2012 Volkswagen up! problems
The 2012 Volkswagen up! was sold with an engine that we have documented: the 1.0 MPI. It has no documented serious faults for the cars of that year. Outside the engine, 7 documented faults affect 2012 cars, such as manual gearbox hard to engage (first and reverse) and clutch wear.
2012 Volkswagen up! score: good reliability
Calculated using only 11 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. How it is calculated
- Engine8.14 faults
- Gearbox7.32 faults
- Suspension8.8Technical inspection (ITV) only: 0.5 times the defects normal for its age
- Brakes6.6Technical inspection (ITV) only: 1.4 times the defects normal for its age
- Tyres and wheels10.0No documented faults
- Steering9.31 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
- Electrical system9.31 fault
- Headlights and lights8.0Technical inspection (ITV) only: 0.8 times the defects normal for its age
- Electronics and infotainment10.0No documented faults
- Climate control10.0No documented faults
- Bodywork and interior8.92 faults and ITV (technical inspection)
- Airbags and safety8.61 fault
What changes compared with the 2011 Volkswagen up!
- Score: 8.0 → 7.6
- Starts to be affected by: manual gearbox hard to engage (first and reverse) and clutch wear (rest of the car)
1.0 MPI engine in the 2012 Volkswagen up!
Names: 1.0 60 CV · 1.0 75 CV
- Buy
1.0 MPI 60/75 (CHYA/CHYB, 2011-2023)
60–75 hp · CHYA, CHYB
None of the reliability sources we consulted (up!, Mii, Citigo, Fabia III) documents a serious or systemic engine fault. The most frequently cited issues -- an occasional cooling system fault on the Citigo and Mii, and isolated oil consumption on the Citigo -- affect a small minority of the cases analysed.[2][3][4][5]
Faults that affect 2012 cars
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalCoolingCooling system fault with engine light and vibrationsThe 1.0 MPI can suffer a cooling system fault, with the engine light on, vibrations and loss of power. It is documented in a minority of cases on the Škoda Citigo and Seat Mii, and the sources do not describe it as systemic or as linked to other cars with this engine.
- Low severityFrequency: OccasionalLubricationHigher-than-normal oil consumption (most cited on the Seat Ibiza V)The 1.0 MPI can use more oil than normal, especially on the Seat Ibiza V (2 of 5 reviews analysed for the 75 hp version). On the Volkswagen up!, Seat Mii and Škoda Fabia III, with the earlier tune of the same engine, the same pattern is not documented in a comparable proportion.
- Low severityFrequency: RareTimingTiming belt with no fixed replacement intervalThe 1.0 MPI uses a dry timing belt which, according to the manufacturer, has no fixed replacement interval: it only calls for a visual inspection from 210,000-240,000 km. The sources we consulted document no failure pattern for this belt on any car with this engine.
- Low severityFrequency: RareElectronicsOccasional sensor or throttle body faults (isolated cases)The Škoda Fabia III with the 1.0 MPI records an isolated case of throttle body failure (at 80,000 km) or lambda sensor failure. These are one-off cases, with no pattern, within a sample the sources describe as mechanically stable.
Faults outside the engine in the 2012 Volkswagen up!
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonGearbox and clutchManual gearbox hard to engage (first and reverse) and clutch wearThe manual gearbox is the weak point that owners of this city car mention most: first gear and reverse are hard to select, especially when cold, with grinding, and some clutches wear out early. It is a pattern in testimonies, not a manufacturer campaign.
- Critical severityFrequency: RareAirbags and safetyTakata airbag inflator on 2011-2012 up!sVolkswagen recalled up!s built between 1 August 2011 and 7 June 2012 because the propellant of the Takata inflator can degrade with humidity and heat and break the casing when the airbag deploys, with a risk of injury from metal fragments.
- Low severityFrequency: CommonGearbox and clutchMetallic knocking from the clutch and gearbox when releasing the pedalMany owners of the up! and its sister models notice a metallic knock when releasing the clutch, especially at idle, which the official dealer usually describes as normal. Gebrauchtwagenberater.de attributes it to the clutch slave cylinder and says it can only be eliminated by replacing the whole assembly.
- Low severityFrequency: OccasionalElectrical systemElectric window regulator failure: plastic guides and misaligned glassSome owners describe windows that come out of their guides, jam or do not close fully because of deterioration of the plastic guides and the clips on the mechanism. There is no official campaign; it is a pattern in testimonies.
- Low severityFrequency: OccasionalSteeringPlay in the steering ball joints of older up!sThe TÜV-Report, cited by Gebrauchtwagenberater.de, notes that older up!s often have problems with the steering ball joints, as well as lighting and brake defects at all ages.
- Low severityFrequency: RareBodywork and interiorPoorly fitted door seals and water leaks in the doorsSome owners mention poorly fitted door seals that let in wind noise and water, and blocked drains that collect water in the door cavities. It is a pattern in testimonies, with no official campaign.
- Low severityFrequency: RareBodywork and interiorUnderbody rust with little protectionGebrauchtwagenberater.de notes that the up!'s underbody has little or no protection, so rust forms mainly on the floor, and water can get in through the tailgate.
Buying a 2012 Volkswagen up!?
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Volkswagen up! reliable?
The 2012 Volkswagen up! was sold with an engine that we have documented: the 1.0 MPI. It has no documented serious faults for the cars of that year. Outside the engine, 7 documented faults affect 2012 cars, such as manual gearbox hard to engage (first and reverse) and clutch wear.
Is the 2012 Volkswagen up! better than the 2011?
Our score goes from 8.0 in 2011 to 7.6 in 2012. Starts to be affected by: manual gearbox hard to engage (first and reverse) and clutch wear (rest of the car).
What is the best year for the Volkswagen up!?
According to our score, the best are 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2 other years with the same score (8.4/10). The year with the worst score is 2012 (7.6/10). Each year's score counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those cars.
What faults does the 2012 Volkswagen up! have?
The most important ones documented for 2012 cars are: takata airbag inflator on 2011-2012 up!s (airbags and safety, critical severity), cooling system fault with engine light and vibrations (1.0 MPI, medium severity), manual gearbox hard to engage (first and reverse) and clutch wear (gearbox and clutch, medium severity), higher-than-normal oil consumption (most cited on the Seat Ibiza V) (1.0 MPI, low severity) and timing belt with no fixed replacement interval (1.0 MPI, low severity).
Own a 2012 Volkswagen up!? Tell us what faults you have had and at how many kilometres. Report your fault.
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Volkswagen UpWikipedia (inglés) · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Volkswagen UpFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Seat MiiFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Skoda CitigoFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
- Fiabilité et pannes de la Skoda Fabia 3Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French