2012 Volkswagen CC

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Volkswagen CC has 337 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: my 2012 volkswagen cc sport airbag light came on after my husband adjusted the driver seat. i took it to the dealer and they told me it was the control unit ( clock spring) the dealership told me if i drove it and got in an accident the airbags would not deploy. my car is just over 80 thousand miles. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 16 crash reports 12 injuries

337

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

86 complaints

26%

• MY 2012 VOLKSWAGEN CC SPORT AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER MY HUSBAND ADJUSTED THE DRIVER SEAT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE CONTROL UNIT ( CLOCK SPRING) THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IF I DROVE IT AND GOT IN AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. MY CAR IS JUST OVER 80 THOUSAND MILES
• I PURCHASED MY 2012 VW CC IN SEPT. 2014. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 26000 MILES ON IT. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVERS SEAT NO LONGER HEATS (QUOTED $980 FOR REPAIR) AND THE CLOCK SPRING HAS FAILED (QUOTED $450 FOR REPAIR). I CAN UNDERSTAND THE SEAT MAYBE HAVING AN ISSUE, BUT
• VEHICLE WAS BEING TURNED AROUND IN A PARKING LOT WHEN A CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ALL OF THE STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONS (I.E. HORN, RADIO CONTROLS, ETC.) STOPPED WORKING. TOOK IT INTO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS THE "CLOCK SPRING " IN THE ST

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 8 crashes

“MY 2012 VOLKSWAGEN CC SPORT AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER MY HUSBAND ADJUSTED THE DRIVER SEAT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE CONTROL UNIT ( CLOCK SPRING) THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IF I DROVE IT AND GOT IN AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. MY CAR IS JUST OVER 80 THOUSAND MILES”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

66 complaints

20%

• ON 01/14/2013 AT APPROX. 6:00PM AFTER DRIVING UP TO A DRIVE THRU, I ENGAGED THE AUTOHOLD ON MY 2012 VOLKSWAGEN CC LUX PLUS. AFTER LEAVING THE DRIVE THRU, I WAS WAITING ON A SLIGHT HILL TO DRIVE ACROSS THE HIGHWAY TO ENTER INTO MY LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE AUTOHOLD HAD ENGAGED AND IT WAS HOLDING MY POSITI
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN CC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND JERKED AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DRIVE OVER 30 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED IN
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN CC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND JERKED AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DRIVE OVER 30 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED IN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“ON 01/14/2013 AT APPROX. 6:00PM AFTER DRIVING UP TO A DRIVE THRU, I ENGAGED THE AUTOHOLD ON MY 2012 VOLKSWAGEN CC LUX PLUS. AFTER LEAVING THE DRIVE THRU, I WAS WAITING ON A SLIGHT HILL TO DRIVE ACROSS THE HIGHWAY TO ENTER INTO MY LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE AUTOHOLD HAD ENGAGED AND IT WAS HOLDING MY POSITI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

61 complaints

18%

• AT 8:40 AM CST ON 11/6/2012. WHILE COMMUTING TO WORK AT 55 MPH ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF FREEWAY. I LOST FUNCTIONALITY ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN ENGAGING THE GAS PEDAL. GAS PEDAL WAS RENDERING NON-FUNCTIONAL AND IN-EFFECTIVE. THERE WAS HEAVY SOOT/SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST PRI
• UPON CRANKING UP MY CAR, THE "EPC AND CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT BOTH CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. I THEN NOTICED THAT THE CAR FAILED TO ACCELERATE EVEN WITH THE GAS PEDAL COMPLETELY DEPRESSED. THEN THE CAR STALLED. IT WAS SLOW TO CRANK UP AGAIN, BUT THE ENGINE FINALLY TURNED OVER. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO TH
• MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I STARTED MY LEASE TIL NOW. I HAVE CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH MY LIGHT BULBS EVEN AFTER THEY ARE REPLACED THEY GO OUT QUICKLY AND OFTEN. THE CAR HAS STALLED ON ME TWICE AND CUT OFF TWICE. I HAVE MULTIPLE TRIPS TO THE SERVICE CENTER FOR THE SME THINGS FUEL INJECTOR PU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“AT 8:40 AM CST ON 11/6/2012. WHILE COMMUTING TO WORK AT 55 MPH ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF FREEWAY. I LOST FUNCTIONALITY ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN ENGAGING THE GAS PEDAL. GAS PEDAL WAS RENDERING NON-FUNCTIONAL AND IN-EFFECTIVE. THERE WAS HEAVY SOOT/SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST PRI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

