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2021 Volkswagen Jetta

Gas
Compact Cars
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
78 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns4
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA67
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA34 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Jetta, is EPA-rated at 34 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 67 complaints, most often about the service brakes. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
JettaGasFWD1.4L 4-cyl turbo304134$1,850
JettaGasFWD1.4L 4-cyl turbo293933$1,900
Jetta GLIGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243528$2,250
Jetta GLIGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo243328$2,250

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43249, 43248, 43246, 43247.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
○minor

Back Over Prevention

91DV
43,091 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen 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."RiskA rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 22V514000reported Jul 20, 2022Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
▲high

Air Bags

69CK
379 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen 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.RiskIncorrect 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.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 21V492000reported Jun 30, 2021Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
▲high

Seats

72L6
57 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen 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.RiskThe seat can move front and back without restriction if bolts are missing, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.FixVolkswagen 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.
NHTSA campaign 21V038000reported Feb 1, 2021Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
○minor

Back Over Prevention

91BB / 91BC
32,048 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen 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."RiskA black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.FixVolkswagen 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.
NHTSA campaign 20V716000reported Nov 18, 2020Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
67complaints filed

3 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injuries · 2 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2021: 5 · 2022: 12 · 2023: 13 · 2024: 21 · 2025: 10 · 2026: 6

Most-cited components

Service Brakes24
Electrical System13
Unspecified11
Forward Collision Avoidance10
Fuel/Propulsion System9
Engine5

What owners describe

“I purchased my Volkswagen Jetta July 2021. I had been getting my car serviced ever since at the dealership in Orange Park for routine maintenance, repairs, and recalls. There were times when I brought the vehicle to the dealership and the check engine light was on but they said nothing was wrong. I continue to complain…”Mar 9, 2023 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report
“The car would not turn on while using the start/stop feature on three different occasions. Once at a stop sign when I wanted to reverse to make sure I was not pulled out too far into an intersection. I was stuck and could not get out of the way of a car coming. Each time I had to shut the vehicle off completely to rest…”Feb 16, 2023 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“Bad bearing in left front wheel. Radio shuts down anytime even when reverse camera is active. Front collision warning and auto braking for clear road, no obstruction. Smog warning override when check engine light for fuel system delivery done by mechanic at Flow VW of Greensboro NC. Car has been in shop for all of thes…”Jan 28, 2023 · Fuel/Propulsion System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆13%
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆13%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Compare the 2021 Jetta with

2021 Toyota Corolla →

Other Jetta model years

A

2027 Volkswagen Jetta

0 recalls · 0 complaints

B

2026 Volkswagen Jetta

1 recalls · 5 complaints

C

2025 Volkswagen Jetta

2 recalls · 28 complaints

A

2024 Volkswagen Jetta

0 recalls · 43 complaints

A

2023 Volkswagen Jetta

0 recalls · 43 complaints

A

2022 Volkswagen Jetta

1 recalls · 42 complaints

F

2020 Volkswagen Jetta

6 recalls · 51 complaints

F

2019 Volkswagen Jetta

11 recalls · 545 complaints

C

2018 Volkswagen Jetta

2 recalls · 31 complaints

F

2017 Volkswagen Jetta

6 recalls · 159 complaints

F

2016 Volkswagen Jetta

4 recalls · 164 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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