2012 Volkswagen CC: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 230 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (30% of complaints); the 2011 and 2014 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2018
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 230 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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 report · Power Train · May 2024
“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 report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Mar 2023
“I have a VW CC 2012 --Vin [XXX]-- I have 87K and since 40K , I am going on my 3rd fuel pump, I only put in Premium gas with a fuel injector cleaner every 6K miles, I am not sure if this warrants investigation but I am putting this out there in case there are similar cars in this class/model. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Sep 2021
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“Vehicle stalls when accelerating or traveling at high rates of speed loses power. Lags to accelerate when gas pedal is pressed then suddenly jolts. Battery, Epc light, as well as engine light come on immediately. Vehicle will restart lights wil eventually go off until the next failure.”Owner report · Engine · May 2021
“Tl* the contact owns a 2012 volkswagen cc. The contact stated while driving 10 mph, the check oil warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and upon inspection, noticed that engine oil needed to be added. The vehicle was towed hendrick volkswagen frisco 5010 tx-121, frisco, tx 75034, (469) 342-3493) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the timing chain, timing chain tensioner, and engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and agreed to partially cover the cost of the repairs. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2021
“Tl* the contact owned a 2012 volkswagen cc sport. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, she saw smoke emerging from the vents. Upon exiting the vehicle, the contact heard a loud pop noise and fire began to engulf from the dashboard. There was no crash or injuries due to the fire. The air bags did not deploy. The fire department was contacted and was able to extinguish the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a impound lot. The contact has not notified local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not informed of failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Mar 2021
“Flashing check engine light; epc light; car shaking; power loss; engine misfire. Vehicle was moving around 50mph at the time.”Owner report · Engine · Dec 2020
“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 report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Sep 2020
“I brought this car about 3months ago andrive one day ABS error so took to mechanic he hooked to machine say rear wheel driver side wheel sensor so got that changed then it gave more code say computer not communicating an also the other sensors out an tcs plus steering asst. So I went online to find out this is a common problem that vw can't even fix .but there still allowed to sale them with out a fix so now I have to guess if I have brakes or tcs an forgot the park brake has a code as well so will anybody fix this problem or do more people have to die in crash or waste money taken it to volkwagan an not get it fix to funny an lights on parked or drive can't clear codes thanks”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jul 2020
“While driving home from work last night the engine started making strange knocking noises and then stalled with a blinking cel that turned to solid I restarted the car twice in neutral (manual transmission) it was r miles from my job to my home the car now does not start and makes a very loud knocking noise the timing chain jumped and now my engine is completely damaged I could have been rear ended when the car stalled 3 miles”Owner report · Power Train · Feb 2020
When filing, owners marked a crash in 11 of these complaints and injuries in 8 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
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.
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012, CC VEHICLES, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)." THE FACTORY INSTALLED WHEELS AND TIRES WERE REPLACED AT THE PORT WITH ACCESSORY WHEELS AND TIRES THAT WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE PROPER TPMS SENSORS.
Remedy: VOLKSWAGEN WILL REPLACE THE TPMS SENSORS WITH THE PROPER SENSORS TO MAKE THE TPMS SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLES COMPLIANT WITH FMVSS 138. AS OF JUNE 1, 2011, VOLKSWAGEN HAS CONTACTED ALL AFFECTED CUSTOMERS TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2016 Volkswagen CC, 2006-2010 Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles. Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to fail.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump control module, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AE.
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 that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
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 free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2012 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact CC by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Volkswagen CC reliable?
NHTSA has 230 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 2012 Volkswagen CC. The most complained-about area is air bags (30% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2012 Volkswagen CC problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 70,000 miles or less.
Does the 2012 Volkswagen CC have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning unknown or other. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.