Skip to content
Electrical systemPart report

2012 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen Electrical system Problems

Complaints
6about this part
Share
22%of 27 total for the year
Median mileage
75,500miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the electrical system of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen, 22% of the 27 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 75,500 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.

“I noticed my car has been cutting out and not having power when driving down a freeway. Ill put the pedal down it didnt move. I noticed my stereo started kind of flashing as well. I figured maybe it was electrical so I started looking around and I opened up my trunk and it was 4 inches of water where my spare tire is. Then I started looking around where my panoramic sunroof is and there's a huge spots of water that's wet. They did not disclose this to me when I purchase the car and I asked them if there was any problems of leaking. I think it's messing up my electrical system and my power. …”

NHTSA complaint #11300052, filed 2020-01, 81,000 miles

“Car is serviced at vw dealer every 10,000 miles. At 70,000 miles they tell me my rear side door hinges are rusted and need replacement at my costs. Why would door hinges rust away? When it does rain when I open the rear doors, water does pour our the bottom of door.. Poor german engineering design? 2nd problem: they tell me my emergency/parking brake cable, etc., is rusted away. Another engineering problem? Again I'd have to pay. 3rd problem: at 73,000 miles my rear hatch will not open. Brought it in and they say it's the electronic part that went bad. Engineering? I paid for repair. …”

NHTSA complaint #11002551, filed 2017-06, 70,000 miles

“4/5/16 4:30pm, vehicle would not shut off. Brought to Volkswagen dealers who diagnosed vehicle with an ignition lock cylinder housing issue. The vehicle did not stall or fail in that sense, but it is still distressing to have a fault on the ignition switch.”

NHTSA complaint #10853881, filed 2016-04, 90,000 miles

“Per dealer vehicle has non-functioning horn and high-beam headlights apparently due to clock spring failure. In addition, water instruction (of as yet unknown origin) has rusted brake, steering, and dash components. Tdi recall/repair/sale and was last perhaps last sold by and serviced at vw dealer 08/2020.”

NHTSA complaint #11383930, filed 2020-12

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2014515%
2013514%
2012622%
20111545%
2010313%
2009531%

Other parts of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen

Fuel system
6 complaintsBrakes
4 complaintsEngine
4 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsSuspension
4 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
4 complaintsSteering
2 complaintsAir bags
1 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
1 complaintsSeat belts
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 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