Recall 21V321 affects 46 2016-2019 Volkswagen vehicles sold without confirmation they met federal safety standards. Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles.
Volkswagen is recalling 46 internal-use 2016-2019 vehicles under recall 21V321, including the Atlas, Passat, Tiguan, Touareg, Golf, Golf R, E-Golf, and Cc, because they were sold without confirmation that they met all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Vehicles that do not meet these requirements carry an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire, and a Volkswagen dealer will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
These Volkswagen cars and SUVs were originally kept inside the company for internal use, things like engineering testing, employee fleet duty, or corporate transport, before being sold to the public. Vehicles in that internal pool are supposed to carry full paperwork confirming they were built to every federal safety standard and documenting any modifications made along the way. That paperwork is the proof that what left the factory still matches the rules of the road.
On the recalled vehicles, the internal process that tracks build compliance and any later modifications was not followed correctly. As a result, Volkswagen cannot confirm that each of these cars meets all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and it cannot rule out undocumented changes made during the internal use period. The defect is in the records, not in a single identified part.
There is no warning sign before failure. Because the issue is missing documentation rather than a confirmed mechanical fault, an owner will not notice anything unusual while driving.
Who's affected?
Covers eight Volkswagen nameplates across the 2016-2019 model years, spanning hatchbacks, sedans, and SUVs.
| 2018 Volkswagen Golf R | Unknown or other |
|---|---|
| 2019 Volkswagen Golf R | Unknown or other |
| 2017 Volkswagen Cc | Unknown or other |
| 2017 Volkswagen E-Golf | Unknown or other |
| 2017 Volkswagen Golf | Unknown or other |
| 2017 Volkswagen Touareg | Unknown or other |
| 2018 Volkswagen Atlas | Unknown or other |
| 2016 Volkswagen Passat | Unknown or other |
| 2017 Volkswagen Passat | Unknown or other |
| 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan | Unknown or other |
| Units affected | 46 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included in this recall.
What's the safety risk?
Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements carry an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire. Because the fix is a buyback rather than a dealer repair, contact Volkswagen customer service to start the repurchase process and keep records of any related expenses. Drive cautiously until the repurchase is complete. Repair will be free at any franchised Volkswagen dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016-2019 Volkswagen Golf R, CC, E-Golf, Golf, Touareg, Atlas, Passat, or Tiguan is included in this recall.
- Contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 to start the repurchase process for your vehicle.
- Reference recall number 21V321 (Volkswagen recall 01F1) when you call so the representative can pull the correct file.
- Gather your title, registration, and any prior owner-letter paperwork before the call, since the repurchase will involve transferring the vehicle back to Volkswagen.
- Keep a copy of the owner notification letter mailed on May 20, 2021, if you received it, and store all correspondence with Volkswagen in one place until the repurchase is complete.
What happens at the repair
This recall is handled as a vehicle repurchase rather than a workshop repair. Volkswagen will buy back the affected vehicles, so there is no part replacement or in-bay service to schedule at a Volkswagen dealer. To start the process, contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and reference recall 21V321 (Volkswagen's internal number 01F1). The repurchase is handled at no cost to the owner. Volkswagen is not offering a separate reimbursement program for prior out-of-pocket expenses tied to this campaign, so the buyback is the sole remedy on offer.
| Reimbursement | No separate reimbursement |
|---|
Timeline
| May 5, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 20, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
| July 2, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| July 2, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V321?
Recall 21V321 covers 46 internal-use 2016-2019 Volkswagen vehicles, including Golf R, CC, E-Golf, Golf, Touareg, Atlas, Passat, and Tiguan models, that were sold without confirmation they met all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Volkswagen will repurchase the affected vehicles rather than perform a repair.
What should I do if my 2016-2019 Volkswagen is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 21V321. If it is, contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 to start the repurchase process. Reference Volkswagen's internal recall number 01F1 when you call. The repurchase is at no cost to you.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. There is no repair under recall 21V321 because Volkswagen is repurchasing the affected vehicles instead. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to address the defect at no cost to the owner, and Volkswagen will handle the repurchase directly through its customer service line.
What if I bought my Volkswagen used?
The repurchase offer still applies. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to honor the recall regardless of ownership history. If Volkswagen never mailed you a notice, check your VIN to confirm whether your vehicle is included, and reference recall number 21V321 and internal number 01F1 when you call Volkswagen customer service.
When will I be notified about this recall?
Volkswagen mailed owner notification letters on May 20, 2021. If you did not receive a letter, that does not confirm your vehicle is excluded, especially if you bought it used or moved. Check your VIN to confirm inclusion in recall 21V321, then contact Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V321000 |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen customer service | 1-800-893-5298 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V321 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V321000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 24, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →