Volkswagen Id.4 Recalls

The Volkswagen ID.4 has 42 recalls spanning the 2021–2026 model years, with the most serious being a high-voltage battery fire risk on 2023–2025 models where battery cell modules can overheat and catch fire even while the vehicle is parked and turned off.

The 2023–2025 model years carry the heaviest concentration of safety issues. The battery fire risk on these years stems from misaligned electrodes inside the battery cell modules, and prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue across all affected vehicles. On 2024 models, a failed on-board charger can stop charging the 12-volt battery and cut drive power while the vehicle is moving. On 2023 models, a coolant leak into the high-voltage system can disrupt safety-critical electronics and trigger unintended airbag deployment or loss of vehicle control. Also on 2023 models, a 12-volt battery charging cable can rub against the steering column shaft, wear through its insulation, and cause a short circuit that can start a fire or cut drive power. Loose chassis, suspension, and brake system bolts on 2023–2024 models can work free and cause loss of control. The passenger-side frontal airbag inflator on 2023–2024 vehicles may be secured with loose fasteners, preventing proper deployment in a crash. Door handles on 2021–2024 models can allow water into the circuit board assembly, causing doors to open unexpectedly while driving. The 2026 model year has a separate issue where incorrect wheel bolts may have been installed, allowing a wheel to detach while driving.

On 2021–2023 models, a software fault can cause the instrument cluster and center display to go blank or reset, removing speedometer readings and the rearview camera image. A related issue on 2021–2023 vehicles can prevent the instrument panel from showing the current gear position, which can lead to an unintended rollaway if the parking brake is not set. The rearview camera on 2022–2023 models can display a delayed, blank, or unresponsive image when shifting into reverse. On 2021 models, a software problem in the battery management system can cause the pulse inverter to deactivate or the battery controller to restart, cutting drive power without warning. A separate 2021 battery issue involves a faulty internal circuit connection that can also cause a sudden stall. One 2021 vehicle had a missing or incorrectly assembled steering gear bushing that could cause complete loss of steering. The 2021 passenger-side frontal airbag may have been improperly folded and can fail to deploy correctly in a crash, and the rear outboard seatbelts on some 2021 vehicles lack the automatic locking function needed to properly secure a child safety seat.

The 2023–2024 panoramic roof sunshade uses material that does not meet flammability standards and can accelerate a fire inside the cabin. On 2021 models, headlight adjustment caps were installed on the wrong axis, allowing the horizontal beam aim to be changed and increasing glare for oncoming drivers.