RoadVitals

2012 Volkswagen Jetta Powertrain (other) Problems

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

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) 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.
46
Latest Mar 15, 2025
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.
9%
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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. 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. 46 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 powertrain

The 25 most recent of 46, in the owner's own words

BrakesEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 15, 2025

I recently bought vehicle seen there is a recall

NHTSA ID
11648429
Incident
Feb 28, 2025
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 17, 2024

A bolt holding my CV Joint backed out causing the bracket between two of the bolts to come lose. The bracket then swung as I drove a created a hole in my transmission. This caused me to lose transmission fluid and damage my transmission. My car has only been serviced at VW certified dealers so I am very disappointed with this issue

NHTSA ID
11577827
Incident
Mar 3, 2024
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jan 6, 2024

I remember having my keys in my hand and my car was slowly reversing out the driveway. I panicked, i was stomping on my brakes for a while jerking back and it took me about 2 minutes to finally get the key back in and try to put in park again. I went to a shop the following weekend because all the jerking and jabbing to get my key back in seems to have caused my ignition switch to misfire or whatever the word he (mechanic) used, so now i cannot take my key out like a regular person, I have to flick my key a certain way out anytime i want to turn my car off.(even mechanics have a hard time taking it out. I was also given a qr code to scan and was brought the this exact recall of the situation with my car. I now have my engine light on and [XXX] gave me the fault code for my map sensor. I’m not sure if the two are related but this was following the incident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11563924
Incident
Dec 2, 2023
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 2, 2021

The car stop at the stop sign n in the traffic then push start n it worked 4times in a 2years I thought the vw made fir saving fuel. Today the car stop at highway n I almost got killed by sudden stopped. I got panicked couldn't think about anything then push the start it worked again. I Google myself, there are many same problems n reports for 2012 vw jetta. Please help me what I should do. Last year The vw dealer couldn't find anything wrong but there is some problem

NHTSA ID
11431481
Incident
Sep 2, 2021
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 17, 2021

Experiences rollaway issue but VIN not currently covered under recall.

NHTSA ID
11429399
Incident
Aug 11, 2021
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jul 22, 2021

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated while turning into the parking lot at the residence, with a foot on the brake pedal, the contact was unaware that the vehicle was still in drive and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled forward approximately 3-4 feet before the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle was stopped. The vehicle was shifted into PARK and the contact restarted the vehicle and the vehicle operated as designed. The contact stated that a week later while at work, the vehicle failed to start-up. The vehicle remained at the contact’s place of employment. The contact reached out to a representative on at the Volkswagen website and was informed that the Vin was not under recall. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V615000 (Electrical System, Steering) as a possible solution to the failure however, the Vin was not included. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.

NHTSA ID
11426011
Incident
Jul 2, 2021
Mileage
155,000 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
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 21, 2020

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR NORMALLY ON THE HIGHWAY AND I PUSHED THE CLUTCH IN AND IT WENT STRAIGHT THE FLOOR THIS IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS THE SLAVE CYLINDER A KNOW FAILURE POINT. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IO COULDN'T PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR AGAIN AND WAS IN NEUTRAL ON THE HIGHWAY. VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO FIX THIS ON THIS YEAR JETTAS.

NHTSA ID
11365662
Incident
Oct 19, 2020
Mileage
115,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 20, 2020

JUST BOUGHT THIS VECHILE USED, WITH 136K MILES. ON INITIAL DRIVE, WHICH LASTED AROUND 30 MINUTES, EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. NOW IT'S ALMOST LIKE ITS SLIPPING GEARS AND SLAMMING WHEN IT DOWN SHIFTS COMING TO A STOP. OBVIOUSLY CAME WITH NO WARRANTY, DIDN'T THINK I'D NEED TO PURCHASE THAT ON A CAR 8 YEARS OLD. BASIC ASSESSMENT, TRANSMISSION ISSUES WHILE IN MOTION AND COMING TO A STOP.

