2021 Volkswagen Arteon Problems and Top Complaints – Is Your Car A Lemon?

Wheel & Lighting issues are among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners

Updated on Author: Brian Jones

Updated on Author: Brian Jones

Unveiled as VW’s new flagship in January 2017, the Volkswagen Arteon reached the U.S. market in 2019. Now, just two years later, there are reports that it will be discontinued after 2023. Poor sales have already led to its being axed in Canada for  2022.

Nevertheless, the 2021 Arteon has undergone an extensive facelift. These include upgraded design elements and the introduction of so-called intelligent comfort systems. It is more aerodynamic in design and sports a more refined interior including a redesigned cockpit with an updated dash panel.

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NHTSA Complaints for the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon

Complaint CategoryNumber of Complaints
Tires:sidewall
2
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
2
Electrical System
1
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
1
Unknown Or Other
1
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
1
Wheels
1
Exterior Lighting
1

But in spite of improved design features, consumer complaints to the United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) relate to basic issues like tires and exterior lighting.

Additionally, there have been 156 manufacturer communications, more than half of which (85) relate to equipment issues. These range from missing owner manuals to the need for software updates. There are also 37 electrical system issues that Volkswagen has drawn the attention of dealerships to.

There have also been 3 recalls that relate to back-over prevention, brakes, and tires.

Most Common Problems with the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon

There are currently 4 complaints about the 2021 VW Arteon. These are categorized as affecting the exterior lighting, tires, and wheels of the car.

2021 VW Arteon Wheel & Tire Problems

There are 3 complaints about tires and wheels. These refer to bubbles and other failures on the sidewall of the tires. One complaint reports a bubble on the tire sidewall when the Arteon had done about 7,600 miles. Another reports bubbles on the sidewalls of all the tires in spite of rotating them according to the schedule.

The third complaint reports 6 sidewall failures in 10 months after driving over “average pothole or road bumps.” The car was fitted with Continental 245 35 20 tires, and “only one of the six failures occurred at a speed above 35 mph.”

2021 VW Arteon Exterior Lighting Problems

The exterior lighting complaint is from someone who had bought the car only about 6 weeks before.

“I have people flashing me almost all the time, thinking I am driving with high beams on. When I drive with my normal lights on they will light all the traffic signs on and I can see on the highway dividers that (the) reflection of the light is slightly going upwards. When I switch from normal to high beam I can barely see any difference on the road itself. Then, most of my high beams go up in tree branches.”

The owner reports that the VW dealership refuses to lower the intensity of the lights. They argue that LEDs are brighter than regular lights, which the owner says he understands. “But they are ignoring the issues I am telling them (about) what is going on with my lights.”

They say the lights are within the VW specs and that they have compared them to the same model in the showroom, and that they are at the same level. The owner doubts that they measured the beams correctly, but rather did a quick comparison to another same make and model instead.

“The car is obviously under the factory warranty but they are refusing to touch it because, according to them, it is in specs. I know VW had issues with headlight adjustment a couple of years back on some other models, and I think this model is also faulty with adjustment. I hate blinding people at night. I don’t know what to do because I really don’t want to pay out of my pocket for the adjustment when the car is under factory warranty.”

What to do if your 2021 VW Arteon is a lemon? Your Lemon Rights

If you have problems with your 2021 VW Arteon that recur, you may have a lemon on your hands. Regardless of what dealers may say, you don’t have to live with these problems. Furthermore, if you do have a lemon, the law says that Volkswagen must pay your legal bills – not you.

Lemberg Law is a specialist consumer law firm and we specialize in lemon law cases. Call our Helpline today and we’ll see what we can do to help you. You may be eligible for a replacement vehicle, a trade-in, a cash settlement, or a  buyback.

Complaint Data

CategoryElectrical System
DateFeb 11, 2023
StateTX
Description
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. Soon after, the screen will go black and not display any information when connected to carplay. Controls become very slow to respond and the map colors and images becomes scrambled making the driver spend a much longer period of time trying to navigate safely. To correct the issue, the vehicle must be turned off.
CategoryForward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking, Unknown Or Other
DateFeb 10, 2023
StateFL
Description
Travel assist blends the functions of adaptive cruise control and lane assist to ensure that your volkswagen maintains a safe distance from the vehicle ahead and keeps you centered in the lane. Constant travel assistance issue warning light during driving, and randomly turning on/off or turning the wheel, going over bumps. This issue was address at the dealership where they replace the wheel buttons that controls the cruise controls and volumes. This did not fix the issue. This sometimes seems to turn on/off sensors where the sensors sometimes it seems it does not want to judge distance. Also it seems to be related to sensors inside the steering wheel, certain places where you touch the steering wheel seems to turn the alert on.
CategoryForward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
DateJul 12, 2022
StateMD
Description
Auto ran into a slow moving car at the top of a hill. Minor damage to other car. Fire started on the arteon and then totalled the car. This could have caused death. Car was inspected by insurance company and they determined the car to be a total loss. No other analysis has been completed. No warning lamps or message or symptoms of problems existed before.
CategoryWheels
DateMar 13, 2022
StateNJ
Description
Front passenger side has bubble detected inside the tire sidewall at around 7600 miles.
CategoryTires:sidewall
DateFeb 01, 2022
StateCA
Description
bubbles on sidewall of all tires, some multiple bubbles. Rotated on schedule, freeway driving.
CategoryTires:sidewall
DateJan 18, 2022
StateNY
Description
Continental 245 35 20 tires. Experienced six (6) sidewall failures in 10 months from relatively average pothole or road bumps. Only one of the six failures occurred at a speed above 35 mph. Incident occurred between february 2021 and october 2021
CategoryExterior Lighting
DateJul 03, 2021
StateIA
Description
I bought this car month and a half ago and at night I have people flashing me almost all the time, thinking I am driving with high beams on. When I drive with my normal lights on they will light all the traffic signs on and I can see on the highway dividers that reflection of the light is slightly going upwards. When I switch from normal to high beam I can barely see any difference on the road itself. The most of my high beams go up in tree branches. I have talked to vw dealership couple of times about it and took my car in there and they are refusing to lower my lights. They argue that leds are brighter than regular lights ( which I understand that) but they are ignoring the issues I am telling them what is going on with my lights. They are saying the lights are in vw specs and that they compared it to same model against the wall and it is the same level. I doubt they did properly measurement of my beams but just did quick comperasmant to another same make and model instead. The car is obviously under the factory warranty but they are refusing to touch it because according to them it is in specs. I know vw had issues with headlight adjustment couple years back on some other models and I think this model is also faulty with adjustment. I hate blinding people at night. I dont know what to do because I really dont want to pay out of my pocket for the adjustment when the car is under factory warranty.

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Brian Jones

About the Author:

Brian Jones spent more than 20 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.

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