with pushing key in and wiggle it a bit. After I got back from costco, I finally couldn't bear with this problem because I couldn't get it off for about 15 minutes. I searched internet and next day and I learn this as common issue. I am reluctant but be prepared to bring car to VW dealer for repair. Luckily the day before I was going to bring car to VW, read a letter from VW which I was almost going to throw away as a promotion letter. In letter, it states extending warranty to 10 years for key housing! I immediately call VW and schedule a diagnosis. Now waiting for the parts come in which they said about 7 days. I drove it yesterday and the car key got stuck again. I am no longer to get it out for working a few minutes, I needs to work on it for over 10 mins. I feel scary to drive the car as I don't know when it happens and how long it will stuck until I get it out. It may mean going out much much earlier to spare time working on the stuck key or just not driving it and waiting it for dealer's key housing replacement. Even VW seems having taken action I think I shall file a complaint still.

- Honolulu, HI, USA

problem #25

Dec 232016

Jetta

  • 48,000 miles
Takata recall, ABS brake lite on in the dash. Received recall notice on steering column lock housing

- Port St. Lucie, FL, USA

problem #24

Apr 062016

Jetta

  • 80,000 miles
Steering column lock housing - key difficult to remove or stuck in the steering column lock hosing when the vehicle is parked

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #23

Jan 012016

Jetta

  • miles
Received verbal quotes to fix the issue with the key getting stock in the ignition with car running and was told it was not covered by VW and that it would cost close to $500 to fix and I chose to live with the issue...now I received a letter to get reimbursed for the cost when I did not have it fixed. Called to set up an appointment and the dealer told me the car is over 100,000 miles and I would have to pay for it. This to me is not correct. I brought this issue up many times before the car went over the 100,000 and they claimed it was because the car was old...I would like someone to look into this and get back to me so I can have this issue fixed.

- Seekonk, MA, USA

problem #22

Oct 282017

Jetta

  • 104,054 miles
Ignition switch won't turn off while the car is running

- Tempe, AZ, USA

problem #21

Aug 182017

Jetta

  • 79,440 miles
Key gets stuck in ignition when turning off the engine

- Sacramento, CA, USA

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