2012 Volkswagen Beetle Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 21about this part
- Share
- 32%of 65 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 4,060miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 21 complaints about the visibility of the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, 32% of the 65 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 4,060 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My windshield cracked on its own while driving on the highway at a rate of 60mph. There were no chips or splits from rocks. I heard a cracking noise and watched as the my windshield cracked from the passenger side midway to the middle of the window. When I pulled over to make sure my car was safe to drive, I saw that the crack happened on the interior of the window.”
NHTSA complaint #10515161, filed 2013-06, 20,000 miles“I was driving on the highway, going about 60mph, when I noticed a slight, high pitched rattle. A couple of minutes later, while still on the highway, I noticed a crack in the windshield right in the center of the vehicle just behind the rearview mirror. Once I got home I checked it out and the glass is cracked straight down from the center of the car and then splits off left and right at the rearview mirror. You can physically feel the break from the outside.”
NHTSA complaint #10568312, filed 2014-03, 36,600 miles“The power window do not go up right. When window are down trying to put up window they go up and stop one third of the way and spring back down push switch to go up window go up half up spring back down this go on two to three time if you hold switch in up they go up and smell like smoke. The dealer said v.w. Is trying to correct this problem but at this time there is no know fix . I think this is a safety problem not being able two roll window up right a way if we had to in a emergency not to say the smoke smell.”
NHTSA complaint #10471476, filed 2012-08, 4,060 miles“I noticed a set of cracks near the top of my windshield, approximately at the point where the rear view mirror attaches and extending up to the roof line edge. The cracks were approximately 6 - 8 in length. I have no idea when or how it occurred as I do not recall any stone or other road debris hitting the windshield, there was no sound of anything hitting the windshield or small chip in the glass where the impact would have occurred. I did not park it under a tree and nothing fell on or hit the glass to my knowledge. …”
NHTSA complaint #10458213, filed 2012-05, 13,695 miles“Driver side window would drop about 1.5 cm when exit the vehicle but would not go back up. Was allowing water and outside debris to enter the vehicle. When I notified the dealer and my salesperson they said they will take care of it and call vw on my behalf. It has been more than a month and I have heard nothing. Some reviews online said they were able to have vw take it back/ buy it back. Frankly this would be the best solution as in va the rain and cold winds is just unbearable in the winter with the window unable to operate as it was designed to.”
NHTSA complaint #10482930, filed 2012-11, 809 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10245617Nov 13, 2023Reporting procedure for A/C compressor replacement regardless of the reason for failure. Update to model year applicability and new warranty GFF labor operation number
- 10226226Nov 10, 2022A/C requirements, update to model year applicability.
- 10212136May 18, 2022Cleaning of Heating and Ventilation system, Updated to include additional model year applicability and cost of cleaning solution in warranty table.
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | 7% |
| 2015 | 5 | 6% |
| 2014 | 5 | 10% |
| 2013 | 5 | 5% |
| 2012 | 21 | 32% |
| 2010 | 4 | 13% |
| 2009 | 5 | 15% |
| 2008 | 6 | 10% |
| 2007 | 4 | 7% |
| 2006 | 11 | 9% |
| 2005 | 62 | 24% |
| 2004 | 65 | 19% |
| 2003 | 56 | 18% |
| 2002 | 13 | 8% |
| 2001 | 7 | 3% |
| 2000 | 21 | 8% |
| 1999 | 26 | 15% |
| 1998 | 37 | 22% |
Other parts of the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle
12 complaintsElectrical system
12 complaintsSteering
7 complaintsEngine
6 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsFuel system
4 complaintsSuspension
3 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsEquipment
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology