YearToAvoid

2012 Volkswagen CC Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 72 engine complaints for the 2012 Volkswagen CC, 31% of all 230 complaints filed for that year. Median mileage at failure was 76,000 miles, and there are no related recalls filed against this engine issue.

Engine complaints
72
31% of 230
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
76,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report ignition coils failing and misfiring, causing violent shaking, blinking check engine and EPC lights, and loss of power at speeds around 20 to 30 mph.
  • Several owners describe the accelerator pedal becoming unresponsive, with the vehicle failing to accelerate or stalling intermittently, sometimes on the highway.
  • One owner reported heavy smoke or soot from the exhaust and under the hood alongside a loss of throttle response and a fire.
  • Owners describe repeated trips to dealers for fuel injector pump or high-pressure fuel pump replacement tied to stalling and check engine or EPC warnings.
  • Some reports mention the car stalling on its own after starting, requiring a tow, with the issue recurring after repairs.

When 2012 Volkswagen CC engine complaints were filed

First complaint Nov 6, 2012, latest May 31, 2023.

2012 Volkswagen CC engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter102012 Q42015 Q12016 Q12017 Q12018 Q12019 Q12020 Q12021 Q3
72 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q4 to 2023 Q2; peak 2018 Q3 (10).

Engine recalls for the 2012 Volkswagen CC

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by CC model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201055 (23%)
  2. 201129 (34%)
  3. 201272 (31%)
  4. 201324 (16%)
  5. 20148 (10%)
  6. 20154 (13%)
  7. 20162 (8%)
  8. 20171 (25%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2012 Volkswagen CC?
NHTSA lists 72 engine complaints for the 2012 CC, which is 31% of the 230 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Volkswagen CC engine problems?
No. The data shows no related recalls listed for this engine issue.
At what mileage do 2012 CC engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2012 CC is 76,000 miles.
Did the engine problems cause crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data tied to this engine issue includes 3 crashes, 1 fire, and 1 injury among the reports.
How does the 2012 CC compare to other CC years for engine complaints?
The 2012 CC's 31% share of complaints tied to the engine is higher than 2010 (23%), 2013 (16%), 2014 (10%), 2015 (13%), 2016 (8%), and 2017 (25%), but lower than 2011 (34%).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.