2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Brakes Problems

My car is stopped and still due to heavy traffic . All of a sudden, while stopping, it starts moving and rolling away by itself. I try to stop it using the break pedal but it doesn’t stop.

I believe Volkswagen has made a recent software change which causes the brakes to malfunction when operating in the rain. The problem began after I had a software update performed by the dealer in January 2025 and manifests itself when slowing down and approaching the last mile or two per hour when stopping, and suddenly the brakes slam on causing the car to come to a jarring stop. This is specifically tied to when it is either raining or the roads are wet. I have taken this to the maintenance department of my local VW dealer and their response has been that the car is "Operating as Volkswagen has designed it to." This is a recent change as I am the only owner of this car and have owned it for 4 years and have driven 60,000 miles without these symptoms. I also spoke with Volkswagen North America. They were sympathetic, but told me that it was a dealer issue.

After installing the latest over-the-air software update few days ago, our car began exhibiting a serious braking issue. When coming to a stop, the brakes lock while the vehicle is still in motion, causing a sudden and dramatic jerk forward. This occurs nearly every time we decelerate to a stop, regardless of speed or road conditions. This problem has escalated to the point where we no longer feel safe driving the car, as it poses a risk to the occupants due to its forceful nature

1. The brake pedal freezes intermittently when I step on the brake. 2. The sensor is faulty - it flashes red and warns me that the brake isn't working. 3. In autonomous driving mode, it did not detect the vehicle in front of me and didn't slow down. 4. After driving in the rain, the front brakes seized up. VW of Wellesley in MA said they fixed these issues, but I continue to experience 1 and 2. It hasn't rained so I couldn't test #4. My car was in the shop from [XXX] to [XXX] this last time. Previously, it was there twice for shorter time. #2 first happened when my car was new. I mentioned it to the sales guy and he said the sensor was probably blocked. It kept happened but when my car stopped detecting the car in front on the highway, I knew something was wrong. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

While traveling at highway speeds I suddenly got multiple warnings of the parking brake becoming inoperative, Auto Hold Error, and Travel Assist and Cruise Control no longer available. When trying to park the vehicle's parking brake would not engage and a loud warning sound and red warning message with "Do not park vehicle on an incline" came up on the dash. The vehicle was not able to be parked on any surface without it potentially rolling away. When trying to take the car into the dealership on Monday, 9/11/2023 the vehicle would not move out of "Park" and had be dragged out of the garage it was parked in.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) activated over a dozen time un-necessarily on a recent road trip. The activation caused the brake pedal to collapse and caused braking action to be un-even and nearly un-controlled on a windy mountain road. There was no slippage to cause stability control to intervene.

When driving using adaptive cruise control and my car decelerating using the regenerative braking, applying the brakes turns off the regenerative braking leaving only the friction brakes to slow/stop the car. I have demonstrated this situation to a VW dealer technician, who has confirmed that another 2021 VW ID4 that was in the shop duplicated this behavior. I have experienced this behavior multiple times over the last year. Because one of the systems for decelerating the vehicle is not available during a potentially emergency situation, I believe this is a safety risk. No warning lights or messages are displayed when this occurs. This has not been reported to my insurance company or the police.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is activating frequently and unexpectedly. Happens on dry roads, under normal and safe driving conditions. ESC is felt as braking one or more wheels, and indicator is flashing on instrument cluster. This is not expected behavior under the driving conditions. Actuation is 100% repeatable on the same routes and speeds (typically curving roads or highway on/off-ramps), at varying temperatures (above and below freezing), dry and wet conditions, with stock tires properly inflated, in "B" or "D" mode (and drivetrain set to Comfort or ECO mode). Happens when accelerating, coasting, or brake being applied by driver.

Th contact owned a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH on a freeway, traffic seemed to be slowing down. The contact stated that when he depressed the brake pedal, his vehicle did not respond to the brakes causing his vehicle to crash in the rear of another vehicle. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy at the time, however, he did not sustain any injuries nor did the person in the other vehicle. The contact stated that there was no police report filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where he was advised that his vehicle had been classified as a total loss. The contact stated that he felt as though there was not that much damage to his vehicle, however, he was advised that the damages were too expensive to repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 8,000

This car was marketed as an easy transition from gasoline powered engines, meaning its braking maneuvers should not have been largely different. However the 2021 electric did not come with auto hold which VW later determined should be added for brake safety reasons. In 2022 VW had a software upgrade and as of Sept. 2023 it has yet to be installed for me. However any update was already too late for me. In Nov. 2021 this scenario happened: I pulled up to my garage and realized the car was not aligned with the garage door so (after braking and bringing the car to a full stop) I chose "R" to proceed with the slight correction. I did not touch the accelerator but the car careened backwards down driveway and impaled itself on a large landscape rock (which stopped the descent). I just missed hitting a telephone pole and/or landing crosswise in the street at the bottom of my driveway. The incline was not steep but the backward momentum was great. I could have been severely injured but luckily only the car sustained heavy damage!

The stability control actives inappropriately in low speed corners, slowing the car down because it's activating the brakes. This is a known issue on AWD (dual motor) ID.4 and VW dealers have said VW is aware of it and confirmed it on road testing for multiple owners (see below). I would not call it a major/dire safety issue, but it limits forward momentum, which could be an issue in emergency maneuver, and could cause unintended slowing that may increase risk of rear end collision. It is unknown what effect inappropriate brake application could have in slippery conditions. I am one of the first AWD owners in the USA and started a discussion on the problem: https://www.vwidtalk.com/threads/esc-activating-in-off-ramp.3808/page-4 Subsequently, many AWD owners have noted the same glitch. It is believed to be a software glitch (one of many in this car).

We vehicle is stopped in any type of grade (hill, incline, or decline) when releasing the break pedal the vehicle will roll in the direction of the grade, power must be immediately applied to prevent roll. This could potentially cause a crash if a vehicle is behind/in front of another. The system should employ an auto hold type of grade breaking system. Vehicle has not been inspected, and is available upon request. This can be reproduced.

It will not stop! Break don’t work!

I will not stop!

It will not stop, can not stop!