2021 Volkswagen Jetta GLI problems and recalls

Owner complaints on the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta GLI include 2 fatality reports, 3 crashes and 0 fires across 69 filings.

69
Complaints
0
Recalls
3
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
1
Injuries
95.2
Severity index

Severity index 95.2 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 95.2p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 8 of 94 by severity index among 2021 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 91% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2021 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Service BrakesService Brakes: 26 complaints (37.7%)26 38%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 13 complaints (18.8%)13 19%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 11 complaints (15.9%)11 16%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 9 complaints (13.0%)9 13%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 9 complaints (13.0%)9 13%Air BagsAir Bags: 5 complaints (7.2%)5 7%EngineEngine: 5 complaints (7.2%)5 7%Lane DepartureLane Departure: 4 complaints (5.8%)4 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
SERVICE BRAKES2637.7%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1318.8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1115.9%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE913.0%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM913.0%
AIR BAGS57.2%
ENGINE57.2%
LANE DEPARTURE45.8%

Complaints filed per year

010212021: 52022: 122023: 132024: 212025: 102026: 8 (partial year)21222324212526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20215
202212
202313
202421
202510
2026 (year to date)8
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 2.6x those in 2021 to 2022 (44 against 17).

Other Volkswagen Jetta GLI model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 2 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-28. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.