Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Forward collision avoidance6
- Tires3
- Lane departure3
- Electrical system2
- Unknown or other2
- Air bags1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Wheels1
- Engine1
- Exterior lighting1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon failed the safety check 0.61% of the time — 36% less often than the average 2021 passenger car (0.95%). Median odometer at inspection: 21,597 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2021
22,230 new Volkswagen Arteon cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2021; the largest markets were Germany (11,322), Poland (2,035), Sweden (1,664).
- Average mass
- 1,707 kg
- Average CO₂
- 130 g/km (WLTP)
- Average power
- 138 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Diesel 56% · Petrol 23% · Petrol/electric 20%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Real-world fuel consumption
9,419 Volkswagen Arteon cars first registered in Europe in 2021 report their fuel use through the on-board meter. Diesel versions use 6.5 l/100 km on the road against 5.6 in the WLTP test (+17%).
| Fuel | Cars | On the road | WLTP | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,131 | 9.0 | 8.1 | +11% |
| Diesel | 6,659 | 6.5 | 5.6 | +17% |
| Plug-in hybrid | 629 | 5.5 | 1.3 | +319% |
Litres per 100 km from the cars' own fuel meters (OBFCM), collected in 2024; the year is the year of first registration. All years together · European Environment Agency · CC BY 4.0
Engines
The most common engines in 2021 Volkswagen Arteon cars on Dutch roads are the 1.4 hybrid (115 kW, 154 hp), 2.0 petrol (140 kW, 188 hp) and 2.0 diesel (147 kW, 197 hp), out of 4 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4 hybrid | 115 kW 154 hp | 685 |
| 2.0 petrol | 140 kW 188 hp | 191 |
| 2.0 diesel | 147 kW 197 hp | 24 |
| 2.0 petrol | 235 kW 315 hp | 20 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
931 first registered in 2021 are on Dutch roads; 78% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €54,459.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde254
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld55
- Band onvoldoende profiel46
- Remschijf ernstig gecorrodeerd44
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm28
- Band beschadigd28
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht26
- Drager/bevestigingsmiddel van remvoering raakt trommel/schij7
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
1,458 cars built in 2021 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 22 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
413 of these cars first registered in 2021 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 91,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
4 2021 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 9.8 L/100 km (about 24 mpg US), CO₂ 230 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arteon 4MOTION · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 11.6 | 7.7 | 9.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon.
| 2022382 20 Jul 2022 | Visual System Issue: Under certain conditions, the rearview camera image may not appear on the center screen. Canadian regulations require the rearview image to display whe… |
| 2020556 18 Nov 2020 | Visual System Issue: On certain vehicles, a software problem could cause the rearview camera image not to display or cause it to freeze. Canadian regulations require the re… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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."
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.
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."
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."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volkswagen told its dealers about the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11011375 | moisture witin rear tail lamp assembly |
| 11011374 | HVAC duct cleaning and deodorizing |
| 11010025 | Green Light Does Not Illuminate |
| 11010024 | Lack of paint under roof |
| 11010022 | Engine Oil Standards |
| 11010021 | Additional reporting |
| 11010011 | Vehicle Concerns Before Recall Repair Available |
| 11008866 | Inspecting sensors for damage |
| 11008861 | Fluid requirements |
| 11008860 | Manual transmission noise diagnosing |
| 11008858 | A list of engine oil that meet Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards |
| 11008857 | How to perform the engine oil consumption measurement |
| 11008856 | Checking Engine Oil and correctly reading dip stick |
| 11008853 | How to manage software versions using VW diagnostic Tool |
| 11008852 | Recommended Gasoline Quality |
| 11008851 | Engine Misfire Diagnostic Aid |
| 11008850 | Fuel additive to help with misfire faults |
| 11008846 | Wind & Water Leak Checking |
| 11008845 | This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided. |
| 11007398 | Battery testing |
| 11007396 | Car-net 2.0 may not fully complete the initial Register and Pairing process (R&P) after removal of |
| 11007393 | Engine Oil Standards |
| 11005830 | Phyical condensation within Taillamp cluster is an optical phenomenon and does not affect the function of the taillights. |
| 11005826 | Car-net 2.0 may not fully complete the initial Register and Pairing process (R&P) after removal of |
| 11005825 | Engine oil quality standards |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)