2012 Volkswagen Golf Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 6%of 48 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 67,550miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2012 Volkswagen Golf, 6% of the 48 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 67,550 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Intermittently, dashboard mfd would indicate that all exterior lights failed. Shut off engine and pulled out key. Inserted key and restarted and all would be fine. Got to the point that lights were in fact not working. Pulled out fuses and when I pulled the 30a fuse (f16?) I noticed the fuse and fuse box was melted. I cleaned the contacts on the fuse with sandpaper and a wire brush. I attempted to use the brush on the fuse box but to no avail. I inserted the fuse back in and the lights worked. Next morning, I turned the key on and mfd indicated all the lights were not working. …”
NHTSA complaint #11266012, filed 2019-10, 125,000 miles“When starting my GOLF tdi I received several warning messages on the car's information screen to check turning lights, brake lights, headlights and running lights on the right hand side of the car. The right hand headlights, turn signals and brakelights were out. The cause of the fault was a melted fusebox. The internal wiring of the fusebox overheated and melted the plastic of the box and the plastic of the fuse without breaking the circuit. According to my repair shop, this is a design flaw afflicting as many as one million vws of various years. …”
NHTSA complaint #10654071, filed 2014-11, 24,800 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10210225Apr 7, 2022Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation. Update model year applicability to include 2022.
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 9% |
| 2021 | 1 | 14% |
| 2020 | 1 | 17% |
| 2018 | 2 | 7% |
| 2017 | 1 | 1% |
| 2016 | 1 | 1% |
| 2015 | 1 | 1% |
| 2013 | 1 | 2% |
| 2012 | 3 | 6% |
| 2011 | 3 | 3% |
| 2010 | 1 | 1% |
| 2005 | 2 | 11% |
| 2004 | 1 | 4% |
| 2003 | 1 | 4% |
| 2002 | 11 | 15% |
| 2001 | 15 | 13% |
| 2000 | 3 | 3% |
| 1999 | 5 | 8% |
| 1998 | 2 | 11% |
| 1995 | 3 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2012 Volkswagen Golf
14 complaintsEngine
11 complaintsAir bags
10 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
9 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaintsSteering
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsOther or unknown
1 complaintsSeats
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Volkswagen Golf
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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