Volkswagen ID.4 engine problems

ENGINE

I am reporting a safety-related failure involving my 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The vehicle has experienced two separate incidents where it suddenly lost power while driving and became inoperable without warning. The first occurrence happened while I was in the middle of an intersection. The vehicle lost power and could not continue moving, creating a dangerous situation with surrounding traffic. The second occurrence occurred shortly after beginning a trip, approximately one thousand feet down the road. Again, the vehicle lost power without warning and became inoperable. In both cases, after the failure occurred, the vehicle would power on and could be shifted into drive or reverse; however, the vehicle would not move or provide any propulsion in either gear. The vehicle had to be manually pushed out of the roadway. The vehicle has been brought to the dealership multiple times over the course of ownership for issues involving the electrical and high-voltage systems. Service records show repeated diagnostic procedures, recall and campaign work, and repairs involving the battery system and related control functions. Diagnostic fault codes associated with this issue have included P0BEE00 and P0BE600 (drive motor current sensor circuit faults), along with communication-related faults. Despite these multiple service visits and repairs, the condition has not been reliably resolved, indicating an ongoing and intermittent system failure. Most recently, the dealer diagnosed a failure related to the drive motor system. The rear drive motor was replaced; however, after replacement, the vehicle still would not properly communicate with the motor. The dealer has since identified the issue as being related to the control module responsible for communication with the drive motor (gateway), which also requires replacement. The vehicle has been out of service for extended periods, including a current repair period exceeding one month. Given that the vehicle has lost propulsion without w

NHTSA complaint #11729783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

ENGINE

1. The car accelerates erratically when it is charged to 90 to 100%. This just plain dangerous. 2. The battery is charging to 100% when it set to charge to 80%. I learned that there is a recall for this vehicle due to the battery overheating and possibly catching on fire. However as of yesterday, there are neither diagnostics available to show whether the recall actually applies to my car, nor is their a repair available. Given the nature of the recall, this puts me in the untenable situation of not trusting my car battery - to not overheat and to not catch fire. I brought the car into VW Glenwood Springs and asked them to diagnose the problems. VW Glenwood neither charged the car to 100% nor did they drive it other than around the block. Therefore they did not experience the problem - and of course could not give me any answers. They said that car is safe to drive! I can attest that this car is not safe to drive.

NHTSA complaint #11725970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

The vehicle has been in to the dealer multiple times for electrical system failures. The car is not safe to drive and has stalled multiple times while driving. The system has errors that light up stating there is an electrical system failure. The car has stopped driving in the middle of a trip, I have been stuck with my family multiple times while on short trips and long trips. The vehicle has been repaired multiple times for the same issue and it just came back again after several months being repaired. Each time the repairs occur, I end up renting a car and the time it sits at the dealer or repair shop has varied from 45 days to several days. This car needs to go. The issue first occurred a little over a year ago and has happened 3-7 times since and at random times. The issue has been reproduced by the dealer and reported to VW HQ.

NHTSA complaint #11717983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

This vehicle is a total safety hazard due to two distinct failures: ​1. Unresolved Door Defect (14+ Months): For over 14 months, the vehicle has suffered from 'Self-Opening Door Handles.' Despite 4 repair attempts, the manufacturer has failed to fix this, posing a risk of doors opening while driving. ​2. Fire Risk & Use Restriction (Current Recall 26V-028): Currently, the vehicle is under a 'High-Voltage Battery Fire Risk' recall. The manufacturer has no remedy available and advises to 'Park Outside' and 'Away from Structures,' while also advising against fast charging. ​Conclusion: I am stuck with a car that has doors that open on their own and a battery that might catch fire. The manufacturer refuses to repurchase this unsafe vehicle. I request an immediate investigation.

NHTSA complaint #11717302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

The high-voltage battery in my two leased Volkswagen ID.4 vehicles are subject to NHTSA recall 26V030 (VW campaign 93EA, Jan 2026) for potential overheating and fire risk due to missing Self-Discharge Detection (SDD) software updates. This can cause thermal propagation even when parked. No failure or fire has happened in my vehicles yet; the battery remains available for inspection. However we do have warning lights, messages, range loss, and other electrical symptoms that have appeared before the recall notice. The defect creates a serious safety risk for my family. Both vehicles normally charge indoors in the garage directly under my toddler's bedroom. A fire during charging could endanger my young child and home. Recall guidance requires parking outdoors, no indoor/overnight charging, 80% max charge, and no Level 3 (DC fast) chargers until fixed (remedy starts ~March 2026). These restrictions make safe, practical use impossible: outdoor charging in Philly winter is impractical and risky (damage/theft), and no fast charging limits daily family mobility severely. The issue hasn't been reproduced or inspected by a dealer in my case—it's precautionary based on other vehicles' incidents. No manufacturer, police, or insurance inspection has occurred for my cars. VW denied buyback or relief, saying it's covered under warranty. Combined with prior recalls (door handles, software glitches needing repeated visits), this substantially impairs safe use. The fire risk forces unsustainable charging changes with young kids at home.

NHTSA complaint #11714480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

After spending the past 3 hours with VW's customer care department I have a serious problem with their decision to close my case until VW determines a recall action plan even though... VW has instructed me not to park in my garage or charge overnight due to fire risk VW has no parts and no timeline Vehicle range is materially reduced from stated 290 miles to 160 in winter / 225 in summer VW refuses lease relief and refuses long term loaner car VW closed the case while the recall remains open

NHTSA complaint #11713612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I am writing to bring to your attention an issue we recently encountered with our 2023 VW ID.4. We began hearing a clicking noise and brought the vehicle in for a diagnostic inspection. The dealership has informed us that the rear drive motor has failed and that the vehicle requires a full motor replacement, estimated at nearly $5,000. Our ID.4 is only 2.5 years old with 62,000 miles. We have truly enjoyed driving it and chose Volkswagen because of its reputation for quality and reliability. To see such a critical component fail this early is very disappointing.

