2012 Volkswagen Jetta Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 3%of 500 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 67,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, 3% of the 500 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 67,500 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.
“Both of the low-beam headlights stopped working as I was driving home on a unlit highway at night. The daytime running lights worked when I turned off the headlights, and the high-beam headlights worked when I tried using them. The next morning I replaced both low-beam headlights and they still do not work.”
NHTSA complaint #10789318, filed 2015-11, 56,000 miles“Low beam headlight bulbs fail frequently. I purchased the car approx. 1 year ago and have had to replace each lowbeam bulb twice already. They have failed one at a time, so I have not lost both while driving.”
NHTSA complaint #10960431, filed 2017-03, 47,000 miles“My headlights keep burning out. I replaced them 4 times in the last two months! There is nothing wrong with the bulb harnesses. There was a point where both headlights burned out at the same time and I had no lights! I did research on this matter to find many Jetta owners are having the same issue these bulbs are not cheap to keep replacing them every couple of months, and the safety issue has to be considered here. I was parked thank god o noticed no lights before o drove. If where I lived was lit up I never would have noticed both my bulbs were burnt out!”
NHTSA complaint #10850172, filed 2016-03, 65,000 miles“Purchased 2012 vw Jetta new at local vw dealership. Currently has approx 51,000 miles on it. At around 29,000 miles ignition switch would not shut off while I was shopping-took to dealershipi and was told it was fixed- had just stuck. Less than a month later same thing happened. Dealership had the car for weeks-(this time they did provide loaner car). Most recent- prior to ignition problem currently occurring I had to have wiper motor replaced at my cost $600.00 plus dollars. I sat in waiting area of dealership that clearly stated we provide loaner car or shuttle service at time of your appt. …”
NHTSA complaint #10916231, filed 2016-10, 51,000 miles“Headlights are constantly failing while driving. !st time in feb 2019 both lights failed at the same time while driving at night on the highway. Replaced both bulbs. Sept 09, 2019 left bulb failed while driving at night on the highway. Again replaced both bulbs. Left bulb failed again sept 12, 2019 while driving at night on the highway. Research shows many other vw Jetta owners are having the same issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11255338, filed 2019-09, 87,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10210225Apr 7, 2022Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation. Update model year applicability to include 2022.
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 17% |
| 2025 | 1 | 3% |
| 2022 | 1 | 2% |
| 2021 | 1 | 1% |
| 2019 | 26 | 5% |
| 2017 | 5 | 3% |
| 2016 | 3 | 2% |
| 2015 | 5 | 3% |
| 2014 | 24 | 6% |
| 2013 | 17 | 3% |
| 2012 | 13 | 3% |
| 2011 | 41 | 7% |
| 2010 | 19 | 2% |
| 2009 | 24 | 3% |
| 2008 | 5 | 3% |
| 2007 | 8 | 4% |
| 2006 | 32 | 6% |
| 2005 | 14 | 6% |
| 2004 | 9 | 4% |
| 2003 | 28 | 6% |
| 2002 | 50 | 7% |
| 2001 | 80 | 12% |
| 2000 | 34 | 8% |
| 1999 | 17 | 5% |
| 1998 | 7 | 4% |
| 1995 | 7 | 3% |
| 1993 | 1 | 6% |
| 1988 | 1 | 5% |
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 complaintsAir bags
34 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
24 complaintsVehicle speed control
14 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