Home · 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Hev · Complaints

What 526 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Hev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (526)Crash / fire / injury (33)Electrical system (144)Engine (88)Fuel system (62)Transmission & drivetrain (50)Steering (43)Brakes (41)Airbags (35)Fuel System, Diesel (25)Visibility & wipers (24)Speed control (14)

Newest first · 526 complaints · page 11 of 22

Jul 7, 2017Electrical system

IGNITION LOCKS UP PREVENTING KEY FROM BEING RELEASED OR ENGINE TURNING OFF. AFTER INSPECTION VW CAN FIND NO FAULT BY DRIVER, BUT NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. REQUIRED IGNITION PARTS REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11003579

Jul 5, 2017

IGNITION WILL NOT TURN OFF. THE KEY GETS STUCK WITH THE ENGINE ON. IT TAKES 10 MINS TO AN HOUR JUST TO GET IT OFF. MANY VW DRIVERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. IT COSTS $500-$700 TO REPLACE IGNITION CYLINDER JUST TO HAVE IT BREAK DOWN A YEAR OR TWO. PLEASE FORCE A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11003016

Jul 1, 2017

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AT HOME ON LANCASTER ST IN PLATTEVILLE WISOCINSIN AND WENT TO TURN MY CAR OFF. I COULD NOT TURN THE KEY BACKWARDS TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. MY CAR RAN FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS WHILE I CALLED AROUND TO MECHANICS AND DEALERSHIPS TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE WHO COULD HELP ME. THE VW DEALERSHIP IN DUBUQUE IOWA THAT I CALLED TOLD ME THAT HE HAS HEARD THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON ISSUE BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO HELP ME. HE TOLD ME I COULD TRY BREAKING THE KEY. HOWEVER THAT MADE NO SENSE BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD STILL BE RUNNING, I WOULD STILL HAVE TO PAY TO GET THE KEY OUT, REPLACE WHATEVER IS WRONG WITH IT, AND BUY A NEW VERY EXPENSIVE KEY. MY CAR IS NOW SITTING AT A MECHANIC IN BENTON WISCONSIN WITH THE KEY STILL STUCK IN THE IGNITION.. I'M SURE HE UNHOOKED THE BATTERY SO THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF. NOW I AM OUT A VEHICLE FOR 4-5 DAYS WITH THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND SO WHO KNOWS HOW SERIOUS THIS IS OR HOW SOON IT CAN BE FIXED. I WOULD APPRECIATE A RESPONSE OR SOME FEEDBACK. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT L, I JUST BOUGHT MYSELF THIS CAR A YEAR AGO. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.

NHTSA ODI 11002613

Jun 30, 2017Electrical systemBody & structureBrakes

CAR IS SERVICED AT VW DEALER EVERY 10,000 MILES. AT 70,000 MILES THEY TELL ME MY REAR SIDE DOOR HINGES ARE RUSTED AND NEED REPLACEMENT AT MY COSTS. WHY WOULD DOOR HINGES RUST AWAY? WHEN IT DOES RAIN WHEN I OPEN THE REAR DOORS, WATER DOES POUR OUR THE BOTTOM OF DOOR.. POOR GERMAN ENGINEERING DESIGN? 2ND PROBLEM: THEY TELL ME MY EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE CABLE, ETC., IS RUSTED AWAY. ANOTHER ENGINEERING PROBLEM? AGAIN I'D HAVE TO PAY. 3RD PROBLEM: AT 73,000 MILES MY REAR HATCH WILL NOT OPEN. BROUGHT IT IN AND THEY SAY IT'S THE ELECTRONIC PART THAT WENT BAD. ENGINEERING? I PAID FOR REPAIR. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND IT'S ONLY 5 YEARS OLD.

NHTSA ODI 11002551

Jun 29, 2017Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING 50 MPH, THE DRIVER HEARD A BANGING SOUND EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE JOLTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SCOTT VOLKSWAGEN (777 TAUNTON AVE, EAST PROVIDENCE, RI 02914) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT COIL SPRING FAILED AND BOTH FRONT STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ODI 11002398

Jun 19, 2017Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN SLIPPING. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN THE OPTION OF REPLACING THE ENGINE OR PERFORMING A TIMING CHAIN SERVICE AND VALVE REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,475.

