2021 Volkswagen Golf Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Golf years
- Not enough data 23rd of 29 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Volkswagen Golf. That ranks 23rd out of 29 Golf model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (3 complaints, 43%). There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
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- 7owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 Volkswagen Golf problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 | 43% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 29% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 14% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2021 Volkswagen Golf recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Problem: 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."
Risk: A black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
my car is 5 years old, only has 37291miles. Failed Component: Seat Belts (Right Rear Passenger Buckle) Description of Incident: The right rear passenger seat belt buckle assembly has suffered a complete mechanical latch failure. When attempting to insert the seat belt tongue into the buckle…
Since shortly after purchase, the vehicle has experienced intermittent drivability and shifting issues along with repeated EPC and check engine warnings. Diagnostic trouble code P0111 (intake air temperature plausibility) has been present along with other electrical and engine management faults. A…
Headlight lens assembly of both headlights is cracking excessively. Upon review of online forums, this is happening frequently to many consumers. This impacts headlight output and looks to be manufacturing defect. Recently reported to dealer who indicated they have seen many of these recently and…
I was almost rear ended because Hill hold assist did not disengage quickly. Iâve driven manual transmission for over 40 years and find this hill hold dangerous!
The last few months my schedule changed and I'm driving in the dark now. The auto dimming mirror does not function as expected, it is too slow in response to prevent glare and blinding from vehicles behind me. By the time the mirror decides to dim I'm already blinded from the glare and can no…
Other Volkswagen Golf years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Golf | 11 | 0 |
| 2022 Golf | 81 | 0 |
| 2021 | 7 | 1 |
| 2020 Golf | 6 | 2 |
| 2019 Golf | 63 | 6 |
| 2018 Golf | 29 | 6 |
| 2017 Golf | 117 | 5 |
| 2016 Golf | 85 | 9 |
| 2015 Golf | 131 | 12 |
| 2014 Golf | 12 | 5 |
| 2013 Golf | 43 | 5 |
| 2012 Golf | 48 | 6 |
| 2011 Golf | 110 | 6 |
| 2010 Golf | 69 | 4 |
| 2009 Golf | 3 | 0 |
| 2008 Golf | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 Golf | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 Golf | 12 | 1 |
| 2005 Golf | 19 | 2 |
| 2004 Golf | 28 | 2 |
| 2003 Golf | 26 | 2 |
| 2002 Golf | 74 | 3 |
| 2001 Golf | 116 | 5 |
| 2000 Golf | 88 | 5 |
| 1999 Golf | 64 | 4 |
| 1998 Golf | 18 | 1 |
| 1997 Golf | 7 | 0 |
| 1996 Golf | 3 | 1 |
| 1995 Golf | 43 | 4 |
See all Volkswagen Golf problems by year, every Volkswagen model, or the Volkswagen VIN decoder.
Similar Volkswagen models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Volkswagen Golf?
Owners most often report electrical system, service brakes, air bags problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Volkswagen Golf?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 Volkswagen Golf a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Golf model years, the 2021 has too little data to compare, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.