My primary safety complaint is that the automatic emergency-call function failed during an actual airbag-deployment collision even though the SOS indicator was green and appeared to show that the system was operational. The vehicle is a 2023 Volkswagen ID.4, VIN [XXX]. On XXX, at approximately 8:04 a.m., while traveling southbound on Columbia Pike near Trader Joe’s, the vehicle was involved in a collision that deployed the airbags. The vehicle automatically initiated the emergency-call sequence but announced words to the effect of, “Your call cannot be completed.” The Montgomery County Police Department investigated the collision under Incident Number XXX. Fortunately, a passerby witnessed the collision and assistance was available. Without that person, emergency assistance could have been delayed, increasing the risk of serious harm. An injured, disoriented, trapped, or unconscious occupant may not be able to locate a phone and call [XXX]. The vehicle had a prior history of recurring GPS, SOS, and connected-services failures. It was presented to authorized Volkswagen dealers four times while under warranty, and a Volkswagen TAC case was opened, but no root cause or permanent repair was documented. Shortly after Volkswagen was notified that a lemon-law filing would proceed, the GPS, green SOS indicator, and some connected functions appeared to return for about two days without any explanation of a repair, software update, reset, remote action, or configuration change. The GPS then became inaccurate again, while the SOS indicator remained green. I request that NHTSA investigate why the indicator remained green when the automatic crash call could not connect, whether Volkswagen verifies actual voice and location functionality before displaying the green indicator, and whether affected vehicles require a safety recall or other corrective action. The complete statement and supporting evidence are attached as Exhibit 0. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11752045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ellicott City, MD
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Potential undercounting of safety defects through Volkswagen’s no-DTC/no-repair process. I recently located and reviewed a video recorded on February 18, 2025. It was originally made to document a remote climate-control malfunction, not a GPS problem. While reviewing it because of recurring GPS and SOS failures, I noticed that the same video also captured an incorrect speed-limit display. While traveling south on US-29/Columbia Pike near Greencastle Road, the vehicle was traveling at 53 mph with cruise control set at 55 mph. Google Maps displayed a 55-mph speed limit while the Volkswagen instrument cluster displayed 35 mph. My 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 remains under warranty. I have taken it to Volkswagen dealers four times for recurring GPS-location, SOS/emergency-communication, and connected-services failures. No permanent repair was completed. Dealers told me that because no relevant diagnostic trouble code was stored, they could not replace a component or perform another repair without Volkswagen authorization. During another failure, when the SOS indicator was not illuminated, I pressed the service-call button. The call did not connect. The system announced vehicle coordinates, but they were incorrect. This raises concern that inaccurate location information could be provided during an emergency if the SOS system relies on the same data. A Volkswagen TAC case was opened, but there was no meaningful progress or documented repair. After escalation, the SOS indicator and some functions appeared to return without an explanation of what action had been performed. The GPS later became inaccurate again. The SOS light remains illuminated, but Volkswagen has not verified the emergency-location function or identified the root cause. My concern is that Volkswagen’s no-DTC repair requirement leaves an observable, recurring safety defect unrepaired and may prevent these events from becoming completed warranty claims or being recognized as part of a broader defect pattern.
NHTSA complaint #11751392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Minneapolis, MN
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1. My tires are half recommended pressure on ALL tires yet yet the automatic monitoring system does not record any abnormality. This is a dangerous system because it tells me everything is ok when it is not. This is on all four tires. 2. When backing up with a trailer the car slams on the brakes as it thinks someone is there and you can’t always turn it off. There is an X you hit to turn off but if you forget…. Sometimes the X doesn’t appear and you have to shift forward then reverse then forward then reverse to get the X to appear and so you can back up without brakes slamming on. Hard to use bike rack because of this.
