CSR

Volkswagen · NHTSA safety record

2021 Volkswagen Jetta

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

66

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

2

Deaths

Owners of the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta have filed 66 safety complaints with NHTSA between May 2021 and July 2026. The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 24 of them (36%). The typical failure was reported at 9,000 miles, the median across the 8 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints halved year on year: 7 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 20 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

22V514000 · July 20, 2022

The defect
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."
The risk
A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 43,091 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE

21V492000 · June 30, 2021

The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 379 vehicles across all model years covered

SEATS

21V038000 · February 1, 2021

The defect
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.
The risk
The seat can move front and back without restriction if bolts are missing, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The 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.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 57 vehicles across all model years covered

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

20V716000 · November 18, 2020

The defect
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."
The risk
A black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 32,048 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 66.

SERVICE BRAKES 24 36%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12 18%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10 15%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 9 14%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 8 12%
ENGINE 5 8%
AIR BAGS 4 6%
LANE DEPARTURE 4 6%
SEAT BELTS 3 5%
STEERING 3 5%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 3 5%
POWER TRAIN 2 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2024 at 21.

2021 2024 2026
2021 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

1 death · crash · towed

It cause to have an account

NHTSA complaint 11540550. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 death · crash · towed

Caused an accident and died

NHTSA complaint 11540562. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured · crash

While traveling at the posted speed limit and approaching a signalized intersection, I attempted to brake for stopped traffic ahead. The vehicle did not decelerate as expected, and the automatic emergency braking/forward collision mitigation system did not activate or provide any braking assistance. Additionally, no forward collision warning or audible/visual alert was provided prior to impact. A red warning indicator illuminated immediately before the collision; however, there was insufficient time to take additional evasive action. As a result, my vehicle rear-ended the vehicle stopped in front of me. The apparent failure of the braking assistance and forward collision warning systems

NHTSA complaint 11750281, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Volkswagen corporate deployed a mandatory over-the-air (OTA) software update to the MIB3 infotainment system. The update failed mid-installation, entirely bricking the J794 information module. This failure completely disabled vital driver information systems, including the digital dash compass, all audio alerts, and driver notification tones while the vehicle is in motion. This represents an immediate, manufacturer-initiated distraction and safety hazard that disables cabin instrumentation.

NHTSA complaint 11747680. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
EPC light comes on and vehicle starts losing power while driving, you lose all acceleration. Check engine light has also illuminated I have taken in to have repairs done on this same issue 4 times in a span of owing this car for 7 months, this vehicle has become unreliable and a safety hazard while driving. They have replaced battery replaced ignition coils replaced EVAP valve reset my computer software updated my computers. I have spent a ton of money on this car for a repair that is unrepairable. And it currently sits in the VW dealership shop again because it is become a safety hazard to drive with myself let alone putting my child's life at risk driving on highways.

NHTSA complaint 11744747. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
Vehicle Information: Year: 2021 Make: Volkswagen Model: Jetta Date of Purchase: March 2022 Approximate Mileage at Time of Incident: 25,000 miles --- NATURE OF COMPLAINT: I am filing this complaint regarding premature and dangerous rear brake pad and rotor wear on my 2021 Volkswagen Jetta, purchased new in March 2022. At approximately 25,000 miles — well below any reasonable expectation of normal brake wear — I was informed by a service technician that my rear brake pads required immediate replacement due to excessive wear. The front brakes showed no comparable wear, which is inconsistent with normal braking patterns and strongly suggests a manufacturing or design defect. SAFETY CONCERN:

NHTSA complaint 11736753, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
I took my car into dealer at 20,000 miles. They told me rear brake pads and rotors needed to be replaced. At that time, they were replaced under warranty. I took my car into dealer at 34,000 miles for regular service and was told rear brake pads and rotors needed to be replaced. Pads were at 3%, service associate warned me about driving on the highway. I took my car to another location and mechanic for a second opinion and was told "rear brake pads approx. 2mm remaining friction material, and brake rotors are overheated & scored. Not knowing that my rear brakes had worn down to this level in 14,000 miles put myself and other drivers at risk. I had no warning nor did I experience any

NHTSA complaint 11720536, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving home from work last night, I heard a loud noise that sounded like a gun going off right in the passenger compartment of my Jetta. A lot of wind noise followed. I thought initially that a tire might have blown out, but it was the car’s sunroof that had spontaneously and inexplicably exploded. There was no one close to me on the road, so I don’t believe a foreign object struck the roof. I was able to drive the car home, but the sunroof is demolished.

NHTSA complaint 11700262. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Volkswagen Jetta

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 23 2
2024 39 0
2023 42 0
2022 42 1
2020 51 6
2019 545 11
2018 31 2
2017 159 6 1
2016 160 4
2015 193 7
2014 386 4
2013 516 4
2012 499 5
2011 606 7
2010 852 4

Other 2021 Volkswagen models

Every Volkswagen on this site — 152 vehicles, 256 recall campaigns and 2 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst