There are 50 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2012 Volkswagen Jettain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This is my 4th volkswagen jetta 2.5L I've own that has had the same issue with the charging system the car would just shut off while driving due to dead battery almost causing an accident this needs to be addressed 2011 to 2018
Seller sold vehicle without a working horn and hasn’t fixed it
The passenger side door actuator/wiring is not locking appropriately. Through the use of the key fob locking the car doesn't lock the passenger door and every time the vehicle is in motion at 10mph it tries to initiate the auto-locking but fails to lock the passenger door. This enables the passenger to open their door at any rate of speed without automatic safety protection. I have seen this be an issue with other Volkswagen Jetta cars online through car parts stores and online forums, but no recalls as of yet. As of right now, I have not had the vehicle inspected but will be looking to do so this week. There were no warning lights or messages that appeared. It just started two days ago and the only way I realized it was a problem is when I would stop and continue driving it would try to auto-lock when I hit 10mph. Concerns arose when I was driving my 8-month-pregnant wife around town.
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he noticed a burning odor and smoke coming from the vents into the cabin of the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that he pulled apart the heater and noticed that the wiring had melted. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, the contact was only able to leave a voicemail. The call was not returned. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic linked the failure to an electrical failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V483000 (Air Bags) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
Unable to remove the key from the ignition to turn the car off, constantly getting stuck with the engine on other times hard to turn to get the car started. I see multiple recalls for this for some reason my car is not amongst them. 3VWDP7AJ1CM302229
The locking system is hit and miss at this time. The automatic locks do not lock all the doors. Sometimes the trunk will not open, either using the fob, or the trunk release. The windows don't always work either. Child lock doors can be unlocked. I am planning on taking it in for service, however, VW charges $165 just to do a diagnostic check and cannot give me a range of what it could cost to repair. I am a senior on a budget. I have seen identical complaints on the internet for this vehicle and cannot understand why there hasn't been a recall. If I spend the money to get this repaired and then there's a recall, do I get my money back from VW?
I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR OFF. THE KEY WERE STUCK IN THE IGNITION IN THE ON POSITION AND WOULD NOT COME OUT OR GO TO THE OFF POSITION. I WAS AT MY DESTINATION WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR OFF.
DPF LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF AND THEN CAME ON
MISCOMMUNICATION FROM COMPUTER TO ABS SYSTEM CAUSING THE ABS TO ENGAGE WHEN BRAKING NORMALLY DRIVING UP TO AN INTERSECTION CAUSING VEHICLE TO NOT STOP WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKE.
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND VEHICLE KEEPS RUNNING. TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE THE KEY IS ABLE TO BE REMOVED WITH ADDITIONAL PRESSURE AND TAPPING ON THE KEY AND IGNITION. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT AND A RECALL OR CAMPAIGN SHOULD BE ISSUED BY VW
THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE CAR WON'T TURN OFF AND KEEPS RUNNING. I LOOKED IT UP AND FOUND SEVERAL VW JETTA'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED BY VW. IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND SEEMS TO BE COMMON. I ORDERED THE PART ON LINE AND WAS TOLD OF A NATIONAL SHORTAGE., THE CAR IS STUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY.
UNABLE TO TURN KEY TO TURN OFF IGNITION. CAR IS IN THE VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE CENTER FOR THE THREE WEEKS FOR REPAIR.
THE IGNITION WON'T TURN OFF, CAN'T SHUT IT DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO TURNIT OFF BY APPLYING PRESSURE ON THE KEY AND TAPPING THE END OF THE KEY WITH PLIERS. I FOUND THIS SOLUTION ON THE INTERNET FROM OTHER JETTA OWNERS. VOLKSWAGEN KNOWS ABOUT THIS COMMON ISSUE AND REFUSES TO DO A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH COSTS HUNDREDS OF DOLLAR TO OWNERS. *TR
CAR RAN HOT FIRST TIME AIR CONDITIONING GOT HOT CAR WAS GOING ANY FASTER WITH SMOKE FROM ENGINE. NO INDICATOR AT ALL CAR WAS RUNNING HOT. DEALERSHIP STATED THE BLOCK MESS UP. ADJUSTER CAME STATED THEROMAST WHICH NOT COVER WARRANTY FOR MY CAR. WHY WAS I NEVER AWARE MY CAR HAD THESE ISSUES
KEY IGNITION FAILURE. KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF ENGINE. VEHICLE WONT TURN OFF AND KEY WONT COME OUT OF IGNITION. *TR
OXYGEN SENSOR CODE COMES UP, THEN ALL LIGHTS COMING ON, WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THIS CAR HAD A CARFAX SHEET STATING NO PROBLEM AND REPAIRS DONE BY MICHEAL AUTOMOTIVE IN FRESNO CA. NO RECALL EVER MENTIONED, NOW A YOUNG MANS FIRST CAR , NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS, ONLY PICKED UP BECAUSE CAR FAX STATED IT HAD NO PROBLEMS, NOW A SAFTY CONCERN.
Horn only occasionally works when honking and/or locking car, which increases the risk of a crash since I can’t always use my horn to alert other drivers of presence. One front headlight only occasionally works (lightbulb is not the issue), which increases the risk of a crash since other drivers may not be able to see me as well & I am not able to see the road as well in the dark. Cruise control does not work at all, which increases risk of speeding and therefore increases risk of crash. Dealer has inspected horn/headlight issue but could not determine cause. No warning signs. Issues first appeared a couple years ago.
I'M STILL CONTINUING TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VAR 2012 JETTA VOLKSWAGEN. UP IN TILL RECENTLY IT WAS FIXED ON A RECALL NOTICE THAT DISPLAYED VEHICLE RIGHT ROLL EVEN IF PLACED IN PART AND IGNITION TURNED OFF !! UNFORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED TO MY SON DURING CHRISTMAS 2019. WHAT IF THERE WAS A BODY IN FROM THAT CAR. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE AND VOLKSWAGEN USA KNOWS IT. I TOOK IT IN AND WAS ADDRESSED OF NEW RECALL WHICH RELAYS THE SAME SAVAGENESS; IT WAS FIXED TILL WHEN ?? [XXX] THIS CAUSED ABOUT 1000-2000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE AFTER WE HAD ALREADY FIXED THIS BUMPER WITH VOLKSWAGEN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
HEAD LIGHTS ARE ON WHEN TEMPERATURE IS COLD. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME AND KILLING THE BATTERY. I BELIEVE THE ISSUE WITH LIGHT SWITCH BECAUSE WHEN I UNPLUG IT AT NIGHT FROM THE CAR AND RE-PLUG THE LIGHT SWITCH IN THE MORNING, IT ALL WORKS WITHOUT ANY ISSUE.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026