2021 Volkswagen JETTA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2021 Volkswagen JETTA has 93 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (27% of all complaints), specifically: brake pedal sunk to floor. no brakes at all. vehicle being brought to vw dealership10/24/ 2022.no warning /lamps, or indications of brake problem..

3 crash reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

25 complaints

27%

• Brake pedal sunk to floor. No Brakes at all. Vehicle being brought to VW dealership10/24/ 2022.No warning /lamps, or indications of brake problem.
• Recently had the rear brake pads replaced at appx 30,000 miles under normal driving conditions. (suburban driving, no towing or any driving behavior that would accelerate excessive/irregular wear). Significantly, during the 5/5/2022 20,000 mile oil change the dealer noted the following:, "rear
• I recently took in my 2021 VW Jetta to the dealership for a routine service visit. The car is 18 months old and has 24,000 miles on it. I constantly get a recurring loud squeaking brake noise when reversing the car after a cold start. It seems to be coming from the rear brakes. I took the vehicle to

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“Brake pedal sunk to floor. No Brakes at all. Vehicle being brought to VW dealership10/24/ 2022.No warning /lamps, or indications of brake problem.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

11 complaints

12%

• When I started the car an alert came on the said the door there was a driver door contact switch error. When I was trying to back up the emergency brake came on. The door was closed. There was an electric parking break error. Also a start stop error. When trying to go forward the parking brake kept
• 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
• 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 of

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“When I started the car an alert came on the said the door there was a driver door contact switch error. When I was trying to back up the emergency brake came on. The door was closed. There was an electric parking break error. Also a start stop error. When trying to go forward the parking brake kept ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

11 complaints

12%

• When I started the car an alert came on the said the door there was a driver door contact switch error. When I was trying to back up the emergency brake came on. The door was closed. There was an electric parking break error. Also a start stop error. When trying to go forward the parking brake kept
• When I started the car an alert came on the said the door there was a driver door contact switch error. When I was trying to back up the emergency brake came on. The door was closed. There was an electric parking break error. Also a start stop error. When trying to go forward the parking brake kept
• The car suddenly warned and stopped abruptly while we were traveling over a steel plate on the road. There were no other hazards in the road and no other cars in front of us in our lane (there were cars oncoming in the opposite traffic lane, but none had crossed over into ours). While we were impres

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

9 complaints

10%

• CONFLICTING TORQUE SPEC IS LISTED FOR THE WHEEL BOLTS. THE OWNER'S MANUAL (17A012723SF) SPECIFIES 120 NM, BUT I SEE A ODI TSBS (HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2020/MC-10183302-0001.PDF) THAT INDICATES THE TORQUE SPEC IS 140 NM. THAT IS A LARGE DISCREPANCY.
• This model Jetta seems to have an issue with the rear license plate mount. The rear license plate mount sandwiches the license plate between a plastic piece attached to the vehicle body and a plastic piece with branding specific to the dealership. The issue I have is when I unscrewed them to remove
• I have noticed an issue with how easily the rear, passenger-side seatbelt is able to be clicked into the buckle. Initially when I got the car, passengers using that seatbelt did not seem to have any issue with easily clicking the seatbelt into the buckle. More recently, it seems my passengers using

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“CONFLICTING TORQUE SPEC IS LISTED FOR THE WHEEL BOLTS. THE OWNER'S MANUAL (17A012723SF) SPECIFIES 120 NM, BUT I SEE A ODI TSBS (HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2020/MC-10183302-0001.PDF) THAT INDICATES THE TORQUE SPEC IS 140 NM. THAT IS A LARGE DISCREPANCY.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

9 complaints

10%

• I have been having issues with the EVAP system in my 2021 VW Jetta. It has been in the shop at least 7 times since around 12K miles for the same issue. They have replaced all parts and upgraded the software several times and it is still an issue. My check engine light comes on and off all the tim
• I have driven my 2021 VW Jetta about 56,000 miles. Literally the whole time I have owned this car the check engine light has been on for an evaporative emissions issue. I have brought it into the dealer about six times. They have replaced everything associated with this system at least once and h
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I have been having issues with the EVAP system in my 2021 VW Jetta. It has been in the shop at least 7 times since around 12K miles for the same issue. They have replaced all parts and upgraded the software several times and it is still an issue. My check engine light comes on and off all the tim”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 93 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: Brake pedal sunk to floor. No Brakes at all. Vehicle being brought to VW dealership10/24/ 2022.No warning /lamps, or indications of brake problem.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: When I started the car an alert came on the said the door there was a driver door contact switch error. When I was trying to back up the emergency brake came on. The door was closed. There was an electric parking break error. Also a start stop error. When trying to go forward the parking brake kept
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: When I started the car an alert came on the said the door there was a driver door contact switch error. When I was trying to back up the emergency brake came on. The door was closed. There was an electric parking break error. Also a start stop error. When trying to go forward the parking brake kept
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: CONFLICTING TORQUE SPEC IS LISTED FOR THE WHEEL BOLTS. THE OWNER'S MANUAL (17A012723SF) SPECIFIES 120 NM, BUT I SEE A ODI TSBS (HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2020/MC-10183302-0001.PDF) THAT INDICATES THE TORQUE SPEC IS 140 NM. THAT IS A LARGE DISCREPANCY.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)