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Volkswagen · NHTSA safety record

2021 Volkswagen Jetta

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

Owners have filed 69 safety complaints about the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta with the US government. Of those, 3 describe a crash, 1 person was injured and 2 deaths are recorded. 4 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 25 complaints, 36% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 9,000 miles, the median across the 8 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers May 2021 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

69 complaints on file

69

Complaints

3

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

1

People injured

2

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

Complaints halved year on year: 6 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 19 in the twelve before.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
SERVICE BRAKES 25 · 36%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13 · 19%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 11 · 16%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 9 · 13%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 9 · 13%
AIR BAGS 5 · 7%
ENGINE 5 · 7%
LANE DEPARTURE 4 · 6%
SEAT BELTS 3 · 4%
STEERING 3 · 4%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 3 · 4%
POWER TRAIN 2 · 3%
0 12 23

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 69.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

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

24 18 12 6
21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2021 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2021 Volkswagen JETTA, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test 4 DR FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 13.1%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

4 on file

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

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

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.

AIR BAGS
There is a known issue released by Volkswagen that certain model years of their vehicles are eligible for a limited extended warranty regarding the clock spring. In their release announcement VWP-18-11 on April 27, 2023, they specifically mentioned vehicle year model 2010 to 2022 qualifies for U37 Warranty key if the issue exists. However, my 2021 Volkswagen Jetta is excluded from this because they told me there is no identified issue as of now. However, the clock spring damage can lead to a severe safety concern that the driver's airbag won't be triggered and the front alert is not working properly as well. Taking these into consideration, Volkswagen still declined my request to offer the

NHTSA complaint 11766739, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
There appears to be a known issue with the rear braking system on the VW Jetta for various model years including 2021. The issue seems to be a combination of soft brake pads combined with the autonomous braking system which overuses the brakes and causes premature wear. This rear autonomous braking system cannot be turned off. VW acknowledged this issue by issuing Policy and Procedure Bulletin VWP 22-18 on 12/20/2022 which extended the warranty on the rear brake pads to 2 years or 24K miles. This extension was due to a premature wear issue though they did not acknowledge in the bulletin that the autonomous braking system was to blame or faulty. I had to replace my rear brakes and rotors at

NHTSA complaint 11764312, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mid June 2026 infotainment update was over the air software update. Update caused infotainment failures: looping screen resets, unable to play audio, disruption to screen during safety features such as back up cam, unable to accomplish directions, CarPlay no longer consistent feature. None of these listed problems were present before over the air software update.

NHTSA complaint 11761522. 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.

Compare

Other years of the Volkswagen Jetta

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 6 1 —
2025 29 2 —
2024 44 0 —
2023 43 0 —
2022 43 1 —
2020 53 6 —
2019 549 11 —
2018 31 2 —
2017 159 6 1
2016 161 4 —
2015 194 7 —
2014 386 4 —
2013 516 4 —
2012 499 5 —
2011 607 7 —
2010 852 4 —

Other 2021 Volkswagen models

Every Volkswagen on this site — 155 vehicles.

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. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

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