Your vehicleHome›Volkswagen›Jetta› 2021

Volkswagen · Compact Sedan

2021 Volkswagen Jetta

Gas

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

Safety Signal

81 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 4

Complaints3 crash · 1 injured · 2 died reported 70

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 34 mpg

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Jetta, is EPA-rated at 34 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 70 complaints, most often about the service brakes. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Volkswagen Jetta — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Volkswagen Jetta · Photo: Kevauto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Jetta	Gas	FWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	30	41	34	$1,950
Jetta	Gas	FWD	1.4L 4-cyl turbo	29	39	33	$2,050
Jetta GLI	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	24	35	28	$2,400
Jetta GLI	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	24	33	28	$2,400

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43249, 43248, 43246, 43247.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Jetta	7 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Jetta GLI	7 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	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.

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	Sedan/Saloon
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower

228 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	2
Seating capacity	5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain	FWD/Front-Wheel Drive
Transmission	Manual/Standard
Transmission speeds	6

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning

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: S / Autobahn, S / R-Line, S / SE / R-Line, SEL). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	185.8 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	71.3 in
Height	57.5 in
Wheelbase	105.9 in
Track, front	60.6 in
Track, rear	60.6 in
Curb weight	2,976 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	59/41

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: 4-door Sedan. 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.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database

○minor

Back Over Prevention

91DV

43,091 vehicles 92% reported repaired

Problem 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.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 22V514000 reported Jul 20, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Air Bags

69CK

379 vehicles 76% reported repaired

Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Jetta and Jetta GLI vehicles. The air bag control module was welded in the incorrect position. Risk Incorrect positioning of the air bag control module can cause the vehicle's air bags to deploy improperly during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, the vehicle's air bags can deploy unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the air bag control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 28, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69CK.

Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 21V492000 reported Jun 30, 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Seats

72L6

57 vehicles 100% reported repaired

Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Long Wheelbase and Jetta vehicles. Bolts may be missing from the front seat tracks. Risk The seat can move front and back without restriction if bolts are missing, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat tracks and, as necessary, install the bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 18, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 72L6.

Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 21V038000 reported Feb 1, 2021 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

○minor

Back Over Prevention

91BB / 91BC

32,048 vehicles 100% reported repaired

Problem 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." Risk A black or frozen rear view image reduces the driver's visibility when reversing, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 20V716000 reported Nov 18, 2020 Volkswagen Group of America, 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 Jetta

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. Volkswagen publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Volkswagen’s own VIN lookup →

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 Volkswagen Jetta, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

70complaints filed

3 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injuries · 2 deaths reported

9.7 per 10,000 built · Volkswagen reported 71,965 Jetta built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2021: 5 · 2022: 12 · 2023: 13 · 2024: 21 · 2025: 10 · 2026: 9

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 27

Electrical System 13

Unspecified 11

Forward Collision Avoidance 11

Fuel/Propulsion System 10

Air Bags 5

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.

I do not feel safe with my Vehicle. I purchased new and at 16,550 Miles it needed new rear rotors and pads. Again at 38417 it needed new rotors and pads. I drive the car softly and am not heavy on the brakes. This seems to be a known issue and the dealership says I should be prepared to replace rotors and pads this frequently.

Service Brakes Nov 27, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11557047

I've had 3 manufacturing defects on my 2021 VW Jetta, with 18,000 miles currently, the first issue was my sunglasses compartment on the ceiling of the car, the plastic latches broke by itself, The second issue my car had, multiple sensor lights went off simultaneously, shortly after my breaks started braking by themselves randomly, The…

Forward Collision Avoidance Mar 12, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11511441

The car would not turn on while using the start/stop feature on three different occasions. Once at a stop sign when I wanted to reverse to make sure I was not pulled out too far into an intersection. I was stuck and could not get out of the way of a car coming. Each time I had to shut the vehicle off completely to restart the system

Electrical System Feb 16, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11507553

Bad bearing in left front wheel. Radio shuts down anytime even when reverse camera is active. Front collision warning and auto braking for clear road, no obstruction. Smog warning override when check engine light for fuel system delivery done by mechanic at Flow VW of Greensboro NC.

Fuel/Propulsion System Jan 28, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11504172

I have noticed an issue with how easily the rear, passenger-side seatbelt is able to be clicked into the buckle. Initially when I got the car, passengers using that seatbelt did not seem to have any issue with easily clicking the seatbelt into the buckle.

Seat Belts Aug 22, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11480550

The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while reversing at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.

Engine at 4,000 miles Feb 10, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11451329

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 Volkswagen itself: 8 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 8 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 11 per 100,000 built. Every Jetta model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	13%
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	13%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 3 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

8.5 years or 85,000 miles, whichever comes first · Volkswagen warranty extension VWP-25-16For applicable Settlement Class Vehicles, the New Vehicle Limited Warranty will be extended to cover 50% of the repair or replacement of the Turbocharger by an authorized Volkswagen Dealer for 8.5…
Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Volkswagen warranty extension VWP-22-18The Rear Brake Pad Limited Warranty Extension has been revised to include model year 2025 for Certain Volkswagen Jetta and Certain Volkswagen Taos vehicles.
Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Volkswagen warranty extension VWP-24-04These documents are for the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Limited Warranty Extension as part of the Class Action Settlement

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Volkswagen warranty extension (9) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 479

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-17

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 455 service bulletins, 17 others, 5 warranty extensions

Most often about: Equipment, Engine, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Structure.

V0116152014815_20 Service bulletin
2026-09-17 · Engine
Suggested fuel additive
SM 39-2026 Other
2026-09-09 · Unknown Or Other
This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
V4622022067177_5 Service bulletin
2026-08-27 · Service Brakes
Repair or Replace Information
VOS-26-47 Service bulletin
2026-08-14 · 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: Part number 3Q0-959-435N software version number 1307 has incorrect coding.
SM 04-2026 Other
2026-08-11 · Power Train
This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
V4015022033347_8 Service bulletin
2026-08-10 · Power Train
Replacement instruction
TT 00-13-04_7 Other
2026-08-06 · Unknown Or Other
Permission to change Daily Order upgraded to RED Order
V0026012081638_2 Service bulletin
2026-08-04 · Unknown Or Other
Differences between a leak and seepage

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
P0087 P0087 on Volkswagen →	Fuel rail pressure is below what the system commanded.	Suspension · Fuel pump →	21 bulletins
P053F P053F on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Suspension · Struts and shocks →	21 bulletins
P0149 P0149 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Suspension · Struts and shocks →	17 bulletins
P0463 P0463 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	14 bulletins
P0401 P0401 on Volkswagen →	Not enough exhaust gas is being recirculated.	Engine · EGR valve →	13 bulletins
P11A1 P11A1 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	13 bulletins
P11A2 P11A2 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	13 bulletins
P11A3 P11A3 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	13 bulletins
P11A4 P11A4 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	13 bulletins
P11A5 P11A5 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	13 bulletins
P11A6 P11A6 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	13 bulletins
P11A7 P11A7 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	13 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.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 3.2%

failed emissions

2,264 initial inspections of 2,228 vehicles.

Measure	The 2021 Jetta	Every 2021 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	3.2%	1.9%	2,257
Failed the safety inspection	2.3%	1.5%	2,264
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.27%	0.19%	2,264
Miles driven a year	10,429	10,343	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	55,407	54,681	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2021 vehicle” is every 2021 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Jetta by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2027 A 0 0 34 mpg 2026 B 1 6 34 mpg 2025 B 2 30 33 mpg 2024 A 0 46 34 mpg 2023 A 0 43 35 mpg 2022 A 1 43 35 mpg 2021 this page B 4 70 34 mpg 2020 D 6 54 34 mpg 2019 F 11 549 Do not drive 2018 B 2 32 33 mpg 2017 D 6 160 33 mpg 2016 C 4 164 44 mpg

Common questions about the 2021 Jetta

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta. The most serious on file is 21V492000, 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 Volkswagen Jetta?

NHTSA gave the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (81/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta, the best EPA combined figure is 34 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta?

Transport Canada measured it at 185.8 in long, 71.3 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.5 in tall, on a 105.9 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 2,976 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta?

Owners have filed 70 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta, most often about service brakes, electrical system, unspecified. Of those, 3 involved a crash, 1 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta?

The EPA smog rating for the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta is 7 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 SULEV30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta?

The manufacturer has filed 479 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta, most often covering equipment, engine, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-09-17. 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.

How does the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta failed the emissions check on 3.2% of first inspections — higher than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.3% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

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	70	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	2 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	479	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	12 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	7 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 Volkswagen Jetta

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)

Back Over Prevention

Air Bags

Seats

Back Over Prevention

Whether any of this applies to one specific Jetta

Hear about a recall before the letter does

Parts & accessories for the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta

Owner complaints

Most-cited components

In owners' own words

Crash ratings

Service bulletins & campaigns

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

At the New York inspection station

failed emissions

Jetta by model year

Common questions about the 2021 Jetta

Does the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta have any recalls?

How safe is the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta?

What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta?

What are the dimensions of the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta?

What do owners complain about on the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta?

How clean is the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta?

Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta?

How does the 2021 Volkswagen Jetta do at state inspection?

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Where to go next

Sources & method