FaultScore

2021 Volkswagen ID.4 other reported problems

59 of the 557 complaints about the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 are about the other systems — 11% of everything reported for this model year.

D

59

Complaints

6

Crashes

0

Fires

4

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Unknown OR Other 59 100.0%

Other & Unspecified across every Volkswagen ID.4 year

2021 59 26.9%
2022 31 14.2%
2023 115 52.5%
2024 14 6.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Chattanooga, TN

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

On board navigation has been lost since 1/26/2024 and shows me driving across lakes, rivers or 300 miles away from where my current location is. VW has continued to blamed Verizon wireless but that excuse is tired now 2.5 years later. This issue breaks the speed limit sign display so I have seen it showing a 70 MPH speed limit on a 25 MPH residential road or a 25 MPH speed limit on a 70 MPH freeway. Not to mention it is entirely useless if you get lost where you don't have poor cell service which did happen to me once back when this problem started. The Verizon blame is tired.

NHTSA complaint #11757727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Franklinton, NC

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2nd time in under a month where the entire display system has gone blank while driving (this time at a slower speed but still to the point where speed, vehicle info, displays, etc all went black) - this is a serious safety issue when you lose all vehicle information while driving. This requires a recall for a fix asap before someone is seriously injured.

NHTSA complaint #11755421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Manteca, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I am filing this claim because a mandatory remote software update pushed by Volkswagen, combined with recent invasive repairs to the interconnected safety restraint network (PODS), caused a critical emergency safety feature (SOS) to fail, and the manufacturer is refusing to restore the vehicle to compliance. 04-01-2026: Received mandatory manufacturer software update v3.8.1. Updated failed and had to be reset. 04-16-2026: Vehicle was brought to the dealer to repair the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS). The technician unplugged electrical harnesses and recalibrated the safety network to install the new sensor mats. 04-29-2026: Received mandatory manufacturer software update v3.8.1. 04-30-2026: Immediately following these two events, the emergency SOS system threw a critical hard failure light and became non-functional. 05-01-2026: The dealership and VW Corporate both denied Goodwill coverage, claiming it is an out-of-warranty hardware failure, despite it being a globally documented software side-effect. The v3.8.11 update is known to overwrite the measured state of health of the emergency backup battery, artificially timing it out after 5 years regardless of its actual physical health. The PODS system that the dealer just serviced actively talks to the vehicle's Supplemental Restraint System. I am requesting that Volkswagen covers 100% of the cost to restore the vehicle's emergency SOS system to working order—whether that requires a physical replacement of the telematics module/battery or a manual software reset of the battery history timer.

NHTSA complaint #11735528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vineyard Haven, MA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I am filing a complaint regarding a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 involving loss of propulsion and unresolved defects following manufacturer-directed repairs. On February 19, 2026, the vehicle lost propulsion twice, including in an intersection. The vehicle powered on and shifted into gear but would not move, requiring it to be pushed out of traffic. This is a serious safety hazard. The vehicle was repaired at a Volkswagen dealer under corporate technical direction, including replacement of the rear drive motor, replacement of control modules (gateway), and multiple programming attempts, including non-standard programming. After repair, new faults appeared. The vehicle now shows inconsistent odometer behavior, including “-- mi” and conflicting mileage values. The system continues to calculate range but does not reliably display total mileage. The dealer confirmed in writing that this issue is related to the prior repair, meaning the vehicle was returned defective. Despite prior loss-of-propulsion events and current system faults, both the dealer and Volkswagen corporate representative have advised me to continue driving the vehicle and have refused to arrange transport, even though the defect resulted from their repair. I have serious concerns the vehicle may again lose propulsion and that control systems and mileage recording are unreliable. The vehicle has been out of service over 60 days with no confirmed resolution. I request NHTSA investigate these failures and Volkswagen’s handling of this safety issue.

NHTSA complaint #11734178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Buckeye, AZ

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Vehicle has performed an OTA update to version 3.8.11 on Saturday April 4, 2026. Prior to that there were no failures or warnings reported. After the update has completed there is a warning “Emergency call function is limited. Please service vehicle”. The SOS button in the cabin is Red instead of Green. Other users in the N.A. as well users in Europe are reporting the exact issue in the forums: [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11730086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Colgate, WI

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

GPS is indicating incorrect location. GPS routing is not accurate. Car essentially doesn't know where it is. Sign assist feature is showing wrong speeds on roads. This appears to be a common problem with VW cars. In an emergency help needs to know where the car is located. This is an ongoing problem that doesn't have a solution.

NHTSA complaint #11718299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bainbridge Island, WA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Driver's side door cannot be opened from outside. Exterior handle pulls but produces only clicking sounds inside the door—latch does not release. Interior handle requires multiple pulls to open the door. Emergency release handle (pulling exterior handle fully upward) also fails to open the door. This vehicle has had both door handle recalls (23V-706 and 24V-329) performed by an authorized VW dealership. The problem has occurred intermittently since purchasing the vehicle over a year ago but is now persistent/permanent. This is a safety defect—the driver cannot exit normally in an emergency, and the vehicle cannot be accessed from outside through the driver's door by any means including the emergency release.

NHTSA complaint #11710662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tigard, OR

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Backup camera has failed and shows an error. This has created a safety risk when backing up.

NHTSA complaint #11702135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Plainsboro, NJ

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I have open recalls on my vehicle, and Volkswagen is refusing to fix them. This includes the door handles and the battery. The battery recall has been open for a while, and NO dealership is fixing it for me. Additionally, the local dealership refused service and tried charging me to fix the recall, which is supposed to be free. The "date this incident occured" below is today, because they are completely refusing service now.

NHTSA complaint #11698571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Webster, NY

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The rear view camera does not display an image and states it's in error.

NHTSA complaint #11679836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Copperopolis, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

After replacing rear tire on this vehicle, (due to a flat tire). The traction control system malfunctions. The TCS turns on, on the slightest of turns, when the TCS turns on it reduces power the wheels. So therefore while driving and turning the TCS will reduce power, causing vehicle to slow in turns. Possible setting up driver for a rear end collision. This has happened to me directly, filed complaints with the manufacturer had vehicle there, told to replace all four. Did that and issue was reduced however not resolved.

NHTSA complaint #11673966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Copperopolis, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

While attempting to reverse in vehicle, if you look over your shoulder to reverse, the car will intermittently turn off. There have been multiple instances on different surfaces where this has happened. The driver seat was occupied, restrained, looking over right shoulder primarily to reverse and the vehicle turns off. This is a huge safety issue, what if you are halfway into a roadway, triple checking over your shoulder and the car turns off.

NHTSA complaint #11673969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mesa, AZ

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1. Warning Lights Triggering at Random: The vehicle randomly displays warning lights while driving, causing me panic and concern that the car may be unsafe or about to malfunction. I have brought this to the dealership’s attention on multiple occasions ([insert dates if known]), but they were unable to diagnose or fix the problem. Despite this, the warning lights continue to appear intermittently. 2.Doors Getting Stuck from the Inside: The interior doors frequently fail to unlock or open on the first attempt, requiring multiple tries to exit the vehicle. This presents a serious safety hazard, especially in the event of an accident or emergency where quick exit from the vehicle is necessary.

NHTSA complaint #11673468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Moore, OK

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

After the 919A recall My screen experiences the issue that recall was supposed to fix more often now once it shut down for 10 minutes. While I was driving on the highway another time, it decided to reboot the screen and it was unable to adjust. Any of my air conditioner controls which distracted me from driving and another time it messed up while I was trying to get navigation information which also distract me from my driving which is why I think this is a serious safety issue. It doesn't do it with the reverse camera anymore, but it is still extremely unsafe and Volkswagen needs to remedy it because their recall that they said was going to fix it did not

NHTSA complaint #11669276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD Crash

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I was driving my 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S on March 12, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland, when I was involved in a motor vehicle accident. Although I maintained an adequate stopping distance from the truck in front of me, my forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assistance systems suddenly activated, causing my vehicle to make contact with the truck. My safety—and the safety of others—was compromised. My vehicle sustained front-end damage. This was not the first time these systems engaged without cause. I took my vehicle to Heritage Volkswagen Parkville (located in Carney, Maryland) due to unresolved recalls and these irregular system behaviors. The dealership claims that Volkswagen requires me to replace the tires, align the wheels, and install a new 12V battery before completing the recall work or troubleshooting the issue. I informed the service manager that the vehicle is unsafe to drive and that, under federal law, the dealership is obligated to complete the recall. He responded that the recall work cannot proceed until the tire replacement, alignment, and battery installation are completed. As of June 23, 2025, my vehicle remains at the dealership. I have unsuccessfully attempted to reach VW’s Customer CARE department. The vehicle is not safe. I believe VW is at fault.

