VehicleVerdict

2012 Volkswagen Jetta transmission problems

The 2012 Volkswagen Jetta has 46 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 7% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

46

Transmission complaints

7%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Jetta transmission complaints by model year254 complaints1985: 5 complaints1986: 2 complaints1990: 1 complaints1991: 2 complaints1992: 1 complaints1993: 1 complaints1994: 8 complaints1995: 23 complaints1996: 25 complaints1997: 28 complaints1998: 15 complaints1999: 31 complaints2000: 41 complaints2001: 64 complaints2002: 105 complaints2003: 55 complaints2004: 36 complaints2005: 84 complaints2006: 254 complaints2007: 34 complaints2008: 55 complaints2009: 144 complaints2010: 112 complaints2011: 54 complaints2012: 46 complaints2013: 140 complaints2014: 73 complaints2015: 23 complaints2016: 22 complaints2017: 14 complaints2018: 5 complaints2019: 161 complaints2020: 7 complaints2021: 2 complaints2023: 2 complaints2024: 4 complaints2025: 6 complaints
Jetta transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“THE CAR, A 2012 VW JETTA SE, FAILED TO RESPOND TO THE REVERSE GEAR ON 1/5/2015 AND BEHAVED AS IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS STILL ENGAGED. THE REAR TIRES WOULD NOT MOVE AND THE REVERSE MANEUVER FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CALLED AND THEY RECOMMENDED TOWING TO THEIR FACILITY. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED ON…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · January 5, 2015

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta have?

NHTSA has 46 complaints about the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta transmission — 7% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.