This page covers 4 recalls, 14 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon.
25 mpg combined
9.4 L/100km
Large Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
The dominant pattern in 2021 Arteon complaints centers on the Travel Assist driver assistance system. Multiple owners report repeated "Travel Assist unavailable" warnings triggering at random intervals, including during low-speed turns, with no apparent cause and no way to silence the alerts. The system generates both audible and visual warnings, which owners describe as distracting and unpredictable. Tires are the next most-reported area, with several owners noting tire delamination on original-equipment Continental tires. One owner reports the tire manufacturer agreed to replace a full set including the spare after the issue was identified. A single complaint describes a loud clanking noise from the engine area at low speed, accompanied by an airbag warning light, though no diagnosis had been completed at the time of filing.
14
Total Complaints
1
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
By System
The 2021 Volkswagen Arteon has 4 recalls, the most serious involving a brake booster rod that can detach and cause the brake pedal to stop working entirely, leaving the driver with no ability to slow the vehicle.
The remaining three recalls center on rear visibility and the infotainment system. Two separate issues can prevent the rearview camera from showing a usable image when backing up: in one case, a flaw in the infotainment system's memory module can cause the camera feed to never appear on screen; in the other, the camera can malfunction mid-drive and return a black screen or frozen image when the driver shifts into reverse. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the underlying display issue, which is why both remain open. There is also a tire pressure monitoring concern: the sensors were incorrectly calibrated and may not correctly identify which wheel has low pressure after a tire rotation, meaning a dangerously underinflated tire could go unwarned or be flagged at the wrong corner of the vehicle.
At a glance
What can fail
A manufacturing issue with the infotainment system's memory module may prevent the rearview camera image from displaying on the screen.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the infotainment software at no cost to restore rearview camera display function.
We may earn a commission for purchases made through these links.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The connection that links the pressure input rod to the brake booster may be loose and could detach, affecting braking function.
What the fix does
Dealers will tighten the pressure input rod connection at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tire pressure monitoring system sensors were calibrated incorrectly and may fail to identify wheel sensor position after a tire rotation.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the wheel electronics and tire valves at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear view camera may malfunction when the vehicle is started, causing the infotainment display to go black or freeze.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the infotainment system software at no cost to restore camera function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