NHTSA complaint #11668780 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kelseyville, CA Crash 1 injured

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I was driving at 35 mph when the front doors began unlocking and locking rapidly three times, then both front doors fell open ajar, at the same time the screen went grey with a triangle ! icon as an audile alarm went off then the drivers side curtain airbag deployed forcing the steering wheel to the right causing the vehicle to collide head on into an electric utility pole. I tried to brake but was pushed by airbag from brake pedal. I was wearing a seat belt but suffered an burn from the airbag on right inner forearm that was impression of VW logo and has resulted in lasting scar, I had modest right wrist sprain and right shin contusion, abrasion. The vehicle rolled back in the road and was towed and later totaled by insurance. The automatic braking detection nor any other airbag deployed on collision.

NHTSA complaint #11657160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bel Air, MD

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Still have a URGENT SAFTEY RECALL that VW states they still do not have the parts to fix.... Door Handles....It has been months since 9/04/2024

NHTSA complaint #11650244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clermont, FL

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Mechanical 'clunk' noise that comes from the rear of the car when accelerating or decelerating. This occurs predominately at a mild or above acceleration/deceleration. If the vehicle gradually moves the noise does not occur. The noise has gotten more frequent over time and has also become louder. First observed late 2024, and taken for initial dealership diagnoises and inspection early 2025. The dealership has replaced a harness cover but it remains unresolved. The dealership is continuing to investigate the cause as they are not aware what is creating the clunk. The car does not indicate any warning lights or have any error codes that are reported. It does appear to drive normally, however the concern of a mechincal clunk is concerning as there is no awareness of what part is creating the noise and if it is damaging other components or will lead to a catastrophic failure while driving. Videos of the noise are available

NHTSA complaint #11649684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sacramento, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The interior driver side rear passenger door (left behind the driver) and window won't open. This appears to only affect the driver side passenger rear door. The inside passenger side rear (right side of the car) door handle works. Also, the exterior door handle for the driver side rear door opens the door so it's only the interior handle that doesn't work. This is dangerous because there's no way to open that door if you're sitting inside. I tried to open the window and the button also doesn't seem to work. This happens when the car is off or on at any speed or stopped.

NHTSA complaint #11646381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cary, NC

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Manufacturer Recall Number919A NHTSA Recall Number24V344 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete I had received Recall notification from VW, following which i had given my vehicle to the service center "Leith Volkswagen of Cary" at "2300 Autopark Blvd, Cary, NC 27511" on [XXX]. The recall repair has not been completed since then and the vehicle is still with the service center. From the last update from the service rep is that they tried to update the software and it has been failing. Apparently VW manufacturer support team has been notified and the suggested procedures from them were also unsuccessful. At this time its been 5 weeks and no sight on when they would be able to fix the issue. I have been given an loaner vehicle which is similar with less features, but i cannot have my daughter use the vehicle due to age restriction. I want to raise the concern here to see if there can be any solution to have VW to get my vehicle serviced or replace with similar vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11641359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carlsbad, CA Crash

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

While stopped at a red light waiting to turn left, with foot on the brake, my car suddenly accelerated and lunged forward , plowing into the car in front of me with great force. I had to jam down the brake almost to the floor to get the car to stop. My foot was on the brake. There is no way I hit the accelerator. Even if I had, the AEB system is supposed to prevent me crashing at close range. I understand that this is a known issue related to the adaptive cruise control. The force of my car was so great that 3 cars in front of me sustained damage.

NHTSA complaint #11638342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Los Angeles, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My infotainment and instrument panel displays have frozen or reset multiple times while driving. On one occasion, my air conditioning came out at a high speed, the volume of my radio went up and all of my indicators came on. Luckily I was able to pull over to avoid a crash, but needless to say it was horrifying. I took the car in for service, and they assured me they had reset the OS, and I'd be fine. That extreme of an instance hasn't occurred since, but the infotainment display does still go black, freeze or reset from time to time. Every time, I schedule an appointment to fix the recall, the VW Service cancels my appointment, saying updates keep crashing for other customers. I also receive VW app notifications that my AC is on when I'm not even in the car. Same with the door locks, I constantly receive notifications that my car is unclocked when I know I've locked it and am inside my house. The other main issues with the door handles is the passenger doors often only open after multiple lock and unlock attempts via button the inside the car, bc the fob doesn't always work. Even with new batteries. Again, I've scheduled service appointments to fix the recall, and they cancel it saying they don't have the parts. It's been almost a year, I've been dealing with both of these issues.