NHTSA complaint #11748918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sloatsburg, NY
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
We are experiencing ongoing connectivity and safety‑related issues with our Volkswagen vehicle that have remained unresolved for more than six months. The vehicle is not connecting to the VW app, which has resulted in the SOS emergency call function being inoperable. Additionally, the vehicle’s built‑in GPS system is displaying our location in an entirely different state, which raises significant concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the system. We have visited multiple Volkswagen dealerships and contacted Volkswagen customer support numerous times by phone. Despite these repeated attempts, the issue has not been diagnosed or corrected. As a result, in the event of an accident or emergency, we currently have no functioning means of alerting emergency services through the vehicle. Furthermore, the navigation system—specifically the feature that locates charging stations and was included in our original purchase—has not worked since approximately six months after we acquired the vehicle and continues to be nonfunctional. The VW app has also been inoperable since May 19, 2026, and despite contacting two dealerships and VW support, we have not received any follow‑up or resolution. Without app connectivity, we cannot determine whether the vehicle is locked, fully charged, or if it has been accessed. At this time, neither we nor Volkswagen appear to know the cause of these failures. Our primary concern is safety, and we are requesting that this matter be addressed promptly and thoroughly.
NHTSA complaint #11744068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Argyle, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Complaint Summary I am filing a complaint against Volkswagen of America for excessive repair delays and lack of customer support for my ID.4. My vehicle has been out of service over a month, with a 7–8 week part delay, leaving me without transportation while still making payments. Details In May 2026, my ID.4 was diagnosed with rodent damage to the wiring harness (not under warranty). However, the part delay is unreasonable. My vehicle will likely be unusable for nearly four months total, and I have continued making full payments. Attempts to Resolve I requested: trade-in/lease option, buyback assistance, rental coverage, and help shipping the vehicle to Texas after relocating. All were denied. Impact I am without a vehicle, still making payments, incurring extra transportation costs, and may have to pay to ship the car. Resolution Requested Rental reimbursement, goodwill compensation, shipping assistance, or buyback/trade-in consideration. Conclusion While not a warranty issue, the prolonged delay and lack of support reflect poor customer care. I am seeking a fair resolution.
NHTSA complaint #11742965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicago, IL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2023 Volkswagen ID.4 (VIN [XXX] ), purchased new [XXX]; now ~20,000 miles. Since the first months of ownership it has had recurring, intermittent electrical/software/capacitive-control and safety failures: the center infotainment screen and instrument cluster go blank while driving (loss of speedometer); the power windows operate opposite to the control input or fail to respond (about 1 in 4 drives); the vehicle intermittently fails to detect occupants and enters standby while people are inside, including while charging; door handles malfunction; and the high-voltage battery has recently been overheating. It is subject to recalls 919A/24V-344 (display software), 57J9/24V-651 (door handles), and 93EA/26V-030 & 26V-028 (battery fire risk), yet the defects persist after these remedies. Dealers repeatedly recorded "could not duplicate" - at times despite video I provided - but a second dealer verified the display and window faults and replaced the J685 display unit and the driver's-door master window switch ([XXX], May 2025). VW's own recall filing (24V-344) states a "definitive root cause could not be established." Dealers also clear the CAN bus / fault memory during recall service, erasing the intermittent codes and making the defects hard to document. These failures create genuine crash and fire risk. No crash or injury to date. Dated video and repair-order documentation available - some provided in packet below. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11740971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sequim, WA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
12-volt onboard battery error codes, stating battery charge is low, and to safely park the vehicle. Alternatively, drive the vehicle to charge the battery. Or charge the vehicle. The car has been to the dealer for testing, and they say that the on-board battery checks out without any problems, yet I continue to get the battery error codes. We don't feel safe to driving the car in fear of complete lockout failure.
NHTSA complaint #11740645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mountainside, NJ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I had recall campaign 919A completed on 4/28/25. NHTSA Safety Issue 24V344000. In March 2926 I was driving on a highway and the same issue that was supposed to be corrected by the recall occurred. The screens went blank and rebooted and the odometer/speedometer display on the dashboard had its colors inverted while the system rebooted. Displays that do not show critical information, such as vehicle speed or the rearview camera image, increase the risk of a crash. NHTSA ID Number: 24V344000 Manufacturer Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. Components BACK OVER PREVENTION, EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Potential Number of Units Affected: 79965
NHTSA complaint #11738467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DCCrash
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While entering a parking lot at a low speed, with my foot already firmly applied to the brake due to the close proximity of a parking space, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own unexpectedly. Despite continuous pressure on the brake pedal, the vehicle proceeded forward, struck another parked vehicle, and continued moving for approximately two additional seconds before coming to a stop on its own. Additionally, no forward collision/crash warning alert was activated prior to impact, and the airbags did not deploy during the collision.
