61 of the
1,779 complaints filed about the Volkswagen ID.4
are about the fuel system —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2021.
The vehicle developed a charging/electrical/high-voltage battery problem. Level 3 charging stopped first, then charging later stopped on all levels. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Volkswagen dealer on 08/06/2026. The dealer referenced high-voltage battery/module and charging-system issues, including fault/code information involving P0BBD00 / J840 / 008C and campaign/action history involving 93P7 / 97ZZ. The dealer quoted a very expensive repair involving a high-voltage battery/module condition and charging-system components. The unresolved safety concern is that the dealer/manufacturer have not provided a clear written answer on whether the vehicle can be safely charged, operated, towed, released, or repaired elsewhere while the high-voltage battery/module condition remains unresolved. They also have not clearly answered whether the charge-door / charge-port / connector-lock / socket / AX4-J1050 issue is separate from the high-voltage battery/module condition or whether it caused or contributed to the no-charge condition. The underlying diagnostic output, measured values, DTC/freeze-frame data, campaign/action history, technician notes, and written safety/repair-path explanation have been requested but not provided in the form requested. I am concerned the vehicle may have an unresolved high-voltage battery or charging-system defect and that prior/current campaign handling may be relevant.
NHTSA complaint #11757937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The infotainment screen and heads up display screen are constantly going black and rebooting, causing a loss of the speedometer for up to a minute at a time. Occasionally, the entire vehicle loses power and the accelerator does not work for a few seconds. The shop says it is the 5F control module, which was described by the dealership as handling one half of the high voltage current, as well as controlling the infotainment screen. If this module is responsible for half of the high voltage current, I don't understand why they claim it is not covered by the 8 year/80,000 warranty on the high voltage battery and related components.
NHTSA complaint #11757755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am driving home from work and I’m right around the corner from my house. As soon as I try to make a turn, the car begins beeping and the faults “Electrical system malfunction” and “12V power supply” show up. My car does not accelerate, I lose power steering, and I can no longer move while I’m still in the middle of the road with cars around me. Thankfully, there was a slight downhill that allowed me to coast somewhat off the road, but I had to push this 4600+ lbs car (by myself) further so it wasn’t sticking out. I had to get 4 other people to help push the car to my house across a residential collector road which took ~20 mins just to go a couple hundred feet. This is the THIRD time of this occurring, twice I’ve been to the dealership, and twice they told me they couldn’t replicate the issue. The other times “thankfully” occurred when the car was already parked, but one of the instances required a tow; this was not even a week after buying the car. The second time occurred not even 5 hours after getting my car back from the dealership service center, requiring me to ditch the car in the parking lot (dealership was closed). I’ve had the car for a little under a month. This is incredibly unsafe. I work in downtown and go on many major roads/interstates during my commute. If this would’ve happened on the freeway or a busier road, a serious accident and/or injury could’ve occurred.
NHTSA complaint #11752552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S has unexpectedly lost propulsion and come to a complete stop while being driven on at least three separate occasions. When this occurs, the vehicle jolts, stops moving, and cannot be placed into Drive or Reverse. I am only able to shift it into Neutral. After the first incident, I took the vehicle to a Volkswagen dealership the following morning. The dealership stated they could not reproduce the problem or identify any faults. The same failure occurred twice in one day this week. During one of those incidents, the vehicle lost propulsion and stopped in the middle of a busy street, creating a serious safety hazard because I was unable to move the vehicle out of traffic. Immediately before and during the failure, the vehicle displayed multiple warning messages, including: Error: Drive system. Please safely stop the vehicle. Electrical system not working correctly. Please service vehicle. Error: Electronic Stability Control (ESC). Front Assist is not available. Lane Assist is currently not available. Rear Traffic Alert is currently not available. Park Distance Control is not available. Error: Auto Hold. These warnings appeared at the same time the vehicle lost propulsion. The vehicle stalled without warning while driving and became undriveable. This is extremely concerning because it can occur suddenly in traffic, placing the driver, passengers, and surrounding motorists at risk of a crash. The vehicle is currently at the Volkswagen dealership for inspection, and I am awaiting their diagnosis. Because this dangerous condition has now occurred multiple times, I am concerned there is a serious defect affecting the vehicle's drive system or electrical system.
NHTSA complaint #11750851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle was being driven at highway speed when loss of power occurred, vehicle moved to side of road and would not restart. Performed 12v capacitve procedure with no change. Hazard lights would not function, other 12v systems remained on.
