Used 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Consumer Reviews
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Where's the love the the new Jetta
vagcom13, 12/23/2011
2012 Volkswagen Jetta SE 4dr Sedan w/Convenience (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
31 of 59 people found this review helpful
The funny thing about the new Jetta is that almost all automotive reviews knock it while almost every consumer review praises it. I bought a 2012 Jetta two weeks ago for my Fiance and so far we love the car. The styling is great, the engine is more then sufficent for daily driving, and for the price I really don't think this car can be beat. So much nicer then a Civic/corrolla/alantra and actually probably just as roomy and superior to the camery/accord/sonata. The asian counterparts are simply not as fun to drive!!! Yes the interior is a mild downgrade from the last Jetta, but its still superior to the competition. I wish the journalist would show a little love towards this solid car.
Way OVER engineered
tbsx, 11/05/2013
2012 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
5 of 9 people found this review helpful
I dont understand the great reviews considering so many characteristic problems youll see. Should the engine stall while in motion the key must cycle fully off to restart the auto. This LOCKS the steering while in motion. With clutch depressed the engine wont rev above 2500 rpms. I have to pop the clutch several times when on a hill or stall engine. The traction control system engaged breaks on left side of car (I never touched the breaks) sending the car sideways. Lights come on when I dont want; they go off when I dont. Doors lock, unlock automatic.
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Good car for young drivers
Niels Pace, 11/28/2017
2012 Volkswagen Jetta S 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Bought this car used for my children to use. Have had minor reliability issues but easily fixed. The most disappointing is the interior - I was brought up in the era of the Golf Gti and owned several of them, have always loved VWs and their solidity and good finish, inside and out. Unfortunately with this generation of Jetta they screwed up during the manufacture and cut the headlining material too short, so it is overtensioned on the foam moulding and comes away. The car is only 5 years old and roof lining is falling off! Obviously VW are completely uninterested in standing by their product and fixing this.
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Worth every penny
asj2012, 06/22/2012
2012 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 4dr Sedan w/Premium (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
4 of 9 people found this review helpful
I have owned my Jetta TDI for almost 2 months and have 3k miles on it - and I have only good things to say about it. Since fuel efficiency was my goal, I decided to buy the TDI in a 6-speed manual transmission. (Note: I also preferred the manual over the automatic because the automatic felt like I was driving a golf cart). At first I was nervous about getting the manual because I had owned the Nissan Altima Coupe manual and it was horrible to drive that I traded it in after 1.5 years for an xterra. The manual transmission in this car is a breeze to drive. The clutch isn't super tight and the gears are easy to master. The interior has lots of upgrades and accommodations. Fun, classy car!!
Um, no. Just no.
ZH, 01/19/2016
2012 Volkswagen Jetta SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
12 of 32 people found this review helpful
I wanted to own a European car. Well that was a huge mistake and I only had the car for a little over a year. The car was too cramped and it was just a boring car all around. Too many electrical problems. I had to constantly change the headlights and rewire fuses. The car was crappy in the snow and rain. I was under the impression that the car was suppose to get decent gas mileage, but it was crap compared to my Supra. If people want a reliable car, do NOT get European cars. Stick to the Japanese cars for reliability, comfort, technology, and safety.
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My first VW and it's awesome!
mnsparks13, 10/20/2013
2012 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 4dr Sedan w/Premium, Navigation (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I just bought my '12 Jetta TDI recently, so it's a bit too soon to comment on reliability although, I expect it to be reliable. I bought my car as a certified used car with only 26,000 miles on it. The first second I saw it, I fell in love with it. It is red and has a nice 2 tone interior. The seats are the leathertte seats. The dash design is very nice, not offensive or overly styled, just right. I have the navigation system and the Fender sound system, which I highly recommend. The Fender sound system is amazing! The car is pretty much loaded. I highly recommend this car. Don't believe the bad things some of the car magazines say about this car, this car is solid and awesome!
Awesome commuter car!!
Happy Camper, 09/15/2016
2012 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 4dr Sedan w/Premium, Navigation (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought the car for commuting. 150 miles a day, 30 miles back roads and 120 miles Interstate. I do not drive this car gently, 75/85mph depending on the traffic flow on the interstate. Summer 42-45MPG, Winter 39-42MPG. I do run winter tires on the car in the winter and summer tires in the summer. I have seen 50MPG keeping the speed below 70mph, and I have seen 60MPG on country roads doing less then 60mph. I have the 6 speed manual transmission, Fender stereo with navigation. Now the car has 100,000 miles on it and is still running strong! I have changed the Oil, oil/air filters and tires, that is it. Now it's time for new rear brakes and a new battery, that's it. For $25,000 I think it has been a awesome car!!
