NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
"Error: Airbag" periodically comes on, goes off at random times. Seems to be an issue with the Passenger Occupancy Detection System Module. Nothing spilled to make this module not work properly. With this error on, it turns off the airbag for the passenger. This has been confirmed by the dealer. This error appeared without warning or incident at ~45K miles on the car.
I have turn signal lamps burned out on both sides of my 2021 VW ID4. When driving straight, the burnt out lights are part of daytime running lights. Half of the light is burnt out. But when you turn on your turn indicator, this light IS the turn indicator. So half my turn indicator on both sides, isn’t working. The only way to fix this where VW is concerned is to buy and install new headlight assemblies. The cost to replace both is $4300 as you must remove the bumper and other parts, install the new headlamps, put everything back together and then recalibrate everything. This is safety equipment on LED lights, something that was advertised and expected to last the lifetime of the vehicle, and it is failing only 2-4 years into ownership. There are many many people complaining about this exact failure on ID4 national websites and given this is a systematic failure of safety equipment, I feel VW should bear the entire cost of fixing it, not the consumer.
An OTA update was released for the 2021 VW ID.4, but that update ended up killing the Car Net Module. I brought the car in to the dealership due to this issue, but they were unable to do the recall because the car net module was no longer functioning. They said it would be over $1,000 to have the part replaced and then they would be able to perform the recall. So at this time my vehicle is still unsafe to drive and the dealership is refusing to do the do the recall unless we pay to have a part replaced that is required to be functioning in order to do the recall.
Due to unresolved safety recalls I do not drive the VW ID4. I am afraid that I might get into an accident if the vehicle doors open, visual screen goes blank or all electrical power shuts off. NHTSA should demand VW of America to get rid of all their electric cars that have no remedy in place for safety. VW of America is putting the buyers of these vehicles in harm's way.
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.
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V651000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
While stopped at a red light waiting to turn left, with foot on the brake, my car suddenly accelerated and lunged forward , plowing into the car in front of me with great force. I had to jam down the brake almost to the floor to get the car to stop. My foot was on the brake. There is no way I hit the accelerator. Even if I had, the AEB system is supposed to prevent me crashing at close range. I understand that this is a known issue related to the adaptive cruise control. The force of my car was so great that 3 cars in front of me sustained damage.
Manufacturer Recall Number919A NHTSA Recall Number24V344 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete I had received Recall notification from VW, following which i had given my vehicle to the service center "Leith Volkswagen of Cary" at "2300 Autopark Blvd, Cary, NC 27511" on [XXX]. The recall repair has not been completed since then and the vehicle is still with the service center. From the last update from the service rep is that they tried to update the software and it has been failing. Apparently VW manufacturer support team has been notified and the suggested procedures from them were also unsuccessful. At this time its been 5 weeks and no sight on when they would be able to fix the issue. I have been given an loaner vehicle which is similar with less features, but i cannot have my daughter use the vehicle due to age restriction. I want to raise the concern here to see if there can be any solution to have VW to get my vehicle serviced or replace with similar vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I was driving at 35 mph when the front doors began unlocking and locking rapidly three times, then both front doors fell open ajar, at the same time the screen went grey with a triangle ! icon as an audile alarm went off then the drivers side curtain airbag deployed forcing the steering wheel to the right causing the vehicle to collide head on into an electric utility pole. I tried to brake but was pushed by airbag from brake pedal. I was wearing a seat belt but suffered an burn from the airbag on right inner forearm that was impression of VW logo and has resulted in lasting scar, I had modest right wrist sprain and right shin contusion, abrasion. The vehicle rolled back in the road and was towed and later totaled by insurance. The automatic braking detection nor any other airbag deployed on collision.
WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD. When there's drizzle or road splash in traffic the wipers don't seem to have enough down force to properly clear the windshield. It's dangerous driving at night when oncoming auto and streetlights reflect off the uncleared surface causing poor vision. I had the complete windshield replaced twice due to an accident and a crack. I ran a water-vinegar solution through the windshield washer system to clear any contaminate. I used several clay, and window products to properly clean off any road, tree, or weather residue. I also replaced the wipers with high end Bosch, Scrubblade, and Rainx Blades that did not help. The VW dealer advised me that there's no way to increase the down force of the wipers. It's a great car but I spent too much time, effort, and money on this scary dangerous issue and hesitate to drive when wet conditions exist. Any advice or fix would certainly be appreciated.
