10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
59,210 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 body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2012 Volkswagen Jetta Owner Comments

problem #6

Nov 082018

Jetta

  • 43,000 miles

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

Front driver side door will intermittently fail to lock and/or unlock with key fob or lock/unlock buttons in the cabin (began approx 6/20/2018 at approx 43,000 miles). Must use the key in exterior key hole to manually lock or unlock, but while key is in the ignition it is impossible to lock the door manually as there is no manual lock switch only power lock switch. Every time any door is unlocked and the driver goes from 0mph past about 10mph the car automatically tries to lock but fails. This is a safety hazard form carjacking, as there is no way to manually lock the doors from inside the cabin. At approx 46,400 miles (11/8/2018) the front passenger door experienced similar issues. It will intermittently fail to lock with key fob or lock/unlock buttons in the cabin, and the car will attempt to autolock the door after 10mph. The only way to lock the door manually is to open to door and use the emergency lock switch inside the door jam. This too is a safety hazard as there is no way to lock manually from inside the vehicle. An obd scan shows both driver and passenger door lock failures. Sometimes the locks will go weeks of time fully functional, but one or the other will eventually start failing again. This is likely due to a bad lock actuator, either a dead spot in the actuator's motor or poor soldering or connection due to poor design/manufacturing. Sometimes the driver can hear the actuator struggling sounding like a squeal from the actuator's location.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #5

Oct 062018

Jetta

  • 112,000 miles
Door latch failed mid-drive and my door flew wide open mid-turn. Major safety issue. If this was an isolated incident, I wouldn't bother posting this. But if you use a quick google search, this is an issue Volkswagen wide. Not isolated to the Jettas, not even limited to mk6S.

- Tyngsborough, MA, USA

problem #4

Feb 212018

Jetta

  • 120,000 miles
42G8 recall 2015 also in Feb 2018 total loss of power when vehicle is a a complete stop as well as slowed to no acceleration once vehicle is slowed or stopped.

- Stuart, FL, USA

problem #3

Feb 112014

Jetta

  • 50,000 miles

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

Could not open the front passenger door due to frozen ice inside the hinged space between door and fender. Vehicle was taken to northtown Volkswagen in buffalo and they refused to honor any warranty solution. There was a bulletin on this exact issue. Dealer response was that the bulletin was for vehicles up to 2009 and the problem had been rectified so 2012 did not qualify! obviously the problem was not rectified. In opening the door with force, the door sheet metal was was bent in the bottom right corner and needed bodywork totaling $1,000.

- Niagara Falls, NY, USA

problem #2

Mar 252014

Jetta 5-cyl

  • 14,363 miles
Car was only under my possession for one year and seven months... it was leased brand new. 3/25/14-when got into the car to go to work, car would not start. Discovered it had no battery power. Horn stopped working. Previous to this, week before thermostat light was going on and off. Car was at 14,030 miles. Volkswagen roadside assistance came and brought vehicle to nearest service center which is actually where I bought the car. Service center confirmed dead battery. The dealership including the person who sold me the vehicle attempted to charge me $240 for it and considered it "wear and tear like the tires, " until I called Volkswagen customer service number right on the location who confirmed that my battery was covered at 24,000 miles or 2 years whatever came first. Volkswagen service center confirmed that horn was in fact inoperable due to blown fuse and replaced it. I was informed by the service agent that the thermostat light was due to low anti-freeze and it was topped off. In addition I requested I multi-point inspection which they conducted. Shortly after receiving the car back on 3/26/14, I noticed by voltage adapter was not working. I assumed it to be a defective phone charger so I purchased a new one. 4/8/14- I tried to use the new charger for my phone in each of the front and back adapter slots. That is when I realized these was something wrong with my adapters possibly after the replacement of the new battery on 3/25/14. My plan was to contact the service center and schedule a check up and have the adapters checked but unfortunately I never was able to do so. That day I was involved in a car accident where I was unable to turn the steering wheel into the exit and ended up crashing into metal guardrail.car had shut off and. Airbag deployed. Car was ruled as a total loss.

- Bronx, NY, USA

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problem #1

Jun 262013

Jetta

  • 15,900 miles
I was driving North on interstate highway 55 in memphis, Tennessee, (around 9:15am ct on June 26, 2013) towards riverside drive (downtown memphis) when all of the sudden I heard a loud boom/crash sound on the roof of my Volkswagen Jetta (2012, which I owned for 1 week!) and glass shattered and fell all over me and the inside of my car. I was not under an overpass or behind any trucks or cars, so I was completely terrified and did not know what happened. I was crying and shaking and pulled off the highway to S parkway and called 911 to file a report. After speaking with the police, a nearby witness (who happened to work for a car dealer) my boss and my boyfriend, everyone agreed the sunroof had some sort of defect that caused it to shatter/combust/explode. The glass was all sticking straight up and there was no sign of an object in or on the car. My bf brought the car to the VW dealership and they are inspecting it and repairing it while I am in a rental car. I am scared to drive in a car with a sunroof now and do not feel safe. VW drivers beware.

- Memphis, TN, USA

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