Horn only occasionally works when honking and/or locking car, which increases the risk of a crash since I can-??t always use my horn to alert other drivers of presence. One front headlight only occasionally works (lightbulb is not the issue), which increases the risk of a crash since other drivers may not be able to see me as well & I am not able to see the road as well in the dark. Cruise control does not work at all, which increases risk of speeding and therefore increases risk of crash. Dealer has inspected horn/headlight issue but could not determine cause. No warning signs. Issues first appeared a couple years ago.

- Dallas, TX, USA

When starting my 2012 VW Jetta, the ABS light, brake light, passenger air bag light come on on the dashboard along with a long beeping sound. The sound eventually stops but the lights stay on. Vehicle is trying to run through diagnostics upon starting (vehicle is stationary but lights remain on while driving) when these lights come on. The brakes on the vehicle are fine and do not need to be serviced per mechanic and VW. Personal mechanic along with authorized VW service pulled the following codes: 01130 ABS operation not a plausible signal, 01317 control module, 01285 cluster, 01486 system function test failure. Vehicle mileage is approximately 63K. ABS module failure has been a known issue with these vehicles and there are tbs's and technical tips for troubleshooting as well as a recall for 2009-2010 Jetta's. properly maintained vehicles should not require ABS module replacements at 63K miles. Was also told that by authorized VW service that this vehicle also has a leaky vacuum pump. Total cost of repairs: $2,636 for replacement of ABS module plus tax and $1,036 plus tax for replacement of the vacuum pump. Neither of these parts should need to be replaced on this 2012 VW Jetta with 63K miles. This is absurd. There should be a recall on these parts because, especially with the ABS module, they are clearly defective. You will find many consumer complaints about the ABS module on the web for this vehicle.

- Coral Springs, FL, USA

I've noticed that my check engine light comes on and off, it's the map sensor. It has been replaced several times and everything has been fully cleaned, check engine light still comes on. My car also seems to go into limp mode while driving. I'll make a turn, and all of a sudden the car will not want to move at all, ill switch it to triptronic and it doesn't want to down shift or up shift. I have to pull over on the side of the road. Turn the car off then back on. This has been an on going problem with both of these thing for the last several months. I've also noticed that this is a common problem with Jettas my year. It's extremely dangerous. I can be in the city on a highway, anywheres and it'll randomly not want to go anywheres, the rpms will go completely up and still not move. I know from other, that there is an update for the ECU computer on the car, for the map sensor and to I guess he'll with the limp mode issue. I also know that when I hard brake, it'll go into limp mode. It's extremely scary.

- Hyde Park, NY, USA

42G8 recall 2015 also in Feb 2018 total loss of power when vehicle is a a complete stop as well as slowed to no acceleration once vehicle is slowed or stopped.

- Stuart, FL, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving approximately 65 mph, the electronic power control warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle lost acceleration. The contact merged the vehicle to the road shoulder to a complete stop. The engine was turned off and then restarted. The contact stated that the vehicle had been experiencing the failure for approximately six months. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic (wallen auto II in Michigan city, Indiana) for diagnostic testing and the accelerator pedal was replaced twice, but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 97,000.

- Trail Creek, IN, USA

I purchased my 2012 Volkswagen Jetta approx October 31, 2011. Within the first 3-4 months the car computer system locked up while I was driving. (I was unable to put down the windows, the A/C stop working, engine lights lid up on the dashboard) so I drove it straight to the dealership and they immediately apologized and kept the car for several days to correct the defect. In 2013 the steering lock went bad while driving and we couldn't turn the car off. This happened at 6:45pm after the dealership closed. So the car continued running in front of my house from 6:45pm to 7:30am when the dealership opened. I explained to the dealership how frustrating, physically, and mentally draining that night was. We couldn't park the car in a garage and risk the gases getting into the home so we left it in front the house and had to stay up all night and watch it so no one would steal it. They diagnosed it as a bad steering column. The car sometimes accelerate fast on its on when you attempt to use the cruise control. Now currently the sterling lock is gone bad on the car again. I have contacted Volkswagen and the dealership several times about this part/issue this year and they told me the car is out of warranty and I would have to pay for the repair. A steering column going bad in a car every year is not normal. My problem is paying for this faulty, defective dangerous car. I have invoice and repair invoice on this car dating back to the first few months of owning it. Volkswagen is on a major coverup to avoid a massive recall of several of the vehicles they knowingly are putting drivers at risk.

