10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
57,685 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 2 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #107

Jul 062017

Jetta

  • 23,436 miles

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

The vehicle was stationary on an incline Suburban city street. The key was unable to be removed from the ignition after driving and placing gear in the park position. I was able to remove it after I put the vehicle in the neutral gear position. However, this presented a hazard and caused an accident as the vehicle rolled backward and side swiped a stationary vehicle. This has happened several times.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

problem #106

Jan 102019

Jetta

  • 91,000 miles
Unable to turn vehicle engine off. Ignition switch is stuck in the run position and will not turn to off position without breaking key off in the ignition. Dealership stated that it is a known problem but vehicle was out of warranty and repair cost over $700 which may only work for a year or 2. then would start having the same issue once again.

- Lampasas, TX, USA

problem #105

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 #104

Aug 012019

Jetta

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 19V615000(electrical system). After contacting heritage Volkswagen parkville (9215 harford rd, parkville, md), the contact was informed that parts were not available. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Rosedale, MD, USA

problem #103

Sep 102019

Jetta

  • 61,888 miles
Key gets stuck in ignition when turning off the engine. P

- West Warwick, RI, USA

problem #102

Aug 032019

Jetta

  • 92,000 miles
I recently bought this 2012 Jetta and the horn does not work. It does not sound when you lock the doors or hit the panic button on the key pad. There was a recall on some models for the horn, but mine doesn't seem to be included in on that recall.

- Nashport, OH, USA

problem #101

Jul 092019

Jetta

  • 50,400 miles

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

Key keeps getting stuck in the cars ignition while the vehicle is on. Can not turn all way back to shut it off. It has gotten to the point where I have just not use the car, afraid will not be able to turn it off.

- Huntsville, AL, USA

problem #100

Mar 122019

Jetta

  • 100,000 miles
The car stalls when idling for example at red lights, drive through, stop signs with no explanation. The car stalls and then it'll start back up no problem like nothing happened, it gives no lights or codes making the problem undetectable I have taken it to multiple mechanics who are unable to find the problem due to it not throwing codes when it happens.

- Greer, SC, USA

problem #99

Feb 012018

Jetta

  • 70,000 miles
The horn which is attached to auto security system stopped working initially when coming in contact with heavy snow fall after moving to Indiana from Florida after the summer weather arrived it worked for a short time ass soon as the weather and rainfall changed the horn no longer worked, the water dispenser/washer for the wipers stopped working will no longer dispense anything. My vehicle was in use when the issues were noticed, it is driven daily and within a short amount of time it became noticeable that the weather was causing possible a shortage so that the horn or water dispenser refused to cooperate

- Gas City, IN, USA

problem #98

Nov 082018

Jetta

  • 43,000 miles
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 #97

May 012018

Jetta

  • 65,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. While the vehicle was stationary and while driving various speeds, the horn became inoperative in cold climates. In addition, the windshield wipers failed. Furthermore, the ignition key became stuck in the ignition on several occasions. An independent repaired the ignition. A dealer was not made aware of the failures. The manufacturer was made aware of the ignition failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

- Buckhannon, WV, USA

problem #96

Oct 312018

Jetta

  • 54,000 miles
Key gets stuck in the ignition when turning off the engine.

- King Of Prussia, PA, USA

problem #95

Sep 032018

Jetta

  • 39,534 miles
Key gets stuck in ignition when turning off the engine.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #94

Aug 142018

Jetta

  • 101,000 miles
The car will not turn off. The ignition switch will not allow the key to be turned into the off position and it continues to run. The key cannot be removed. The vehicle is stationary and in park.

- Cresco, PA, USA

problem #93

Aug 062018

Jetta

  • 117,000 miles
Ignition key got stuck into ignition switch making unable to turn the car off, this is the second time this happen, the first time dealer replace the switch charging over $500 dollars worked good for a while and then the key started to feel like a bump when turning the key off again untill get completely stuck for second time in about 3 years span, contacted dealer and the customer service deny any wrong doing even though she said is a common issue, obviously they know about the issue.

- San Bernardino, CA, USA

problem #92

May 142014

Jetta

  • 50,000 miles
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 #91

May 082018

Jetta

  • 73,400 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving 40 mph, the horn failed to sound when it was pressed. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer (northtowne Volkswagen, 6728 N oak trafficway, Kansas City, mo 64118, (816) 436-2255) where it was diagnosed that the horn needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 73,400.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #90

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 #89

Apr 232018

Jetta

  • 130,000 miles
The key becomes difficult to remove or stuck in the steering column. This was identified on my 2012 VW Jetta in 2015 at 81K miles and recommended to be replaced by a VW dealership. At the time, I was unable afford the replacement cost. This has happen throughout my time owning the car (typically in the warmer months). I experience the issue where the key became stuck yesterday. When I got home yesterday I received a letter from VW stating that this is a known-issue and that they are extending the warranty coverage to 10 years or 100km miles to cover this issue. My car has 130K miles on it now and I just spoke with VW and highlighted that a VW dealership identified the issue in September 2015 (81K miles) when the car would have been covered under this extended warranty. They told me because I chose not to pay for the repair then, there was nothing they could do now. This is extremely frustrating. VW did not just decide this month that this was an issue and should pay for these repairs as the extended warranty doesn't do enough as many cars are probably well beyond it.

- Rosemount, MN, USA

problem #88

Jan 012018

Jetta

  • 51,765 miles
Key is stuck in ignition when car is parked, car will not turn off.

- Addison, TX, USA

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