NHTSA complaint #11747010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Car has been in and out of various VW dealers since purchase at the end of August 2023. Car was purchased new. Immediately began receiving emergency “stop driving vehicle” messages on driver display. VW on call service advised if the car drives, I can operate it and no further action is necessary. Various Electical errors including charge 12V battery, infotainment screen going black or resetting while driving, no display while in reverse, car losing power on highway, car alarm going off while driving, if hazard lights are used, they do not shut off unless the car is off and driver is out of the car for at least ten minutes, interior lights flash on and off (this is a safety issue as is if incredibly difficult to see while driving at night, car has been in shop three times for this, no repairs, the car battery drains incredibly quickly; usually get about 2kWh in town driving, charging errors; charger not recognized, or car displays it is charging, but when complete, it didn’t charge, windows don’t respond to the controls, door handles don’t always work to open the doors; often have to access the car from passenger side (these have been replaced and still don’t work), emergency braking system doesn’t function, car ghost breaks (no objects ahead, clean sensors, driving and brakes slam on), multiple leaks in vehicle including headlights, rear driver tail light, and the light on top of the back hatch, car loses connection to emergency system, infotainment screen doesn’t respond to finger touches and must be reset, to initiate OTA updates, fuse needs to be pulled. I barely drive the car, and it’s my only vehicle. It’s not safe (lighting issues ongoing, alarms, safety features don’t work, can’t get into the car) and not reliable for travel as charging is hit or miss (at commercial charging stations and home charging station), and the battery life is extremely short, even in perfect conditions using cruise control in eco mode, the car only travels about 130 miles.
NHTSA complaint #11731530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was charging at Electrify America charging station for approximately 20 minutes when suddenly I felt the ID.4 shaking and then seconds later I was surrounded by smoke coming from outside and beneath the ID.4. The ID.4 was not turned on and was completely stationary. I unplugged the vehicle. During this time I made a best effort to not inhale but it happened so quickly that it was unavoidable. The smoke smelled really toxic and tasted like chemicals. I felt nauseous and woozy afterwards. I called 911 to report the smoke coming out of my ID.4. Call was made at 6pm, seconds after the smoke started pouring out. The vehicle was releasing extreme amounts of cloudy thick white smoke and it completely engulfed the ID.4 itself. There was also an orange/pink-like liquid pouring out of the left side of the vehicle from the bottom. The fire department came and from what they told me, they cut a "cut loop" to prevent the battery from continuing to get more power. They told me the cells in the battery were continuing to release energy and heat to the point that it was melting the carpets in the ID.4's floor. They hosed it down for over 2 hours until the battery was cooled off enough and safe to be towed to a safe area. There had been no warning leading to this. The car did not alarm of any issues.
NHTSA complaint #11730304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am reporting an unresolved safety recall (NHTSA 26V030, Volkswagen recall 93EA) involving a high-voltage battery defect with potential risk of fire. My vehicle (VIN: [XXX] ) was purchased in the United States but is currently located in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The authorized Volkswagen distributor in the Dominican Republic has confirmed they are unable to perform the recall repair, as they do not service electric vehicles. As a result, I am operating a vehicle with a known safety defect and no available remedy, despite this being an active safety recall. I have contacted Volkswagen and requested assistance, but currently no solution has been provided. I am requesting guidance and intervention regarding how manufacturers are expected to address safety recalls for U.S.-sold vehicles located outside the country. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11729298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
VW recall on ID 4 for battery range dropping under the listed battery range. Know recall on battery without any solution. Local VW dealership in Thousand Oaks, CA without any solution. Driving 45 miles with 100% charged battery will drop the battery by 60+ miles. Battery range drops an average of 3-4 miles per 1 mile driven. Notified dealership of issue 1 day after vehicle purchase.
NHTSA complaint #11720184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VW has informed me that my 2023 ID4 has a faulty battery that is at risk of catching fire. The VW corporate representative told me not to charge at fast charging stations and to keep it clear from my property because of the risk of it catching fire. VW has not issued the recall yet as they dont have a solution, but warned me about the dangers. They said they don't expect to issue the recall until mid march. I also talked to a VW dealer and they said when the recall comes out that the wait time to fix will be significant. In the meantime, I feel very unsafe driving , charging, parking this car.
NHTSA complaint #11719253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Date/Time of Incident: 1/29/36 at approximately 5:44 PM Location: Small school parking lot Vehicle: 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 On 1/29/36 at approximately 5:44 PM, I was pulling out of a parking space at low speed in a small school parking lot in my 2023 Volkswagen ID.4. As I began to move, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own, the steering would not turn left, and the car did not respond to braking, moving at an abnormal rate of speed over a very short distance. Prior to this, there had been no warning messages or alerts, except a routine notification to service the car in 1,000 miles. The collision involved three vehicles: my VW, the main car I hit, and a rental car. My car spun and veered sideways, the parked SUV on the right was pushed sideways, forming a rough “H” pattern, and the rental car went up onto a rail ramp where children walk. My grandson observed the car’s tires spinning at impact, and he hit the seat behind me. Without the parked cars, the vehicle would have continued directly toward the school building, creating a very serious risk of fatal injuries to parents, staff, and children. Injuries: Myself — pain and emotional trauma; grandson — soft cast on foot/leg, crutches, pain; his mother — pain. The vehicle is awaiting Volkswagen guidance for inspection. Likely involved systems include Speed Control, Fuel/Propulsion System, and Electrical, but the exact cause is UNKNOWN. The incident has been reported to State Farm (claim #0596B819B), Volkswagen (Case #07294060), and police.
NHTSA complaint #11715038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
At a stop, the car began rapid acceleration by itself, the auto emergency brake began but it bypassed it and began accelerating again causing me to rear end someone at a red light
NHTSA complaint #11703344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
To start, have requested the vehicle paperwork many times and the dealership has failed to give me a copy. The real problem started when i took my EV to get checked as the battery was not lasting long, they said it was normal, took it again as it stopped charging on type 1 and 2 chargers, they now said it was the Onboard charging module. Also had to take the vehicle for a recall a few months ago as it had faulty door locking sensors. I feel unsafe to drive the car as a new problem appears every couple of months and VW is not reliable, my vehicle only has 7000miles in over a year and i have taken it to the dealership 3 times for safety issues
NHTSA complaint #11691532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The car's position as shown on the navigation screen and as determined by the car's internal GPS was off by several hundred miles. While driving on the highway using adaptive cruise control, the car would frequently decelerate rapidly from 60+ mph to 30 or less. When it did this, it would display a message like "turn ahead - maximum 24 mph". Of course, there was no tight turn ahead as I was on an interstate highway in New York - the ACC was receiving messages to slow down because the location data was inaccurate. On two occasions this nearly caused a rear-end collision before I was able to disable the feature in ACC that would cause the car to decelerate because of small radius roadway curvature. During this time, the car's navigation system would continuously try to re-route, and the SOS functionality did not work.
NHTSA complaint #11672066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
When driving at low speed in a parking log, vehicle began to accelerate suddenly. Driver was able to brake to avoid collision. Seemed to be due toaccidental touch of capacitive touch RES button on left side of steering wheel, which resumed previous ACC speed. ACC had not been use for several days prior, but system remembered previous high speed and tried to resume.
NHTSA complaint #11671183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Automatic parking assist and reverse braking systems exhibit severe, recurring malfunctions causing collisions and injuries. On May 24, 2025, at approx. 4:10 PM, auto-park uncommanded the vehicle to strike a mailbox in a familiar spot. Dealer dismissed incident without diagnostics. Beyond this collision, the vehicle exhibits frequent, violent, unintended braking during reverse. This occurs when: Turning body to look back: System abruptly locks brakes, causing whiplash-like neck pain to me. Dealer stated this was "normal" for "driver seating" despite explanation. Encountering minor obstacles: System misidentifies leaves/garbage bins as threats, engaging full, hard braking. This causes extreme distress and has violently thrown passengers forward. My teenager son sustained a visible bruise for one week after hitting the console during one such incident March 2024 These system malfunctions create high risk of injury to occupants and pedestrians. The unpredictable braking events are a fundamental flaw. These issues were reported to the dealer within weeks of purchase and to VW Group of America Customer Care (800-822-8987) after the mailbox incident. They remain unresolved."
NHTSA complaint #11670764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Battery cell issue not resolved due to charger recall. Vehicle now unable to drive. Door handle recall still outstanding and predicted completion unknown due to parts issue. This in it self is dangerous as doors can open randomly while driving.
NHTSA complaint #11664178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On March 26, 2024 the VW Id.4 caught fire while being driven on freeway. The driver was able to pull over and escape from the vehicle as it burned but sustained burns to his left arm, hand and face. The vehicle was engulfed in flames and destroyed. An inspection of the vehicle and battery modules in October of 2024 by VW experts and experts for the driver determined that the fire started in one of the battery modules and was not due to external causes or road hazards. The remains of the vehicle and battery modules have been preserved.
NHTSA complaint #11658948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The actuator that locks the charge port door failed in the closed position so the car could not be charged. I took the car to the dealer and the broke the covering off the charge port door so the car could be charged. The actuator and to door need to be replaced.
NHTSA complaint #11631102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.