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)

35 of 526 complaints match · Airbags · clear filters · page 1 of 2

Oct 6, 2024Airbags

Clock spring went out and would have failed to deploy the airbags if i was in an accident. there was no notification that said it went out. NHTSA campaign number - 15V483000

NHTSA ODI 11618327

Jan 13, 2023Electrical systemAirbags

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.

NHTSA ODI 11501646

Sep 7, 2021Airbags

Unknown Car has been acting up First throttle body went now airbag, tire pressure, tracking, & other lights are on Cruise control won’t work when prompted etc.

NHTSA ODI 11431910

Dec 22, 2020Airbags

AIRBAG CORROSION FOUND BY DEALER.

NHTSA ODI 11384613

Dec 16, 2020AirbagsSpeed controlBrakes

WHEN STARTING MY 2012 VW JETTA, THE ABS LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON ON THE DASHBOARD ALONG WITH A LONG BEEPING SOUND. THE SOUND EVENTUALLY STOPS BUT THE LIGHTS STAY ON. VEHICLE IS TRYING TO RUN THROUGH DIAGNOSTICS UPON STARTING (VEHICLE IS STATIONARY BUT LIGHTS REMAIN ON WHILE DRIVING) WHEN THESE LIGHTS COME ON. THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE ARE FINE AND DO NOT NEED TO BE SERVICED PER MECHANIC AND VW. PERSONAL MECHANIC ALONG WITH AUTHORIZED VW SERVICE PULLED THE FOLLOWING CODES: 01130 ABS OPERATION NOT A PLAUSIBLE SIGNAL, 01317 CONTROL MODULE, 01285 CLUSTER, 01486 SYSTEM FUNCTION TEST FAILURE. VEHICLE MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 63K. ABS MODULE FAILURE HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES AND THERE ARE TBS'S AND TECHNICAL TIPS FOR TROUBLESHOOTING AS WELL AS A RECALL FOR 2009-2010 JETTA'S. PROPERLY MAINTAINED VEHICLES SHOULD NOT REQUIRE ABS MODULE REPLACEMENTS AT 63K MILES. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT BY AUTHORIZED VW SERVICE THAT THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAS A LEAKY VACUUM PUMP. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS: $2,636 FOR REPLACEMENT OF ABS MODULE PLUS TAX AND $1,036 PLUS TAX FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE VACUUM PUMP. NEITHER OF THESE PARTS SHOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED ON THIS 2012 VW JETTA WITH 63K MILES. THIS IS ABSURD. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE PARTS BECAUSE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE ABS MODULE, THEY ARE CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. YOU WILL FIND MANY CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ABS MODULE ON THE WEB FOR THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11383833

Nov 2, 2020Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsEngine

AS I WENT TO CHANGE GEARS INTO REVERSE I HEARD A VERY HARD THUMP, THEN INTO DRIVE AND THE THUMP GOT LOUDER AND THE WHOLE ENGINE SHIFTED FORWARD. NOW IT SOUNDS AS IF EVERYTHING ( MOTOR ) IS ABOUT TO FALL OUT THE VEHICLE .

NHTSA ODI 11372721

Jul 16, 2020Airbags

THE KEY IS GETTING STUCK AND CAN NOT BE REMOVED. CAN NOT TURN VEHICLE ON OR OFF BECAUSE THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY ON A CITY STREET. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONTINUALLY ON.

NHTSA ODI 11339770

Jun 13, 2020Electrical systemAirbags

THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. AIRBAG SENSORS ARE MALFUNCTIONING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11328618

Oct 29, 2019AirbagsWheelsBrakes

MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON A COUPLE MONTHS AGO. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT AND THE CLOSEST VW DEALERSHIP IS ABOUT 80MILES FROM HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS COULD BE A RECALL DEFECT OR WAS IT SOMETHING THAT I DID. I DO HAVE A CHILD AND I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN. I DON'T GO OUT OF TOWN AS IT IS DUE TO MY TIRES LOSING AIR AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON.

NHTSA ODI 11276924

Jul 19, 2019AirbagsCrash

CAR REAR ENDED A WHITE VAN AND WHEN CRASHED THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR I QUESTION WAS DRIVING AROUND 30-40 MPH. AIRBAG LIGHT DID GO OFF BUT ACTUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CRASH HAPPENED ON A CITY STREET WHILE I

NHTSA ODI 11233461

Apr 23, 2019AirbagsCrash5 injuries

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.

NHTSA ODI 11203035

Mar 14, 2019Airbags

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

NHTSA ODI 11186727

Aug 20, 2018Airbags

AIR BAG LIGHT DONT TURN OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11121045

Jul 3, 2018Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DEPRESSING THE HORN, IT FAILED TO SOUND AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V483000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED PRESTIGE IMPORTS VOLKSWAGEN AT 914-769-5100 (LOCATED AT 44 PLEASANTVILLE RD, PLEASANTVILLE, NY 10570), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT DID NOT GET AN ANSWER. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

NHTSA ODI 11105286

Jun 26, 2018SteeringElectrical systemAirbagsCrash

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.

