Problems · NHTSA complaints

2012 Volkswagen CC problems

Owners filed 230 complaints about the 2012 Volkswagen CC with NHTSA between Jun 2011 and Apr 2025. The most-cited component is air bags (86).

Complaints
230
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags86
  2. Engine64
  3. Fuel/propulsion system58
  4. Electrical system38
  5. Steering12
  6. Power train11
  7. Wheels10
  8. Electronic stability control (esc)9
  9. Service brakes8
  10. Vehicle speed control8
  11. Exterior lighting6
  12. Structure4
  13. Fuel system, gasoline3
  14. Suspension2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20112
20124
20133
20144
201518
201647
201752
201860
201918
20208
20219
20221
20231
20242
20251

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

86 reports8 crashes3 related recalls
“The Power Steering keeps failing while driving. It is available for inspection, ASAP. This is a very dangerous hazard to lose the ability to steer the vehicle at any speed. I have not taken to my mechanic, yet. I have read all sorts of problems with steering since the Takata Air Bag Replacement Recall. Ever since the AirBag Replacement, many of my warning lights have been illuminated. The Dealer told me it is due to the Sensors on my Tires. I see they were previously recalled and now I have a problem with them, too. Right before the Steering Fails, I hear a gone and the Red Steering Wheel Light illuminates. I am then forced to slowly get off the road, barely able to turn the wheel, turn off the vehicle and re-start the engine to get the Power Steering to Re-Set itself. It is happening more and more often. Just went to Doctor appt Friday and it happened five (5) times going to and from Doctor (14 mile round trip). I see Dealers are telling people it is a Clock Spring and they are charing up to $ 6,800. to repair. My car only has 56,000. miles on it !!!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 1, 2021Steering, Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11427345

Engine

64 reports2 crashes
“Vehicle stalls when accelerating or traveling at high rates of speed and it will lose power. It bumps and jolts to life. My RPM shoots up and and down. It lags to accelerate when the gas pedal is pressed to accelerate it suddenly jolts. Battery, Epc light, as well as engine light come on immediately.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 31, 2023Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11524594

Fuel/propulsion system

58 reports2 crashes2 fires
“Well first off there was a recall on my year make and model but I guess it only lasted like a couple years .so twice already my fuel pump. Has needed to be replaced.which is what the recall was for .so I was driving In the fast lane on the freeway when out of nowhere my car just stalled putting me and my passenger in risk of being rammed from behind .I've had to take it too a mechanic two or three times so they can fix the same thing . I have the invoice from the repairs . Also I can be driving and the emergency brake will just engage by itself not having been touched by anyone or anything. It puts me and my passenger at risk for whiplash due to the fact that it engages when I'm driving .no warning lite come on I've just felt the jolt almost causing me to hit my head on the windshield. Please help .thank you Sincerely [XXX]”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 23, 2024Fuel/propulsion system, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11584641

Electrical system

38 reports2 crashes1 fire
“I was driving on the highway and out of no where it threw its self into neutral and the gear indicator was flashing with a wrench and it can move for like 5 mins then does it again was told the whole MECHtrnical in the transmission”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 5, 2024Power train, Electrical systemODI 11587015

Steering

12 reports
“AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AFTER 6 MONTHS OF TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR THE ISSUE AFTER THE RECALL. WENT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME TO FIX THE ISSUE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 26, 2018Steering, Air bagsODI 11113816

Power train

11 reports
“OIL PRESSURE CHANGE INDICATED ON DASHBOARD STATING, "LOW OIL PRESSURE", THE INDICATOR THEN WENT OUT AND THE 2012 VW CC 2.0 TSI SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES A HOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND MOVED OF THE INTERSTATE UNDER ITS OWN POWER, BUT WAS IDLING ROUGH AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START NOW. THE CODE PULLED FROM THIS VEHICLE NOW READ, P0300, P0302, P0341, P000A, P0016, P0304, P0301, P0011, P0506”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 2, 2020Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11362367
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.