RecallRepo

2012 Volkswagen GTI Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2012 Volkswagen GTI has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 416,077 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18V329000 2018-05-16 252 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

AIR BAGS 15V483000 2015-08-04 415,825 affected
Defect

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. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable…

Consequence

A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.

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. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed…

Complaints by component

ENGINE
13
1crashes1fires
POWER TRAIN
7
1crashes1fires
SERVICE BRAKES
5
2crashes
AIR BAGS
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
4
1fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
1crashes
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1
Total complaints52

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Abs control module short and failure occurred. Trouble codes generated include 01325 - tire pressure monitoring control module no signal/communication and 01130 - abs operation implausible signal static. Upon visiting an authorized volkswagen dealer service center was charged $200 for abs…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2024-04-06

“My air bag light came on. Plus all the controls on my steering column do not work, including the horn. I called the vw dealer. They knew exactly what it was. The clock spring. This happened in early may. I was told the part has been on back order for 6 months. The dealer does not have any cars to…”

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE · reported 2022-05-09

“A month ago I noticed my gti was stalling when I tried to accelerate after a stop. Went on a drive with a lot of hill climbing and the car starting to stall on the uphill portions. The problem was noticeably worse after that, so I took it to a local shop. They weren't entirely sure but put in a…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2020-08-14

“Tl* the contact owns a 2012 volkswagen gti. The contact stated that when the engine was started, it rattled inside. The vehicle was taken to demontrond volkswagen (14101 north fwy, houston, tx 77090, [REDACTED]) where it was diagnosed that the timing chain and the timing tensioner needed to be…”

ENGINE · reported 2019-08-14

“While car was stopped but running the vacuum pump 'broke' with a loud grinding sound and oil started leaking everywhere. Putting the car in motion wasn't a problem dispite the grinding sound but brakes were *very* hard to press and was *very* difficult to stop the car. Decided that it was unsafe…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2019-01-26

“Upon turning my car on today I received 9 separate bulb out warnings. After a little while went and tried the car again and all the warnings went away. Upon further investigation I come to find that one of my fuses is not blown but melted and so is the fuse block under the hood. Have seen that…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2018-12-22

“Tl* the contact owns a 2012 volkswagen gti. While driving, the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated. The contact was concerned that the air bag might deploy. The contact took the vehicle to volkswagen north scottsdale (located at 7001 e chauncey lane, phoenix, az 85054) where it was…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2018-12-06

“Engine is misfiring at 84k miles causing the car to need a whole new engine rebuild. I have gotten the vehicle serviced regularly to prevent such issue. Fuel injectors, intake manifold gaskets, and intake manifold were replaced on 2/21/18 and I also had a carbon cleaning this day as well at 79k.…”

ENGINE · reported 2018-09-08

Defect investigations

Investigation EA18003 Opened 2018-04-18 · open

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…

Investigation EA18003 Opened 2018-04-18 · open

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…

Investigation EA18003 Opened 2018-04-18 · open

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…

Investigation PE15010 Opened 2015-03-24 · closed 2015-09-28

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…

Investigation PE15010 Opened 2015-03-24 · closed 2015-09-28

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…

Investigation PE15010 Opened 2015-03-24 · closed 2015-09-28

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…

Investigation RQ17009 Opened 2017-11-13 · closed 2018-05-04

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…

Investigation RQ17009 Opened 2017-11-13 · closed 2018-05-04

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…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2012 Volkswagen GTI as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.