2012 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 15%of 27 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 90,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the engine of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen, 15% of the 27 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 90,000 miles. 1 a fire, 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.
“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“The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagon Jetta Sportwagen. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the accelerator pedal became inoperable and the vehicle did not accelerate. The engine and power steering had failed. The glow plug warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The contact was informed that the failure was due to the high-pressure fuel pump which sent metal shards through the fuel line. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11549605, filed 2023-10, 115,000 miles“The contact owned a 2012 Volkswagen jetta. The contact stated that after her boyfriend had driven the vehicle and parked it in her driveway; her boyfriend informed her that the vehicle was on fire. The authorities were called and the fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. There were no active warning lights illuminated on the vehicle prior to the failure. A fire report and police report were filed, no injuries were reported. Due to the fire, the vehicle was towed by insurance to an insurance auto auction where the vehicle had been deemed destroyed. …”
NHTSA complaint #11383693, filed 2020-12, 81,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11038146Sep 17, 2026Suggested fuel additive
- 11035762Jul 9, 2026Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption Measurement
- 11034614Jun 18, 2026Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start.
- 11034613Jun 18, 2026Lubricating engine components before reassembly.
- 11034617Jun 4, 2026Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards
- 11030847Mar 27, 2026This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the…
- 11025437Oct 14, 2025G12Evo can now be mixed with previous coolants.
- 11025430Oct 14, 2025Engine misfire diagnostic aid.
- 11025436Oct 9, 2025How to measure engine oil consumption.
- 11025431Oct 6, 2025A list of suggested fuel stations
Engine: other model years
Other parts of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen
6 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsBrakes
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