2012 Volkswagen Golf Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2012 Volkswagen Golf has 48 NHTSA complaints, 6 recalls, and a complaint index of 61, ranking 8th worst of 19 model years. It carries a Caution verdict, driven mainly by fuel system, engine, and airbag issues.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 61/100
- #8 of 19 Golf years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 48
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 6
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 4
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 4
- Top issue
- Fuel System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 29
- 26.5 city / 35 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
Top 2012 Volkswagen Golf problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Fuel System14 (29%)
- Engine12 (25%)
- Airbags10 (21%)
- Transmission & Powertrain9 (19%)
- Electrical System7 (15%)
- Structure & Body5 (10%)
- Steering2 (4%)
- Brakes1 (2%)
- Other1 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Fuel pumps fail and cause random power cutouts, sometimes triggering a glow plug light instead of a check engine light.
- Engines lose power suddenly at highway speed, with the EPC light coming on and the vehicle becoming unresponsive.
- Water pumps have reportedly failed and disintegrated, damaging the timing belt and engine head.
- Driver's frontal airbags have failed to deploy in crashes, including rear-end and side-impact collisions.
- Automatic transmissions have been reported to clunk loudly and stick in top gear, not cycling through the full gear range.
- Some owners describe unintended low-speed acceleration or hesitation when shifting gears.
2012 Volkswagen Golf recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V862000Dec 4, 2019Airbags226 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.
- NHTSA 18V329000May 16, 2018Other252 vehicles
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. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
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. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
- NHTSA 18V148000Mar 6, 2018Airbags363,713 vehicles
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.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
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. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
2012 Volkswagen Golf fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 26.5 MPG
- Highway
- 35 MPG
- Combined
- 29 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,725
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2012 compared with other Golf years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Volkswagen Golf reliable?
- NHTSA lists 48 complaints and 6 recalls for the 2012 Golf, giving it a complaint index of 61 and a Caution verdict compared to other Golf model years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Volkswagen Golf?
- Fuel system issues make up 29% of complaints, followed by engine problems at 25% and airbag issues at 21%, based on NHTSA data.
- Does the 2012 Volkswagen Golf have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA recall records show multiple airbag campaigns affecting the 2012 Golf, including Takata-related inflator replacements and a steering wheel clock spring protective cover installation.
- How does the 2012 Golf compare to other Golf years?
- The 2012 Golf ranks 8th worst out of 19 model years with a complaint index of 61, better than 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022, which carry Avoid verdicts.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Volkswagen Golf?
- EPA rates the 2012 Golf at 29 mpg combined, 26.5 mpg city, and 35 mpg highway, with an annual fuel cost of $2,725.