2012 Volkswagen Jetta sportwagen problems
The Volkswagen Jetta is a compact car/small family car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen since 1979. Positioned to fill a sedan niche above the firm's Golf hatchback, it has been marketed over seven generations, variously as the Atlantic, Vento, Bora, City Jetta, Jetta City, GLI, Jetta, Clasico, and Sagitar (in China).
The Jetta has been offered in two- and four-door saloon / sedan, and five-door wagon / estate versions – all as four- or five-seaters. Since the original version in 1980, the car has grown in size and power with each generation. By mid-2011, almost 10 million Jettas have been produced and sold all over the world. As of April 2014, Volkswagen marketed over 14 million, becoming its top selling model.
Nameplate etymology
Numerous sources note that the Jetta nameplate derives from the Atlantic 'jet stream' during a period when Volkswagen named its vehicles after prominent winds and currents (e.g., the Volkswagen Passat (after the German word for trade wind), Volkswagen Bora (after bora), and Volkswagen Scirocco (after sirocco).
A 2013 report by former VW advertising copywriter Bertel Schmitt, said that — after consulting VW sources including Dr. Carl Hahn, former Volkswagen of America Chief and W.P. Schmidt, former sales chief at Volkswagen — no evidence suggested Volkswagen employed a naming theme for its front-drive, water-cooled vehicles; nor was there evidence the names derived from a theme; nor that a naming system "was ever announced, either officially or confidentially."
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Common 2012 Volkswagen Jetta sportwagen problems
The 2012 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen has been reported to have several common problems based on complaints from owners. Here are some of the most frequently mentioned issues:
- Ignition Coil, Ignition Wires, and Spark Plugs Failure: Some owners of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen have reported problems with the ignition coil, ignition wires, and spark plugs. These components are essential for the engine to start and run smoothly. When they fail, the engine may misfire, stall, or have difficulty starting. In some cases, the check engine light may illuminate, indicating a problem with the ignition system.
- Transmission Shifting Problems: High mileage automatic transmissions in the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen may have shifting problems. These issues can manifest as difficulty shifting gears, delayed shifting, or erratic shifting. In some cases, the transmission may slip or fail altogether, requiring expensive repairs or replacement.
- Recalled Takata Airbags: A large number of Volkswagen vehicles, including the 2012 Jetta SportWagen, have been recalled due to dangerous airbag inflators made by Takata. These inflators have been known to explode, hurling shrapnel and causing serious injury or death. Volkswagen owners are advised to check if their vehicle is affected by this recall and to have the airbags replaced as soon as possible.
- Diesel Emissions Scandal: Volkswagen has admitted to using a defeat device on its supposedly 'clean diesel' vehicles, including the 2012 Jetta SportWagen TDI. This device was used to cheat emissions tests, allowing the vehicles to emit up to 40 times the legal limit of pollutants. Owners of affected vehicles may be eligible for compensation or repairs as part of a settlement with Volkswagen.
These are some of the most common problems reported by owners of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen. It is important for owners to stay up-to-date with recalls and maintenance to ensure the safety and reliability of their vehicle.
Is the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta a reliable car?
The reliability is almost on par with the Japanese cars. The build quality is very solid. The Jetta I have is an SE, so it is not loaded with too many fancy features. However, you can tell that the manufacturer did not compromise on quality and ended up using cheap plastic parts and did BMW in numerous cases.
How many miles can you get out of a 2012 Jetta?
The VW Jetta mileage life expectancy is typically well over 100,000 miles and in many cases, in excess of 200,000 miles.
What year Jetta has transmission problems?
Harsh Shifting on Automatic Transmission Jettas
Shifting problems have been a common issue in many 1990-2012 and 2016 Jettas. Drivers report that their vehicles jerk when shifting from second to third gear, as well as suffer from a slipping transmission while moving at 35-50 miles an hour.
Are there any recalls on the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta?
2012 Volkswagen Jetta Recalls
There have been no safety recalls issued from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Is the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta a reliable car?
The reliability is almost on par with the Japanese cars. The build quality is very solid. The Jetta I have is an SE, so it is not loaded with too many fancy features. However, you can tell that the manufacturer did not compromise on quality and ended up using cheap plastic parts and did BMW in numerous cases.
What is a common problem in Volkswagen Jetta?
Automatic gearbox problems
It has been known for the automatic gearboxes on these cars to suffer with different problems. One of the most common problems is for the gears struggling to change, which could be caused by problems with the gear linkage. Does this video below sound anything like your problem?
What year Jetta has transmission problems?
Harsh Shifting on Automatic Transmission Jettas
Shifting problems have been a common issue in many 1990-2012 and 2016 Jettas. Drivers report that their vehicles jerk when shifting from second to third gear, as well as suffer from a slipping transmission while moving at 35-50 miles an hour.
Are there any recalls on the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta?
2012 Volkswagen Jetta Recalls
There have been no safety recalls issued from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
2012 Volkswagen Jetta sportwagen complaints
The NHTSA has received 0 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta sportwagen.
You can leave your car complaint via the special form below.
2012 Volkswagen Jetta sportwagen recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta sportwagen.
- Manufacturer: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
- Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Negative 2012 Volkswagen Jetta sportwagen car reviews
Positive 2012 Volkswagen Jetta sportwagen car reviews
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Since May 2019, I have put about 75000 miles on my car and the only issue I had was a new DPF, which was covered under warranty. I absolutely love my car! An update as of February 2023, I have driven 152k miles and have had no problems at all. 👍👍
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I've been driving my TDI Sportwagen for about 3 months now and I absolutely love it! As someone who has owned SAABs in the past, I really appreciate the European feel of the interior. And let's talk about that panoramic sunroof - it's simply awesome! The TDI engine provides great torque and power, and the DSG transmission is fantastic. Admittedly, the DSG does take a bit of getting used to, and I can understand why the previous reviewer had some complaints. For example, the DSG 'downshifts' when you're coming to a stop, much like you might in a manual transmission. This can cause some 'bucking' when the engine is cold (for the first 1-2 minutes) and you're hovering your foot between giving it fuel and not. However, once you get used to it, you can easily avoid this situation altogether!
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I'm so glad to hear that you're enjoying your Jetta Sportwagon S with automatic transmission! It sounds like you made a great choice. I love that you can switch to sport drive for steep slopes or go from automatic to manual with your model. It's great to hear that the gas version is so popular and has excellent safety reviews. The cargo space sounds phenomenal, especially with the back seats folded down flat - you could even sleep in the back and look up at the stars through the hatch window! It's also great to hear that you haven't had any problems with anything even after 100K miles, and that maintenance is easy. Thanks for sharing your positive experience with us!
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I've owned my Jetta Sportwagen TDI for 4 months and I'm thrilled with it! It's the perfect combination of handling and fuel economy. I've averaged 40 mpg over the 4000 miles I've put on the car so far, which means I don't have to go to the gas station as often. The performance is great too--it really hauls when I hit the gas! While the exterior design isn't my favorite, it was a reasonable compromise to get the fuel economy and performance I wanted.
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This car is an excellent buy. It is very comfortable and economical, with great steering and a 6-speed manual transmission. The brake assist on hills is a standard feature, even with the stick shift. Although I occasionally stall out in first gear, I have found that this car has more low-end torque than an older Audi A6. While the radio speakers are not the best, I would not have kept the Sirius radio anyway. If you are a radio-phile, this may not be the radio for you. However, our Honda Fit (for the city) has a great sound system for a little car.
Other years of Volkswagen Jetta sportwagen
Are you having problems with your 2012 Volkswagen Jetta sportwagen?
Malachi Brekke 2024-10-13
Hi there! I wanted to share my experience with my 2012 VW Sportwagon SE 2.5. I chose this car over a Nissan Frontier truck mainly for its MPG, and I was excited to see that the EPA rating was 23 city/31 Hwy. However, I've noticed that I'm only getting around 18-19 MPG even when driving conservatively. I went to the dealer to see if there was an issue, but they assured me that everything was fine. I even reached out to VW Corp. to express my concerns, but unfortunately, they couldn't offer a solution. I just wanted to share my experience and let others know that the MPG may not be as advertised. Thanks for listening!
Jamal Bogan 2024-08-18
I have owned this vehicle for four months and unfortunately, it has spent a total of thirty three days in the shop due to numerous electrical problems. I have found the service provided by Glenwood Springs VW dealership and VW care to be unsatisfactory. As a result, I have decided that this will be my last VW.
Newton Stokes 2024-06-04
Hi there! I hope you're doing well. I wanted to share my experience with my new TDI vehicle that I purchased about a month ago. I was really excited about the fuel economy, but unfortunately, I've been experiencing some issues with it. The car tends to buck quite a bit during the first few miles of driving if it has sat for longer than 4 hours, which has been a bit frustrating. Additionally, the fan stays on for extended periods of time after driving, which seems a bit odd to me. I'm not sure if this is normal, but I'm hoping to get some more information from the dealership. Overall, my experience with VW hasn't been great so far, but I'm hoping to get these issues resolved soon. Thanks for listening!
Stephon Mayert 2024-01-27
Although I did not purchase the extended warranty for my auto, I encountered an issue with the sunroof getting stuck open and tilted on one side. Despite the dealer's inability to identify the problem, they estimated a cost of $2048 to fix it, assuming the worst-case scenario of a broken frame. It is worth noting that I barely used the sunroof, but living in the woods on a gravel road may have caused it to stick due to dust and spruce needles. Additionally, the sensor for the window washing fluid broke, despite my use of antifreeze window washer fluid. It is advisable to purchase the warranty, especially if you opt for the sunroof, as repairs can be costly. However, I will consider a different brand for my next purchase.