NHTSA complaint #11738431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The infotainment system in my Volkswagen ID.4 is experiencing intermittent failures while driving. The issue primarily affects the vehicle’s connectivity with my mobile phone (Apple CarPlay / Android Auto), music playback, and the use of navigation applications such as Google Maps. In several instances, the central display has also gone completely black, temporarily becoming unresponsive without warning. The affected component is the vehicle’s digital infotainment system, including the central touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, and multimedia and navigation functions. This system is available for inspection upon request. While driving, the system randomly disconnects from my phone, which interrupts Google Maps navigation, music playback, and other phone-based functions. This is particularly concerning because I rely on Google Maps for daily navigation, as the vehicle’s built-in navigation system is not sufficiently accurate or reliable. In my experience, the factory navigation does not provide strong real-time traffic detail and sometimes routes me through significantly longer or less efficient paths. The only advantage of the built-in navigation system is that it displays information on the driver’s head-up/front display, which Google Maps does not support. These failures create a potential safety risk, as the sudden loss of navigation while driving can lead to distraction when attempting to reconnect the phone or restore system functionality. Additionally, interruptions in audio guidance and the occurrence of a completely black screen may further affect driving focus. The issue occurs intermittently and has happened multiple times during normal vehicle operation. It is not consistently reproducible. To date, the vehicle has not been inspected by a dealership, the manufacturer, police, or any insurance representatives in relation to this issue. In most cases, there are no prior warning lights or messages; the system simply disconnects or the display goes bla
NHTSA complaint #11737336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vancouver, WACrash
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UNKNOWN -- I was turning 90 deg from the street into my 30' driveway, going very slow as usual with foot on brake pedal to slow further before entering the garage (the door had just finished lifting). But as I was straightening the steering coming out of turn, the car suddenly accelerated, brakes and steering both were unresponsive and the car smashed into the garage. Slowed further by the impact, the car caromed into the garage stairs smashing them to pieces before coming to rest against the rear garage wall after I hit the OFF button (it's an EV). There was no alert from the onboard systems of a pending crash and the air bags did NOT deploy. I was uninjured. Posting my accident on a social media owners group, other owners have had similar experience of the electronics going out while driving. The car remains at a 45 deg angle inside the garage now 6 days later awaiting the insurance company to come and extricate it for their assessment of the damage to the car.
NHTSA complaint #11734381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
San Diego, CAFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This is a supplemental report to my previous filing regarding a 2023 VW ID.4 battery fire. On May 28, 2025, while being operated, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic thermal event. White smoke emanated from the front compartment followed by active flames. The vehicle was a total loss. Critical Safety Finding: A subsequent forensic examination conducted on October 29, 2025 (File 27739-01) by a certified fire investigator confirmed that after the initial fire was suppressed, the vehicle reportedly caught fire an additional time while being held at a tow/storage facility. Component Failure: The fire originated in the front compartment area. The failure is consistent with the "thermal runaway" risks identified in Recall 26V030, involving defective battery cell electrodes. Safety Risk: The multiple ignition nature of this failure poses a lethal risk to occupants, emergency responders, and tow/salvage facility operators. The fact that the vehicle reignited twice in storage, long after the initial suppression, suggests that current safety protocols or the scope of the existing recall may not fully address the volatility of this specific battery defect. Inspection Status: The vehicle was inspected by the manufacturer’s engineers and an independent forensic investigator. However, the manufacturer and the insurer are currently withholding the Photographic Report and Technical Field Report from the consumer. These records are vital to understanding the severity of the "multiple -ignition" event and should be subpoenaed or requested by NHTSA investigators to ensure the recall remedy is sufficient to prevent secondary fires in storage environments.
