2021 Volkswagen Jetta recalls

4 safety recalls, 71 owner complaints and a 5-star NHTSA crash rating. Official NHTSA data.

2026202520242023202220212020
4Recalls
71Complaints
3Crashes & fires reported
5/5NHTSA overall rating

Not every 2021 Volkswagen Jetta is affected by every recall. Check your VIN to see open recalls on your exact vehicle.

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2021 Volkswagen Jetta recall list

Back Over Prevention recall

22V-514
July 20, 2022 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Problem
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."
Safety risk
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 recall

21V-492
June 30, 2021 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Problem
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.
Safety 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.
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.

Seats recall

21V-038
February 1, 2021 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Problem
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.
Safety risk
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.

Back Over Prevention recall

20V-716
November 18, 2020 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Problem
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."
Safety risk
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.

2021 Volkswagen Jetta owner complaints

71 complaints filed with NHTSA, including 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury and 2 deaths.

Problems by component

Service Brakes25
Electrical System13
Fuel/Propulsion System11
Unknown or Other11
Forward Collision Avoidance9
Air Bags5
Engine5
Lane Departure4
Visibility/Wiper3
Steering3

Recent complaints

October 29, 2026Fuel/Propulsion System

EVAP N80 purge valve failed under 34,000 miles. Dealer refused to cover due to time elapsed. Replaced out-of-pocket due to predatory dealership repair pricing for a known manufacturing defect.

October 22, 2026Fuel/Propulsion System

> The fuel/propulsion system experienced continuous refueling difficulties characterized by premature nozzle shut-offs and trapped air in the fuel tank, preventing normal refueling operations. This ongoing malfunction creates potential safety hazards during vehicle operation and roadside refueling. UNKNOWN if reproduced or confirmed by a dealership, and the vehicle has not yet been formally inspected by manufacturer representatives, police, or insurance. No warning lamps or dashboard messages have appeared prior to or during the failure.

September 24, 2026Air BagsForward Collision Avoidance

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 l

September 15, 2026Service 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 2

September 2, 2026Electrical SystemUnknown or Other

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.

2021 Volkswagen Jetta crash test ratings

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
2021 Volkswagen Jetta 4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

Driver aids on the tested 2021 Volkswagen Jetta: electronic stability control standard, forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning no. Rollover risk: 13.1%.

2021 Volkswagen Jetta recall FAQ

Does the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls for the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta. The most recent, filed July 20, 2022, concerns the back over prevention.

What are the most common 2021 Volkswagen Jetta problems?

Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA. The most reported area is service brakes (25 reports), followed by electrical system.

Is the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta safe?

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta earned up to a 5-star overall safety rating in NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program crash tests.

How do I get a recall fixed on my 2021 Volkswagen Jetta?

Contact any authorized Volkswagen dealer. Recall repairs are free, even if you are not the original owner or the warranty has expired.