Good day, In 2023, In bought the car and since then it have had many recalls and electrical problems which let the car to be out of service for over 60 days, see documents attached. Since yesterday, the car has the center and instrument panel display OFF preventing the speedometer and rearview camera from displaying in addition to front and rear parking sensors also off. I have contacted the dealership and they do not have appointments available until 02/2025. This car should be removed from the market due to its complete insecurity to drivers.
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument panel went dark for one minute displayed different colors, and then independently changed. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V344000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION, EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) but the repair failed to fix the vehicle. The contact stated that the back-over prevention camera had been seized five times. The contact had paid for the recall repair and the dealer had promised a reimbursement by the manufacturer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 171,656.
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.
In December the vehicle started showing a pedestrian warning sound fault light. The pedestrian warning sound was replaced by a siren that sounds like an air raid siren which makes the car virtually undriveable.
The contact owned a 2021 Volkswagen ID4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V6510009 (Structure) and 24V344000 (Back Over Prevention, Equipment, Electrical System) would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.
Mechanical 'clunk' noise that comes from the rear of the car when accelerating or decelerating. This occurs predominately at a mild or above acceleration/deceleration. If the vehicle gradually moves the noise does not occur. The noise has gotten more frequent over time and has also become louder. First observed late 2024, and taken for initial dealership diagnoises and inspection early 2025. The dealership has replaced a harness cover but it remains unresolved. The dealership is continuing to investigate the cause as they are not aware what is creating the clunk. The car does not indicate any warning lights or have any error codes that are reported. It does appear to drive normally, however the concern of a mechincal clunk is concerning as there is no awareness of what part is creating the noise and if it is damaging other components or will lead to a catastrophic failure while driving. Videos of the noise are available
Constant recalls on this vehicle. Vw unwilling to work w us on taking back the vehicle. Issues prior to 50,000 mile mark but they say we didn’t file a complain early enough. Outstanding recalls
Front electrical motor failed in a 3 year old vehicle with approx. 72,000 miles. A loud "pop" was observed, then the vehicle failed, stopped in the middle of the road, completely immobile. Vehicle has been looked at the by a VW authorized dealer, multiple systems failure has been identified.
rear passenger door opened while driving. Taking the vehicle in for a second repair on this item next week.
Main screen goes blank sometimes when backing up Rear cross traffic warning has jammed on the breaks when nothing is nearby causing a jarring stop, VW has no fix to date and I want to get rid of this unsafe car
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
recall states door will open at anytime. this was not explained at the time of purchase. I traded the car back to Volkswagen and was given a much lower offer
Vehicle starts to accelerate then hesitates for about 5-6 seconds before accelerating again while even keeping pedal down. Has happened on the first drive after multiple dealer visits, I think it’s related to computer resets and the dealer says it’s normal operation of the vehicle recalibrating itself. Problem is it happens when I pull out into traffic and almost causes a wreck.
The 12v battery powering the electrical system failed. This caused the vehicle to stop unexpectedly in the middle of a busy street worth traffic on either side of the vehicle. All attempts to restart the vehicle resulted in an error stating the electrical system has failed. The problem was reproduced at the dealership. The techs were unable to diagnose the errors. The manufacturer is sending a District Representative to investigate. The vehicle component was recalled in 2023 and replaced by the dealer to address this specific issue and risk. There were zero warning lights prior to the vehicle stalling. Once stalled, the vehicle was able to start, but unable to drive, and all dashboard warning lights activated.