NHTSA complaint #11730514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
New Sharon, ME
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am submitting this complaint as a follow-up to three prior NHTSA complaints regarding this same vehicle: Complaint #11714848 (submitted 2/1/2026) Complaint #11714852 (submitted 2/1/2026) Complaint #11716040 (submitted 2/5/2026) These prior complaints document a progression of serious electrical, charging, and vehicle control issues that have worsened over time. Initially, the vehicle experienced widespread software and electrical failures affecting core driving and safety systems, including loss of power while driving, unintended system activation, blank instrument displays, and failure of safety-related features such as the SOS emergency system. These issues escalated to include severe charging system failures, inability to reliably charge the vehicle, dramatically reduced range, and intermittent propulsion loss. On February 4, 2026, the vehicle became completely inoperable, displaying multiple critical warnings including “Drive system error,” “Electrical system not working correctly,” and inability to start or move the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealership on February 5, 2026 for repair. I have now been informed by both Volkswagen and the dealership that they have been unable to identify or implement a repair for these issues. Despite this, they plan to return the vehicle to me without performing any substantive repairs. I have been told that diagnostic fault codes have been cleared and that the vehicle is now considered “safe” to drive. However, no root cause has been identified, and no repairs have been made to correct the underlying defects that led to loss of power, system failures, and complete inoperability. The issues previously reported remain unresolved and include: Loss of power while driving Dashboard and infotainment displays going blank while driving Vehicle shifting into park unexpectedly Cruise control activating without driver input Charging system failures preventing reliable charging Repeated warnings indicating unsafe oper
NHTSA complaint #11729274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eugene, OR
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
the car battery is recalled and I am unable to use DC fast charging and must limit charging to 80%. These limitations substantially impair the vehicle’s intended use, value, and practicality—especially for long-distance travel, which was a primary reason for my purchase.
NHTSA complaint #11727511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Minooka, IL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My car failed to connect/stay connected to a charger. When a successful charge started, within 5 minutes , my dash lit up with warning messages to stop moving the car. Place car in park. Battery needs to be replaced. My car was in park at the time. Then the charging session ended and wouldn't reconnect. My car wouldn't start either. Leaving me stranded at the charging station . I called for towing service for which I was charged $122.88 for the tow. Then $479 for a new 12v battery. This didn't fix the issue. My car has been at Hawk since then waiting for a main battery. This is an unreasonable amount of time.
NHTSA complaint #11726757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
N Muskegon, MICrash
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The vehicle lurched forward as I was parking and hit a parked vehicle in front of me; it accelerated forward even though my foot wasn't on the accelerator. I have contacted VW and was told to take the vehicle to a VW dealer to be inspected; that is happening next week. I did not notice any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the accident. I had just installed the VW recommended software update 2 days prior.
NHTSA complaint #11723925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Toledo, OH
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The vehicle’s GPS/navigation system repeatedly misrepresents the vehicle’s physical location while driving. The defect includes incorrect vehicle positioning on the map display, including instances where the vehicle appears in incorrect geographic locations (including appearing in the middle of a river). While actively navigating, the system has recalculated routes incorrectly and changed estimated travel time from approximately two hours remaining to six hours, despite no change in route or conditions. This occurred during highway driving. The GPS malfunction also affects Apple CarPlay navigation when the phone is connected to the vehicle. When connected, the vehicle’s incorrect GPS data corrupts phone navigation routing. The defect further affects the vehicle’s heads-up display and traffic sign recognition system. The system has displayed incorrect speed limits (including displaying higher speed limits in lower-speed areas), which contributed to receiving a speeding citation. The issue makes reliable route planning and EV charging planning difficult or impossible during longer trips. The vehicle has been presented for repair three times. Dealership documentation verifies that the GPS and compass were incorrect. A technical case was opened with Volkswagen (Case RK-1536905), and I also opened multiple customer care cases on my own, to no avail. The vehicle was returned unrepaired with the statement that the concern is under review and no repair solution is currently available. The defect remains unresolved. This issue affects navigation accuracy, traffic sign recognition accuracy, and safe routing.
