10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
24,381 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2012 Volkswagen Jetta Owner Comments

problem #6

Dec 182016

Jetta 4-cyl

  • 89,934 miles

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

Coolant came then went off after shutting off car turning back then 3days later engine light came on while driving pulled over turnt car off turned on after 5 mins engine light cut off. 2 days later engine light came back on.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #5

May 062014

Jetta 4-cyl Diesel

  • 25,350 miles
The car had been driven all day with no problems. We parked for almost two hours and when starting the engine, it sounded loud, like a typical diesel (ours had always been very quiet). Drove out of the parking lot and merged onto the freeway. The yellow glow plug light started to flash (engine control malfunction) and the car engine died. We had to perform an emergency maneuver to pull over to the right hand lane and were able to coast into a parking lot. The car was towed to a VW dealer. We are on vacation and 1,500 miles from home. The dealer has informed me that they will need to replace the entire fuel pump and fuel line system due to fuel contamination(?). we have always been extremely conscientious and have only purchased major name brand diesel. The service manager informed me that this has happened 4 times in the last two years. We are on vacation and 1,500 miles from home, the repairs will take a week.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #4

Jul 282012

Jetta 4-cyl Diesel

  • 12,000 miles
Vehicle was traveling at 25 mph, suddenly lost power and died.

- Santa Monica, CA, USA

problem #3

Jan 142012

Jetta 4-cyl Diesel

  • 17,000 miles

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

Drove the vehicle home from work Friday 1/13, weather was below freezing causing ice build up. Parked the vehicle in my garage ~45 degrees. Ice began melt, and when trying to start the vehicle Saturday afternoon it turned 1/4 turn and the engine stopped. My assumption is that the engine inhaled water causing a hydro-lock, I continued to try to start the vehicle a total 5 times (it turned over once and ran extremely rough and died once). The last time trying to start the vehicle I smelled smoke, I popped the hood to find the starter and wiring on fire. I was able to extinguish the fire relatively quickly, considering the vehicle was parked in my garage attached to my house this could have extremely catastrophic if I wouldn't have been able to get the fire out. *** this is the second time for the hard / no start problem, this one however resulted in the fire. Volkswagen will not follow the below tsb since the vehicle started after wiring and starter replacement. Issue mirrors tsb # 21 11 06 / 2025464, which includes engine will not turn over, "dead battery" starter action (due to hydraulic resistance in cylinder), and starter/electrical fires (due to starter overheating during attempts to start locked engine).

- Brooksville, KY, USA

problem #2

Oct 212011

Jetta 4-cyl Diesel

  • 1,000 miles
2012 Jetta tdi manual, the first occurrence happened after traveling on a downhill grade when I came to a complete stop at the stoplight the car started to shutter and acted like it was going to stall. This exact incident happened several times a month for no rhyme or reason. The car has now started to do the same thing more frequently and will now stall out. It used to be on cold starts and would happen within the first 10 miles of driving. It now does it anytime you are driving. I tried to start the car after work three days ago and when I started the car it shuttered and stalled, I attempted to start the car three more times before it finally stayed started. While driving home the car acted up again at the stop light shuttering and acting like it was going to stall out. The car had to be towed to the dealership. The dealership can't figure out the problem. I am scared that I will be out in the intersection or worse be on the expressway and the car will stall out and I will end up getting hit.

- Lawrenceburg, IN, USA

problem #1

Oct 032011

Jetta

  • 1,000 miles
Upon entering an on-ramp and also accelerating around a turn, experienced no response to depression of gas pedal. Basically car had serious lag before taking off. Worried about safety issue when trying to get out of someone's way. Very unpredictable in occurrence and do not want to have a wreck. Also experienced "stuttering" around 30 mph as if vehicle did not know which gear to get into. This happens frequently and creates a physical shutter of vehicle felt by driver and passengers.

- San Angelo, TX, USA

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