Over the past month, the car has provided warnings when driving: 1. Front assist has limited availability, 2. ACC unavailable, and 3. Emergency assist is currently not available. Note: the ACC was not engaged when these messages appeared. On October 1 I was driving on a highway at about 65 MPH with adaptive cruise control engaged. The weather was clear. Suddenly the ACC disengaged and the car began to slow. I re-accelerated the car by pushing the accelerator and continued my trip without ACC. No accident occurred but I was surprised when the car began to slow without warning on a major highway at high speed. When it was safe to do so, I pulled over into the breakdown lane to read the messages. The two messages displayed were Front assist has limited availability and Emergency assist currently not available. The picture on the front of the dashboard also indicated that ACC was not available. Over the next few days while driving locally (without ACC engaged), these three messages would periodically appear on the dashboard. I brought the car into a local VW dealer (Wellesley Volkswagen) to have it looked at by the service department. They indicated on the invoice from the visit that they "performed road test. RAND GFF and performed soft configuration of the 5F, front sensor and cluster. Reset all codes with success." The invoice also listed "Concern: 919A vehicle software open. Correction Not available at this time - customer will get notice via mail". I was told by the VW Wellesley representative when I picked up the car that these error messages will likely re-appear until I get the 919A software update, which is not available. These error messages did re-appear yesterday, October 12, while driving locally without ACC engaged. As a side note, I received a recall 919A in the mail from Volkswagen in July 2024 (more than 3 months ago) telling me that a recall repair is not available.
In Sept. 2024 we noticed that the edges of both front tires (Alenza 235/50 R20) had pieces coming off them so we arranged to have the tires replaced at the original dealer from which we had bought the car. They agreed that the tires were failing and replaced them. At that point the tires had only done 11827 miles so I asked if a warranty was applicable that would allow me to get back some of the replacement cost for the two tires. The dealer (Hazelwood Volkswagen of Bremerton, WA) said they would make inquiries and I paid the full price in the meantime. Despite numerous follow up inquiries, as well as contact with both VW USA and Bridgestone, I have not received any response. The suggestion seems to be that original equipment supplied with a new car are not covered by any warranty. After the tires were replaced I turned off the lane assist feature on the vehicle as this often seemed overly active due to random road markings. So far we have put about 3500 miles on the new tires and they seem fine. I have pieces that chipped off the old tires, and the dealer said they would hold the old tires pending a warranty response but that was in September 2024.
I leased a car three years ago. This ID4 on May 15,2023 left me at a full stop in the middle of the highway. I then dropped it off to the dealer where they inspected it and saw it was a sensor/software issue, I think. They never actually disclosed the problem, nor held accountability. They insured me after almost two weeks of having to pay gas for a loaner car that they had fixed it and it was safe. After that incident and before my car had been in service countless times, all very inconvenient but not immediate safety issues, until the door handles. The door handles have been recalled twice before this last incident. My car was in there for over two weeks again back and forth. They broke my actual handles and had to go back in again, they claimed they were fixed. Now, almost 6monthankater I go to buy this lemon pre certified through the dealer and they tell me they can’t because it has two open recalls. They failed to say that the open recalls have been since May and are only now informing id4 owners that their doors may unlatch any any moment while driving and kill your babies and someone else’s on the road. Yet, they want me to either extend my lease, turn in the car and pay over mileage (even though I thought I was leasing to buy) or buy out the car not certified through a third party with two open recalls. I am being bullied into keeping a lemon. This car is a lemon and I want Volkswagen to take it off my hands waiving any over mileage and either giving me a new id4 that is safe or my 21,000 dollars I have paid into it. I am not the only one legally bound to these lemons. I demand a resolution for my consumer rights. I will speak to every news station out there until I seek justice for me and so many others.
Vehicle had a complete failure due to electrical issues and was brought to dealership. It was apparently due to recall issues which were repaired. The vehicle was returned 2 weeks ago. Today, shortly after exiting a highway, while traveling approx. 15-20mph then vehicle completely shut down. It stopped suddenly and unexpectedly and went into neutral. I could not put the car back into drive or park. The dash indicated electrical issues, airbag issues, collision sensors, brake issues and said “vehicle must not be towed”. Vehicle is currently at dealership.