NHTSA complaint #11723165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cudahy, WI
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am advised by VW to not charge this vehicle using the L3 super chargers along with not to charge it "inside" a garage. However, there is no way to charge the vehicle then without spending thousands to have an electrician move the plug outside. So I am forced to have this vehicle not usable and VW offers zero fix. I have written them a formal demand letter over 3 weeks ago requesting a fix or buy back and they ignore it. They have sold a vehicle which is clearly unsafe, however offer no fix
NHTSA complaint #11721251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sterling, MA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The vehicle continues to unlock itself. The dealer has been able to reproduce the problem. First repair. They said it was because of a recall to do with the door handles, even though the recall didn’t state any of that cause they were able to reproduce the vehicle unlocking itself after the recall so they did a software update once I took the vehicle home was able to reproduce, and the issue of it unlocking itself continued. I returned the vehicle to the same dealer and which they had the vehicle for an additional 26 days with another software update and then they had to call in to the tech line where they had to replace the control module that still didn’t fix the issue then had to replace a key then they released the vehicle back to me as they exhausted all their options and the issue is still present unable to drive the vehicle due to security concerns
NHTSA complaint #11719308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bakersfield, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Abnormal inside tire wear leading to blow outs and flats. TSB 42M6 available for alignment, adjustment bolts and camber adjustments but it was not sent to my car and I've had to replace 2 sets of rear tires due to uneven wear. Mileage currently is at 35k. Dealer states no issues with suspension or alignment but can't explain the uneven wear. First time was in October 2024 and then this time February 2026. Car was newly driven January 2023. Dealer is asking me to pay each time for new tires. Money or tire sales for them over my safety and the safety of others on the freeway shouldn't be the priority. I could've been in an accident or a rollover twice now. Fixing the actual issue is being neglected. The TSB should include my vehicle and should be a safety recall.
NHTSA complaint #11717166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
New Sharon, ME
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Car is inoperable. The display states a number of issues: Display states that: 1. "Error: Drive System. Please service vehicle." 2. "Unable to Start. Please Remove the Charging Cable": Vehicle is unable to start due to the fact that the charger cable is still attached. The vehicle is not plugged in, and cannot be moved because of this. 3.Display states that "Range Cannot Be Calculated" 4."Electrical System Not Working Correctly! Safely Stop The Vehicle." This car has many issues, but these are new and are keeping the vehicle from being able to be operated
NHTSA complaint #11716040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
New Sharon, ME
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle has widespread software/electronic failures affecting driving and safety systems. Failures cause erratic, loss of information while driving, unintended systems activation, and loss of emergency services. While operating the vehicle during routine driving, multiple safety-related electronic systems malfunction. The instrument panel and center display intermittently go completely blank while driving, removing speed and warning information. The vehicle has shifted into Park on its own while stopped at traffic lights (with the driver seated and seat belt fastened). Cruise control activates without driver input. Voice control activates repeatedly without pressing the steering-wheel button. Intermittent, but significant loss of propulsion power has occurred while driving. The backup camera intermittently remains on while driving forward and backup sensors intermittently fail. GPS location is severely inaccurate, the dynamic road sign display does not function, and the Emergency Call (SOS) system does not function. Car will not connect to the app, leaving many functions unavailable, including the ability to condition the battery before driving in cold conditions. Many of these issues have occurred multiple times over the course of the vehicle's history, but Volkswagen was able to fix many of these issues for a time. The date I have input below represents the approximate time the issues started to reoccur. I have made multiple attempts to resolve these issues with both the dealership and directly with Volkswagen.
NHTSA complaint #11714848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
New Sharon, ME
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The mobile app will not connect, preventing charging monitoring or battery pre-conditioning in cold weather. Charging frequently fails to initiate or stops prematurely. Level 2 (slow) charging often stops after only 5–10% of charge is added but is unpredictable. Even when charging on a level 3 charger, the vehicle often charges to random levels below 80% (the level to which the vehicle is supposed to charge). DC fast charging is slow and often struggles to reach 40%-50% within a reasonable time. Charging equipment often reports significantly more energy delivered than vehicle displays. This has occurred at multiple charging locations (and multiple chargers). The vehicle’s range has been severely reduced. The vehicle’s range is dramatically less than it used to be. The battery is often drained and needs to be recharged in less than 100 miles. The vehicle often loses power. This is inconsistent, but when it happens, I am only able to get the vehicle moving at a very slow pace, which was not the case previously. I have contacted the selling dealer multiple times and Volkswagen directly. Charging-related issues have continued to worsen.
NHTSA complaint #11714852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Needham, MA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The navigation system does not work. It places the vehicle in places where it is not and shows erroneous speed limit displays and erroneous messages about traffic conditions which do not exist where the vehicle is actually located. The Volkswagen dealer says they have no fix for this and that many of their models have this problem.