NHTSA complaint #11636071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Franklin, TN

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The vehicle has suffered multiple failures of the main infotainment display. This screen is used to show the backup camera, as well as to adjust all vehicle settings and safety systems. The infotainment display will go black, and will not reboot or respond to touch input. This means that the backup camera is nonfunctional, as well as perimeter traffic warnings and vehicle controls for climate and safety systems. The vehicle has been serviced by an authorized VW dealer on multiple occasions, but the issue has reoccured at least three times. Each time, it has required about a month in the shop. The manufacturer has denied a buyback and states that the vehicle is performing as intended. They have also denied reimbursement of expenses. This vehicle has spent over 120 days in the service department within the previous calendar year.

NHTSA complaint #11635515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hialeah Gardens, FL

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Good day, In 2023, In bought the car and since then it have had many recalls and electrical problems which let the car to be out of service for over 60 days, see documents attached. Since yesterday, the car has the center and instrument panel display OFF preventing the speedometer and rearview camera from displaying in addition to front and rear parking sensors also off. I have contacted the dealership and they do not have appointments available until 02/2025. This car should be removed from the market due to its complete insecurity to drivers.

NHTSA complaint #11631753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stella, NC

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Constant recalls on this vehicle. Vw unwilling to work w us on taking back the vehicle. Issues prior to 50,000 mile mark but they say we didn’t file a complain early enough. Outstanding recalls

NHTSA complaint #11625789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lakewood, WA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Vehicle starts to accelerate then hesitates for about 5-6 seconds before accelerating again while even keeping pedal down. Has happened on the first drive after multiple dealer visits, I think it’s related to computer resets and the dealer says it’s normal operation of the vehicle recalibrating itself. Problem is it happens when I pull out into traffic and almost causes a wreck.

NHTSA complaint #11619372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cockeysville, MD 1 injured

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I leased a car three years ago. This ID4 on May 15,2023 left me at a full stop in the middle of the highway. I then dropped it off to the dealer where they inspected it and saw it was a sensor/software issue, I think. They never actually disclosed the problem, nor held accountability. They insured me after almost two weeks of having to pay gas for a loaner car that they had fixed it and it was safe. After that incident and before my car had been in service countless times, all very inconvenient but not immediate safety issues, until the door handles. The door handles have been recalled twice before this last incident. My car was in there for over two weeks again back and forth. They broke my actual handles and had to go back in again, they claimed they were fixed. Now, almost 6monthankater I go to buy this lemon pre certified through the dealer and they tell me they can’t because it has two open recalls. They failed to say that the open recalls have been since May and are only now informing id4 owners that their doors may unlatch any any moment while driving and kill your babies and someone else’s on the road. Yet, they want me to either extend my lease, turn in the car and pay over mileage (even though I thought I was leasing to buy) or buy out the car not certified through a third party with two open recalls. I am being bullied into keeping a lemon. This car is a lemon and I want Volkswagen to take it off my hands waiving any over mileage and either giving me a new id4 that is safe or my 21,000 dollars I have paid into it. I am not the only one legally bound to these lemons. I demand a resolution for my consumer rights. I will speak to every news station out there until I seek justice for me and so many others.

NHTSA complaint #11616108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Roseville, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The manufacturer has failed or is unable to remedy the safety recall for my vehicle in a timely manner. It has currently been in there possession for over 30 days with multiple failed attempts to correct the recall/issue with my vehicle.

NHTSA complaint #11611726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kirkland, WA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The rear camera when backing up, does not work, and it's super difficult to back up, with a car that has a small rear window, as a driver you need the backing camera plus the sensors

NHTSA complaint #11603750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Barbara, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Car stopped without warning on six lane road in busy traffic. Display indicated electrical system failure. Vehicle would not re-start. Fortunately I was able to exit the vehicle and make it to the edge of the road but this was a very dangerous situation. Car was traveling between 30-40 mph at time. All active recall work had been performed per the dealership.

NHTSA complaint #11595938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 problems

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