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2021 Bentley Continental

Gas

Subcompact Cars
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

78 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 4

Complaintsnone reporting a crash, fire or injury 3

Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 19 mpg

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2018 2017 2016

The 2021 Bentley Continental is sold in the U.S. as a gas coupe with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Continental GT, is EPA-rated at 19 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 3 complaints, most often about the seats.

Bentley Continental — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Bentley Continental · Photo: M 93 · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Continental GT	Gas	AWD	4.0L 8-cyl turbo	16	26	19	$4,350
Continental GT Convertible	Gas	AWD	4.0L 8-cyl turbo	16	26	19	$4,350
Continental GT	Gas	AWD	6.0L 12-cyl turbo	12	20	15	$5,500
Continental GT Convertible	Gas	AWD	6.0L 12-cyl turbo	12	19	15	$5,500

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43414, 42769, 43173, 43172.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible	3 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Gas-guzzler tax applies to Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible — a federal excise the manufacturer pays and prices in.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Coupe
Doors	2
GVWR class	Class 2E: 6,001 - 7,000 lb (2,722 - 3,175 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	12
Displacement	6 L
Engine configuration	W Shaped

Engine Output

Horsepower

635 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	2
Seating capacity	4 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain	AWD/All-Wheel Drive
Transmission	Automatic
Transmission speeds	8

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Rear cross-traffic alert

Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Lane keeping assist

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: GT, GT V8). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	190.9 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	77.2 in
Height	55.5 in
Wheelbase	112.2 in
Curb weight	4,773–5,322 lb

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 4 configurations: GT, GT Convertible, GT V8, GT V8 Convertible. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Air Bags

RE23/03 (RC68)

1,610 vehicles 90% reported repaired

Problem Bentley Motors, Inc. (Bentley) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Continental GTC vehicles. Due to a sharp edge on the air bag deflector bracket, the seat air bags may tear during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 214, "Side Impact Protection," and 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." Risk A torn air bag may not adequately protect an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will inspect the affected front seats and, if necessary, remove the sharp edge on the airbag deflector bracket rivet, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 17, 2023. Owners may contact Bentley customer service at 1-800-77-6923. Bentley's number for this recall is RE23/03(RC68).

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 23V152000 reported Mar 8, 2023 Bentley Motors, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Seat Belts

RE22/08 (RC34)

25 vehicles 100% reported repaired

Problem Bentley Motors, Inc. (Bentley) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Continental GT Convertible, Continental GT, and 2021-2022 Flying Spur vehicles. The front seat belt assemblies may have been incorrectly installed, resulting in the front passenger seat missing the automatic locking retractor (ALR). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." Risk A missing ALR on a passenger seat belt may not properly secure a child restraint, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the affected seat belt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2022. Owners may contact Bentley customer service at 1-800-777-6923. Bentley's number for this recall is RE22/08 (RC34).

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 22V177000 reported Mar 23, 2022 Bentley Motors, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

○minor

Air Bags

RE21/43 (RC26)

3,777 vehicles 91% reported repaired

Problem Bentley Motors, Inc. (Bentley) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bentayga, Continental GT, Flying Spur, and Continental GT Convertible vehicles. The owner's manual incorrectly states that the air bag system will not deploy when the "Passenger Airbag On" symbol is illuminated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." Risk The incorrect information may change how occupants position themselves in relation to the air bags, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash. Fix Bentley will mail new labels to owners. Owners may apply the label themselves or have a dealer apply the label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Bentley customer service at 1-800-777-6923. Bentley's number for this recall is RE21/43 (RC26).

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF

NHTSA campaign 21V975000 reported Dec 15, 2021 Bentley Motors, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Seats

RE21/26 (RC08)

3,647 vehicles 96% reported repaired

Problem Bentley Motors, Inc. (Bentley) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Continental GT/GT Convertible vehicles. During some automated front seat movements, the front seat may trap a rear passenger's legs. Risk The rear passenger may become trapped by the front seat, increasing the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will update the software for the front seats, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 31, 2021. Owners may contact Bentley customer service at 1-800-777-6923. Bentley's number for this recall is RE21/26 (RC08).

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 21V550000 reported Jul 21, 2021 Bentley Motors, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Continental

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2021 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds.

NHTSA VIN check →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2021 Bentley Continental, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

3complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2022: 2 · 2025: 1

Most-cited components

Seats 2

Steering 1

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

The front seats in this vehicle, when moved to allow back seat access, do not return to the original position. They move totally backward, trapping the person sitting in the back. My friend had to remove her shoes and actually pull her legs out using her hands and arms.

Seats Feb 19, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11452959

On December 2, 2025 I was driving on interstate 26, and warning lights came on, at the same time steering locked up and was I unable to steer. I did manage to slowly leave right lane, about 200 yards, and enter shoulder. I turned off and restarted many times and finally the steering unlocked. In Sept. car was brought to dealer.

Steering Dec 13, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11704839

The contact owns a 2021 Bentley Continental GT. The contact stated that an occupant was trapped in the rear seat of the vehicle. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V550000 (Seats) however, the VIN was not included.

Seats at 5,000 miles Feb 3, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11450150

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Bentley itself: 1 death-or-injury claim on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 injured, as claimed, not verified. Every Continental model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 1,601

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-28

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 1597 service bulletins, 4 service campaigns

Most often about: Electrical System, Engine, Structure, Equipment, Suspension.

2078038/6 Service campaign
2026-09-28 · Structure — Body
Service info: Paint Damage/Anomalies | All Models Customer statement / workshop findings: In rare instances the customer and/or retailer may identify visual damage/anomalies in the paint finish during or post pre-delivery inspection. These may include: • Uneven sheen or texture • Patchy or blotchy appearance • Inconsistent under lighting • Staining, discolouration, or surface blemishes
2073973/3 Service bulletin
2026-09-28 · Structure — Body
Continental GT / C and New Flying Spur - Outer dashboard speaker grille lifted / Incorrect flushness. Customer statement / workshop findings: Outer demister panel (speaker grille) lifted / Incorrect flushness
2057841/5 Service bulletin
2026-08-27 · Structure — Body
Windscreen replacement criteria whilst under manufacturers warranty.
2078038/5 Service bulletin
2026-08-27 · Structure — Body
Service info: Paint Damage/Anomalies | All Models
2083061/1 Service bulletin
2026-08-19 · Unknown Or Other
Real Wear Setup and Guide using VYSOR
2061369/14 Service bulletin
2026-08-19 · Engine
Engine Overheating - Warning in the DIP | V8 Kovomo. Customer statement / workshop findings: One or a combination of the following symptoms are evident • Engine overheat warning in the DIP (Engine overheating) • Unusual cooling fan operation at high temperatures • P19F700: Low engine coolant temperature indicator lamp coolant too warm • Signs of coolant in the vacuum hoses for switch valve N649
2078395/3 Service bulletin
2026-08-11 · Seats
Service info: Leather Damage/Anomalies | All Models
2061369/13 Service bulletin
2026-08-06 · Engine
Engine Overheating - Warning in the DIP | V8 Kovomo. Customer statement / workshop findings: One or a combination of the following symptoms are evident: • Engine overheat warning in the DIP (Engine overheating) • Unusual cooling fan operation at high temperatures • P19F700: Low engine coolant temperature indicator lamp coolant too warm • Signs of coolant in the vacuum hoses for switch valve N649

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P0641 P0641 on Bentley →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	2 bulletins
P0642 P0642 on Bentley →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	2 bulletins
P0643	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	2 bulletins
P0714	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	2 bulletins
P1849	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Continental by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2026 B 2 0 19 mpg 2025 A 1 1 19 mpg 2024 A 0 0 17 mpg 2023 A 0 2 18 mpg 2022 B 2 0 19 mpg 2021 this page C 4 3 19 mpg 2020 A 0 0 19 mpg 2018 A 1 1 18 mpg 2017 A 1 0 18 mpg 2016 A 0 0 18 mpg

Common questions about the 2021 Continental

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2021 Bentley Continental have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2021 Bentley Continental. The most serious on file is 23V152000, covering Air Bags. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2021 Bentley Continental?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2021 Bentley Continental yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it C (78/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Bentley Continental?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 Bentley Continental, the best EPA combined figure is 19 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2021 Bentley Continental?

Transport Canada measured it at 190.9 in long, 77.2 in wide (body, without mirrors), 55.5 in tall, on a 112.2 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,773–5,322 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2021 Bentley Continental?

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Bentley Continental, most often about seats, steering. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2021 Bentley Continental?

The EPA smog rating for the 2021 Bentley Continental is 3 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Bentley Continental?

The manufacturer has filed 1601 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 Bentley Continental, most often covering electrical system, engine, structure. The most recent is dated 2026-09-28. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	4 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	4 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	4	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	3	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	none	NHTSA NCAP	NHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe.
Service bulletins	1601	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	13 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	5 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

JSON for this page · API

2021 Bentley Continental

Specs & fuel economy

Emissions & certification

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Dimensions Exterior

Engine Basics

Engine Output

Fuel Economy

Seating

Transmission

Driver assistance

Dimensions & weight

Factory warranty running out?

Recalls (4)

Air Bags

Seat Belts

Air Bags

Seats

Whether any of this applies to one specific Continental

Hear about a recall before the letter does

Parts & accessories for the 2021 Bentley Continental

Owner complaints

Most-cited components

In owners' own words

Crash ratings

Service bulletins & campaigns

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Continental by model year

Common questions about the 2021 Continental

Does the 2021 Bentley Continental have any recalls?

How safe is the 2021 Bentley Continental?

What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Bentley Continental?

What are the dimensions of the 2021 Bentley Continental?

What do owners complain about on the 2021 Bentley Continental?

How clean is the 2021 Bentley Continental?

Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Bentley Continental?

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Where to go next

Sources & method