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2021 Volkswagen Golf

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 Golf.

Transmission Automatic (S8)

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf, built on the Golf’s long‑standing compact hatchback platform and powered by an engine that requires 6.0 qt of 0W‑20 oil, is paired with the S8 automatic transmission and achieves an EPA rating of 29 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 32 mpg combined. Owner feedback for this model year is remarkably low, with only six total complaints—primarily concerning power‑train, electrical, and engine issues—and a single recall on record, underscoring its solid reliability relative to the broader Golf lineage. When placed against the model’s 1990‑2023 complaint history, the 2021 Golf sits near the low end, far above the 2008 low of one complaint and well below the 2017 peak of 187 complaints, indicating a mature and dependable generation for researchers to reference.

Model year2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 1994 1993 1992 1991

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified

Lug nut torque89.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy29/36/32 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI The OEM uses various batteries during production based on vehicle options. PR codes will denote factory installed options for this vehicle. Refer to the appropriate service information for options and battery usage. battery, OE oil filter 04E115561T. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI The OEM uses various batteries during production based on vehicle options. PR codes will denote factory installed options for this vehicle. Refer to the appropriate service information for options and battery usage.OEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified

Tire size205/55R16 91HOEM · verified

Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	04E115561T
Engine air filter	5QM129620B
Spark plug	04E905602D
Battery	1S0915105A alt 5TA915105B
Front wiper blades	5G1998002
Serpentine belt	04E145933AL
Thermostat	04E121119D alt 04E121113G
Cabin air filter	5Q0819669

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	167.3 in
Overall width	70.9 in
Overall height	57.1 in
Wheelbase	103.5 in
Curb weight	3424 lb
Track (front / rear)	60.6 / 59.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	29 / 36 / 32 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Golf of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

3.9–7.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 3.90 sec — 2022 R 5-door Hatchback

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2020	TSI 5-door Hatchback 1.4L Turbo I-4	7.70 sec	16.10 sec	147 hp	FWD
2022	R 5-door Hatchback 2.0L Turbo I-4	3.90 sec	12.50 sec	315 hp	AWD
2022	R 5-door Hatchback 2.0L Turbo I-4	4.10 sec	12.50 sec	315 hp	AWD
2022	R 5-door Hatchback 2.0L Turbo I-4	4.20 sec	12.80 sec	315 hp	AWD
2022	R 5-door Hatchback 2.0L Turbo I-4	4.90 sec	13.40 sec	315 hp	AWD
2022	R 5-door Hatchback 2.0L Turbo I-4	6.30 sec	14.40 sec	315 hp	AWD
2019	R 5-door Hatchback 2.0L Turbo I-4	5.10 sec	13.80 sec	288 hp	AWD
2019	S 5-door Hatchback 1.4L Turbo I-4	7.60 sec	15.90 sec	147 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 89.0 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to Use new gasket: 22.0 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	Audi/VW P/N G 053 001 A2
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	6.65 qt
Brake Fluid	DOT 4
Clutch Fluid	DOT 4
Engine Coolant	Volkswagen Coolant G13 TL-VW-774J
Engine Coolant Capacity	10.6 qt
Engine Oil	0W-20
Engine Oil Capacity	6.0 qt

Engine torques

Cylinder Head Instructions	Use new bolts only.
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	Use new gasket: 22.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	88.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	89.0 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug	35.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Spark Plug Manufacturer	Volkswagen
Spark Plug Gap	0.026-0.030 in
Spark Plug Torque	16.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity	0.94-1.07 lbs

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	Use diagnostic tester: 58.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum	Use diagnostic tester: 101.0 psi
Residual Pressure	58.0 minimum afer 10 minutes. psi

Brakes

Minimum Pad Thickness

Front: 0.079; Rear: 0.118

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Inspection Procedure (Lower) — tightening sequence 1 stages

Inspect Ball Joint by pulling down on lower control arm then forcing it upward. The joint should also be inspected by moving the lower portion of the tire and wheel in an in and out motion. During inspections allow for normal upper strut mount and wheel bearing wear but no ball joint play should be observed. Step 3: The ball joint should also be replaced if the boot is torn, stud is worn or joint shows any play.

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

22.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°

22 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages

30.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°, Step 3: 90°, Step 4: 90°

30 ft. lbs

Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

44.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°

44 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 80,000 mi; coolant every 20,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 20,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 mi	Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 20,000 mi	Battery (inspect) · Body Water Drains (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 40,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Instrument Cluster Warning Indicator (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Air Intake Hose Debris Screen (clean) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Air Filter Housing (clean)
Every 80,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf sits at the very end of its generation, where the federal record shows a clear downward trend in complaints and recalls after a mid-cycle peak. For context, the 2015 model year recorded 129 complaints and 12 recalls, while 2017 saw 187 complaints, but by 2020 those numbers had dropped to just 6 complaints and 2 recalls. The 2021 model continues this improvement with only 6 complaints and a single recall, alongside zero investigations. Its top complaint areas—Power Train/Electrical System/Engine, Exterior Lighting, Service Brakes, and Unknown or Other—each account for just one report, with no crash or fire complaints recorded. This data indicates a mature, well-sorted vehicle with minimal reported issues, making the 2021 Volkswagen Golf a particularly prudent choice for a used purchase.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

415

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Overall★★★★★

Frontal★★★★★

Side★★★★★

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20’21’23

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 6 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Power Train,Electrical System,Engine1

Exterior Lighting1

Service Brakes1

Unknown Or Other1

Electrical System,Air Bags,Service Brakes1

Steering,Electrical System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V716000Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: CameraReported 18/11/2020

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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 415 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
TT 10-18-02_2	2026-06-18	Engine	Lubricating engine components before reassembly.
TT 13-20-01_3	2026-06-18	Engine	Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start.
V6919012010479_17	2026-06-11	Air Bags	Inquiries
V1719012012855_81	2026-06-04	Engine	Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards
V0026012081638_1	2026-05-19	Unknown Or Other	Difference between Component fluid leakage and seepage

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Golf. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group T battery Vehicles taking 6.0 qt Engine oil filter 04E115561T Engine air filter 5QM129620B Spark plug 04E905602D Battery 1S0915105A

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2021 Golf take?

6.0 qt of 0W-20, per the factory manual.

Does the 2021 Golf have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Golf get?

EPA figures are 29 city / 36 highway / 32 combined mpg.