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2012 Volkswagen Jetta Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
34
Latest Oct 6, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 499 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
9
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
11

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 34 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

The 25 most recent of 34, in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Oct 6, 2024

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 ID
11618327
Incident
Aug 1, 2024
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jan 13, 2023

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 ID
11501646
Incident
Dec 23, 2022
Airbags
Filed Sep 7, 2021

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 ID
11431910
Incident
Sep 7, 2021
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Dec 16, 2020

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 ID
11383833
Incident
Dec 13, 2020
Mileage
63,000 mi
AirbagsEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 2, 2020

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 ID
11372721
Incident
Nov 1, 2020
Mileage
176,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 16, 2020

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 ID
11339770
Incident
Jun 1, 2020
Mileage
140,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jun 13, 2020

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

NHTSA ID
11328618
Incident
Mar 1, 2017
Mileage
60,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Oct 29, 2019

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 ID
11276924
Incident
Aug 15, 2019
Mileage
85,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 19, 2019
Crash reported

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 ID
11233461
Incident
Jul 19, 2019
Mileage
59,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 23, 2019
Crash reported5 injuries reported

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 ID
11203035
Incident
Oct 29, 2018
Mileage
68,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 14, 2019

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

NHTSA ID
11186727
Incident
Feb 15, 2019
Mileage
120,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 20, 2018

AIR BAG LIGHT DONT TURN OFF.

NHTSA ID
11121045
Incident
Dec 1, 2017
Mileage
75,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 3, 2018

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 ID
11105286
Incident
Jun 26, 2018
Mileage
88,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalSteering
Filed Jun 26, 2018
Crash reported

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 ID
11103985
Incident
May 14, 2014
Mileage
50,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceSteering
Filed May 1, 2018
Crash reported1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
11091248
Incident
Dec 23, 2016
Mileage
48,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 11, 2018

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 ID
11084592
Incident
Jan 2, 2018
Mileage
64,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 19, 2018

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 ID
11080154
Incident
Mar 16, 2018
Mileage
44,600 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 12, 2018
Crash reported1 injury reported

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 ID
11078638
Incident
Mar 5, 2018
Mileage
125,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesInterior & seats
Filed Dec 6, 2017

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 ID
11052803
Incident
Nov 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed Nov 27, 2017

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 ID
11048803
Incident
Nov 10, 2017
Mileage
65,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 20, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

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 ID
11035093
Incident
Jun 15, 2017
Mileage
129,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 17, 2017

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 ID
11034093
Incident
Oct 17, 2017
Airbags
Filed Oct 6, 2017

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 ID
11032076
Incident
Sep 15, 2017
Mileage
15,800 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 15, 2017

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 ID
11015431
Incident
Jun 10, 2017
Mileage
50,000 mi
AirbagsEngine
Filed Feb 11, 2017

"TAKATA RECALL" "WATER PUMP" I GOT MANY RECALLS ON MY JETTA GLI 2012 . THE LAST RECALL I GOT ON THE MAIL WAS ON NOVEMBER ,2016 FOR THE AIRBAG CONTROL . AFTER I DROPPED MY CAR FOR THE RECALL I PICKED IT UP SAME DAY . I NOTICED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON FOR THE FIRST TIME I HAVEN'T HAD ANY ISSUES LIKE THIS BEFORE . I RETURNED BACK TO THE DEALER AND INFORMED THEM , THEY SAID YOU HAVE TO LEAVE IT AND WE'RE SORRY WE DIDN'T TAKE CARE OF THAT . I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO LEAVE IT THERE FOR ONE MORE DAY . NOW THEY'RE ASKING ME TO PAY FOR IT AROUND $992 ! I GOT ALL OF THE VOICEMAIL FROM THE DEALER THEY CALLED ME TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND ASKED ME TO COME BACK TO FIX SINCE IT CAME UP AFTER I DROPPED IT FOR THE RECALL . ALSO , I HAVE SHOWED THE QUOTE FOR THE WATER LEAKING TO MANY AUTO CARE CENTERS IN HOUSTON . THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS KIND OF CAR WITH 2.0 ENGINE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WATER PUMP AND THEY WILL NEVER GET INVOLVED WHIT THIS CAR BECAUSE TO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ENGINE AND CAR MODEL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES . MY CAR ONLY GOT 60K MILE ON IT AND NEVER BEEN INTO AND ACCIDENT IT'S BEEN LESS THAN 5 YEARS NOW SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR . I PAID 28K DOLLARS CASH FROM THE FIRST DAY JUST BECAUSE I TRUSTED IN VW. I HAVE CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA , BUT THEY DIDN'T HELP ME WITH MY CASE AND ASKED ME TO PAY FOR IT .

NHTSA ID
10954022
Incident
Jan 10, 2017
Mileage
60,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .