65 of the
1,779 complaints filed about the Volkswagen ID.4
are about the transmission —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2023.
65
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
After periods of rain or driving in wet conditions, when parking on an incline, the vehicle will not release the automatic parking brake without hard physical input to the accelerator causing a loud bang from the rear axle - this has happened numerous times over the past year
NHTSA complaint #11758693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
While stopped at traffic light, and with foot depressing brake pedal, vehicle started to move forward on its own. Foot was fully depressed on brake and vehicle still rolled forward, almost causing accident. Extremely dangerous and seems to be a very common issue with this vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11751055 — 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.
Pulled into a parking space with foot on the brake and accelerator pedal. The vehicle sped forward, pushing a car parked in front of me into the driveway, just missing another vehicle
NHTSA complaint #11745270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Component/System: Electrical system / electric drive control system. Available for inspection upon request. What happened: On XXX at approximately 3:43 PM, shortly after departing, the vehicle displayed electrical system warning and error messages, entered neutral, and would not engage Drive or Regenerative Brake mode. The vehicle remained inoperable in this condition for approximately one hour at approximately [XXX] . The vehicle recovered without mechanical intervention. Safety risk: Loss of propulsion in active traffic created an immediate collision risk to the vehicle occupants and surrounding motorists. The vehicle was unable to move under its own power for approximately one hour. Dealer/manufacturer confirmation: The failure was reported to Deel Volkswagen, Miami, FL. A related drive error service visit occurred on XXX at the same dealership. The vehicle is currently in service at Deel Volkswagen as of XXX for diagnosis of recurring power loss events. Dealer has confirmed the vehicle is under active diagnostic evaluation. Other inspections: UNKNOWN. Prior warning lamps or symptoms: Warning and error messages appeared on the vehicle display immediately prior to the loss of drive mode. History of prior software campaigns (97HB, OTA 3.2.12, OUE7 3.8.11) and Recall 919A (instrument panel display malfunction) suggest a recurring underlying electrical/software fault. A drive error warning was documented at a XXX dealer service visit prior to this event. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11741663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Component/System: Electrical system / electric drive control system. Available for inspection upon request. What happened: On XXX at approximately 5:45 PM, shortly after departing, the vehicle displayed error and warning messages, entered neutral, and would not engage Drive or Regenerative Brake mode. The vehicle remained inoperable in this condition for approximately one hour at approximately [XXX] . The vehicle recovered without mechanical intervention. This is the second occurrence of this failure mode. Safety risk: Loss of propulsion in active traffic created an immediate collision risk to the vehicle occupants and surrounding motorists. The vehicle was unable to move under its own power for approximately one hour. Dealer/manufacturer confirmation: The failure was reported to Deel Volkswagen, Miami, FL. The vehicle was subsequently brought in for service on XXX, currently under active diagnostic evaluation at Deel Volkswagen for this and a third occurrence of the same failure mode. Other inspections: UNKNOWN. Prior warning lamps or symptoms: Error and warning messages appeared on the vehicle display immediately prior to loss of drive mode. This failure mode had previously occurred on XXX at approximately [XXX] under materially identical circumstances. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11741665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
What happened: On XXX at approximately 6:49 PM, shortly after departing, the vehicle displayed error and warning messages, entered neutral, and would not engage Drive or Regenerative Brake mode. The vehicle remained inoperable in this condition for approximately one hour near the intersection at approximately [XXX] , during rush hour traffic. The vehicle recovered without mechanical intervention. This is the third occurrence of this failure mode within approximately 90 days. Safety risk: Loss of propulsion at or near a major intersection during rush hour traffic created a severe collision risk to vehicle occupants and surrounding motorists. The vehicle was unable to move under its own power for approximately one hour in high-density traffic conditions. Dealer/manufacturer confirmation: The vehicle was brought to Deel Volkswagen, Miami, FL on XXX and is currently under active diagnostic evaluation. This is the third reported occurrence of the same failure mode. A related drive error was previously documented at a XXX dealer service visit. Other inspections: UNKNOWN. Prior warning lamps or symptoms: Error and warning messages appeared on the vehicle display immediately prior to loss of drive mode. Identical failure modes were previously documented on 02/23/2026 and 05/11/2026. The vehicle has a history of repeated software campaigns and recalls including 97HB, 919A, 57J5, and 57J9 suggesting a pattern of unresolved electrical and software nonconformities. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11741668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
