Volkswagen · GTI · 2021
1
Recall
3
Complaints
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Not Rated
The 2021 Volkswagen GTI has 1 recall and 3 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: electrical system,engine,forward collision avoidance (1 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
The 2021 Volkswagen GTI page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is electrical system,engine,forward collision avoidance with 1 reported complaint.
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
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."
Remedy Status
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.
At around 38,000 miles (4 years into my lease), the airbag warning light came on in my 2021 Volkswagen GTI. Pasadena Volkswagen inspected the vehicle and confirmed the airbag control module had failed due to water intrusion from a clogged A/C drain tube, with a repair estimate of...
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My car has, on several occasions, slammed the breaks on while I’m reversing, while suggesting that I am about to hit something, even though there is nothing there. It is very scary because I have no way of knowing when this will happen. Also it turns off the head unit and goes bl...
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE FORWARD AND ROLLED INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER TOMS RIVERS VOLKSWAGEN LOCATED AT 256 NJ-37, TOMS R...
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Showing 3 recent complaints from 3 total
View Full Complaint LogThe strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2021 Volkswagen models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
The 2021 Volkswagen GTI has 1 recall recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 3 owner-reported complaints for the 2021 Volkswagen GTI.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2021 Volkswagen GTI.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2021 Volkswagen GTI are electrical system,engine,forward collision avoidance (1 reports), electrical system,air bags (1 reports), power train (1 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 1 recall on record for the 2021 Volkswagen GTI. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.