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Best first car
JourneyOfTheJetta, 05/21/2017
2012 Volkswagen Jetta SE 4dr Sedan w/Convenience (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
My 2012 Jetta is my first car and I can easily see it lasting me all throughout college. Traveling 15 minutes to and from school everyday, then to work, then to friends houses, this car has been so reliable! Super safe with reliable braking and acceleration. Super sturdy and reliable in harsh weather and road conditions as well. I have had no maintenance problems with the car and it has been more than good to me. If you're searching for a first car or a good commuter car, the Jetta is the way to go! Once again, reliable, comfortable, safe, and easy to navigate!
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Still running smoothly
Russ B., 03/14/2020
2012 Volkswagen Jetta SE 4dr Sedan w/Convenience (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
We have had no problems with this car, except oil changes, new brakes and tires. Would buy again.
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From Best to Worst
bobgoblin, 03/04/2012
2012 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 4dr Sedan w/Premium (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
9 of 28 people found this review helpful
I traded my 2001 Passat in for a 2012 Jetta TDI "Premium" in January. While the Passat was honestly the best car I have owned, the Jetta is the worst. The Jetta stalls all the time. It was shipped with a 5-speed gearshift knob, even though it is a 6-speed transmission. The car was supposed to have lumbar support but doesn't . VW said they will correct it since it is not specifically listed on the window sticker. The windshield cracked when i hit a pothole at 2,000 miles and VW is refusing to fix that. I can go on, but won't. After driving VW for 11 years, this Jetta will my last VW purchase.
VERY DISAPPOINTED!!!
jessica80, 01/19/2012
2012 Volkswagen Jetta S 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
7 of 24 people found this review helpful
I have owned a '94,'96', and an '09 Jetta. Pros: *I like the body style....the front end of the car anyways. It handles better then other Jettas I've owned. It has more room in the interior. * gears shift a lot smoother Cons: *I do not like the 2.0 engine. It is SO slow....I can floor it around corners and it goes no where!! Slowest car I've ever owned. My 09 Jetta had a 2.5 so it was a little more fun to drive. * the interior is cheap.....I'm sure it was the cheapest plastic they could find. The cloth seats are hard. No heated seats.The 09 jetta (same model) had soft cloth seats that were heated with a Soft dash that had more shape opposed to the 2012 with a flat dash...just like a 1994
Killer seats
hippobean, 12/29/2011
2012 Volkswagen Jetta S 4dr Sedan w/Sunroof (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
7 of 26 people found this review helpful
Dont buy this car unless you want back pain. the bucket seats were designed too deep and low and tilted down on the back so it's putting all the pressure on your lower back. Even the back seats were low and give you back pain. If not because of the seat, this car would have high ratings. but because of the poorly designed seats, it took the driving pleasure away from this car. And VW absolutely refused to do anything about the seats. Will never buy a VW again!
5 speed SE with Convenience is the one to get.
dlevine2, 05/26/2013
2012 Volkswagen Jetta SE 4dr Sedan w/Convenience (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
I was hesitant to buy a VW after having owned a 1993 VW Corrado SLC - most beautiful unreliable car I have ever owned. I did not want an automatic since I had been driving a 2006 Hyundai Sonata for quite a while (most boring, most reliable car I have ever owned). For me, the 5 speed SE with convenience is a great car - not too far over $20,000 and it has decent performance. The trunk is larger than my wife's Infiniti M35. My kid cannot destroy the interior because it is made out of, well, plastic and Vinyl. My hope is that it turns out to be reliable, because I do like it a lot. It's as much of a German car as $20,000 or so will let it be.
