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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2008–2021

Volkswagen GLI recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 11 owner complaints for the Volkswagen GLI, covering model years 2008 to 2021. The 2009 model year drew the most complaints (8), and Service Brakes is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Volkswagen GLI VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 1 recall campaign on file
  • 11 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 3 model years with data (2008–2021)
  • most complaints: 2009 (8 for that model year)
  • top component: Service Brakes (7 complaints)
  • latest recall 22V514000 (reported Jul 20, 2022)
  • 0 complaints reporting a crash (0.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting an injury (0.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Volkswagen GLI complaints by model year

3 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2009 model year has the most complaints: 8 of 11, or 72.7%. Next come 2021 (2) and 2008 (1).

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
Volkswagen GLI owner complaints to NHTSA by model year, 2008–2021Column chart of 11 complaints across 14 model years. The highest is 2009 with 8. The full figures are in the table below the chart.2008: 1 complaint120082009: 8 complaints820092010: 0 complaints20102011: 0 complaints20112012: 0 complaints20122013: 0 complaints20132014: 0 complaints20142015: 0 complaints20152016: 0 complaints20162017: 0 complaints20172018: 0 complaints20182019: 0 complaints20192020: 0 complaints20202021: 2 complaints22021
Volkswagen GLI complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Volkswagen GLI complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
200810000
200980000
202120000
All model years110000

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Volkswagen GLI components

top 7 · NHTSA categories

Service Brakes is the component named most often, in 7 complaints (63.6% of all 11), followed by Electronic Stability Control (ESC) (6) and Electrical System (4).

Components named most often in Volkswagen GLI complaints (top 7)
Components named most often in Volkswagen GLI complaints (top 7)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Service Brakes763.6%
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)654.5%
Electrical System436.4%
Air Bags218.2%
Power Train19.1%
Steering19.1%
Unknown or Other19.1%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Volkswagen GLI recalls

1 campaign · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name GLI, newest first. The only campaign, 22V514000, covers model year 2021.

  • 1 recall campaign
Volkswagen GLI recall campaigns covering each model year
2021: 1 campaign

  1. NHTSA campaign 22V514000

    Reported

    Equipment › Electrical › Infotainment › Software; Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera

    Model year 2021

    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.

    Filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Volkswagen GLI questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Volkswagen GLI have?

NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall campaign for the Volkswagen GLI, covering model years 2008 to 2021. The campaign, 22V514000, was reported on July 20, 2022 and is filed under “Equipment”.

Which Volkswagen GLI model year has the most complaints?

The 2009 model year, with 8 of the 11 complaints in NHTSA’s file (72.7%). The next are 2021 (2) and 2008 (1). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Volkswagen GLI complaint?

Service Brakes is the component named most often: 7 complaints, or 63.6% of all 11. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) (6) and Electrical System (4) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Volkswagen GLI?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Volkswagen dealer.

How many Volkswagen GLI complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 11 complaints, 0 report a crash, 0 a fire, 0 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Volkswagen models

8 models · most complaints first

The Volkswagen models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Volkswagen VIN decoder with every Volkswagen model page, WMI code and VIN note.

All Volkswagen models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.