2012 Volkswagen Golf Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 8%of 48 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 10,225miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the body and structure of the 2012 Volkswagen Golf, 8% of the 48 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 10,225 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
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.
“The hatchback edges on the side of the vehicles have a knife point that is just under six feet off the ground. Unloading the car in the garage I misjudged the clearance and suffered a painful puncture wound on top of my head. I fell to the ground and the wound bled profusely. These edges needed to be rounded off or otherwise blunted.”
NHTSA complaint #10514757, filed 2013-06, 9,450 miles“I was traveling on a highway in dallas. There was a 2003 toyota tacoma two lanes to the left of me. He apparently wanted to take an exit that was rapidly coming up. He had a dresser in the bed so he asked his wife if it was clear to cut across all 5 lanes to take the exit. I was two lanes over and rear ended him. He brake when he saw me and I had little time to react, so I hit him front distributed to rear distributed. My air bags did not deploy. I've been a police officer for 17 years and a firefighter even longer and know how air bags work. …”
NHTSA complaint #10510419, filed 2013-05, 11,000 miles“When the temperature reaches above 80 degrees fahrenheit the drivers door and the passengers door will not latch closed properly. If you try to close the doors, they just bang against the frame and swing open. Once the temperature of the door cools down, the door will eventually latch. Sometimes I have to wait till morning to properly close them shut. The dealership is asking $600 to repair this. This is a safety issue and these doors should lock properly before driving away.”
NHTSA complaint #11012343, filed 2017-08, 94,000 miles“Water comes to the interior of the vehicle through the gap between the lower edge of the plastic interior door panel and the metal door. This leak now occurs on the right rear door of this 2012 vw GOLF. On other doors, water comes out through the purposely designed drain holes on the bottom side of the door, and thus water does not come into the interior. This incorrect water flow inside the right rear door may cause body damage and electrical hazard. …”
NHTSA complaint #10461255, filed 2012-06, 4,500 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11010024Oct 30, 2024Lack of paint under roof
- 11008846Sep 12, 2024Wind & Water Leak Checking
- 10232117Feb 20, 2023Strut or Shock leak assessment.
- 10220342Sep 6, 2022update to required vehicle wash shampoo.
- 10209446Mar 29, 2022Customer states rattle noise from the underbody heat shields Customer states coolant leak Oil level sensor leaking Customer states MIL-on, fault P2422 stored in ECM Customer…
- 10206959Jan 31, 2022Customer states rattle noise from the underbody heat shields Customer states noise from front suspension Customer states blower stays on Any TDI within the vehicle/MY range
- 10206956Jan 26, 2022Customer states MIL-on with P0087 P053F in the ECM Customer states rattle noise from the underbody heat shields Customer states noise from front suspension Customer states blower…
- 10206951Jan 24, 2022Customer states MIL-on with P0087 P053F in the ECM Customer states rattle noise from the underbody heat shields Customer states noise from front suspension Customer states blower…
- 10201755Sep 30, 2021Customer states MIL-on with P0087 P0149 P053F in the ECM Customer states noise from front suspension Customer states noise during clutch pedal operation Customer concern of…
- 10200754Aug 31, 2021Customer states MIL-on with P0087 P0149 P053F in the ECM Customer states noise during clutch pedal operation Hood release inoperative Customer states MIL-on with P0401
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 3 | 10% |
| 2017 | 8 | 7% |
| 2016 | 7 | 8% |
| 2015 | 10 | 8% |
| 2013 | 1 | 2% |
| 2012 | 4 | 8% |
| 2011 | 2 | 2% |
| 2010 | 1 | 1% |
| 2006 | 1 | 8% |
| 2005 | 1 | 5% |
| 2004 | 1 | 4% |
| 2002 | 3 | 4% |
| 2001 | 2 | 2% |
| 2000 | 4 | 5% |
| 1999 | 1 | 2% |
| 1997 | 1 | 14% |
| 1995 | 5 | 12% |
| 1991 | 1 | 13% |
| 1986 | 3 | 23% |
Other parts of the 2012 Volkswagen Golf
14 complaintsEngine
11 complaintsAir bags
10 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
9 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsExterior lighting
3 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 28, 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