Most common 2012 Volkswagen CC problems
Share of the 230 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volkswagen CC complaints by model year
Best CC years: 2017, 2016, 2015. Years to avoid: 2010, 2012, 2013, 2009. Compare all years →
2012 Volkswagen CC recalls (6)
Unknown or other
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2016 Volkswagen CC, 2006-2010 Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles. Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to fail.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump control module, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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.
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…
Air bags › Frontal
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off.
Tires › Pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2012, cc vehicles, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicles safety standard no. 138, "tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)." the factory installed wheels and tires were replaced at the port with accessory wheels and tires that were not equipped with the…
Remedy: Volkswagen will replace the TPMS sensors with the proper sensors to make the TPMS system of the vehicles compliant with FMVSS 138.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2012 Volkswagen CC:
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 Model Year (MY) CC, Passat, Eos, Golf, GTI, Tiguan, Jetta and Jetta…
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of steering wheel clock spring/steering column control module (SCCM) failures in model year (MY) 2012 Volkswagen Passat and CC models.The SCCM is a module within the steering column that incorporates a spiral conductor (a ribbon cable) to electrically connect the steering wheel to the vehicle's electrical system while…
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 Model Year (MY) CC, Passat, Eos, Golf, GTI, Tiguan, Jetta and Jetta…
What 2012 Volkswagen CC owners say
Air bags all 86 →
The Power Steering keeps failing while driving. It is available for inspection, ASAP. This is a very dangerous hazard to lose the ability to steer the vehicle at any speed. I have not taken to my mechanic, yet. I have read all sorts of problems with steering since the Takata Air Bag Replacement Recall. Ever since the AirBag Replacement, many of my warning lights have been illuminated. The Dealer told me it is due to the Sensors on my Tires. I see they were previously recalled and now I have a problem with them, too. Right before the Steering Fails, I hear a gone and the Red Steering Wheel Light illuminates. I am then forced to slowly get off the road, barely able to turn the wheel, turn off the vehicle and re-start the engine to get the Power Steering to Re-Set itself. It is happening more and more often. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen CC. While driving uphill at approximately 65 MPH and attempting to pass another vehicle, the contact's vehicle lost acceleration and the epc warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and the engine was turned off. When the vehicle was restarted, the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was coasted to a service station and towed to an independent mechanic (josho auto, 10945 randolph, costa mesa, ca 92626, [phone]) where the vehicle was kept for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. Also, approximately one year ago, the front passenger side of the vehicle was crashed into by another vehicle. None of the air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries that required medical attention. …
Engine & cooling all 65 →
I'm part of a class action lawsuit where I was denied after sending all of the pertinent information the attorney's requested. I have all documentation of the correspondence which was requested with contact information to the Volkswagen company and other recipients. The class action is "Engine Water Pump Settlement". The water pump was faulty in this vehicle and many others of this model. It was deemed a safety concern by the federal government of the United States. This has been in progress since 2019.
Vehicle stalls when accelerating or traveling at high rates of speed and it will lose power. It bumps and jolts to life. My RPM shoots up and and down. It lags to accelerate when the gas pedal is pressed to accelerate it suddenly jolts. Battery, Epc light, as well as engine light come on immediately.
Fuel & propulsion system all 61 →
I got this car like 2 months and I had nothing but problems...the check engine light has been on since I bought the car the tire message has been on since I got the car now since this last week I have a red flashing oil. Light come on and it says low oil pressure turn engine off and check the manual something like that. Plus about a month ago I took it to vw dealer ship they fix the exhaust manifold supposedly it was under warranty or something like that so I didnt have to pay and the 2 fuel injectors they replaced also and I cant get my other 2 fuel injectors replaced untill they go out..and I guess that's why I get a light that flashes ECP when I'm driving also...so after all that I still have problems maybe even worse now with the low pressure meaning fuel pump is going out maybe I'm not sure.i do not have anymore money to keep fixing this car I bought like 2 months ago from vison …
Well first off there was a recall on my year make and model but I guess it only lasted like a couple years .so twice already my fuel pump. Has needed to be replaced.which is what the recall was for .so I was driving In the fast lane on the freeway when out of nowhere my car just stalled putting me and my passenger in risk of being rammed from behind .I've had to take it too a mechanic two or three times so they can fix the same thing . I have the invoice from the repairs . Also I can be driving and the emergency brake will just engage by itself not having been touched by anyone or anything. It puts me and my passenger at risk for whiplash due to the fact that it engages when I'm driving .no warning lite come on I've just felt the jolt almost causing me to hit my head on the windshield. Please help .thank you Sincerely [redacted]
2012 Volkswagen CC engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 31 / 25 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 31 / 24 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Volkswagen CC a good car?
Based on 230 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 CC rates avoid: 2.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the CC at the same age. It is one of the CC years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Volkswagen CC?
The air bags — 86 complaints, 37% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal › driver clockspring/spiral cassette. Next are the engine & cooling (65) and fuel & propulsion system (61).
How many recalls does the 2012 Volkswagen CC have?
There are 6 recalls for the 2012 Volkswagen CC, the most recent from May 16, 2018 (unknown or other). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volkswagen CC?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2016 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2009. See the full Volkswagen CC years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Volkswagen CC problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 68,000 miles; 27% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.