The Lemon Index2021 Volkswagen Jetta.
The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta is better than average by owner complaints: 51 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 76, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about brakes, it has 4 recalls, and it gets 28 to 34 mpg combined. The best Volkswagen Jetta year is 2018.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 69 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Volkswagen Jetta year. 2021 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 1K to 17K miles on the car (8 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 4
- back over prevention 2022
The manufacturing process of the eMMC memory module in the infotainment system may cause the rearview camera image not to display.
- airbags 2021
The air bag control module was welded in the incorrect position.
- seats 2021
Bolts may be missing from the front seat tracks.
Show all 4 recalls
- back over prevention 2020
The rear view camera could malfunction during an ignition cycle, leading to a black screen or infotainment system freeze.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Volkswagen told dealers about
Volkswagen sent dealers 487 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Brake Rotor, Vibration / Pulsation Instruction (U.S
- Brake Rotor, Vibration / Pulsation
- Customer states rattle noise from the underbody heat shields Customer states brake noise, dust…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Jetta 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Volkswagen Jetta GLI 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1900–2300 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.4L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
The right rear brake disk and inner pad wore out prematurely. Only the inside of the brake disk and pad were worn, metal to metal. ALL other brake disks and brake pads were "normal" for a car with 22,000 miles.
2021 Volkswagen Jetta owner · NHTSA complaint 11584078
More owner reports
Right rear brake pads at 33.5K (mostly highway miles) are completely worn. (Cannot be blamed on the driving pattern)
NHTSA complaint 11592967
Brake pedal sunk to floor. No Brakes at all. Vehicle being brought to VW dealership10/24/ 2022.No warning /lamps, or indications of brake problem.
NHTSA complaint 11490452
Quick answers
Is the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.3× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 76; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Volkswagen Jetta year by this measure is 2018.
What are the most common 2021 Volkswagen Jetta problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (35%), electrical (16%) and automatic emergency braking (14%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta have?
4 safety recalls (latest: back over prevention). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta get?
28 to 34 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
Does the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta cost in fuel a year?
About $1900 to $2300 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta have?
1.4L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl.
What Volkswagen Jetta year is better than the 2021?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2020 and 2015.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works