NHTSA ODI 10995850

Jun 18, 2017Electrical system

VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OFF. KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION SWITCH AND YOU CANNOT TURN OFF VEHICLE OR REMOVE KEY. DEALER SAYS THIS IS COMMON AND ONCE IT STARTS HAPPENING, YOU CANNOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE ROUTINELY. TO FINALLY TURN IT OFF, YOU HAVE TO USE TREMENDOUS FORCE AND IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, DRIVE THE VEHICLE AROUND FOR A BIT AND THEN TRY AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 10995760

Jun 17, 2017Electrical system

KEY STUCK IN ON OR OFF POSITION - CAN'T TURN CAR OFF. CAN'T TURN IT ON. PLEASE LOOK AT THE COMPLAINTS UNDER UNKNOWN/OTHER - THERE ARE 38 OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE KEY GETTING STUCK IN THE IGNITION IN EITHER THE ON OR OFF POSITION. PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IT FALLS UNDER ELECTRICAL. I CAN'T TURN MY CAR ON HALF THE TIME AND CAN'T TURN IT OFF OTHER TIMES. THE KEY IS JUST STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND NOTHING I DO WILL MAKE IT MOVE. IT'S JUST BEEN TOWED TO THE SHOP FOR THE LAST TIME! VW KNOWS ABOUT THIS, THE DEALERS KNOW ABOUT THIS. IT'S DANGEROUS! WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN I COME OUT OF A MALL IN THE DARK AND MY KEY WON'T TURN IN THE LOCK? OR WHEN I GO TO PARK SOMEWHERE AND THE CAR WON'T TURN OFF IN THE 92-DEGREE HEAT. I AM A SINGLE WOMAN AND THIS IS EXTREMEMLY DANGEROUS. IMAGINE IF THER ARE CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND YOU CAN'T TURN IT OFF? I'VE TRIED EVERYTHING EVERYONE ELSE HAS TRIED AND NOW I'M GOING TO TRADE THE CAR IN. BUT SOMEOE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THE DEALER (AND MULTIPLE WEBSITES) SAY IT'S THE IGNITION CYLINDER AND VERY COMMON WITH THESE CARS. DEALERS WANT $600 AND UP TO FIX IT. AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE REPLACED THEIRS MORE THAN ONCE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR NEARLY A YEAR WITH MY CAR. MY CAR ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES ON IT. THERE ARE OTHERS WITH EVEN FEWER MILES. WHY IS NO ONE PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS??? READ THE COMPLAINTS UNDER UNKNOWN/OTHER - THIS IS A VERY VERY COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THESE VEHICLES AND VERY DANGEROUS. WHERE IS THE RECALL?????

NHTSA ODI 10995678

Jun 15, 2017

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 10995418

Jun 13, 2017Electrical system

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 10994996

Jun 6, 2017

THE KEY WILL NOT RELEASE FROM IGNITION. CANT TURN CAR OFF. HAPPENS WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY. FORCED TO DRIVE AROUND AND TRY AGAIN. HAS HAPPENED APPROX 1 TIME PER MONTH FOR PAST 3 YEARS.

NHTSA ODI 10993497

Jun 5, 2017

KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND CAR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AT THE GAS STATION SO THAT I COULD PUT GAS IN THE CAR. AFTER FIGHTING WITH THE KEY FOR ABOUT AN HOUR IT FINALLY CAME OUT. NOW EVERY TIME I NEED TO SHUT OFF THE CAR I HAVE TO FLICK THE KEY REALLY HARD THE OPPOSITE WAY TO BE ABLE TO PULL IT OUT. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE IT SEEMS MANY OTHER JETTA OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE YET VW HAS NOT MADE A RECALL. WE ARE BEING TOLD A NEW PART FOR THE IGNITION AND KEYS WILL NEED TO BE ORDERED. TOTAL COST AT THE DEALER WILL BE AROUND $680.

NHTSA ODI 10993157

May 30, 2017

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 10992289

May 23, 2017Electrical system

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. I HAD THE IGNITION CYLINDER REPLACED BY THE THE DEALER TWO YEARS AGO AND RECENTLY I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM ALL OVER AGAIN. THIS WILL BE MY 3RD IGNITION CYLINDER FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS IF I GET THIS FIXED BY THE DEALER.

