2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Complaints

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ON MODERATE TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STALLED AND THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES GOT REALLY HARD. I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR BECAUSE THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK. MY JETTA HAS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND IT WAS SET ON "MANUAL WITH NO CLUTCH" WHEN IT HAPPENED. THE THING IS I WASN'T EVEN TOUCHING THAT WHEN THE CAR STALLED. THAT FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AFTER I'D GOTTEN THE CAR FRESH OFF THE DEALERSHIP. I DIDN'T WANT TO ADMIT THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR BECAUSE I WAS EXCITED TO HAVE A NEW CAR. I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW AND IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 7 OTHER TIMES. NOW I REALIZE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE WHEN THE CAR STALLS THE STEERING WHEELS GETS VERY HARD AND IT MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL OR USE THE BRAKES. I'M NOT HAPPY. *TR

CPSC:I1340048A. 2012 VOLKSWAGEN. CONSUMER STATED THAT VW MADE A SOFTWARE CHANGE TO THE CAR WHICH CAUSED IT TO RACE DANGEROUSLY WHEN THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED OR PUT IN FIRST GEAR. *LN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER AND CENTER SEAT BELTS WERE TEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO PAY FOR THE COST OF PARTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,608. *TR

I WAS ON AN APPROXIMATELY 6 HOUR ROAD TRIP. APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES FROM MY HOME, MY 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI WAS BEING DRIVEN AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEGAN FLASHING. VEHICLE THEN WENT INTO "LIMP MODE", SLOWING TO APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE NEXT EXIT OFF THE HIGHWAY, AND COME TO A STOP AT THE OFF RAMP STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THIS LEFT MY WIFE AND I STRANDED 100 MILES FROM HOME. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP STATED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP "EXPLODED", SENDING METAL SHARDS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE'S FUEL SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP STATES THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY "CONTAMINATED FUEL". A SMALL AMOUNT OF ONLINE RESEARCH REVEALED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VOLKSWAGEN TDI ENGINES. *TR

RH REAR SEAT RETRACTABLE BELT FROZE AND WAS INOPERABLE. WHEN RH REAR SEAT WAS IN THE FULLY FLAT FOLDED POSITION, THE INERTIA PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT LOCATED INSIDE THE SEAT BACK FROZE AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. WHILE THERE WAS NO PASSENGER AND THE BELT WAS NOT BUCKLED DUE TO THE SEAT BEING FOLDED FOR USE OF THE CARGO SPACE, BY FREEZING THE REAR SEAT COULD NOT BE RETURNED TO THE NORMAL UPRIGHT POSITION FOR PASSENGER USE. SEAT BELT WAS DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE BY DEALER AND REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AFTER 1 MONTH DELAY IN PART AVAILABILITY. *TR

LH REAR SEAT BELT AND REAR CENTER SEAT BELT RECEPTACLES CAN BE DAMAGED BY FOLDING REAR SEAT INTO THE FULLY FLAT POSITION AS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. WHEN FOLDED TO FULLY FLAT POSITION THERE IS INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN FLOOR AND FOLDED SEAT BACKS. BELT RECEPTACLES CAN RUB AGAINST EACH OTHER AND BE BROKEN FROM HAVING SEATS IN THIS POSITION. VW REPRESENTATIVES HAVE INFORMED THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE IS NOT COVERED BY THE FACTORY WARRANTY. *TR

WHEN MAKING A BROKEN U-TURN IN AN ATTEMP TO ENTER A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE GOT STUCK IN REVERSE AND WOULD NOT SHIFT TO PARK OR DRIVE. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN REVERSE, ONCE THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO RE-START. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN A BUSY INTERSECTION, THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. THE TWO TRUCK DRIVER IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE AS A FREQUENT ONE WITH 2012 OR 2013 VW JETTAS. HE SAID THAT THE SHIFT CABLE IN THESE VEHICLES IS UNSTABLE AND CAN BECOME LOOSE, RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF ABILITY TO SHIFT THE CAR FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND VICE VERSA. THE TECHNICIAN AT VW SPENT 5 MINUTES PUTTING THE SHIFT CABLE BACK IN PLACE, WHICH HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR NOW. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT WITH VW JETTAS AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THE AGENCY CONTACT VW TO FIND OUT WHAT IS BEING DONE TO RECTIFY THE DEFECT. I HAVE CONTACTED VW AS WELL TO INFORM THEM OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE FAILURE IN COLD WEATHER. *SMD THE DEALER INSTALLED A MODIFICATION TO THE TURBO CHARGER INTERCOOLER. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTER COOLER FAILED AND WAS CLOGGED WITH ICE ON BOTH THE INLET AND OUTLET SIDES. WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,050. UPDATED 03/15/13*LJ UPDATED 04/22/2013 *JS

DRIVING AT 45 MPH CITY HIGHWAY SPEED, IN TRAFFIC, & STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. LIGHT TURNED GREEN, ACCELERATED, CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER & WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TURNED ONTO A SIDE STREET, TURNED OFF ENGINE & LOOKED UP THE WARNING LIGHT IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. "ENGINE PRE-HEAT" WARNING, SOLID, NOT FLASHING. RESTARTED CAR, LIGHT WAS OUT, RESUMED NORMAL TRAVEL ON HIGHWAY, BUT LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. BOTH SOLID. CONTACTED DEALER & WAS TOLD TO BRING IN THE CAR. DURING TRIP TO DEALER GLOW PLUG LIGHT RESUMED FLASHING & CAR LOST POWER ON HILLS. TECH REMOVED FUEL FILTER, FOUND METAL FILINGS, SAID HPFP HAD FAILED & FILLED FUEL SYSTEM WITH METAL PARTICLES. REPAIRS ESTIMATED @ >$7,000. DEALER ORIGINALLY SAID REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, THEN 2 DAYS LATER SAID THEY WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. NO POSSIBILITY OF GASOLINE CONTAMINATION. PURCHASED CAR EXPRESSLY TO FUEL IT WITH 100% VEGETABLE OIL BASED BIODIESEL. DEALER KNEW INTENT & SOLD THE CAR FOR THIS EXPRESS PURPOSE. STILL WORKING WITH DEALER & VW TO RESOLVE WARRANTY ISSUES. *TR