2012 Volkswagen Jetta Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 34about this part
- Share
- 7%of 500 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 63,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 34 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, 7% of the 500 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 63,000 miles. 9 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My airbag light came on a couple months ago. I don't have the money to fix it and the closest vw dealership is about 80miles from here. I don't know if this could be a recall defect or was it something that I did. I do have a child and I don't want anything to happen. I don't go out of town as it is due to my tires losing air and the airbag light being on.”
NHTSA complaint #11276924, filed 2019-10, 85,000 miles“Airbag light came on and will not go off. Prior this occurrence a warning light came on that indicated soot in my fuel tank. Once that problem was solved after following instructions from user manual, then the airbag light came on and remains on. This occurred while I was driving on the freeway.”
NHTSA complaint #11032076, filed 2017-10, 15,800 miles“There was a recall a couple of years ago on my vehicle regarding the clockspring. Every time I made a left turn it would make a loud cracking noise, the sharper the turn the louder the sound. The airbag light appeared, the systems on the steering wheel don't work anymore including the horn. I have called vw to see if they'll fix it, I said it's related to the recall. They said it will cost ~$150 just to do the evaluation.”
NHTSA complaint #11084592, filed 2018-04, 64,000 miles“As I went to change gears into reverse I heard a very hard thump, then into drive and the thump got louder and the whole engine shifted forward. Now it sounds as if everything ( motor ) is about to fall out the vehicle .”
NHTSA complaint #11372721, filed 2020-11, 176,000 miles“Car rear ended a white van and when crashed the airbags did not deploy. Car I question was driving around 30-40 MPH. Airbag light did go off but actual airbags did not deploy. Crash happened on a city street while I”
NHTSA complaint #11233461, filed 2019-07, 59,000 milesRelated recalls
- 15V483000Aug 4, 2015Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta…Covers: Volkswagen Jetta 2011–2014, CC 2010–2014, Passat 2010, 2012–2014 +4 more
Related service bulletins
- 11034621Jun 11, 2026Inquiries
- 11030826Mar 2, 2026The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent warning regarding counterfeit replacement airbag inflators that are being installed in used…
- 10231584Feb 2, 2023VW contact when reporting a Airbag or Pyrotechnic safety belt deployment. Update to model year applicability.
- 10205524Dec 15, 2021Customer states MIL-on with P0087 P053F in the ECM Customer states MIL-on with any combination of P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304, P1D74 and/or P1D75 in the ECM Customer states…
- 10205523Dec 13, 2021Customer states MIL-on with P0087 P053F in the ECM Customer states MIL-on with any combination of P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304, P1D74 and/or P1D75 in the ECM Customer states…
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 4% |
| 2023 | 1 | 2% |
| 2022 | 1 | 2% |
| 2021 | 5 | 7% |
| 2020 | 2 | 4% |
| 2019 | 16 | 3% |
| 2018 | 6 | 19% |
| 2017 | 21 | 13% |
| 2016 | 7 | 4% |
| 2015 | 17 | 9% |
| 2014 | 37 | 10% |
| 2013 | 31 | 6% |
| 2012 | 34 | 7% |
| 2011 | 37 | 6% |
| 2010 | 31 | 4% |
| 2009 | 35 | 4% |
| 2008 | 20 | 11% |
| 2007 | 35 | 17% |
| 2006 | 65 | 11% |
| 2005 | 26 | 10% |
| 2004 | 21 | 9% |
| 2003 | 77 | 17% |
| 2002 | 108 | 15% |
| 2001 | 97 | 15% |
| 2000 | 41 | 9% |
| 1999 | 30 | 9% |
| 1998 | 9 | 5% |
| 1997 | 5 | 9% |
| 1995 | 22 | 10% |
| 1994 | 4 | 3% |
| 1986 | 1 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
138 complaintsOther or unknown
107 complaintsEngine
84 complaintsFuel system
80 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
46 complaintsSteering
42 complaintsBrakes
37 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
24 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 complaintsExterior lighting
13 complaintsElectronic stability control
10 complaintsSuspension
10 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
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