2012 Volkswagen Jetta Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 37about this part
- Share
- 7%of 500 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 55,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 37 complaints about the brakes of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, 7% of the 500 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 55,000 miles. 6 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
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“The throw out bearing suffered a catastrophic failure as I was going 80 MPH down the freeway, to replace it I discovered that the sway bars end links were rusted solid and the brakes have been done 6 times and broken every time but this last time within a month”
NHTSA complaint #11339434, filed 2020-07, 75,000 miles“While driving my car on normal driving conditions, no rain, daylight hours, when coming up on a stop sign I pushed the brake pedal and it wouldn't push, the breaks didn't work, I pumped them and still the pedal wouldn't move, on the fourth of fifth pump finally the pedal would compress. This has happened approx 6-8 times over the last 4 years but yesterday it was a serious issue. I couldnt get my brakes to react and rear ended the car in front of me , and the value of my Jetta is now likely a total loss. …”
NHTSA complaint #11130484, filed 2018-09, 60,000 miles“I am mysteriously losing break fluid, yet there is not a single leak in the car. It has come to my attention that I am not the only one complaining about break issues and how they suddenly do not work up to standard. I however have enough know how to at least know that they need fluid. The minute I started the car and put my foot on the break to move it, the break pedal went to the floor. In less than a week of me having put fluid in, checking the breaks, and having them bleed I needed fluid again. Yet there is no leak present in the system.”
NHTSA complaint #11253649, filed 2019-09, 150,000 miles“We were traveling at highway speed on I-95 south in virginia on a family vacation with a three year old and a 6 year old in the vehicle. Traffic came to an abrupt stop and my wife, who was driving at the time, screamed that the pedal went to the floor. I immediately told her to start pumping the brakes and downshift and I grabbed the hand brake. Amazingly, we were able to control the vehicle enough to and limp off the next exit. We had the vehicle towed to the nearest vw dealer. …”
NHTSA complaint #10566580, filed 2014-03, 20,676 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10210402Apr 14, 2022Customer states rattle noise from the underbody heat shields Customer states coolant leak Oil level sensor leaking Customer states front brake noise Customer states blind spot…
- 10210434Apr 12, 2022Customer states rattle noise from the underbody heat shields Customer states coolant leak Oil level sensor leaking Customer states front brake noise Customer states blind spot…
- 10209101Mar 10, 2022Customer states rattle noise from the underbody heat shields Customer states coolant leak Oil level sensor leaking Customer states front brake noise Customer states blower stays…
- 10208921Mar 3, 2022Customer states rattle noise from the underbody heat shields Oil level sensor leaking Customer states front brake noise Customer states blower stays on Customer states cannot set…
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 6% |
| 2024 | 13 | 28% |
| 2023 | 11 | 26% |
| 2022 | 12 | 28% |
| 2021 | 26 | 37% |
| 2020 | 7 | 13% |
| 2019 | 30 | 5% |
| 2018 | 1 | 3% |
| 2017 | 15 | 9% |
| 2016 | 23 | 14% |
| 2015 | 19 | 10% |
| 2014 | 18 | 5% |
| 2013 | 22 | 4% |
| 2012 | 37 | 7% |
| 2011 | 28 | 5% |
| 2010 | 55 | 6% |
| 2009 | 205 | 23% |
| 2008 | 23 | 12% |
| 2007 | 44 | 22% |
| 2006 | 30 | 5% |
| 2005 | 14 | 6% |
| 2004 | 12 | 5% |
| 2003 | 22 | 5% |
| 2002 | 51 | 7% |
| 2001 | 77 | 12% |
| 2000 | 45 | 10% |
| 1999 | 31 | 9% |
| 1998 | 11 | 6% |
| 1997 | 2 | 4% |
| 1996 | 2 | 6% |
| 1995 | 23 | 10% |
| 1994 | 9 | 8% |
| 1993 | 1 | 6% |
| 1992 | 2 | 7% |
| 1991 | 2 | 6% |
| 1990 | 2 | 9% |
| 1988 | 3 | 16% |
| 1987 | 1 | 6% |
| 1986 | 1 | 7% |
| 1985 | 3 | 23% |
Other parts of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
138 complaintsOther or unknown
107 complaintsEngine
84 complaintsFuel system
80 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
46 complaintsSteering
42 complaintsAir bags
34 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