NHTSA complaint #11689951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

After charging with my home charger, the electrical system has been one unusable or shown electrical error codes. In March 2025, the engine battery cells had a significant failure that required towing to the service center as it was completely unable to drive. This repair took 5 weeks to complete. The car had regular service and inspection 7/19/25 and issues with the navigation system and the charging port door were indicated. On 7/22/25 a warning light for electrical issues please service now came on. It was drivable to the service center but it is still not diagnosed due to another ID4 being serviced at the same time and they’re unable to work on 2. Of course with all of these downtimes we are still paying for a loan on a car we are not able to drive due to it being unsafe.

NHTSA complaint #11674190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

Car was charging, when we got in the car it tell is there is a potential risk of fire. Recall has not been address since last year.

NHTSA complaint #11670055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

Car will not start, although there is 70% charge. This has occurred 3 times. Gets towed to deal where they tell us "it magically fixed itself." Error message states that 12v battery is not working. Was advised by dealer that recall would not fix this problem. THey advised this can happen any time the car is charged (EV vehicle) and we will just have to tow it back to be "reset" each time.

NHTSA complaint #11664333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I purchased this vehicle on [XXX] from Sunnyvale Volkswagen and have experienced ongoing issues with the electrical system, infotainment, safety features, and OTA software updates. In early 2023, all error lights came on while driving, followed by a complete electrical system failure. The car would not restart until the next day. In 2024 and again in 2025, the center screen went completely black, disabling the rearview camera, hands-free navigation, climate control, and car settings. Restart attempts failed. On Feb 26, 2025, I accepted an OTA software update, which failed. I tried again on Feb 27. When I returned to the car later that day, the update was still running. The next day, the car would not unlock with either key. I tried the manual key over an hour and hundred times, which eventually worked, but the keys still weren’t recognized. I replaced both key batteries with new ones from the store (one key was spare hence never used), but the issue persisted. After several days of the same issue and hours of failed attempts, I was finally able to start the car and drive it to Sunnyvale VW on March 3rd. They acknowledged the issue and replaced both key batteries again with OEM ones, which temporarily resolved the problem. On March 25, I was contacted by Stevens Creek Volkswagen to address two open recalls. I scheduled an appointment for March 31 at 9am and called on March 30 to confirm. Despite the confirmation and their having a note for a loaner from the manager, I was told upon arrival—after waiting 15 minutes—that parts were unavailable and they couldn’t perform the repairs. I was told I’d be contacted when parts arrive, the same excuse I’ve heard since the recall opened a year ago. My safety recall remains unresolved. This vehicle has proven unreliable and unsafe for my family. I am requesting a full replacement of this lemon with a brand-new vehicle as soon as possible. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11653346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

On [XXX], our 2023 VW ID.4 Pro S which kept breaking down during our Vegas trip. It’s still under manufacturer warranty. 17,931 miles, VIN # [XXX] . We got home around 10:30 PM on July 7th after leaving Vegas before noontime, EV battery overheated in the 120 degrees heat at Baker and 112 degrees temperature at Barstow and couldn’t be driven until battery cooled hours later after each stop. It was a complete nightmare with my poor wife and kids in that super hot weather. Thank you. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11646095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

This vehicle has had multiple electrical system failures that minimally disable driver assist safety features. An error message is received that the vehicle is experiencing electrical system failure. This is the third such message recieved since July 2024. I have had the vehicle serviced to resolve the prior two instances, after which the message is produced again. Given the high number of recalls for the model and the stop sale order last year, I don’t believe the manufacturer is honestly addressing the safety defects for this model. I have reported the issue to VW of America and they closed my case pending evidence. The VW dealership who serviced the vehicle purged my service records. When I produced the evidence I had of the system failures, VW of America is unresponsive.

NHTSA complaint #11643551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

After just under 31K thousand miles of vehicle use, the rear drive motor began making a "clunking" sound upon each braking to a full stop, and again upon accelerating. The local dealer diagnosed the noise as coming from the rear electric drive motor. The technician consulted with Volkswagen "tech-line" personnel, who advised the local dealership to replace the rear drive motor under warranty, which they did approximately two weeks later. The noise no longer occurs.

NHTSA complaint #11636539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

On December 4, 2024, I left a Volkswagen ID.4 electric car in for service of Volkswagen due to software and door locking issues. The service manager confirmed the problems but stated that the vehicle has not yet received any repairs from Volkswagen and that there is no solution available. I have been given ongoing, negligent responses, such as being told that the only option is to buy another car or that there is nothing they can do. 1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The software system and door locking mechanism are malfunctioning. Both issues are related to unrepairable recalls from Volkswagen. The software issues are causing electrical faults, stopping problems, and unsafe braking performance. The door locking issue prevents proper functionality, likely due to a malfunction in the locking system, which also impacts the security and safety of the vehicle. The car is experiencing significant issues related to software, electrical faults, stopping problems, and, most concerning, unsafe brakes. These issues present a serious safety risk. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The brake system has become unsafe due to electrical and software failures, which could result in an inability to stop the vehicle properly or in a timely manner, presenting a significant safety hazard. Additionally, the malfunctioning door locks compromise the vehicle's security, which could lead to unauthorized access. The combination of these issues not only poses a risk to the driver but also to passengers and others on the road, especially if the braking system fails unexpectedly.

NHTSA complaint #11628996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.