{"id":"2021_volkswagen_golf_gti","make":"Volkswagen","make_slug":"volkswagen","model":"Golf / GTI","model_slug":"golf-gti","year":2021,"url":"/volkswagen/golf-gti/2021/","pts":["gas"],"configs":[{"id":43251,"model":"Golf","pt":"gas","drive":"Front-Wheel Drive","trany":"Manual 6-spd","cyl":4,"displ":1.4,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":29,"hwy":39,"comb":33,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Compact Cars","co2":267,"fe_score":7,"ghg_score":7,"fuel_cost":1900,"save_spend":1750,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"VGA","modified":"Tue Aug 17 00:00:00 EDT 2021"},{"id":43250,"model":"Golf","pt":"gas","drive":"Front-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (S8)","cyl":4,"displ":1.4,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":true,"city":29,"hwy":36,"comb":32,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Compact Cars","co2":279,"fe_score":7,"ghg_score":7,"fuel_cost":1950,"save_spend":1500,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"VGA","modified":"Tue Aug 17 00:00:00 EDT 2021"},{"id":43244,"model":"GTI","pt":"gas","drive":"Front-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (AM-S7)","cyl":4,"displ":2.0,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":true,"city":24,"hwy":32,"comb":27,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Compact Cars","co2":324,"fe_score":6,"ghg_score":6,"fuel_cost":2300,"save_spend":-250,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"VGA","modified":"Tue Aug 17 00:00:00 EDT 2021"},{"id":43245,"model":"GTI","pt":"gas","drive":"Front-Wheel Drive","trany":"Manual 6-spd","cyl":4,"displ":2.0,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":23,"hwy":30,"comb":26,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Compact Cars","co2":343,"fe_score":5,"ghg_score":5,"fuel_cost":2400,"save_spend":-750,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"VGA","modified":"Tue Aug 17 00:00:00 EDT 2021"}],"vclass":"Compact Cars","segment":"Compact car","epa_certified":true,"recalls":[{"campaign":"22V514000","component":"BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA","mfr":"Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.","reported":"2022-07-20","owner_notified":"2022-08-02","units":43091,"summary":"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.\"","consequence":"A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.","remedy":"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"91DV","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"minor"},{"campaign":"20V716000","component":"BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA","mfr":"Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.","reported":"2020-11-18","owner_notified":"2020-12-11","units":32048,"summary":"Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan LWB, Jetta NF, Jetta GLI, Golf GTI, Atlas FL and Arteon vehicles.  The rear view camera could malfunction during an ignition cycle, leading to a black screen or infotainment system freeze.  As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, \"Rear Visibility.\"","consequence":"A black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.","remedy":"Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the infotainment system software, free of charge.  The recall began December 11, 2020.  Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.  Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91BB/91BC.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"91BB / 91BC","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"minor"}],"recall_count":2,"critical_count":0,"park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"score":94,"grade":"A","complaints":{"count":11,"crash":0,"fire":0,"injured":1,"deaths":0,"comps":[["Electrical System",6],["Air Bags",2],["Unspecified",2],["Service Brakes",2],["Power Train",1],["Engine",1]],"by_year":{"2021":2,"2022":1,"2023":1,"2024":3,"2025":1,"2026":3},"excerpts":[["2026-08-05","Seat Belts","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 lat\u2026"],["2026-04-27","Electrical System","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\u2026"],["2025-10-02","Air Bags","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, \u2026"]]},"investigations":[],"ncap":[{"desc":"4 DR FWD","overall":5,"frontal":4,"side":5,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.134,"seats":5,"fcw":"Standard","ldw":"No","aeb":"No","esc":"","backup_cam":"","variant":null},{"desc":"4 DR FWD","overall":5,"frontal":4,"side":5,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.134,"seats":5,"fcw":"Standard","ldw":"Optional","aeb":"No","esc":"","backup_cam":"","variant":null}],"popularity":999,"headline":{"range":null,"mpg":33,"ncap":5,"complaints":11},"presskit_trims":[],"generated_at":"2026-09-11 06:27 UTC","sources":["EPA fueleconomy.gov","NHTSA recalls","NHTSA complaints","NHTSA NCAP","NHTSA investigations"]}