2012 Volkswagen Jetta: recalls and problems
8 recalls and 526 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system.
Most common problems
What owners report
A microswitch malfunction. my car will not lock and while i am driving it there is clicking on the doors for locking and unlocking. my night lights will not shut off when i park the vehicle. there is a pinging noise when the vehicle is shut off and in park and the door is open with no lights on.
The contact owns a 2012 volkswagen jetta. the contact stated that for the past eight months, the contact was unable to remove the key from the ignition. several warning lights were illuminated. the contact stated that to start the vehicle, the contact had to plug in the two fuse boxes and connect the battery cable. the contact feared the vehicle might catch on fire. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign
The ignition switch where the key is placed in the ignition and turned to start the car failed. the ignition would not turn with the key engaged inside the ignition switch. it will require a new ignition switch kit and new key in order for the car to function properly again.
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
Crash-test ratings
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Volkswagen Jetta SW FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | |
| 2012 Volkswagen Jetta 4 DR FWD |
Source: NHTSA recalls, complaints and NCAP APIs, covering Jetta. Last refreshed 2026-09-29.