VehicleVerdict

2021 Volkswagen Arteon problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Limited data — recalls on file

NHTSA has just 25 complaints on file for the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon — too few to judge reliability from owner reports alone — but 4 recall campaigns apply to this year, so any used example should have its VIN checked for completed recall work.

25

NHTSA complaints

4

Recalls

0

Investigations

2

Crash-involved

2

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 2021 compare to other Arteon years?

Arteon NHTSA complaints by model year, 2021 highlighted25 complaints2019: 8 complaints2020: 2 complaints2021: 25 complaints2022: 10 complaints2023: 13 complaints
Arteon NHTSA complaints by model year, 2021 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Arteon years to avoid →

What are the most common 2021 Volkswagen Arteon problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Driver Assistance1352%
Tires & Wheels416%
Electrical System28%
Other28%
Lighting14%
Engine14%
Airbags14%
Speed Control14%

Does the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon have recalls?

4 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

22V514000Electrical SystemJuly 20, 2022 · 43,091 units

Defect

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.

21V695000BrakesSeptember 8, 2021 · 99 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Arteon vehicles. The pressure input rod connection on the brake booster may be loose and could detach.

Consequence

A detached pressure input rod will cause the brake pedal to fail, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will tighten the pressure input rod connection, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 28, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47R3.

21V274000Tires & WheelsApril 21, 2021 · 149 units

Defect

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Arteon vehicles. The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensors were incorrectly calibrated and may not detect the position of a wheel sensor after tire rotation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."

Consequence

The TPMS may misidentify a tire with low air pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wheel electronics and tire valves, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 25, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 44R2.

20V716000Driver AssistanceNovember 18, 2020 · 32,048 units

Defect

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“Auto ran into a slow moving car at the top of a hill. Minor damage to other car. Fire started on the arteon and then totalled the car. This could have caused death. Car was inspected by insurance company and they determined the car to be a total loss. No other analysis has been completed. No…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Driver Assistance · June 30, 2022 · crash · fire

“Continental 245 35 20 tires. Experienced six (6) sidewall failures in 10 months from relatively average pothole or road bumps. Only one of the six failures occurred at a speed above 35 mph. Incident occurred between February 2021 and October 2021”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · October 23, 2021

“This defect causes multiple, non-periodic, but repeated, "Travel assist unavailable" audible and visual alarms at seemingly unrelated and unpredictable times while driving. My favorite times are when you start making a turn after coming to a full stop and it alarms, asking you to take your eyes off…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · September 1, 2023

“The infotainment system begins to lag after being connect for >30 minutes. The touch screen stops responding to immediate inputs and takes up to 15 seconds to respond. Soon after, the screen will go black and not display any information when connected to CarPlay. Controls become very slow to…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · January 1, 2023

“The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen Arteon. The contact stated that while driving approximately 18 to 23 MPH, there was a loud clanking noise coming from the engine. The air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer but was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · April 2, 2024

2021 Volkswagen Arteon — common questions

Is the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon reliable?

The record is thin — 25 NHTSA complaints — so owner-report data can't strongly confirm reliability either way, though 4 recalls should be verified as completed.

What are the most common 2021 Arteon problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are driver assistance (13 complaints), tires & wheels (4 complaints), other (2 complaints).

Does the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.