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2021 Volkswagen Arteon Sel R-line
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
14 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 15, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2021 Volkswagen Arteon Sel R-line, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Driver assistance (6)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Driver assistance
43%6 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“TRAVEL ASSIST ALERT KEEPS GOING OFF FOR NO REASON. IT IS VERY ANNOYING”
Tires
21%3 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“Bubbles on sidewall of all tires, some multiple bubbles. Rotated on schedule, freeway driving.”
Lane Departure
21%3 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“TRAVEL ASSIST ALERT KEEPS GOING OFF FOR NO REASON. IT IS VERY ANNOYING”
Electrical system
14%2 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“The infotainment system begins to lag after being connect for >30 minutes. The touch screen stops responding to immediate inputs and takes up to 15 seconds to respond.…”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2021 Volkswagen ARTEON SEL R-LINE beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2021? See how every Arteon Sel R-line model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon Sel R-line against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.