NHTSA ODI 11103985

May 1, 2018SteeringAirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Crash1 injury

TAKATA RECALL, ABS BRAKE LITE ON IN THE DASH. RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ON STEERING COLUMN LOCK HOUSING

NHTSA ODI 11091248

Apr 11, 2018Airbags

THERE WAS A RECALL A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ON MY VEHICLE REGARDING THE CLOCKSPRING. EVERY TIME I MADE A LEFT TURN IT WOULD MAKE A LOUD CRACKING NOISE, THE SHARPER THE TURN THE LOUDER THE SOUND. THE AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARED, THE SYSTEMS ON THE STEERING WHEEL DON'T WORK ANYMORE INCLUDING THE HORN. I HAVE CALLED VW TO SEE IF THEY'LL FIX IT, I SAID IT'S RELATED TO THE RECALL. THEY SAID IT WILL COST ~$150 JUST TO DO THE EVALUATION.

NHTSA ODI 11084592

Mar 19, 2018Airbags

GOT AN ERROR MESSAGE THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG ON MY CAR WAS STAYING OFF AT ALL TIME. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL VW DEALER. THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC ON MY CAR AND TOLD ME THAT THE CHILD SET RECOGNITION UNIT (J706) IS DEFECTIVE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. SINCE MY CAR IS OVER THREE YEARS OLD THE WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER IT. I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $633.79 TO REPLACE IT. MY BROTHER HAS A VW TIGUAN AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIS CAR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I FOUND OUT THAT LOTS OF VW OWNER WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. FAILURE OF THE CHILD SET RECOGNITION UNIT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. VW SHOULD REPLACE THOSE DEFECTIVE UNITS FREE OF CHARGE.

NHTSA ODI 11080154

Mar 12, 2018AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE AFTER IT STOPPED ABRUPTLY. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOWING FACILITY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ODI 11078638

Dec 6, 2017AirbagsSeatsBrakes

AIRBAG, BRAKE, ABS LIGHTS ARE ON AND STAYS ON. 3 LOUD BEEPS WHEN TURNING ON THE CAR. RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION BUT MY VIN DOES NOT SHOW RECALL WHEN LOOKED UP WHICH IS ALSO ALARMING. ACCORDING TO THE VW DEALER, THIS IS A FACTORY/ MANUFACTURER DEFECT (CHEAP PARTS FROM CHINA AND BAD INSTALLATION IS WHAT I TOLD) BUT THEY CANNOT FIX SINCE VIN IS NOT SHOWING UP IN THEIR SYSTEM. MY ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AS WELL AS BRAKE SYSTEM. I AM IN A PANIC!!! BUT DEALER WILL NOT FIX FACTORY DEFECT AND IS CHARGING $1700-$2200 TO FIX. THIS IS ALARMING AS WELL AS UNFAIR TO CONSUMERS!!! THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED!!! PEOPLE COULD DIE BECAUSE OF THIS. AND THIS IS NOT AN UNDERSTATEMENT! CORRECT YOUR YOUR RECALL AND VIN TRACKING SYSTEM AND FIX MY CAR! THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11052803

Nov 27, 2017Airbags

MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO APPARENT CAUSE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE CLOCKSPRING CABLE AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. I WAS CHARGED OVER $400 FOR THIS. THAT SAME AFTERNOON THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND I TOOK IT BACK. AFTER 2 WEEKS THEY STILL HAVE MY CAR AND DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I LOOKED UP INFORMATION ON YOUR SITE AND FOUND THAT OTHER JETTAS OF MY SAME YEAR HAD THIS PART UNDER RECALL. BUT WHEN I ASKED THE GUY AT THE GARAGE HE SAID MY CAR WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. SO, I LOOKED ON YOUR SITE AGAIN AND SAW THAT 2012 JETTAS WERE IN FACT INCLUDED BUT IT DIDN'T APPEAR THAT MY SPECIFIC VIN NUMBER WAS INCLUDED. HOW CAN THIS BE POSSIBLE? I AM HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE WITH THE SAME PART AND DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR THIS OR ANY FURTHER REPAIRS THAT MAY BE PENDING. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, SHOULDN'T MY VIN NUMBER BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL?

NHTSA ODI 11048803

Oct 20, 2017AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS OPERABLE AND WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR BODY REPAIRS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THERE WAS ONE INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED SEVERE PAIN IN THE KNEE, NECK, AND BACK AREAS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129,000.

NHTSA ODI 11035093

Oct 17, 2017Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED. THE CONTACT WANTED TO DOCUMENT CONCERNS REGARDING THE RECALL AND THE LACK OF PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *LN CONSUMER STATED DUE TO 2 CHILDREN AGES 3 AND 6 MONTHS, THE POTENTIAL FAILURE OF SAFETY AIRBAGS ARE CONCERNING AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED OR REPLACED ASAP. NO VIN AVAILABLE UPDATED 7/31/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 11034093

Oct 6, 2017Airbags

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. PRIOR THIS OCCURRENCE A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THAT INDICATED SOOT IN MY FUEL TANK. ONCE THAT PROBLEM WAS SOLVED AFTER FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS FROM USER MANUAL, THEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINS ON. THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11032076

Aug 15, 2017Airbags

IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, DEBRIS MAY CONTAMINATE THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING, A SPIRAL WOUND, FLAT CABLE THAT KEEPS THE AIR BAG POWERED WHILE THE STEERING WHEEL IS BEING TURNED. THIS CONTAMINATION MAY TEAR THE CABLE AND RESULT IN A LOSS OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG.

NHTSA ODI 11015431

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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 →