One problem related to starter has been reported for the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta based on all problems reported for the 2012 Jetta.
Drove the vehicle home from work Friday 1/13, weather was below freezing causing ice build up. Parked the vehicle in my garage ~45 degrees. Ice began melt, and when trying to start the vehicle Saturday afternoon it turned 1/4 turn and the engine stopped. My assumption is that the engine inhaled water causing a hydro-lock, I continued to try to start the vehicle a total 5 times (it turned over once and ran extremely rough and died once). The last time trying to start the vehicle I smelled smoke, I popped the hood to find the starter and wiring on fire. I was able to extinguish the fire relatively quickly, considering the vehicle was parked in my garage attached to my house this could have extremely catastrophic if I wouldn't have been able to get the fire out. *** this is the second time for the hard / no start problem, this one however resulted in the fire. Volkswagen will not follow the below TSB since the vehicle started after wiring and starter replacement. Issue mirrors TSB # 21 11 06 / 2025464, which includes engine will not turn over, "dead battery" starter action (due to hydraulic resistance in cylinder), and starter/electrical fires (due to starter overheating during attempts to start locked engine).