Representative model. Photo: IFCAR, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2012 Volkswagen Jetta recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2012 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 9
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 527
Latest campaign: Sep 23, 2020

Recall summary by component9

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Air bags	2	Feb 10, 2016	16V078000 15V483000
Engine and engine cooling	2	Mar 7, 2014	14E007000 11E036000
Service brakes, hydraulic	1	Sep 23, 2020	20E064000
Unknown or other	1	Sep 25, 2019	19V679000
Electrical system	1	Aug 22, 2019	19V615000
Suspension	1	Oct 20, 2014	14V656000
Fuel system, diesel	1	Oct 3, 2011	11V490000

Safety recalls9

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Sep 23, 2020Latest campaign


Sep 23, 202020E064000	Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components master cylinder If there is a brake fluid leak, it can reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 20E064000 What's wrong Tenneco Automotive (Tenneco) is recalling certain Beck/Arnley Master Cylinders, part number 072-9831, sold as aftermarket or replacement parts for 2004-2018 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2012-2019 Volkswagen Beetle vehicles. The fluid seal crimp on the master cylinder may be insufficient, causing brake fluid to leak or the cylinder to come apart. Risk If there is a brake fluid leak, it can reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy Beck/Arnley will notify the distributors that sold the master cylinders and will work with the distributors to notify the end users. Affected master cylinders will be exchanged for a new master cylinder (part number 072-9990), free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2020. Owners may contact Tenneco customer service at 1-800-625-9319. Filed under Jetta Campaign NHTSA 20E064000 · Sep 23, 2020
Sep 25, 201919V679000	Unknown or other If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 19V679000 What's wrong Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements. Risk If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury. Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329. Filed under Jetta Campaign NHTSA 19V679000 · Sep 25, 2019
Aug 22, 201919V615000	Electrical system: ignition anti-theft Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a… DetailsHide details for campaign 19V615000 What's wrong Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park." Risk Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash. Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2. Filed under Jetta Campaign NHTSA 19V615000 · Aug 22, 2019
Feb 10, 201616V078000	Air bags: frontal driver side In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants… DetailsHide details for campaign 16V078000 What's wrong Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. Risk In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death. Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Filed under Jetta Sportwagen Campaign NHTSA 16V078000 · Feb 10, 2016
Aug 4, 201515V483000	Air bags: frontal A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 15V483000 What's wrong Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. 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. Risk A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury. Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Filed under Jetta Campaign NHTSA 15V483000 · Aug 4, 2015
Oct 20, 201414V656000	Suspension: rear The reduced durability of the trailing arm may result in its sudden fracture, possibly causing loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 14V656000 What's wrong Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 1, 2010, to November 30, 2012, and 2012-2013 Beetle vehicles manufactured March 1, 2011, to July 31, 2013. The durability of the rear trailing arms may be reduced in vehicles whose rear trailing arms have been previously deformed, such as a result of a rear or side-rear impact crash. Risk The reduced durability of the trailing arm may result in its sudden fracture, possibly causing loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a sheet metal inlay on the rear axle trailing arms designed to prevent a sudden loss of control in the event of trailing arm sudden fracture, free of charge. The recall began April 7, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Filed under Jetta Campaign NHTSA 14V656000 · Oct 20, 2014

Merged from NHTSA model names: Jetta, Jetta Sportwagen. Not every vehicle of a model year is affected by every campaign.

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Volkswagen recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2012 Volkswagen Jetta? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component527

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

527Complaints filed

24Involving a crash

7Involving a fire

17Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Electrical system	144	27	7	4	0
Unknown or other	111	21	2	1	4
Engine	88	17	1	4	0
Fuel/propulsion system	52	10	0	0	1
Power train	50	9	0	0	1
Steering	44	8	5	0	2
Service brakes	41	8	6	1	0
Air bags	35	7	9	0	11
Fuel system	35	7	0	0	0
Diesel	25	5	0	0	0
Visibility/wiper	20	4	0	0	0
Vehicle speed control	14	3	0	0	0
Suspension	14	3	0	0	0
Exterior lighting	13	2	0	0	0
Wheels	10	2	0	0	0

12 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Steering
“On the day the issue occurred, I went to work as usual. When I finished work and tried to leave, my vehicle wouldn't start. I had the vehicle towed to a repair shop to determine what was wrong.”
Filed 10/02/2026 · ODI 11768618
Electrical system
“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.”
Filed 06/14/2026 · ODI 11744027
Steering
“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.”
Filed 07/21/2025 · ODI 11675172

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2012 Volkswagen Jetta recall questions

How many recalls does the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta have?

NHTSA lists 9 safety recall campaigns for the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The most recent, 20E064000 (reported September 23, 2020), concerns service brakes, hydraulic. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta recalls for?

The largest group is air bags, with 2 campaigns. Others: engine and engine cooling (2), service brakes, hydraulic (1), unknown or other (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta?

Electrical system is the most-reported component, named in 144 complaints out of 527 filed with NHTSA (27%). Across all complaints, owners reported 24 crashs and 7 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2012 Volkswagen Jetta?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Volkswagen recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Volkswagen dealer.

Check a specific Volkswagen by VIN

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Recall summary by component9

Safety recalls9

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components master cylinder

Unknown or other

Electrical system: ignition anti-theft

Air bags: frontal driver side

Air bags: frontal

Suspension: rear