Model year 2021 · Compact Cars

2021 Volkswagen Jetta: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta at 28–34 mpg combined across 4 versions. NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 70 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.

Safety recalls

EPA combined mpg

28–34

NHTSA overall rating

5/5

Recall file dated Oct 28, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 28, 2026, 7:36 AM EDT

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Volkswagen dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2021 Volkswagen Jetta recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 4 safety recalls for the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta, newest first.

Equipment: Electrical: Infotainment: Software and 1 more component

NHTSA 22V514000 Reported Jul 20, 2022

Filed by: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. 91DV)
Components: Equipment: Electrical: Infotainment: Software; Back over prevention: Sensing system: Camera
Units affected: 43,091 (estimate)
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."
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.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Air bags: Air bag/restraint control module

NHTSA 21V492000 Reported Jun 30, 2021

Filed by: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. 69CK)
Units affected: 379 (estimate)
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.
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.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Seats: Critical fasteners and 1 more component

NHTSA 21V038000 Reported Feb 1, 2021

Filed by: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. 72L6)
Components: Seats: Critical fasteners; Seats
Units affected: 57 (estimate)
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.
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.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Back over prevention: Sensing system: Camera

NHTSA 20V716000 Reported Nov 18, 2020

Filed by: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. 91BB / 91BC)
Units affected: 32,048 (estimate)
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."
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.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2021 Volkswagen Jetta fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2021 Volkswagen Jetta EPA fuel economy
Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	Fuel	City/Hwy/Comb	Fuel cost/yr	CO2 g/mi
Jetta	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 8-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	29/39/33 mpg	$2,050	266
Jetta	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	Manual 6-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	30/41/34 mpg	$1,950	260
Jetta GLI	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 7-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	24/35/28 mpg	$2,400	314
Jetta GLI	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	Manual 6-spd	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	24/33/28 mpg	$2,400	319

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2021 Volkswagen Jetta crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2021 Volkswagen Jetta NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk	Forward collision warning
2021 Volkswagen Jetta 4 DR FWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	13.1%	Optional
2021 Volkswagen Jetta GLI 4 DR FWD	5 stars	4 stars	5 stars	4 stars	13.1%	Standard

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2021 Volkswagen Jetta owner complaints

Owners have filed 70 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta, most recently on Oct 22, 2026. 3 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 1 injured people and 2 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2021 Volkswagen Jetta complaints
Component named in complaints	Mentions
Service brakes	25
Electrical system	13
Unknown or other	11
Fuel/propulsion system	10
Engine	5
Forward collision avoidance: Automatic emergency braking	5
Air bags	4
Forward collision avoidance: Warnings	4
Seat belts	3
Steering	3

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other Volkswagen Jetta model years

Volkswagen Jetta by model year
Year	Combined	Recalls	Complaints	Overall rating
2027 Jetta	33–34 mpg	—	—	5/5
2026 Jetta	33–34 mpg	1	6	5/5
2025 Jetta	33 mpg	2	32	5/5
2024 Jetta	33–34 mpg	0	46	5/5
2023 Jetta	33–35 mpg	0	43	5/5
2022 Jetta	33–35 mpg	1	43	5/5
2020 Jetta	28–34 mpg	6	54	5/5
2019 Jetta	28–34 mpg	11	550	5/5
2018 Jetta	27–33 mpg	2	32	5/5
2017 Jetta	27–33 mpg	6	160	5/5
2016 Jetta	27–44 mpg	4	164	5/5
2015 Jetta	26–44 mpg	8	197	5/5

All Volkswagen Jetta years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2021 Volkswagen models

2021 Volkswagen Arteon 2021 Volkswagen Atlas 2021 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 2021 Volkswagen Passat 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

Sources

Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 28, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Volkswagen.