2012 Volkswagen CC reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2012 Volkswagen CC holds 230 complaints after 15 years, a rate of 4 per year. That is more complaints per year than most CC years here — over the median of the other years, which is 2. NHTSA has 6 recalls on file, including Unknown or other, Inflator, and Fuel pump.

Complaints

230

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (86 of 230), then Engine (64) and Fuel and propulsion system (58). Those filings include 11 that report a crash, 3 that report a fire, and 6 that report an injury.

Next to 2014

The 2014 CC has 80 complaints, 11 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2014.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Volkswagen CC. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (6)

Recall Unknown or other 2018-05-16 · NHTSA campaign 18V329000

Summary 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.

Recall air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator 2018-03-06 · NHTSA campaign 18V148000

Summary 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.

Recall Fuel pump 2017-08-16 · NHTSA campaign 17V509000

Summary 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.

Recall air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator 2016-02-10 · NHTSA campaign 16V078000

Summary 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.

Recall air bags, frontal 2015-08-04 · NHTSA campaign 15V483000

Summary 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.

Recall tires, tire pressure monitoring 2011-06-06 · NHTSA campaign 11V312000

Summary 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.

Complaints by component (230 total)

Air bags

Engine

Fuel and propulsion system

Electrical system

Steering

Powertrain

Wheels

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Service brakes

Speed control

Exterior lighting

Structure

Fuel system, gasoline

Engine and engine cooling

Suspension

Equipment

Forward collision avoidance

Hydraulic brakes

Seat belts

Seats

Tires

Visibility and wipers

Show 14 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"The tire pressure light continues to alert never going away and tire store says it's a sensor but it's causing my tires to get worn quicker and have had 2 blowouts I have tried to get this resolved and repaired by…"
Wheels · filed 2025-04-16
"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…"
Powertrain, Electrical system · filed 2024-05-05
"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…"
Fuel and propulsion system, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2024-04-23
"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…"
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2023-05-31
"I'm part of a class action lawsuit where I was denied after sending all of the pertinent information the attorney's requested. I have all documentation of the correspondence which was requested with contact information…"
Engine · filed 2022-11-24

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
CC	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	Front-wheel drive	22	31	25 MPG	$3200
CC	2L, 4-cyl	Manual 6-speed	Front-wheel drive	21	31	24 MPG	$3300
CC 4motion	3.6L, 6-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	All-wheel drive	17	25	20 MPG	$4000

Specs and fitment

1st generation (3C8), 2012–2018

Body styles Sedan

Oil 5W-40 or 5W-30 , 5 qt capacity

Tire size 235/45R17, 235/40R18, 235/35R19 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 17V-509 covers certain 2009-2016 Volkswagen CC vehicles, and also certain 2006-2010 Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles: interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to become inoperative. Dealers replace the fuel pump control module.

Compare

Next year 2014 Volkswagen CC See every Volkswagen CC model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Volkswagen CC reliable?

What are common problems with a 2012 Volkswagen CC?

Is the 2012 Volkswagen CC more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2014 CC has 80 complaints, 11 per year. The 2012 has fewer complaints per year than the 2014.

Has the 2012 Volkswagen CC been recalled?

The 2012 Volkswagen CC has 6 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Volkswagen CC?

Owners have filed 230 complaints about the 2012 Volkswagen CC with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 Volkswagen CC get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 Volkswagen CC is 23 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Volkswagen CC take?

US CC listings commonly use 5W-40 or 5W-30 (about 5 qt with filter).

Does recall 17V-509 cover the Volkswagen CC?

It covers certain 2009-2016 CC vehicles (and certain Passat/Passat Wagon years): interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause a stall; dealers update software or replace the module as directed.

What generation is the 2014 Volkswagen CC?

1st generation for the US years this site tracks (2012-2018).