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2021 Volkswagen Golf
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2021 Volkswagen Golf, most frequently naming the electrical, brakes and exterior lighting categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 417 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 2022 | 1 | 1 |
| Jan 2023 | 1 | 2 |
| Jan 2024 | 1 | 3 |
| Feb 2024 | 1 | 4 |
| Jul 2024 | 1 | 5 |
| Apr 2026 | 1 | 6 |
| Aug 2026 | 1 | 7 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Electrical327.3%
- Brakes218.2%
- Exterior lighting19.1%
- Powertrain (other)19.1%
- Seat belts19.1%
- Airbags19.1%
- Steering19.1%
- Engine19.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govRecent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
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 receptacle, the internal latching mechanism fails to engage, catch, or lock. The seat belt cannot be secured under any amount of pressure, rendering the entire passenger seating position completely unusable and unsafe. This is a premature component failure of a core, federally regulated safety restraint system on a vehicle with only 37,291 miles. The vehicle has not been involved in any prior collisions, and there is no physical damage or debris inside the buckle. The part has simply failed mechanically under normal, low-frequency usage. Crash/Injury/Fire: No crash or injury has occurred yet because the seating position is being left vacant due to the extreme safety risk. Nor was there any debris found by VW service technicians Remedy: The vehicle manufacturer (Volkswagen) has been notified of the component failure. Volkswagen corporate case number is 07656953.
- NHTSA ID
- 11755119
- Incident
- Aug 4, 2026
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 Volkswagen dealership diagnosis indicated that the intake air temperature sensor and an additional engine insulation “hood blanket” component (not originally installed on the vehicle) are required to address the issue. These components were presented as necessary to correct the fault and resolve intermittent shifting behavior. The shifting issue is intermittent but occurs during normal driving and raises safety concerns due to unpredictable drivability and transmission behavior. The vehicle continues to exhibit warning lights and unresolved performance issues despite multiple repair attempts. The dealership has not identified a clear root cause, and prior repairs including sensor and EVAP-related components have not resolved the condition. Given the involvement of transmission-related drivability concerns and repeated unresolved electronic faults affecting engine performance, I am filing this complaint as a potential safety-related defect affecting normal vehicle operation.
- NHTSA ID
- 11733997
- Incident
- Dec 31, 1969
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 so far most have been handled by warranty but they would take pictures and submit. If this is known mfg defect why are their not proactive remedy/replacement?
- NHTSA ID
- 11603172
- Incident
- Jul 7, 2023
I was almost rear ended because Hill hold assist did not disengage quickly. I’ve driven manual transmission for over 40 years and find this hill hold dangerous!
- NHTSA ID
- 11569730
- Incident
- Feb 3, 2024
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 longer see what is in front of me. Also, since it does not dim to the edge I still get blinded from the glare around the perimeter of the mirror (there is no way to adjust this to prevent it). Since this mirror is also "rimless" (no plastic cover on the edge) the polished edge causes light refraction thereby blinding me in daylight. Currently the only way to prevent glare from the mirror is point it down to the floor rendering useless and dangerous.
- NHTSA ID
- 11567687
- Incident
- Jan 25, 2024
Faulty door wiring harness leading driver side blinkers to stop working, windows randomly rolling down, rear collision detector errors, engine start/stop errors.
- NHTSA ID
- 11502342
- Incident
- Jan 1, 2023
red power steering system light turned on and flashed/beeped 3X. steering wheel locked up and I could not turn. I was on the freeway in the far right lane and managed to force push the steering wheel to the right and slowly merge over to the shoulder. Volks in Kearny Mesa confirmed issue with steering gear after inspection on 6/21/2022. The steering gear needs to be replaced as the first step. No symptoms prior to malfunction. I could have died if I was in any other lane as there was a lot of cars on the freeway. I got lucky.
- NHTSA ID
- 11475447
- Incident
- Jun 15, 2022
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the issue: DA 0019 - Hotfix 12-V battery test(s) – No battery diagnosis - Inconclusive test result.
ENGINE
Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption Measurement
ENGINE
Lubricating engine components before reassembly.
ENGINE
Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start.
AIR BAGS
Inquiries
ENGINE
Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 27.5 |
| 2022 | 81 | 0 | 0 | 30.0 |
| 2021Viewing | 7 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 6 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 2019 | 62 | 6 | 3 | 54.6 |
| 2018 | 29 | 6 | 1 | 60.8 |
| 2017 | 115 | 5 | 1 | 56.5 |
| 2016 | 85 | 9 | 1 | 52.6 |
| 2015 | 130 | 12 | 1 | 60.9 |
| 2014 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 56.2 |
| 2013 | 43 | 5 | 3 | 58.0 |
| 2012 | 48 | 6 | 5 | 64.9 |
| 2011 | 110 | 6 | 5 | 58.9 |
| 2010 | 69 | 4 | 4 | 55.0 |
| 2009 | 3 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2007 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 45.3 |
| 2005 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 44.6 |
| 2004 | 28 | 6 | 0 | 51.9 |
| 2003 | 27 | 6 | 2 | 66.2 |
| 2002 | 73 | 7 | 3 | 61.4 |
| 2001 | 116 | 9 | 3 | 59.0 |
| 2000 | 88 | 8 | 3 | 57.2 |
| 1999 | 64 | 7 | 1 | 52.9 |
| 1998 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 32.4 |
| 1997 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 34.5 |
| 1996 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 51.0 |
| 1995 | 43 | 5 | 2 | 57.7 |
| 1994 | 41 | 5 | 0 | 52.3 |
| 1993 | 7 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 8 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 1990 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 65.7 |
| 1989 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 59.0 |
| 1988 | 9 | 6 | 1 | — |
| 1987 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — |
| 1986 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 62.9 |
| 1985 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 64.9 |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.