The Lemon IndexAll cars · Volkswagen Golf · 2021
2021 Volkswagen Golf. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical | 43% |
| Brakes | 29% |
| Steering | 14% |
| Airbags | 14% |
| Lights | 14% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 2
22V514000 Jul 2022 Back Over Prevention / Sensing System / Camera
Defect. 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."
Risk. A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
20V716000 Nov 2020 Back Over Prevention / Sensing System / Camera
Defect. 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.
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Golf 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Volkswagen Golf GTI 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Engines and drivetrains 4
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | FWD | 29 / 39 / 33 | Regular | $1,900 |
| 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (S8) | FWD | 29 / 36 / 32 | Regular | $1,950 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (AM-S7) | FWD | 24 / 32 / 27 | Regular | $2,300 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | FWD | 23 / 30 / 26 | Regular | $2,400 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
YouTube repair topics
198 videos about the 2015–2021 Volkswagen Golf, 154.1M views.
| Topic | Videos | Views |
|---|---|---|
| Infotainment, battery & electrical | 2 | 4.3M |
| Timing chain & engine | 2 | 1.8M |
| Oil changes & service | 2 | 821K |
| Windows, doors & mirrors | 2 | 707K |
| Cooling system | 1 | 466K |
| Gauges, lights & wiring | 2 | 445K |
| Transmission & shifter | 1 | 258K |
| Death wobble & steering | 1 | 182K |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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