What 526 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Hev

KEY GETS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. HAVE TO WIGGLE STEERING WHEEL AND KEY TO TURN OFF

NHTSA ODI 11210145

I WAS INJURED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN MY 2012 VW JETTA WHERE THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED BUT WERE NOT. PEOPLE INCLUDING POLICE AND INSURANCE COMPANIES WERE SURPRISED MY AIR BAGS DID NOT FUNCTION. LOOKING FURTHER INTO THE INCIDENT I FOUND OUT VIA INTERNET THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2016 FOR THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED (OF THE RECALL OR PROBLEM) AS THE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE WHO PURCHASED THIS NEW FROM A VW DEALER. THIS OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY CAR WAS COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP FOR BACKED UP TRAFFIC GOING UNDER 10MPH. I WAS REAR ENDED BY A VEHICLE GOING AT LEAST 35 MPH - PROPELLING ME INTO THE CAR SEVERAL FEET IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING A 5 OR 6 CAR PILE UP.

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MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING EAST BOUND ON C470, IN ENGLEWOOD COLORADO, TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED BETWEEN 60-65 MPH WHEN AN EXTREMELY LOUD EXPLOSION OCCURRED. WE INITIALLY THOUGHT WE WERE BEING SHOT AT OR SOMETHING FELL OUT OF THE SKY. THERE WAS BROKEN GLASS EVERYWHERE, IN OUR HAIR AND EVEN MOUTHS. THANKFULLY, MY HUSBAND MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A PARKING LOT. UPON CLOSE INSPECTION, IT APPEARED THAT OUR RETRACTABLE SUNROOF (THAT WAS CLOSED) IMPLODED FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11203174

THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE TRAVELING AT 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED, CAUSING THE SHUTDOWN. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA HAD ALREADY ISSUED AN EXTENSION ON THE WARRANTY FOR THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, BUT I'M BEYOND THE MILEAGE OF THE EXTENSION. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE IN A RURAL AREA WITHOUT A LOT OF TRAFFIC, BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF I HAD BEEN IN TRAFFIC OR EVEN JUST IN THE LEFT LANE.

NHTSA ODI 11197016

I AM UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE WHEN I STOP. THE KEYS ARE STUCK IN THE ENIGEN AND THE CAR NOT TURN OFF. REALLY HEART BREAKING BECAUSE I LIKE VOLKSWAGEN BUT I THINK THIS WILL BE MY LAST.

NHTSA ODI 11196107

THE SUNROOF LEAKS ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEN IT RAINS, CAUSING THE CAR TO HAVE FLOODING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT AND BACK.

NHTSA ODI 11195576

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11195364

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE AT 104K MILES ON 2012 VW JETTA TDI A FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING, WHICH AS STATED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT SERRA VW, APPEARED TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE ENGINE COVER WAS RUBBING THE FUEL LINE (GROMMET POSSIBLY) CAUSING A LEAK. THE FUEL PRESUMABLY LEAKS ONTO THE SERPENTINE BELT WEAKENING IT, AND CAUSING IT TO FAIL AND SHRED TO PIECES. FUEL LINE WAS REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE SERPENTINE BELT. CAR WAS TESTED AND WOULD NOT CRANK STILL. SERVICE TECHNICIAN THOUGHT IT COULD BE THE BATTERY, THOUGH IT HAD BEEN REPLACED ROUGHLY A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. STILL, THEY DISCHARGED THE BATTERY, CHARGED THE BATTERY, AND TESTED THE CAR, AND IT STILL WOULD NOT CRANK. AT THIS POINT IT WAS THOUGHT THE FUEL FILTER MAY BE AN ISSUE. FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED, THE CAR TESTED AGAIN, AND AGAIN IT WOULD NOT CRANK. THAT IS WHEN THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS GOING TO BE REPLACED. SERRA VW PLACED A WARRANTY CLAIM, WHICH WAS DECLINED, WITH THE BLAME PLACED ON THE LEAK IN THE FUEL LINE.THE FUEL PUMP IS COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED EMISSIONS SYSTEM WARRANTY AS A RESULT OF THE EMISSIONS RECALL DUE TO UNETHICAL MODIFICATIONS OF THE COMPANY. I OPENED A CUSTOMER SERVICE CASE, TO INVESTIGATE. THEY FOUND NO REASON WHY THE HPFP WARRANTY WOULD BE DECLINED. THEY RELIED ON THE WORD OF THE SERVICE MANAGER, THAT STATED A MANUFACTURER DEFECT CAUSING THE FUEL LINE TO LEAK WAS THE CAUSE FOR THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. AT NO POINT WAS THERE EVER ANY INDICATION OF STALLS, LACK OF POWER, OR REDUCED POWER OR 'MISSING' WHEN THE SERPENTINE BELT FAILED, INDICATING NO ISSUES WITH THE HPFP PRIOR TO ARRIVING AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE

NHTSA ODI 11195293

ABOUT A YEAR AGO BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE BROKE AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THEM. ABOUT A MONTH AGO BOTH FRONT SPRINGS WERE BROKE AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THEM. ALL THE REPLACEMENTS WERE DONE AT MY COST. I NOW HAVE A REAR RIGHT SPRING THAT HAS BROKE AND WILL NOW HAVE TO HAVE IT REPLACED. IN MY OVER 50 YEARS OF DRIVING DIFFERENT MODEL CARS AND TRUCK, I HAVE NEVER HAD SPRING FAILURES SUCH AS THIS. I HAVEN'T HIT ANY MAJOR POT HOLES THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE. THIS MUST BE DEFECTIVE SPRINGS. THE LAST TIME I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP HAVING THE FRONT SPRINGS REPLACED THEY SAID THIS IS COMMON. IT SHOULD NOT BE COMMON.

NHTSA ODI 11194747

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11190580

THE AIR BAG SENSOR CAME ON DASH AND ALSO STATES AIR BAG OFF FOR PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR.

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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.

NHTSA ODI 11186539

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND CAN'T TURN VEHICLE OFF. ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION, I HAD MY VEHICLE PARKED AND THE KEY WOULDN'T TURN IN THE IGNITION WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE KEY TO START THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11183316

WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE AND THE TEMPERATURE GOES BELOW 20 DEGREES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WARMS UP THE WIPERS START WORKING AGAIN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT IS RAINING OR SNOWING AN I AM UNABLE TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD!

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WHEN I BOUGHT MY 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, I COMPLAINED ABOUT MY CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING AND IF I PLUG TWO CHARGERS UP IT BLOW OUT AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THE A FEW

NHTSA ODI 11182231

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

NHTSA ODI 11181702

JETTA WOULDN'T START, CALLED DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID GET IT TOWED IN, WE HAVE 12 OTHER JUST LIKE IT, ZERO DEGREE'S OUTSIDE, THEY TOLD ME ABOUT THE INNER COOLER TECHNICAL BULLETIN AND THEY'D TAKE OF IT, THEY SAID THEY WOULD DEFROST IT AND LOOK INSIDE THE TURBO, THEY NEVER DID LOOK INSIDE THE TURBO THEY UNHOOKED ONE TUBE AND YEAS MOISTURE LIQUID CAME OUT THEY SAID NOT ENOUGH, THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE GONNA DO, ITS NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT 12 OTHER CARS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, THEY DIDN'T TAKE CARE OF IT AND MADE ME PAY FOR A NEW STARTER, TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE THE 12+ OTHER CARS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. $84 TOWING AND $480 FOR STARTER, THEY NEED TO RECALL THE TURBO'S CAUSING THE PROBLEMS. UNACCEPTABLE

NHTSA ODI 11180833

MAP SENSOR - REPEATING FAILURE THE MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE PRESSURE (MAP) SENSOR FAILURE CAUSES EXPONENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS AND/OR HIGHER SPEEDS THAT CAN RESULT IN DEATH. AFTER REPEATED REPLACEMENT AND REPAIRS, CONTINUOUS FAILURE OCCURS. STALLING, POWER AND STEERING ISSUES OCCUR AT HIGH SPEEDS AND/OR ON HIGHWAYS, PUTTING DRIVER AT RISK FOR A FATAL COLLISION. PERSONALLY, I HAVE HAD THE SENSOR REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES, INCLUDING HOSES AND PUMPS ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. SOON THEREAFTER, MAP SENSOR FAILS AND HAS CAUSED ME TO CREATE ALMOST A DOZEN COLLISIONS AT HIGH SPEEDS, PARTICULARLY ON HIGHWAYS.

