YearToAvoid

2021 Volkswagen Golf Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Best The 2021 Volkswagen Golf ranks among the best Golf years, with a complaint index of 22, just 7 complaints, and 1 recall. Electrical System issues make up 57% of complaints, but no crashes, fires, or injuries were reported.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
22/100
#15 of 19 Golf years
Verdict
Best
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
7
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
0
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Top issue
Electrical System
Best nearby year
2020
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
32.5
29 city / 37.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2021 Volkswagen Golf problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System4 (57%)
  2. Brakes2 (29%)
  3. Airbags1 (14%)
  4. Engine1 (14%)
  5. Other1 (14%)
  6. Seat Belts1 (14%)
  7. Steering1 (14%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain1 (14%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Power steering system warning light flashed and the steering wheel locked up while driving, forcing the driver to muscle the car to the shoulder.
  • Door wiring harness faults caused driver-side blinkers to stop working, windows to roll down on their own, and rear collision detector errors.
  • Hill hold assist was reported to disengage too slowly, causing a near rear-end collision after braking on an incline.
  • Both headlight lens assemblies cracked excessively, reducing headlight output.
  • Intermittent drivability and shifting problems appeared alongside repeated EPC and check engine warnings linked to an intake air temperature sensor code.
  • A right rear seat belt buckle failed to latch, leaving the mechanism unable to catch or lock.
2021 Volkswagen Golf complaints: complaints filed per month1Jul 2022Jan 2023Jan 2024Feb 2024Jul 2024Apr 2026Aug 2026
7 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2022 to Aug 2026; peak Jul 2022 (1).

2021 Volkswagen Golf recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V716000Nov 18, 2020Collision Avoidance & Cameras32,048 vehicles

    Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

    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.

    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.

2021 Volkswagen Golf fuel economy and fuel cost

City
29 MPG
Highway
37.5 MPG
Combined
32.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,000
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2021 compared with other Golf years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Avoid78636 !32
2020Best176231.5
2021Best227132.5
2022Avoid89810—
2023Good44110—

All Volkswagen Golf years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Volkswagen Golf reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 Golf carries a Best verdict among Golf model years, with a complaint index of 22 and only 7 complaints logged.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Volkswagen Golf?
Electrical System issues are the top problem area, accounting for 57% of complaints, including power steering warning lights, wiring harness faults, and headlight lens cracking.
Does the 2021 Volkswagen Golf have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2021 Golf covering a rear view camera that could malfunction during ignition; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2021 Golf compare to other Golf years?
The 2021 Golf ranks 15th worst out of 19 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 22, far below Avoid-rated years like 2015 (100) and 2017 (94).
Were there any crashes or injuries reported for the 2021 Golf?
No. NHTSA data shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported for the 2021 Golf.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.