A mandatory safety software update was displayed on my screen. I followed the instructions to start then over the air update and my car never turned on again. The update fried the CPU module and VW said not our problem. Absolutely insane
VW still has not remedied the rebooting screens issue from their May recall. If the main driver information screen shuts off, cruise control and lane keep also shut off, which means the vehicle slows down and will not continue following the lane, resulting in the vehicle possibly being put in a dangerous situation.
On multiple occasions this vehicle has failed to operate, a red hazard light goes on along with many other failure light indicators. I've been stranded where the car does nothing and also experienced the car dying while driving. When the vehicle comes to the airbag indicators come on warning that the airbags are not functioning. I have had to drive the vehicle this way. It's not the first time this car has had some type of electrical problems. It previously had an above lighting issue that had to be repaired. It's currently at Volkswagen of Leesburg in Florida, they are trying to figure out what is wrong with this car because they have not seen this type of failure before. It's been there for a week now. After getting stranded, vehicle failures, and electrical failures, I no longer feel safe in this vehicle. Im afraid this vehicle could have an electrical problem or fail while driving leaving me vulnerable to incoming traffic.
When accelerating from stop the vehicle loses power. If the accelerator is depressed further the power does not return. However, when the accelerator is released then depressed again power returns. In our case this has happened seven (7) times. The occurrence is random and is not limited to a specific location. It has occurred on the interstate highway when approaching the traffic on an onramp as well as in town driving. On two (20 of the seven (7) occasions automobiles following have had to emergency brake to prevent a rear end collision. Losing power when merging into traffic on an interstate could pose significant safety hazards to oncoming traffic as well as the vehicle merging. The problem has been brought to the dealer's attention but they have not been able to reproduce it. It has not been inspected by police or insurance because accidents have been avoided. I have owned the car for 14 months and the occurrence is random.
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V651000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the door failed to close securely. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 - 30 MPH, the front driver’s side door opened unexpectedly. The contact immediately grabbed the door and continued holding the door closed while driving. After arriving to the destination, the contact slammed the door several times before the door closed. There were no warning lights. The contact stated that the failure had occurred around the same time of the year. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were on backorder and was unsure when the vehicle would be repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 46,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Still have a URGENT SAFTEY RECALL that VW states they still do not have the parts to fix.... Door Handles....It has been months since 9/04/2024
My car's display screen which shows the speed has now malfunctioned twice while driving and today while reversing the car, the center screen displaying the rear camera also reset mid-driving. In both cases, I turned off the car waited a few minutes, restarted the car twice and then the display came back on but who knows when the display will crash again. I have reported this issue to VW and to a local dealership, this issue is associated with a current active safety recall on the vehicle for which VW has no remedy. This has been the status quo for over 3 months. I wonder if actual accidents have to take place and people have to die before NHITSA will issue a vehicle recall for my model of ID.4 as I am genuinely scared to use my vehicle anymore and VW HAS NO IDEA WHEN IT WILL RELEASE OR DEVELOP A REMEDY. Hence I request you to please use your powers to urge the manufacturer to issue a vehicle recall as the current issue poses a MAJOR risk for drivers and other cars on the road. Please don't ignore this request as this could be quiet dangerous.
This problem is very intermittent but also very dangerous. It's happened to me three times in the last month. All three times, while I was making a left hand turn, the accelerator stopped working. One time, I was making a left turn in front of 45 MPH oncoming traffic. My left turn was legal as I had plenty of room to complete my turn before the oncoming traffic arrived. My car started the turn then stopped when my car had turned to the left but was in the middle of the intersection with the right side of my car facing the oncoming traffic. I took my foot off the accelerator then pressed down on it again and the car moved forward and out of the intersection which saved me from an accident. The other two times, I didn't come close to an accident but as I was about to accelerate, nothing happened and I had to take my foot off the accelerator and then press down on it again for my car to move. Had there been cars coming from my right, I could have been in a collision. I took my car to the local VW dealer who said they haven't heard of this problem and will run diagnostics. I doubt the diagnostics will find a problem that only occurs a few times a month. I did a search on the internet and found a site where multiple VW ID.4 owners were complaining about this same problem. Some had the issue turning right, not left. I'll attach the document that shows the other complaints as well as the web site link.
