2012 Volkswagen Jetta Steering Problems

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 Number: 19V615000 (Electrical System, Steering). The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the contact was informed that pre-existing repairs needed to be performed before the recall repair could be performed. The contact stated that the dealer had not provided an official repair estimate, however the total repair cost was provided. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The manufacturer confirmed that the pre-existing repairs needed to be performed prior to the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 131,260. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11675172

Incident

Jul 15, 2025

Mileage

131,260 mi

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

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V615000 (Electrical System, Steering) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while using the key to start the vehicle, the key spun around in the ignition cylinder and failed to start the vehicle. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11557111

Incident

Nov 1, 2023

Mileage

140,000 mi

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION KEY CEASED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START IMMEDIATELY. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND FAILED TO TURN. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT YET NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000

NHTSA ID

11416329

Incident

Apr 5, 2021

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V615000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED TO VOLKSWAGEN OF OLYMPIA ( 2107 COOPER POINT RD SW, OLYMPIA, WA 98502; (360) 515-3349) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11351459

Incident

Jun 1, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V615000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING). THE CONTACT HAD NOT NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER OF THE RECALL NOTICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11276976

Incident

Oct 15, 2019

KEY DOESN'T COME OUT OF IGNITION WHEN TURNING THE ENGINE OFF

NHTSA ID

11252335

Incident

Aug 28, 2019

KEY GETS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. HAVE TO WIGGLE STEERING WHEEL AND KEY TO TURN OFF

NHTSA ID

11210145

Incident

Apr 17, 2019

Mileage

72,000 mi

I AM UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE WHEN I STOP. THE KEYS ARE STUCK IN THE ENIGEN AND THE CAR NOT TURN OFF. REALLY HEART BREAKING BECAUSE I LIKE VOLKSWAGEN BUT I THINK THIS WILL BE MY LAST.

NHTSA ID

11196107

Incident

Apr 5, 2017

THE STEERING WHEEL OFTEN LOCKS AND THE KEY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND A BIT AND TRY PARKING AND TAKING THE KEY OUT AGAIN. OFTEN THE WHEELS HAVE TO BE STRAIGHT TO EASE THE PROCESS.

NHTSA ID

11161317

Incident

Sep 1, 2017

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

STEERING COLUMN LOCK HOUSING IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSES THE KEY TO BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED

NHTSA ID

11103567

Incident

Jun 8, 2017

WELL RECALL U HAVE DOESN'T COVER MY CAR CAUSE IT'S OVER 100K SO THTS RUDE AND WR9NG IT'S BEEN HAPPENING A WHILE AGO P BUT YOUR RECALL 8 JUST GOT OVER 800 TO FIX IT I THINK THIS SHOULD BE TAKI G CARE OF REGARLESS CAUSE I WILL NOT SUGGEST ANYONE TO YR CARS U MADE IT CRAPPY AND MY KEYS GONNA BE JACKED UP TOO AND WHT I SHOULD PAY FOR THT TOO MY KEY GETS STUCK I WAITED FOR RECALL SO I SHOULD PAY 800 CAUSE ITS OVER 100K THT WRONG AND TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE I WANT TO GO GET IT FIXED B 4 MY KEY BREAKS TOO I WANT SOMEONE TO REPLY THANK U

NHTSA ID

11102568

Incident

May 5, 2018

I WAS HAVING TROUBLES TURNING MY CAR OFF IN DECEMBER 2015. THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION AND NO MATTER WHAT I DID, I COULDN'T REMOVE IT. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD TO BRING MY CAR IN IMMEDIATELY. THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK HOUSING. EVERYTHING WAS GOING GREAT. I SPENT OVER $700 BETWEEN PARTS AND LABOR, BUT MY CAR WAS FIXED. FAST FORWARD TO APRIL OF 2018, I RECEIVE A LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN STATING THAT THE PART I HAD REPLACED WAS BEING RECALLED AND THEY WERE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. NOW, IT'S MAY OF 2018, AND MY CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF AGAIN. IT'S NOT BEEN 10 YEARS (MY CAR IS A 2012), BUT I HAVE 149,000 MILES ON IT, SO THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE LOCK HOUSING. THEY WILL HOWEVER, LOOK OVER MY DOCUMENTATION FROM 2015 TO "POSSIBLY" REIMBURSE ME. NOW, THE PROBLEM IS, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THAT PART EVERY 2.5 YEARS. ACCORDING TO THE LADY FROM VW CUSTOMER CARE, SHE UNDERSTANDS MY FRUSTRATIONS, BUT CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SO NOW, I HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR BACK IN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND PAY FOR A THIRD PART, EVEN THOUGH THE REPLACEMENT PART I ALREADY PAID FOR WAS FAULTY WHEN THEY REPLACED IT ( SINCE IT HAD TO COME STRAIGHT FROM VW). I HAVE READ MANY REVIEWS ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO VOLKSWAGEN VEHICLES. LESSON LEARNED, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VW.