NHTSA ID
11350386
Incident
Aug 19, 2020
Mileage
136,466 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)Seat belts
Filed Jul 14, 2020

THE THROW OUT BEARING SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AS I WAS GOING 80 MPH DOWN THE FREEWAY, TO REPLACE IT I DISCOVERED THAT THE SWAY BARS END LINKS WERE RUSTED SOLID AND THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN DONE 6 TIMES AND BROKEN EVERY TIME BUT THIS LAST TIME WITHIN A MONTH

NHTSA ID
11339434
Incident
Jul 13, 2020
Mileage
75,000 mi
Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 19, 2020

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AT 3 AM I JUMPED ON THE FREEWAY AND MY VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AND STARTED SPUTTERING BACK AND FORTH I WAS ABLE TO PULL ASIDE TO GET AWAY FROM THE FREEWAY THE CAR THEN SPED UP ON ITS OWN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL TO SEE IF I COULD SLOW IT DOWN IT THEN DROVE NORMAL ABOUT A BLOCK AWAY FROM THE FREEWAY BACK TOWARD MY HOME IT LOST POWER AGAIN WHILE DRIVING VERY SCARY I NOTICED AN EPC LIGHT GO ON AND OFF 2 TIMES WHILE DRIVING WHEN I FINALLY GOT IT HOME I TURNED THE CAR IN THE ON POSITION AND NOTICED THE EPC LIGHT STAYING ON THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME

NHTSA ID
11300251
Incident
Jan 19, 2020
Mileage
80,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 2, 2020

THE CVT TRANSMISSION IS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT NISSAN FIXED UP TO THE 2010 MODELS UP TO 120000 BUT CONTINUED TO MANUFACTURE THEM AND THE 2012 MODELS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I AM DISAPPOINTED IN THE LACK OF RECALL DUE TO THIS ISSUE BEING SO PREVALENT ON INTERNET.

NHTSA ID
11296780
Incident
Jan 1, 2018
Mileage
85,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 17, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE AND PLACING THE GEAR IN THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL FORWARD DOWN A HILL. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEFORE THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO A RIVER. THE VIN TOOL LOCATED A RECENT RECALL FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V615000 (STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) THAT WAS ISSUED ON AUGUST 22, 2019. VILLAGE VOLKSWAGEN OF CHATTANOOGA (6001 INTERNATIONAL DR, CHATTANOOGA, TN 37421, (423) 855-4981) STATED THAT THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE A RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT FOLLOW-UP LETTERS WOULD BE MAILED AROUND OCTOBER 22, 2019. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
11256100
Incident
Sep 14, 2019
Mileage
120,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 11, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND PARKED WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL AWAY. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE NEEDED TO BE ACTIVATED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED TO PREVENT IT FROM ROLLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HALLMARK VOLKSWAGEN AT COOL SPRING (620 BAKERS BRIDGE AVE, FRANKLIN, TN) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V615000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID
11254665
Incident
Sep 1, 2019
Mileage
96,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 8, 2019
1 injury reported

MAP SENSOR - REPEATING FAILURE THE MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE PRESSURE (MAP) SENSOR FAILURE CAUSES EXPONENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS AND/OR HIGHER SPEEDS THAT CAN RESULT IN DEATH. AFTER REPEATED REPLACEMENT AND REPAIRS, CONTINUOUS FAILURE OCCURS. STALLING, POWER AND STEERING ISSUES OCCUR AT HIGH SPEEDS AND/OR ON HIGHWAYS, PUTTING DRIVER AT RISK FOR A FATAL COLLISION. PERSONALLY, I HAVE HAD THE SENSOR REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES, INCLUDING HOSES AND PUMPS ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. SOON THEREAFTER, MAP SENSOR FAILS AND HAS CAUSED ME TO CREATE ALMOST A DOZEN COLLISIONS AT HIGH SPEEDS, PARTICULARLY ON HIGHWAYS.