My perfect Jetta
doogle4, 08/26/2011
2012 Volkswagen Jetta SE PZEV 4dr Sedan w/Convenience, Sunroof (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
63 of 252 people found this review helpful
I traded my 08' SE for the same 12' yesterday. Initially I was impressed. After 100 miles, I have built the 'perfect' Jetta. Not in order, my specs are listed under 'Favorite Features' and 'Improvements'
Numb steering and bad gas mileage
Edmund Liu, 12/31/2015
2012 Volkswagen Jetta SE PZEV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
2 of 8 people found this review helpful
The steering is so numb that a U-haul Ford cargo van drives better than this little car. Comfortable ride compared to Japanese rivals. Only gave me one trouble that the lock housing cracked and was fixed by warranty. I mostly drive around town so I got 16.5 MPG no matter what kind of gas I used ( I noticed that Chevron gets a little better, not the tire pressure problem ) I never see a 200 miles out of a full tank ( 14.5 Gal ). I believe the max MPG I got on freeways is 29. It feels safe. Doors are very heavy. Solid build quality. AC vents want to fall apart all the time, and I don't know why. Engine is sluggish when started if the day is cold. Overall, if you want a safe car and don't care about anything else, this is the one for you.
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After 45000 Miles and 2 years
1969dart, 12/04/2013
2012 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 4dr Sedan w/Premium (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
2 of 9 people found this review helpful
I've had this car just over two years and other than the cost of maintenance being high im very happy with this car, this car has been completely trouble free, i get 40 to 42 miles per Gal driving 68 to 72 and about 38 at 75 to 80, i pull my motor cycle trailor from Ohio to Az the past two years with a total trailor weight of about 2000 pounds and i get about 23 to 25 miles to the Gal at 70 miles per Hr, could be a little bigger in the back seat area but other than that i love this little car, i think it thinks its a Diesel truck
TDI Purchased for Gas Mileage
jclaeys, 04/29/2012
2012 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 4dr Sedan w/Premium, Navigation (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
6 of 35 people found this review helpful
We sold our TDI Jetta with just 2K on it. We could longer deal with the poor execution of the diesel to Jetta experience. Having driven gas powered Mercedes, it was difficult to get used to the difference in the "lack of Luxury". First, it is a stretch to say this car is "clean". You will notice the stench of diesel not only at fillup but when you park it in your garage for the first couple weeks. And don't be surprised if you can smell it in your home also. The vibration at idle and rough start from stop will take getting used to, we did'nt. Buy this if all you are looking for is excellent gas mileage, it's there..avg. 33-46 mpg! Otherwise, choose wisely. It'll cost you in trade in.
6 months on and still have build quality issues
bobgoblin, 08/26/2012
2012 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 4dr Sedan w/Premium (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
4 of 25 people found this review helpful
If you're not driving on a newly paved road the ride is appalling thanks to the old-timey torsion beam rear axel. Mine was even worse thanks to VW not installing the rear shocks properly. VW claimed that's just how the car road and refused to even look at it. I had to take it to my body shop guy who found the problem. The windsheild cracked at 500 miles when I hit a pothole & I had to get my lawyer involved to fix that since VW initially refused. Constant stalling problem which took VW a month to track down: stuck fuel pressure release valve. Is a 6-speed transmission that came with a 5-speed gearshift: it took a month to convince someone at VW why that was incorrect. etc.
rosemary12
rosemary12, 02/07/2013
2012 Volkswagen Jetta SEL Premium PZEV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
2 of 19 people found this review helpful
I bought this car in August of 2012 from the VW Dealer in Bedford Ohio. I bought this Jetta new after selling my BMW 5 series before walking into the dealership. I decided to buy a Jetta since I heard that many people who drive BMW's have switched to the the Jetta model since they like the German engineering. Biggest mistake I made in my life. I paid cash for the car and got a black sel with every feature you could get-including navigation and special wheels. All said and done I paid over $30,000.00 for this car with an additional extended warranty. As for the interior the plastic seats are very uncomfortable. No power adjustable seats, no telescoping steering wheel. Sold this car!
So far, so good.
s4guy2000, 03/29/2014
2012 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 4dr Sedan w/Premium (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6AM)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I just acquired a 2012 Jetta TDI Premium. We have a 2013 Jetta Sportwagen with all of the options and have put about 9000 trouble free miles on it, so I bought the 2012 sedan as a certified used VW. It has around 50k miles on it and I drive 74 miles round trip everyday. So far the car has been really nice, the tires are terrible and I will be changing these out in a month or two, but I am still getting around 53.8 mpg when I just kind of cruise. I averaged 44.8 mpg on the first tank with faster driving. I like the DSG it feels a little clunky if you are used to traditional manuals, especially when it downshifts when you are slowing down, but it is pretty smooth while upshifting.