Claim submitted to VW Customer Care on March 8, 2026. Current problems cited include: Doors malfunctioning; vehicle difficult to start and power off; steering and braking warnings; complete loss of power steering; compromised performance in significant lag between accelerator depression and vehicle response; electrical malfunction alerts (17+); numerous dashboard warnings; distressing repetitive whining sound (not mechanical); persistent underperformance regarding vehicle range. On March 10, vehicle was towed to commence inspection at Bay Ridge Volkswagen Service & Parts – [XXX] . Further evidence of vehicle issues provided as accompaniment to VW Customer Care Claim via: [XXX] This current March 2026 concern follows on multiple service visits and loss of vehicle usage during April–August 2025 claims process. During this time, Brooklyn Volkswagen Service (now permanently closed) conducted an evaluation of the car, including documented video evidence of issues with the car – even beyond those which were the original cause for my concerns (e.g. they cited degradation of cables and wiring within the car’s hood due to their being made of edible soy wrappings). Link provided: [XXX] . Vehicle was ultimately released back to me with unresolved repairs (citing backorder of parts amongst other concerns that VW would not consent to resolving related to compromised bumper electronics) and interim repair offered to resolve compromise to vehicle airbag systems. The primary use of this vehicle is in transportation of my children. It is patently unsafe to drive. Given that the vehicle is subject to a federal safety recall without an available remedy I have requested a prompt determination of the vehicle repurchase / lease buy‑back and compensation for loss of use and incurred costs to support alternative transportation requirements until resolution under this claim. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11724748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
After rain or snow, vehicle will not release from park even when shifted to drive. After pressing accelerator a few times vehicle will make a loud bang from the rear (loud enough to sound as though something is coming apart) and then start to move. This happens in warm and cold weather
NHTSA complaint #11714389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
I am reporting a potential safety-related defect involving the high-voltage battery system and associated diagnostic software in a 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S AWD. The vehicle has experienced abnormal battery behavior, including accelerated degradation and confirmed system faults affecting battery management, charging, and vehicle communication. An independent EV diagnostic test shows the high-voltage battery at approximately 91% state of health, representing about 9% degradation in under two years of normal use. The testing facility stated this rate of degradation is abnormal for the vehicle’s age, where typical expectations would be significantly lower. In addition, vehicle diagnostics show confirmed and recurring fault codes involving critical systems, including the CAN Gateway (inter-module communication), the high-voltage battery charger/battery management interface, and the emergency call and communication module. These faults are repeatedly logged as “confirmed” and “test failed since last DTC clear,” indicating persistent system-level issues rather than intermittent events. These systems are responsible for battery condition reporting, charging control, communication between vehicle control modules, and safety/telemetry functions. Limitations or failures in these systems raise concerns that battery condition and integrity may not be accurately detected or reported to the driver. Volkswagen dealerships have declined to perform the definitive manufacturer-certified battery capacity test, stating it will not be authorized unless battery capacity is already below warranty thresholds. As a result, more accurate and intrusive testing is unavailable due to manufacturer policy rather than lack of concern. I am also aware of an independent investigation released in January 2026 documenting production-related battery cell defects in Volkswagen Group MEB vehicles from model years 2021–2023, involving increased battery self-discharge and diagnostic measures that may
NHTSA complaint #11710289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle is able to be shifted from park to drive or reverse without foot pressing brake pedal. On multiple occasions I have shifted from park to reverse and the vehicle has immediately started idling backwards.
NHTSA complaint #11709258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Electrical system not working correctly. Powertrain maintenance needed. Vehicle randomly had a light come on the dash, and included the message about electrical systems. Vehicle lost power, when I tried to accelerate, it was accelerating extremely slow and finally was able to get to posted speed limit of 35 in 0.5 miles. Never had a light come on until now. Recently had the 10,000 mile safety check completed by the dealer.
NHTSA complaint #11697737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I understand Tesla started this trend of reducing horsepower based on the car's State Of Charge; however, there's times when having access to full horsepower can help collisions, especially rear end collisions. My car gets full horsepower when it's SOC is at 90-100%. Then is gets less as the SOC gets lower. It should get 100% horsepower regardless of SOC when stepping down on the pedal 100% to where I can fell a switch is being pressed. At freeway on ramps when I'm trying to merge, when my car's SOCis at 30%, it drives slower than at 80% and more obvious at 100%.
NHTSA complaint #11692900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.