NHTSA ODI 10991147

May 21, 2017Engine

CAR WOULD NOT START SUDDENLY... VW DEALERSHIP SAID ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO INDICATION ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DRIVING NORMALLY, NO ABNORMAL NOISES, NO CHECK ENGINE OR OTHER WARNING LIGHTS. LUCKILY, WE FOUND OUT ENGINE HAD FAILED WHEN TRYING TO START A PARKED VEHICLE. IT MAY HAVE BEEN AN UNSAFE SITUATION HAD THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 10990767

May 20, 2017Steering

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING ON/OFF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 10990687

May 18, 2017

KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND MY CAR WON'T TURN OFF. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME HOW TO GET THE KEY OUT BUT SOMETIMES IT TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 5-35 MINUTES TO REMOVE THE KEY IN ORDER FOR MY CAR TO TURN OFF.

NHTSA ODI 10986359

May 12, 2017

THE KEY CONTINUED TO GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND IT WAS ALSO VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE KEY TO START THE ENGINE. AT ONE POINT, THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED AND COULD NOT TURN THE CAR OFF WHILE MY DAUGHTER HAD IT. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO VW DEALERSHIP AND THE IGNITION HOUSING HAD TO BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY, THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRENT PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10985102

Apr 4, 2017LightsElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WOULD NOT SOUND AND THE HEADLAMPS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED, BUT THE HEADLAMPS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ODI 10970517

Mar 16, 2017Electrical system

THE KEY FOR MY JETTA WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN MANY VOLKSWAGENS AND PRESENTS A SAFETY RISK IF I AM NOT ABLE TO TURN OFF MY CAR. THIS HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE TIME I TRY TO TURN OFF MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10966248

Mar 13, 2017Lights

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULBS FAIL FREQUENTLY. I PURCHASED THE CAR APPROX. 1 YEAR AGO AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE EACH LOWBEAM BULB TWICE ALREADY. THEY HAVE FAILED ONE AT A TIME, SO I HAVE NOT LOST BOTH WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 10960431

Mar 5, 2017

MY HORN DOES NOT MAKE A SOUND WHEN I PRESS ON IT HOWEVER WHEN I LOCK THE CAR THE HORN SOUNDS OFF. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH A CAR HORN

NHTSA ODI 10958682

Mar 4, 2017SteeringBrakesEngine

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY UNKNOWN MOMENT THE CAR WILL START TO MISFIRE IN 1 OR MORE CYLINDERS (SEEMS LIKE USUALLY WHEN THERE IS MOISTURE IN THE AIR) BUT YOU STILL NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY GO INTO ENGINE POWER CONTROL AND WILL SOMETIMES CUT OFF THE STEERING AND BRAKES. I'VE GOTTEN CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH NO BRAKES AND NO STEERING. I HAD TO USE MY PARKING BRAKE AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. MOST OF THE TIME THE STEERING GOES OUT IS WHEN I'M TRYING TO MAKE A U TURN. AND MOST OF THE TIME THE ENGINE STARTS TO MISFIRE AND/OR SHUT OFF IS WHEN I'M TRYING ACCELERATE EITHER AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT OR SIGNIFICANT INCREASE LIKE MERGING ON A FREEWAY

NHTSA ODI 10958614

Mar 3, 2017

DOOR LOCKS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING EVERY FEW SECONDS THIS IS THE FOURTH DOOR LOCK ON OUR VEHICLE TO DO THIS AND ONE NOT UNLOCKING FROM 20000 MILES TO 85000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 10958508

Feb 26, 2017Electrical system

I WAS NEITHER ABLE TO TURN OFF MY CAR, NOR TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO LOCK THE CAR FROM THE OUTSIDE. LEAVING AN UNLOCKED, RUNNING CAR JUST TO BE ABLE TO PROCURE THE SPARE KEY IN THE HOPES THAT THE CAR COULD AT LEAST BE LOCKED BY UTILIZING THE SECOND KEY ARE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISKS. FURTHERMORE, THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED LATE ON A WEEKEND NIGHT, NOWHERE NEAR THE SPARE KEY, RENDERING ME INCAPABLE OF TAKING THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, FORCING ME TO LEAVE AN UNLOCKED CAR RUNNING FOR MANY HOURS. RUNNING EVENTUALLY OUT OF OPTIONS TO STAY WITH THE CAR, THE KEY BROKE OFF IN A LAST DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO TURN OFF THE CAR. LIVING IN A MAJOR CITY WITH MANY UNSAFE NEIGHBORHOODS UNDERLINES THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ABLE TO START AND TURN OFF A VEHICLE WHEN NEEDED, AS WELL AS TO LOCK THE VEHICLE TO KEEP ITS PASSENGERS AND CONTENTS SAFE AT ALL TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 10957114

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Working with the data? Download all 526 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Hev verdict →