- Gretna, LA, USA

Car ceased to continue acceleration while in motion. Dealer assessment concluded particulates in diesel fuel line caused failure to fuel pump and related components. Dealer service department advised that particulates likely originated from diesel fuel storage tanks at gas station. Vehicle was still covered under manufacturer's 50K power train warranty and fuel pump and related parts were replaced at no charge.

- Irvine, CA, USA

Accelerating up from a stop sign vehicle would not shift. Pushed on accelerator and vehicle lost all power and went into limp mode. Could have resulted in accident if I had been merging on a very busy highway. Had vehicle towed to dealership and they found a engine code but are unable to duplicate and want to return vehicle back to me without resolving defect.

- Wolcottville, IN, USA

Midnight, driving back from a friends house. My 16 month old (or rather new) Jetta SE 2012, shakes up when I turn on ignition. I give it 2-3 seconds to calm down. It doesn't. instead, the epc light goes on. Then the check engine light. Hmm... weird. Those weren't on like 2 hours back, or ever infact. Being the smart techie that I am, I try the highly technical solution to any problem that I don't quite understand - I try to turn it off and on again. The same god awful shaking and stuttering. But no epc light. I think to myself, maybe this is just a transient thing. Try to pull out of the parking space, and there it is... the [xxx] epc and check engine light. But my home's only a mile away, maybe things get better on the way there. You know, its a new car (bought 16 months back, brand new, and has ~7600 miles on it). But no, as I try to "drive" the piece of [xxx], it starts shaking more violently when I get to 25 miles and hour. So, I pull over, and a quick google search tells me to stay below 20 mph and get it to a dealer asap. So I get the car towed, and the next day the dealer tells me its a faulty ignition coil that has been replaced and tested and things should just work. But I'm scared to get in that car again. What if this would've happened farther away from my house. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Fremont, CA, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta sport wagon tdi. The contact stated that the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The failure was recurring. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who advised that the cruise control switch and steering column computer chip needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not further repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximately failure mileage was 7,281.

- Providence, RI, USA

The 2012 VW Jetta 2.5 has a vehicle defect in which upon a need for acceleration, the car stalls out. While the engine continues to run; the vehicle does not move. This vehicle has failed on three separate occasions nearly causing accidents each time. VW refuses to acknowledge the defect even though other VW owners have documented this defect in a variety of websites regarding the product.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

New volks Jetta 2012. Purchased new from volks dealership with approx. 40 miles on vehicle at time of purchase. Since day one and continuing through today with 12,000 miles on odometer, transmission lurches and jerks, either slipping in and out of gear or seemingly not able to figure out which gear to be in. Usually occurs while trying to maintain a constant speed. For example, while in school zone with 20 mph speed limit, car will lurch, jerk and shudder, sometimes violently with the symptoms described above. Additionally, when coming to a stop at a stop light for instance two conditions frequently present. 1. after coming to a complete stop, transmission is still in the process of downshifting. In other words, once completely stopped, you can feel the transmission still shifting down through the last couple of gears. 2. after coming to a complete stop at a light, when attempting to accelerate, car is not in gear and requires depression of gas peddle before car will engage in first gear. All of the above are dangerous situations. Dealer continues to insist that transmission is "learning" my driving habits.

- Old Forge, NY, USA

Volks 2012 Jetta tdi. At highway speed of approx 55-60 mph, with cruise control engaged, transmission seemed to come out of gear, engine revved and tachometer red-lined, vehicle began to slow, but obviously not loose power as evidenced by tachometer and high RPM's on engine. After tachometer red-lined, tachometer then began to drop and at about 5,000 RPM, transmission shifted a couple of times and then operation of vehicle was back to normal. Oddly, cruise did not have to be reset and seemed unaware of the event that had just occurred. Entire event occurred in the span of about 5 seconds. Took vehicle to dealer. Service documentation says "we scanned for faults and had a sporadic fault for gear shift control module. Performed test plan and found no problems. We cleared faults." Another service showed the error code with verbiage something to the effect of "lost communication with gear shift control module." Dealer would not replace gear shift control module and stated that if it happens again, return and they will replace. Clearly this is a safety issue, particularly when it occurs on a highway at highway speeds with congested highway traffic and clearly could have resulted in an accident.

- Old Forge, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta sportwagen. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle would not respond. After a few seconds, the vehicle accelerated rapidly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis but the failure could not be duplicated and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred numerous times and became intermittent. The manufacturer was notified of the issue but offered no assistance to the contact. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 700.

- Rockville, MD, USA