NHTSA complaint #11713671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waterloo, IA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The ABS violently stops at random times in parking lots or reversing from my garage going FWD or backwards, screen has turned black, software updates won’t go through, charging issues/wont charge, premature inner tire wear notably in the right rear passenger side, doors, especially passenger doors, won’t open, the heat is nonexistent in the rear & barely works in the front, most recently a code popped up in my app for powertrain. VW dealer wouldn’t specify until I came in person a month later & allowed me to take a picture of the code (attached) “Driving an EV with a P0AA600 isolation fault is dangerous, as it indicates a failure in the high-voltage (HV) system's insulation, causing current to leak to the chassis. Risks include severe electric shock or electrocution, fire hazards from damaged components, and potential complete vehicle failure or refusal to start.”
NHTSA complaint #11713300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chandler, AZ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Problem Description The core issue stems from a production fault in the battery cells that can cause increased self-discharge. In a high-voltage battery pack, which operates like a chain of interconnected modules, a single faulty module with elevated self-discharge becomes the “weakest link.” This leads to: • Degradation of the overall usable capacity. • Reduced driving range and power limitations. • Potential cascading failures affecting additional modules over time. • Warning indicators, such as a yellow electrical system fault in the instrument cluster (fault code P0BBD00: Hybrid Battery Pack Voltage Variation Exceeded Limit). • Infotainment messages like “Electronic system does not work correctly. Please go to workshop.” • In severe cases, unexpected shutdowns or failure to pass technical inspections, potentially rendering the vehicle non-roadworthy under local regulations. The fault is linked to specific battery module part numbers from LG, including: • 0Z1.915.592.G/H/J • 0Z1.915.599.G/H/J/P These were produced through the end of 2023 (up to December 4, 2023) and include configurations like 12S2P (small capacity) and 8S3P (large capacity), meaning all MEB battery setups could be impacted. Volkswagen does not publicly disclose full VIN ranges, exact affected counts, or the precise technical cause of the manufacturing fault, but internal escalation procedures exist to identify additional defective batches.
NHTSA complaint #11713226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
San Diego, CAFire
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On May 28, 2025, a 2023 VW ID.4 spontaneously caught fire while in use. The local Fire Department and County Hazmat responded to the scene. The vehicle was declared a total loss due to thermal runaway and lithium battery fume toxicity. Crucially, the vehicle experienced a secondary ignition/re-fire several days later while in the custody of a towing company, resulting in the total destruction of the vehicle and damage to third-party property. The manufacturer participated in a joint inspection of the remains in late October 2025 but has not provided an explanation for the failure. This vehicle represents a severe public safety hazard, as the fire occurred without warning and the high-voltage battery system proved unstable enough to reignite days after the initial suppression. I am requesting a formal investigation into the high-voltage battery stability and potential manufacturing defects for this model year to prevent similar life-threatening incidents for other owners.
NHTSA complaint #11706349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Franklin, IN
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This event occurred on the night of Saturday, October 25. The entire software system crashed while driving on the highway in downtown chicago. This blacked out both the HMI screens (the driver "cockpit" and the media / vehicle management screen). This rendered the speedometer, battery charge indicator, cruise control indicator, media center, and advanced sensors unusable. I still able to accel/decel, use turn signals, and steer the car as normal but I could not tell how fast I was going nor how much remaining charge there was. After 1-2 minutes, the system fully rebooted and worked fine the rest of the trip. This was the first blackout we'd experienced--and it was the first time the cockpit (speedometer and such) was affected. However, the media center HMI regularly locks up and glitches: loading menus not linked to the certain buttons, lockups when multiple devices are connected, inability to reach VW servers,...) Software is on the most recent version available for my vehicle trim, though versions with many issues fixed have since been released. (We are stuck on ID software version 3.5 despite the most recent version being around 3.8.)
NHTSA complaint #11700494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fairfield, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Drivers side Door handle will often not open after Recalled handle was installed. Requires a great deal of force many times. Was told twice by dealer that we had to "relearn" how to open the door. This is a safety hazard if a firefighter or police officer tries to open door during an emergency
NHTSA complaint #11700642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Plainville, MA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Continuously receiving error message to have front sensors cleaned. Vehicle brought into dealership several times, for weeks at a time. On last visit sensors replaced, and I was told that “ The front sensors have a level of damage caused by sand, salt and other road debris. This has resulted in some scratches which are triggering the sensors and giving you the warnings that you are referring to.” Given this, the front sensor issues are a manufacturing flaw. I asked this if the dealer and, given the stated cause of sand, salt and road debris the likely frequency. With no answer.
NHTSA complaint #11698409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.