If it was put together in Germany...
petarvn1, 02/12/2013
2012 Volkswagen Jetta SE 4dr Sedan w/Convenience (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've got a 2012 jetta with just over 6K miles on it. For the 16 months i have owned it, i have come to conclude that it's fast enogh to get you in to trouble, but controlable enogh to get you out of it. Being a new driver, getting a good, safe, reliable car was my parrents priority, so the got me a jetta, natrually. Only problem with it is that it's build quality isn't tip-top. My friend has a VW golf (assembled in Wolfsberg, not mexico) and it's much better put together. All together, it's a good package. I'd recomend the 5 speed manual with the 2.5 liter engine. For the $21,000 you pay you get a lot for your money, plus it's a very sexy machine!
2012 Jetta SEL 2.5L Auto
Joe D. , 02/22/2022
2012 Volkswagen Jetta SEL PZEV 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Just bought one with 51K miles. It feels pretty much like the 2013 Passat SE I had with the same engine but with smaller rear seat leg room. It is quiet on the highway (Unlike Honda!). Driving position/seats comfort/handling are excellent. Being SEL trim, still lacks power driver seat or , coolant temp gage or any digital read out somewhere. Its audio screen having navigation is ridiculously small. Its arm rest is low and rear ward and the lid has no height adjustment. Fit and finish is typical excellent VW. Great commuter car any day!
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Sporty sedan
CMitchell, 08/30/2022
2012 Volkswagen Jetta SE 4dr Sedan w/Convenience, Sunroof (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I loved my Jetta, had it for 10 years. It was fast and small enough for me to get in and out of traffic. Good on gas and only had 2 minor recalls. Loved sport mode and all of the other features; moon roof, leather seats and satellite radio. This car served me well for years and still drives great today. My only complaint is that after 7 years the radio stopped working out of the blue. It would not come on any more, not matter how many different things I tried. It had to be replaced. Its a common problem with VW Jettas. I gave my car to my son for his senior year in high school. If not for that I would still be driving it. Every now and then I ask him if I can borrow the car and I cruise the streets and appreciate how well the car still drives. Now I am searching for a new car and it has not been a good experience. Make me wish I still had my Jetta. Looking at getting a Mazda, but car dealerships are asking for my first born. Its crazy. They say the best time to buy a car is when you don't need one. I really don't need a car, so its easy to walk away. But man I would love a new Mazda CX 5. LOL
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No DEF tank
Dan J, 01/17/2023
2012 Volkswagen Jetta TDI 4dr Sedan w/Premium, Navigation (2.0L 4cyl Turbodiesel 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Engine light came on DEF filter .Took to dealer .Wanted 4000.00 to fix .Took to mechanic there is no DEF tank .DEF filter clogged from Carbon not having DEF Fluid .
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Beware of tomorrow's rust
Jim, 04/23/2023
updated 11/04/2024
2012 Volkswagen Jetta SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Back in 2011 after thoroughly researching the available car market for this level of car the best value I found and purchased was a VW Jetta 2.5 and in my opinion an excellent car - over the 12 years the car has met my expectations (although at a high cost of servicing ) - however in recent years there has been increasing body rust and although repaired under VW's 12 rust warranty VW rejected all rust repair work to the rockers as in their opinion is considered an 'environmental' cause, not covered and very expensive to repair - it seems to me VW marketed a global car not suitable to Toronto winter conditions etc and also expected purchasers to replace this model before rust became a high VW cost - excellent planned obsolescence by VW and beware purchasers as the present rust warranty on VW new cars has in recent years also been reduced. Reminder to be beware of VW sales talk - I understood the underside of my Jetta was galvanised and did not require any special Canada weather protection - wrong, as rockers started rusting just as warranty was running out and now I assume excellent calculated planned obsolescence - as an excellent car, smooth drive, 2.5 engine, only 200k and 13 year old - sadly, I have no wish to change however trusting local body shop reviewed and confirmed not sensible to spend to replace the rockers as the day is nearing to replace the car - I repeat only response from VW was 'rusting rockers is environmental and not claimable on warranty'- clever, make a car in Mexico, sell in Canada, blame the weather and look forward to you to replace - even more curious today as warranty period is now reduced!
Erros codes all the time
Vw jetta user not anymore , 01/31/2020
2012 Volkswagen Jetta SE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 5cyl 6A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Error codes p2188 and p0106, not permanent solution even on the dealer shop, this car it's a trash
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