Model year

2012 Volkswagen Jetta

NHTSA lists 5 recalls and 500 complaints for the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 1 recall and 27 complaints under JETTA SPORTWAGEN. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (132), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (107), ENGINE (84). NHTSA lists 5 investigations, including 1 investigation with no close date in the file. NHTSA rated the 4 DR FWD 4 stars overall. EPA rates it 25–32 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $2,400–$3,150, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.

ABOUT THIS DATA

Recalls

19V679000 · Sep 25, 2019

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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…

19V615000 · Aug 22, 2019

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE; STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE

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…

15V483000 · Aug 4, 2015

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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…

14V656000 · Oct 20, 2014

SUSPENSION:REAR

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…

11V490000 · Oct 3, 2011

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL 2009-2012 JETTA AND JETTA SPORTWAGEN VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2008 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2009 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2010-2012 AUDI A3 VEHICLES,…

Complaints

500 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 24, fire flag on 6, injury field 17, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM132
UNKNOWN OR OTHER107
ENGINE84
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM47
POWER TRAIN46
STEERING42
SERVICE BRAKES34
AIR BAGS33
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL23
VISIBILITY/WIPER20

Other NHTSA names

These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.

Other matched NHTSA names
Name	Recalls	Complaints
JETTA SPORTWAGEN	1	27

Investigations

Investigations in the NHTSA file (5). "No close date" means the file has no close date. It is not a statement that the investigation is still active.
Action	Subject	Opened	Closed
EA11003	High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure · FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL; FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP	Feb 7, 2011	Mar 27, 2015
PE11023	Diesel Fuel Injector Line Leakage · FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL	Aug 2, 2011	Dec 2, 2011
PE15010	Air Bag Clockspring Failure · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL; AIR BAGS; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	Mar 24, 2015	Sep 28, 2015
RQ17009	Air Bag Clockspring Failure · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL	Nov 13, 2017	May 4, 2018
EA18003	Air Bag Clockspring Failure · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL; AIR BAGS	Apr 18, 2018	No close date in the file

Safety ratings

NHTSA 5-star variants matched to this model year (2). Rollover possibility is the API's published figure, shown as recorded.
Variant	Overall	Front	Side	Pole	Rollover	Photo
4 DR FWD	4	4	5	5	4 · possibility 0.121	NHTSA photo
SW FWD	Not rated	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated	4 · possibility 0.121	—

Fuel economy

EPA configurations. Electric rows show MPGe in the combined column and kWh/100 mi separately. Annual fuel cost is EPA's published fuelCost08 figure.
Configuration	Fuel	City	Hwy	Comb	kWh/100 mi	Range	Annual fuel cost
Jetta · 2L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive	Premium Gasoline	24	32	27	—	—	$3,050
Jetta · 2L · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Premium Gasoline	22	33	26	—	—	$3,150
Jetta · 2.5L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	24	31	26	—	—	$2,600
Jetta · 2.5L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	23	33	26	—	—	$2,600
Jetta SportWagen · 2.5L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	24	31	26	—	—	$2,600
Jetta SportWagen · 2.5L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	23	33	26	—	—	$2,600
Jetta · 2L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive	Diesel · Diesel	29	37	32	—	—	$3,000
Jetta · 2L · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Diesel · Diesel	29	39	32	—	—	$3,000
Jetta · 2L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	23	29	25	—	—	$2,700
Jetta · 2L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	24	34	28	—	—	$2,400
Jetta SportWagen · 2L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive	Diesel · Diesel	29	37	32	—	—	$3,000
Jetta SportWagen · 2L · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive	Diesel · Diesel	29	39	32	—	—	$3,000

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Check a vehicle

This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2012 Volkswagen Jetta at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.

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