Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Volkswagen Jetta owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic linked the failure to an electrical failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V483000 (Air Bags) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
Airbag light continues to stay on. I had an accident back in 2014 and the airbag never deployed. The steering column ignition switch locked and my key was stuck with the car still running on in a station place. I was trying to park the car and my ignition switch locked and would not moved and kept the key locked in it. I kept trying to move the jiggle the wheel and turn the key but it cause the key to break off in the ignition switch. I had to pair to get the ignition switch replaced and the key replaced. Also after that the horn stop working and I was told it was because the clock spring had to be replaced. I paid again to had the clock spring replaced however the horn now is going in an out. The horn will sound off one day and then for a couple of days it will not work. This happen only 2 weeks after getting the clock spring fixed. Also the horn is not loud it barely makes a noise. …
I was injured in a car accident in my 2012 vw Jetta where the airbags should have been deployed but were not. People including police and insurance companies were surprised my air bags did not function. Looking further into the incident I found out via internet that there was a recall in 2016 for this problem. However, I was never notified (of the recall or problem) as the owner of this vehicle who purchased this new from a vw dealer. This occurred on the freeway when my car was coming to a complete stop for backed up traffic going under 10mph. I was rear ended by a vehicle going at least 35 MPH - propelling me into the car several feet in front of me causing a 5 or 6 car pile up.
I was turning a blind 90 degree corner on my private road going approx. 10-15 miles per hour when I collided with my roommate who was returning home. Unfortunately we were at the same place at the same time and couldn't see each other. My airbags deployed and when they did, the driver's airbag cover (where the vw logo is) on the center steering column, flapped open and over onto my left forearm like a super hot branding iron. The vw logo both seared into and cut into my arm. I will most likely be scarred for life. I feel that this metal vw logo in the center of the steering wheel is a dangerous situation waiting to happen.
Tl* the contact owned a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. Another vehicle crashed into the front passenger side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the left foot, left knee, and left arm. The passenger sustained injuries to the chest, arms, and left leg that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V483000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000. ..updated 05/23/17
Tl* the contact owned a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the contact's vehicle rear ended the preceding vehicle after it stopped abruptly. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained head and neck injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a towing facility. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V078000 (air bags). The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the vehicle was involved in a front end collision. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was operable and was driven to an independent mechanic for body repairs. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. There was one injury that required medical attention. The contact experienced severe pain in the knee, neck, and back areas. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle in front suddenly stopped without warning causing the contact to crash into the rear end of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.
Car rear ended a white van and when crashed the airbags did not deploy. Car I question was driving around 30-40 MPH. Airbag light did go off but actual airbags did not deploy. Crash happened on a city street while I
"Takata recall" "water pump" I got many recalls on my Jetta gli 2012 . The last recall I got on the mail was on November ,2016 for the airbag control . After I dropped my car for the recall I picked it up same day . I noticed that the airbag light is on for the first time I haven't had any issues like this before . I returned back to the dealer and informed them , they said you have to leave it and we're sorry we didn't take care of that . I didn't have time to leave it there for one more day . Now they're asking me to pay for it around $992 ! I got all of the voicemail from the dealer they called me to apologize for the airbag light and asked me to come back to fix since it came up after I dropped it for the recall . Also , I have showed the quote for the water leaking to many auto care centers in houston . …
Related recalls
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.
NHTSA investigations
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…
Airbag complaints in other Jetta years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the air bags of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta, 7% of the model year's 500 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › driver clockspring/spiral cassette (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Volkswagen Jetta airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-483 (frontal, Aug 4, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2012 Volkswagen Jetta airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 63,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 crashes, 0 fires and 11 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.