Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Rearview Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Golf GTI, Jetta GLI, Jetta NF, Arteon FL, Tiguan LWB, 2022 Taos, Jetta PA, Tiguan PA, 2021-2022 Atlas Cross Sport, and Atlas FL vehicles. The manufacturing process of the eMMC memory module in the infotainment system may cause the rearview camera image not to display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Consequence
- A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the infotainment software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91DV.
Air Bags Can Improperly Deploy
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Jetta and Jetta GLI vehicles. The air bag control module was welded in the incorrect position.
- Consequence
- Incorrect positioning of the air bag control module can cause the vehicle's air bags to deploy improperly during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, the vehicle's air bags can deploy unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the air bag control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 28, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69CK.
Bolts May Be Missing From Front Seat Tracks
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Long Wheelbase and Jetta vehicles. Bolts may be missing from the front seat tracks.
- Consequence
- The seat can move front and back without restriction if bolts are missing, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat tracks and, as necessary, install the bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 18, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 72L6.
Black Or Frozen Rear View Camera Image/FMVSS 111
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan LWB, Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas FL and Arteon vehicles. The rear view camera could malfunction during an ignition cycle, leading to a black screen or infotainment system freeze. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Consequence
- A black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the infotainment system software, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91BB/91BC.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (69)
69 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 69 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 26 | 37.7% |
| Electrical system | 13 | 18.8% |
| Unknown or other | 11 | 15.9% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 9 | 13% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 9 | 13% |
| Air bags | 5 | 7.2% |
| Engine | 5 | 7.2% |
| Lane departure | 4 | 5.8% |
| Seat belts | 3 | 4.3% |
| Steering | 3 | 4.3% |
How 2021 compares with other Jetta years
Best and worst Jetta years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 159 | 6 |
| 2018 | 31 | 2 |
| 2019 | 549 | 11 |
| 2020 | 53 | 6 |
| 2021 | 69 | 4 |
| 2022 | 43 | 1 |
| 2023 | 43 | 0 |
| 2024 | 44 | 0 |
| 2025 | 29 | 2 |
| 2026 | 6 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2021 Volkswagen Jetta 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 34 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $1,950
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 260 g/mi
- EPA class
- Compact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 34 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 30 / 41 / 34 | $1,950 | 260 |
| 1.4 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 / 39 / 33 | $2,050 | 266 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · Automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 35 / 28 | $2,400 | 314 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 / 33 / 28 | $2,400 | 319 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2021 Jetta for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2021 Volkswagen Jetta FAQ
How many recalls does the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 22V514000 (electrical), 21V492000 (air bag), 21V038000 (seat), 20V716000 (rear camera). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2021 Volkswagen Jetta problems?
Owners filed 69 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (26), Electrical system (13), Unknown or other (11) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta get?
EPA rates the 1.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed manual version at 30 city, 41 highway and 34 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta get?
NHTSA rated the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (13.1% rollover risk).
How does the 2021 Jetta compare with other years?
Among the 2017–2021 Volkswagen Jetta model years at least five years old, the 2018 drew the fewest complaints (31) and the 2019 the most (549). The 2021 drew 69. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.