2021 Volkswagen Gti problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (1) · Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking (1) · Electrical System (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volkswagen Gti model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (1)
Equipment:electrical:infotainment:software 2022-07-20 · campaign 22V514000 · 43,091 vehicles
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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (380)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-09-17 · V0116152014815_20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
suggested fuel additive
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-09 · SM 39-2026 · Other
this special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
Service Brakes 2026-08-27 · V4622022067177_5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
repair or replace information
Power Train 2026-08-10 · V4015022033347_8 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
replacement instruction
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-06 · TT 00-13-04_7 · Other
permission to change daily order upgraded to red order
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-04 · V0026012081638_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
differences between a leak and seepage
Showing the 6 most recent of 380 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-07-29 · Unknown Or Other“what component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? component: the mib3 infotainment head unit (specifically the internal emmc memory chip) and the motorized rearview camera trunk emblem assembly.inspection: yes, the vehicle and all malfunctioning components are fully available for inspection upon req…”
2025-10-02 · Electrical System“at around 38,000 miles (4 years into my lease), the airbag warning light came on in my 2021 volkswagen gti. pasadena volkswagen inspected the vehicle and confirmed the airbag control module had failed due to water intrusion from a clogged a/c drain tube, with a repair estimate of $1,974. because the module is damaged, the airbag system is disabled …”
2021-08-28 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking“my car has, on several occasions, slammed the breaks on while i’m reversing, while suggesting that i am about to hit something, even though there is nothing there. it is very scary because i have no way of knowing when this will happen. also it turns off the head unit and goes black while i am in reverse or trying to follow the directions. and fina…”
2021-02-05 · Power Train · 300 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2021 volkswagen gti. the contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a red light, the vehicle would not drive forward and rolled into the intersection. the vehicle was towed to the local dealer toms rivers volkswagen located at 256 nj-37, toms river, nj 08753, who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty. the ve…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.