NHTSA ID
11175129
Incident
Feb 7, 2019
Mileage
170,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 31, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING AND THERE WERE METAL FRAGMENTS STUCK IN THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND BATTERY INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCKINNEY VOLKSWAGEN (855-402-5098, 3600 S CENTRAL EXPY, MCKINNEY, TX 75070), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID
11123863
Incident
Oct 16, 2017
Mileage
90,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 30, 2018

I HAVE JUST FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR ON 4/7/2015 ABOUT AN ISSUE WITH THE AXLES THAT I NEVER GOT A NOTICE TO TAKE ACTION OF WHAT TO DO TO FIX THE ISSUE

NHTSA ID
11090918
Incident
Apr 7, 2015
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 23, 2018

I PARKED AND COULD NOT REMOVE MY KEY OR TURN OFF THE ENGINE. MY CAR IS NOT SAFELY DRIVE ABLE. UNPREDICTABLE IF KEY WILL TUR ON OR WORSE STILL TURN OFF. THE FAILURE TO TURN OFF HAPPENED ON A PUBLIC STREET.

NHTSA ID
11089779
Incident
Apr 22, 2018
Mileage
65 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 11, 2018

90K MILES TRANSMISSION AND TRANS AXEL WENT

NHTSA ID
11084648
Incident
Apr 11, 2018
Mileage
91,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 25, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ENGINE AND TIRE INFLATE SENSOR INDICATORS SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. THE GEAR WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT UP OR DOWN. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MENER VOLKSWAGEN IN LATHAM, NY WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MECHATRONICS UNIT INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY AND THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
11025419
Incident
May 1, 2016
Mileage
110,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 25, 2017

TURNING MY KEY INTO THE IGNITION IS VERY DIFFICULT. TURNING THE KEY TO TURN OFF THE CAR IS HARD ALSO. HAVE TO JIGGLE STEERING WHEEL SOMETIMES TO GET THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO JIGGLE THE KEY BACK AND FORTH TO GET THE KEY OUT AT ALL.

NHTSA ID
11025365
Incident
Sep 25, 2017
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 25, 2017

5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER ONLY 80,200 MILES. UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, ACCELERATING AFTER A STOP, THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE "CLUNK" SOUND AFTER SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, AND THEN A CONTINUOUS LOUD RATTLING SOUND IN ALL THE GEARS 2ND-5TH. VEHICLE REMAINED DRIVABLE THOUGH WITH A CONTINUOUS CLATTERING SOUND IN 2ND-5TH GEARS AND WITH A SLIGHT SHUDDERING WHILE IN MOTION. VEHICLE HAD RECENTLY RECEIVED REGULAR 80,000 SERVICE. NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM EXISTED UNTIL IT WAS MANIFEST IN THIS FAILURE. VEHICLE REMAINED DRIVABLE THOUGH NORMAL SPEEDS ENOUGH TO TAKE TO DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES AWAY. DIAGNOSIS WAS A PROBLEM IN THE GEARBOX NECESSITATING A REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. GIVEN THE RELIABILITY OF MOST MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, I CONSIDER THIS FAILURE TO BE PREMATURE IN COMPARISON TO ITS EXPECTED SERVICE LIFE, AND THEREFORE MOST LIKELY DUE TO SOME DEFECT IN THE UNIT. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN FOR SERVICE TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. WILL PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED.

NHTSA ID
11010559
Incident
Jul 23, 2017
Mileage
80,200 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Oct 6, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD IN A JERKING MOTION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE SERVICED PER A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. ALSO, A HOWLING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE AND THE OIL AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT INDEPENDENTLY READJUSTED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PURGE VALVE AND THE STEERING RACK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ID
10914267
Incident
Nov 1, 2015
Mileage
66,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 30, 2016

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE

NHTSA ID
10910873
Incident
Aug 3, 2016
Mileage
39,540 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 1, 2016

THE VEHICLES ENGINE WOULD REV BY ITS SELF WITH THE PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE DURING THIS LEAVING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN.

NHTSA ID
10852866
Incident
Mar 5, 2016
Mileage
43,000 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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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .