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."
The worst 2021 Volkswagen GLI problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Airbags1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags1
Recalls 1
Equipment: electrical: infotainment: software
- What is wrong
- 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.
- 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.
Recall number 22V514000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2021 Volkswagen GLI 13
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
- Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
- Update model year applicability to include 2023.
- Battery testing and charging using special tools VAS6161 & GRX3000VAS Charger
- In-car WIFI inop or malfunctioning
- This bulletin contains general instructions for software updates.
- Airbag Issues.
- Release Notes Supplement.
- Mandatory Installation from Web-Server.
- This communication contains important information and SAGA claim entry requirements for interim AdBlue...
What 2021 Volkswagen GLI owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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.
Compare the 2021 Volkswagen GLI
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Questions about the 2021 Volkswagen GLI
Is the 2021 Volkswagen GLI reliable?
Owners have filed 2 complaints about the 2021 Volkswagen GLI, close to a typical GLI model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Volkswagen GLI?
Airbags, with 1 complaint.
How many recalls does the 2021 Volkswagen GLI have?
1 recall, covering equipment.
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