NHTSA ID

11094006

Incident

May 15, 2018

Mileage

149,000 mi

A WHILE AGO I FELT A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO GET THE KEY OUT AT PARKING BUT USUALLY PUSHED IT HARDER IN AND TURNED THE KEY WOULD BE OUT. LAST YEAR THE GUY WORKING ON SAFETY CHECK CALLED ME FOR EMERGENCY BECAUSE HE COULDN'T GET MY CAR TURNED OFF, HE'S SCARED TO BREAK MY KEY. THIS YEAR COSTCO TIRE CENTER CALLED ME FOR EMERGENCY WHILE CHANGING TIRES BECAUSE OF THE KEY STUCK ISSUE. I TOLD THEM TO TRY FEW MORE TIMES WITH PUSHING KEY IN AND WIGGLE IT A BIT. AFTER I GOT BACK FROM COSTCO, I FINALLY COULDN'T BEAR WITH THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET IT OFF FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. I SEARCHED INTERNET AND NEXT DAY AND I LEARN THIS AS COMMON ISSUE. I AM RELUCTANT BUT BE PREPARED TO BRING CAR TO VW DEALER FOR REPAIR. LUCKILY THE DAY BEFORE I WAS GOING TO BRING CAR TO VW, READ A LETTER FROM VW WHICH I WAS ALMOST GOING TO THROW AWAY AS A PROMOTION LETTER. IN LETTER, IT STATES EXTENDING WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS FOR KEY HOUSING! I IMMEDIATELY CALL VW AND SCHEDULE A DIAGNOSIS. NOW WAITING FOR THE PARTS COME IN WHICH THEY SAID ABOUT 7 DAYS. I DROVE IT YESTERDAY AND THE CAR KEY GOT STUCK AGAIN. I AM NO LONGER TO GET IT OUT FOR WORKING A FEW MINUTES, I NEEDS TO WORK ON IT FOR OVER 10 MINS. I FEEL SCARY TO DRIVE THE CAR AS I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT HAPPENS AND HOW LONG IT WILL STUCK UNTIL I GET IT OUT. IT MAY MEAN GOING OUT MUCH MUCH EARLIER TO SPARE TIME WORKING ON THE STUCK KEY OR JUST NOT DRIVING IT AND WAITING IT FOR DEALER'S KEY HOUSING REPLACEMENT. EVEN VW SEEMS HAVING TAKEN ACTION I THINK I SHALL FILE A COMPLAINT STILL.

NHTSA ID

11091995

Incident

Apr 20, 2018

Mileage

30,887 mi

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

STEERING COLUMN LOCK HOUSING - KEY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE OR STUCK IN THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK HOSING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED

NHTSA ID

11090990

Incident

Apr 6, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

RECEIVED VERBAL QUOTES TO FIX THE ISSUE WITH THE KEY GETTING STOCK IN THE IGNITION WITH CAR RUNNING AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED BY VW AND THAT IT WOULD COST CLOSE TO 500.00 TO FIX AND I CHOSE TO LIVE WITH THE ISSUE...NOW I RECEIVED A LETTER TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THE COST WHEN I DID NOT HAVE IT FIXED. CALLED TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THE CAR IS OVER 100,000 MILES AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THIS TO ME IS NOT CORRECT. I BROUGHT THIS ISSUE UP MANY TIMES BEFORE THE CAR WENT OVER THE 100,000 AND THEY CLAIMED IT WAS BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OLD...I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO THIS AND GET BACK TO ME SO I CAN HAVE THIS ISSUE FIXED.

NHTSA ID

11090976

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

IGNITION SWITCH WON'T TURN OFF WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING

NHTSA ID

11040779

Incident

Oct 28, 2017

Mileage

104,054 mi

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING OFF THE ENGINE

NHTSA ID

11016283

Incident

Aug 18, 2017

Mileage

79,440 mi

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND I CANNOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE

NHTSA ID

11012448

Incident

Aug 1, 2017

Mileage

138,000 mi

"KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND I CANNOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE."

NHTSA ID

11005987

Incident

Jul 17, 2017

Mileage

50 mi

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION WHEN TURNING ON/OFF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

10990687

Incident

May 17, 2017

Mileage

70,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY UNKNOWN MOMENT THE CAR WILL START TO MISFIRE IN 1 OR MORE CYLINDERS (SEEMS LIKE USUALLY WHEN THERE IS MOISTURE IN THE AIR) BUT YOU STILL NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY GO INTO ENGINE POWER CONTROL AND WILL SOMETIMES CUT OFF THE STEERING AND BRAKES. I'VE GOTTEN CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WITH NO BRAKES AND NO STEERING. I HAD TO USE MY PARKING BRAKE AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. MOST OF THE TIME THE STEERING GOES OUT IS WHEN I'M TRYING TO MAKE A U TURN. AND MOST OF THE TIME THE ENGINE STARTS TO MISFIRE AND/OR SHUT OFF IS WHEN I'M TRYING ACCELERATE EITHER AFTER BEING STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT OR SIGNIFICANT INCREASE LIKE MERGING ON A FREEWAY

NHTSA ID

10958614

Incident

Mar 4, 2017