Problem Lookup › Volkswagen › GLI › 2021
Car problem report
2021 Volkswagen GLI problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2021 Volkswagen GLI has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 1safety recall
- 2owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 0injuries reported
Every Volkswagen GLI model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2021 Volkswagen GLI?
The components named most often in the 2 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Has the 2021 Volkswagen GLI been recalled?
1 U.S. safety recall. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 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.
What do 2021 Volkswagen GLI owners report?
2 of the 2 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
I bought a 2021 VW Jetta GLI in June 2021. There was a recall notice issued in August regarding issues with the front airbag not deploying and/or unexpectedly deploying. I took the car to VW of Kearny Mesa in San Diego, CA, in September 2021. They made the appointment, then when I was at the dealership they said the fix wasn't available. I brought the car in again for repair in February 2022, this time to Mission Bay VW also in San Diego. The car is still with the dealer with no estimated time of completion due to the repair being "extensive."
Sunroof exploded. Glass inside the car as well as outside. Had I been driving, flying debris would have been an issue. Video confirms that the sunroof blew up on its own.
Volkswagen guides on CarHooq
2021 Volkswagen GLI: questions owners ask
Is the 2021 Volkswagen GLI reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Volkswagen GLI; the most common categories were air bags (1, 50%). There is 1 safety recall.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Volkswagen GLI?
Across 2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are air bags (50% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2021 Volkswagen GLI have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2021 Volkswagen GLI; the most recent (campaign 22V514000, 2022-07-20) concerns Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own GLI
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2021 only.