1. Electronic brake system failure - the vehicle exhibited this issue and so far it appears Volkswagen does not have a resolution. Vehicle has been at the dealership for almost 2 months and they have not been able to fix. Several other reports show that this is a consistent issue with the ID4 (probably the first edition). Fixed are often temporary and the issues resurfaces again 2. Battery Module issue: it appears these vehicles have defective batteries. One module was fixed by Volkswagen - however the capacity only dropped further. I suspect there is a major issue with these batteries and pose a fire hazard (similar to Chevy Bolt) and Volkswagen is intentionally concealing this fact.
Manufacturer Recall Number919A NHTSA Recall Number24V344 The center display and main display that shows all information turned off and went completely blank while driving the vehicle on the highway which could of caused an accident. I called Volkswagen and the dealership and they said there is nothing they can do because there is no remedy to fix the problem. They sent me an email saying the following: Hi ********, Thank you for speaking with me. As promised, I'm reaching out to provide VW's position in writing. No remedy can be provided until the recall repair becomes available. There is no level of escalation that will provide a different outcome. As soon as the repair is available, you will be notified via mail. To provide you with the best service possible, it’s important that you respond to us by replying to this email. Replying outside of this email will result in a delayed response. Thank you for contacting Volkswagen Customer CARE. Sincerely, Candiss J. Customer CARE Advocate
This car has had open recalls for over a year. No dealers in the area have been able to fix them. They claim Volkswagen cannot get them parts on time. They’ve cancelled my service appointments multiple times. The car is now completely dead after a series of electrical faults and I’m unable to get in the car at all. What if my daughter was in her car seat and I was unable to get into it?! The amount of issues I’ve had with this car is insane. Constant faults including “child safety lock” not working. This is 2021 leased brand new. The recalls started over a year ago and I haven’t been able to get them fixed. Isn’t there someone sort of SLA for when a recall needs to be repaired?
Our 2021 vw id4 has serious issues. It’s still getting addressed at the dealership and has been there since Tuesday. I had to have my husband come and pick me up because the car itself had indicated it was unsafe to drive. Please contact Jacksonville Nc Vw for our carfax report. I have detailed photos of the incident. We have purchased a second car partially bc of how many times we’ve had to leave this one for extended periods of time. This car is 3 years old. I took the car on a short trip. A minor alert started. When I went to park the car flashed through multiple alerts and started an (artificial) engine noise revving. It specifically told me to stop driving it.
Vehicle suffers from unintended and sudden acceleration when the "resume' capacitive touch button is accidentally brushed against. The vehicle is subject to injure or kill the vehicles occupants or others struck by the vehicle. Vehicle advised there is "no issue" with the vehicle but they did acknowledge the problem with the design of the steering wheel. The issue is intermittent and has occurred while driving at slow speeds in parking lots when the steering wheel is frequently turned more than 90 degrees and a body part can unintentionally touch the 'Resume" button.
The manufacturer has failed or is unable to remedy the safety recall for my vehicle in a timely manner. It has currently been in there possession for over 30 days with multiple failed attempts to correct the recall/issue with my vehicle.
Got in my car today and have NO DASHBOARD INFORMATION, no speedometer, no battery information, no back up camera, no access to any software related information.
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the instrument panel briefly failed to display pertinent vehicle information. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the system was failing to boot and required a systems update. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V344000 (Back Over Prevention, Equipment, Electrical System). The VIN was included, but parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 2,700.
The rear camera when backing up, does not work, and it's super difficult to back up, with a car that has a small rear window, as a driver you need the backing camera plus the sensors
Infotainment screen and instrument cluster turned off mid driving. This lead to complete failure of speed indicator. There is no speedometer available while driving. While be has an open recall it has failed to provide a solution in a timely manner.
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V344000 (Back Over Prevention, Equipment, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
when purchased from dealer . was told there were no recalls. Called Volkswagen america. said they would fix soon. no repair aviable. Car is unsafe.
Description matches to Recall 24V344 has just happened to my car today while I was driving on freeway. It was a scary experience.
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V651000 (STRUCTURE) and 24V344000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION, EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.