38 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN CC. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE HORN WAS DEPRESSED REPEATEDLY BUT THE HORN FAILED TO SOUND. THE HORN WOULD ONLY SOUND PROPERLY WHEN THE HORN WAS DEPRESSED IN ONE LONG MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THERE WAS AN
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN CC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND JERKED AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DRIVE OVER 30 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED IN
• VEHICLE WAS BEING TURNED AROUND IN A PARKING LOT WHEN A CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ALL OF THE STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONS (I.E. HORN, RADIO CONTROLS, ETC.) STOPPED WORKING. TOOK IT INTO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS THE "CLOCK SPRING " IN THE ST

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN CC. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE HORN WAS DEPRESSED REPEATEDLY BUT THE HORN FAILED TO SOUND. THE HORN WOULD ONLY SOUND PROPERLY WHEN THE HORN WAS DEPRESSED IN ONE LONG MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THERE WAS AN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

12 complaints

• STEERING LOCKED UP AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL CAR WHILE IN MOTION. ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP THE MOTOR THAT CONTROLS STEERING LOCKED UP. WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL AT ALL WHILE IN MOTION. *TR
• VEHICLE WAS BEING TURNED AROUND IN A PARKING LOT WHEN A CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ALL OF THE STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONS (I.E. HORN, RADIO CONTROLS, ETC.) STOPPED WORKING. TOOK IT INTO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS THE "CLOCK SPRING " IN THE ST
• I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS. NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT OR HAD ANYTHING REPLACED. ALL MAINTENANCE UP TO DATE. STARTED THE CAR WITH NO ISSUES. CONTINUED TO DRIVE GOING 35MPH NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED. ABS. POWER STEERING, EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND AIR BAG. TOOK IT TO CLOSE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“STEERING LOCKED UP AND WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL CAR WHILE IN MOTION. ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP THE MOTOR THAT CONTROLS STEERING LOCKED UP. WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL AT ALL WHILE IN MOTION. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 337 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: MY 2012 VOLKSWAGEN CC SPORT AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER MY HUSBAND ADJUSTED THE DRIVER SEAT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE CONTROL UNIT ( CLOCK SPRING) THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IF I DROVE IT AND GOT IN AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. MY CAR IS JUST OVER 80 THOUSAND MILES
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: ON 01/14/2013 AT APPROX. 6:00PM AFTER DRIVING UP TO A DRIVE THRU, I ENGAGED THE AUTOHOLD ON MY 2012 VOLKSWAGEN CC LUX PLUS. AFTER LEAVING THE DRIVE THRU, I WAS WAITING ON A SLIGHT HILL TO DRIVE ACROSS THE HIGHWAY TO ENTER INTO MY LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE AUTOHOLD HAD ENGAGED AND IT WAS HOLDING MY POSITI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: AT 8:40 AM CST ON 11/6/2012. WHILE COMMUTING TO WORK AT 55 MPH ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF FREEWAY. I LOST FUNCTIONALITY ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN ENGAGING THE GAS PEDAL. GAS PEDAL WAS RENDERING NON-FUNCTIONAL AND IN-EFFECTIVE. THERE WAS HEAVY SOOT/SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST PRI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN CC. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE HORN WAS DEPRESSED REPEATEDLY BUT THE HORN FAILED TO SOUND. THE HORN WOULD ONLY SOUND PROPERLY WHEN THE HORN WAS DEPRESSED IN ONE LONG MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THERE WAS AN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)