NHTSA ODI 11175129

VEHICLE STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO INTERCOOLER FREEZING, ON SECOND OCCASION VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START DUE TO ENGINE HYDROLOCKING FROM FROZEN INTERCOOLER THAWING OUT. VW HAS RELEASED A BULLETIN FOR THIS ISSUE BUT WILL NOT STAND BY WARRANTY ON SAID COMPONENT.

NHTSA ODI 11174435

HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH MY VW JETTA SPORTWAGEN 2012 WITH ITS HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAVING CONTAMINATED THE FUEL SYSTEM IN THE CAR WITH METAL SHARDS CAPTURED ON THE FUEL METERING VALVE. ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THE CAR IS A CERTFIFIED PRE-OWNED AND ONLY 11 MONTHS INTO A 2-YEAR BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP, REGIONAL CASE DISPUTE MANAGER, AND TECHNICAL DISPUTE INQUIRY HAVE ALL COME BACK AND REPORTED THAT IT IS AN EXTERNALLY CREATED ISSUE FROM THE DIESEL FUEL I PUT INTO THE TANK. HOWEVER, THIS IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED ONGOING ISSUE WITH VW DIESEL ENGINES WITH THEIR HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS DATING BACK TO 2009. THE FUEL I PUT INTO THE CAR WAS TESTED AND CAME BACK ENTIRELY FINE. AND BY VIRTUE OF THE METAL SHARDS BEING FOUND ON THE FUEL METERING VALVE THAT IS WHOLLY INDICATIVE OF THE CONTAMINATION BEING CAUSE AFTER THE FUEL HAS GONE THROUGH THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP, TO THE ENGINE, AND THE EXCESS IS RETURNING BACK TO THE FUEL TANK VIA THE FUEL METERING VALVE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE METAL SHARDS WERE ONLY FOUND ON THE MESH PIECE/FILTER ON THE FUEL METERING VALVE NOT ON THE FUEL TANK FILTER ITSELF (WHICH YOU WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE METAL SHARDS ON THE FUEL TANK FILTER IF THE DIESEL THAT I PUT INTO THE CAR WAS THE ORIGINAL ISSUE). THE CAR HAS NO ACCELERATION AFTER APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, AND FURTHER DRIVING OF IT WILL JUST FURTHER COMPROMISE THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM OCCURS VERY SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING, AS IT DID IN MY CASE, WHICH DOESN'T ALLOW FOR CORRECTING BEFORE IT'S MUCH TOO LATE. I'M FACING AN ESTIMATED $5500 REPAIR BUT THAT IS ON THE LOW SIDE OF WHAT HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS THAT HAVE FACED THE SAME SITUATION. MY CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE 2009 WITH VW DIESEL HIGH FUEL PUMPS, I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD FIX UNDER THE WARRANTY AS THEY KNOW THIS IS AN INTERNAL EQUIPMENT/PARTS FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11172550

BRAKES INOP. MAKING HISSING SOUND ABOVE THE BRAKE PEDAL. SOUNDS LIKE PRESSURE IS BEING RELEASED FROM A HOSE. ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN IN MOTION I'VE HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO COME TO A STOP.

NHTSA ODI 11171401

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.

NHTSA ODI 11164303

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT TURN ON WHEN TEMPERATURES REACH BELOW 30 DEGREES. HAPPENS AT INITIAL START UP. A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE ABOVE 30 DEGREES THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11162008

THE STEERING WHEEL OFTEN LOCKS AND THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND A BIT AND TRY PARKING AND TAKING THE KEY OUT AGAIN. OFTEN THE WHEELS HAVE TO BE STRAIGHT TO EASE THE PROCESS.

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TL* 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.

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