Reliable Auto DB

2021 Volkswagen Jetta reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta has 69 complaints with NHTSA after 6 years, or 10 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Jetta years here — under the median of the other years, which is 16. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Camera, Air bag control module, and Seats.

2012 Volkswagen Jetta
Photo by ChengH, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0
Complaints

69

Per year

10

Recalls

4

Years on the road

6

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Service brakes (25 of 69), then Electrical system (13) and Forward collision avoidance (9). Those filings include 3 that report a crash, 1 that reports an injury, and 2 that report a death.

Next to 2020 and 2022

The 2020 Jetta has 52 complaints, 7 per year, and the 2022 has 43 complaints, 8 per year. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2021 Volkswagen Jetta. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (4)

Recall back-over prevention, sensing system, camera 2022-07-20 · NHTSA campaign 22V514000
Summary 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 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.
Recall air bags, air bag control module 2021-06-30 · NHTSA campaign 21V492000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall Seats 2021-02-01 · NHTSA campaign 21V038000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall back-over prevention, sensing system, camera 2020-11-18 · NHTSA campaign 20V716000
Summary 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."
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.

Complaints by component (69 total)

Service brakes
25
Electrical system
13
Forward collision avoidance
9
Fuel and propulsion system
9
Air bags
5
Engine
5
Lane departure
4
Seat belts
3
Steering
3
Visibility and wipers
3
Powertrain
2
Back-over prevention
1
Exterior lighting
1
Hydraulic brakes
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Seats
1
Suspension
1
Visibility
1
Show 10 more Show less
Crash-flagged

3

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

1

Death reports

2

Complaints filed per year

5202112202213202321202410202582026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "There is a known issue released by Volkswagen that certain model years of their vehicles are eligible for a limited extended warranty regarding the clock spring. In their release announcement VWP-18-11 on April 27,…"
    Air bags, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-09-24
  • "There appears to be a known issue with the rear braking system on the VW Jetta for various model years including 2021. The issue seems to be a combination of soft brake pads combined with the autonomous braking system…"
    Service brakes · filed 2026-09-15
  • "Mid June 2026 infotainment update was over the air software update. Update caused infotainment failures: looping screen resets, unable to play audio, disruption to screen during safety features such as back up cam,…"
    Electrical system, Unknown or other · filed 2026-09-02
  • "While traveling at the posted speed limit and approaching a signalized intersection, I attempted to brake for stopped traffic ahead. The vehicle did not decelerate as expected, and the automatic emergency…"
    Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-07-14
  • "Volkswagen corporate deployed a mandatory over-the-air (OTA) software update to the MIB3 infotainment system. The update failed mid-installation, entirely bricking the J794 information module. This failure completely…"
    Electrical system, Unknown or other, Lane departure · filed 2026-07-01

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Jetta 1.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Front-wheel drive 29 39 33 MPG $1950
Jetta 1.4L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 30 41 34 MPG $1900
Jetta GLI 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 24 33 28 MPG $2300
Jetta GLI 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AM-S7) Front-wheel drive 24 35 28 MPG $2300

Specs and fitment

Mk7 (A7), 2019–present
Body styles Sedan
Oil VW 508.00 0W-20 (1.4L/1.5L turbo; see manual for 2.0L) , 4.8 qt capacity
Tire size 205/55R17

Known issues for this generation

Recall 18V-904 covers certain 2019 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles among other VW models: rear coil springs may prematurely fracture and damage a rear tire, causing loss of control; dealers replace the rear axle coil springs. Recall 18V-671 covers certain 2019 Jetta vehicles with LED headlights: the passenger-side headlight may be incorrectly positioned, reducing nighttime visibility and failing FMVSS headlamp aim requirements; dealers replace the passenger-side headlight. Confirm VIN applicability because related campaigns also list Atlas and other nameplates under shared totals.

Compare

Previous year 2020 Volkswagen Jetta Next year 2022 Volkswagen Jetta See every Volkswagen Jetta model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta has 69 complaints with NHTSA after 6 years, or 10 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Jetta years here — under the median of the other years, which is 16. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Camera, Air bag control module, and Seats.

What are common problems with a 2021 Volkswagen Jetta?

The complaints owners file most often name Service brakes (25 of 69), then Electrical system (13) and Forward collision avoidance (9). Those filings include 3 that report a crash, 1 that reports an injury, and 2 that report a death.

Is the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2020 Jetta has 52 complaints, 7 per year, and the 2022 has 43 complaints, 8 per year. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

Has the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta been recalled?

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta?

Owners have filed 69 complaints about the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2021 Volkswagen Jetta get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta is 30.8 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a Volkswagen Jetta use?

VW 502.00/504.00 5W-30 or 0W-20 (engine dependent)

What does NHTSA recall 20V-648 cover on the Volkswagen Jetta?

NHTSA safety recall 20V648000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

What generation is the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta?

Mk6 (A6) (2012-2018).