2012 Volkswagen Jetta Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 24about this part
- Share
- 5%of 500 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 51,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 24 complaints about the visibility of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, 5% of the 500 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 51,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“When the temperature is cold, the windshield wipers on our 2012 vw Jetta refuse to activate causing a serious safety concern, especially when we're driving and the temperature drops. When the temperature warms back up, the wipers start working again. I've contacted vw of america and despite the # of complaints about this issue, they refuse to help me out.”
NHTSA complaint #10692073, filed 2015-03, 60,000 miles“My windshield wipers would not move. Temperature was approximately 15 degrees fahrenheit. Fuse was not broken. Motor fine. When it warmed up, the wipers began to work again. My vehicle was stationary initially, but even as I drove for 30 minutes, the wipers would not work.”
NHTSA complaint #11063527, filed 2018-01, 52,000 miles“I purchased a new Volkswagen Jetta tdi in 2012. I am unable to adjust the left outside mirror so that it does not have a blind spot. That blind spot allows a car slowly passing in the left lane to be out of view of the inside mirror but not yet in view of the left outside mirror! The pillar separating the two doors on the driver side is located so that a driver cannot see a car in the described blind spot.”
NHTSA complaint #10460343, filed 2012-06, 100 miles“Windshield wipers do not function in low temperatures. I own a 2012 vw Jetta. I first noticed this during the first snowfall we had. I cleared the vehicle of all snow and made sure that the wipers were not frozen to the windscreen. Getting back in the vehicle I went to turn the wipers on and they did not move. The relay inside of the car can be heard clicking, but the wipers do not move. I was forced to drive with extremely low visibility as I was not able to clear the incoming snow off of my windscreen. …”
NHTSA complaint #11060789, filed 2018-01, 94,000 miles“I was traveling down the highway this afternoon going 70 MPH. All of a sudden, my mother and I heard a loud boom, it sounded like a gunshot. Glass from the sunroof suddenly covered us, the front seating area and the back seat. We were the only car in the highway, there was no evidence of any external object being thrown at my vehicle and the sunroof glass s pushed up, indicating that the explosion happened from inside the vehicle. I've read of several instances of this happening and feel this is a real safety hazard. …”
NHTSA complaint #10560141, filed 2014-01, 70,249 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10245617Nov 13, 2023Reporting procedure for A/C compressor replacement regardless of the reason for failure. Update to model year applicability and new warranty GFF labor operation number
- 10226226Nov 10, 2022A/C requirements, update to model year applicability.
- 10212136May 18, 2022Cleaning of Heating and Ventilation system, Updated to include additional model year applicability and cost of cleaning solution in warranty table.
- 10199786Jul 28, 2021Customer states MIL-on with P013E in the ECM Customer states MIL-on with P0087 P0149 P053F in the ECM Customer states MIL-on with P0461 in the ECM Customer states front…
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 9% |
| 2024 | 4 | 9% |
| 2022 | 1 | 2% |
| 2021 | 4 | 6% |
| 2020 | 2 | 4% |
| 2019 | 26 | 5% |
| 2017 | 5 | 3% |
| 2016 | 2 | 1% |
| 2015 | 4 | 2% |
| 2014 | 8 | 2% |
| 2013 | 13 | 3% |
| 2012 | 24 | 5% |
| 2011 | 26 | 4% |
| 2010 | 14 | 2% |
| 2009 | 10 | 1% |
| 2008 | 8 | 4% |
| 2007 | 7 | 3% |
| 2006 | 24 | 4% |
| 2005 | 7 | 3% |
| 2004 | 11 | 5% |
| 2003 | 21 | 5% |
| 2002 | 45 | 6% |
| 2001 | 71 | 11% |
| 2000 | 77 | 18% |
| 1999 | 81 | 23% |
| 1998 | 42 | 22% |
| 1997 | 16 | 30% |
| 1996 | 13 | 42% |
| 1995 | 26 | 12% |
| 1994 | 15 | 13% |
| 1993 | 4 | 24% |
| 1992 | 3 | 10% |
| 1991 | 7 | 23% |
| 1990 | 4 | 18% |
| 1989 | 6 | 21% |
| 1988 | 2 | 11% |
| 1987 | 4 | 22% |
| 1986 | 3 | 21% |
| 1985 | 1 | 8% |
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 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 29, 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