Volkswagen ID.4 Complaints (2023)

466 consumer complaints on file.

#11752552July 23, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752208July 22, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
My 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S AWD (approximately 40,000 miles) has a persistent GPS navigation system failure where the vehicle displays an incorrect location. This is a safety concern as the navigation system cannot be relied upon for accurate directions or location awareness. The following repair attempts have been made at the dealership: - TSB 91-24-05 was performed and was unsuccessful - The OCU (Onboard Communication Unit) was fully replaced and was unsuccessful - A VTA (Volkswagen Technical Assistance) case was opened VW Customer Care, Car-Net, and two separate dealerships have been unable to resolve this issue. I was told by multiple VW representatives that there is currently no available fix and that Car-Net will contact me when a resolution is available — which has not happened despite months of waiting. I am currently within my 4 year/50,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. Volkswagen has been unable to fulfill their warranty obligation to repair this known defect. This GPS failure affects safe navigation and represents a safety concern for the driver."
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11752045July 22, 2026
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My primary safety complaint is that the automatic emergency-call function failed during an actual airbag-deployment collision even though the SOS indicator was green and appeared to show that the system was operational. The vehicle is a 2023 Volkswagen ID.4, VIN [XXX]. On XXX, at approximately 8:04 a.m., while traveling southbound on Columbia Pike near Trader Joe’s, the vehicle was involved in a collision that deployed the airbags. The vehicle automatically initiated the emergency-call sequence but announced words to the effect of, “Your call cannot be completed.” The Montgomery County Police Department investigated the collision under Incident Number XXX. Fortunately, a passerby witnessed the collision and assistance was available. Without that person, emergency assistance could have been delayed, increasing the risk of serious harm. An injured, disoriented, trapped, or unconscious occupant may not be able to locate a phone and call [XXX]. The vehicle had a prior history of recurring GPS, SOS, and connected-services failures. It was presented to authorized Volkswagen dealers four times while under warranty, and a Volkswagen TAC case was opened, but no root cause or permanent repair was documented. Shortly after Volkswagen was notified that a lemon-law filing would proceed, the GPS, green SOS indicator, and some connected functions appeared to return for about two days without any explanation of a repair, software update, reset, remote action, or configuration change. The GPS then became inaccurate again, while the SOS indicator remained green. I request that NHTSA investigate why the indicator remained green when the automatic crash call could not connect, whether Volkswagen verifies actual voice and location functionality before displaying the green indicator, and whether affected vehicles require a safety recall or other corrective action. The complete statement and supporting evidence are attached as Exhibit 0. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#11751392July 19, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Potential undercounting of safety defects through Volkswagen’s no-DTC/no-repair process. I recently located and reviewed a video recorded on February 18, 2025. It was originally made to document a remote climate-control malfunction, not a GPS problem. While reviewing it because of recurring GPS and SOS failures, I noticed that the same video also captured an incorrect speed-limit display. While traveling south on US-29/Columbia Pike near Greencastle Road, the vehicle was traveling at 53 mph with cruise control set at 55 mph. Google Maps displayed a 55-mph speed limit while the Volkswagen instrument cluster displayed 35 mph. My 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 remains under warranty. I have taken it to Volkswagen dealers four times for recurring GPS-location, SOS/emergency-communication, and connected-services failures. No permanent repair was completed. Dealers told me that because no relevant diagnostic trouble code was stored, they could not replace a component or perform another repair without Volkswagen authorization. During another failure, when the SOS indicator was not illuminated, I pressed the service-call button. The call did not connect. The system announced vehicle coordinates, but they were incorrect. This raises concern that inaccurate location information could be provided during an emergency if the SOS system relies on the same data. A Volkswagen TAC case was opened, but there was no meaningful progress or documented repair. After escalation, the SOS indicator and some functions appeared to return without an explanation of what action had been performed. The GPS later became inaccurate again. The SOS light remains illuminated, but Volkswagen has not verified the emergency-location function or identified the root cause. My concern is that Volkswagen’s no-DTC repair requirement leaves an observable, recurring safety defect unrepaired and may prevent these events from becoming completed warranty claims or being recognized as part of a broader defect pattern.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11750458July 14, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
7/14/26 my wife attempted to park our 2023 VW ID.4 Pro S AWD. She pulled into the spot with two hands on the steering wheel, her foot off of the accelerator, with the car being slowed by regenerative braking, and the car suddenly accelerated and crashed through a fence and hit a cement barrier. The air bags did not deploy. After the accident that most likely totaled the car, my wife's foot was on the brake. The two challenges we noted were 1. The car should have not accelerated on its own and 2. The air bags should have deployed given the violence of this crash.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11748918July 7, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
1. My tires are half recommended pressure on ALL tires yet yet the automatic monitoring system does not record any abnormality. This is a dangerous system because it tells me everything is ok when it is not. This is on all four tires. 2. When backing up with a trailer the car slams on the brakes as it thinks someone is there and you can’t always turn it off. There is an X you hit to turn off but if you forget…. Sometimes the X doesn’t appear and you have to shift forward then reverse then forward then reverse to get the X to appear and so you can back up without brakes slamming on. Hard to use bike rack because of this.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11747763July 1, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
I am reporting a potential safety-related defect in my 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 AWD Pro involving GPS location, SOS/Car-Net/connected services, and driver-assistance availability. The vehicle has repeatedly shown an incorrect GPS location. Authorized VW dealers documented related SOS/connected-services concerns, including “no green light,” “no satellites seen,” an open TAC/Techline case, and no completed verified repair. On a later visit, the dealer documented that there was still no Techline update and no fault codes present for this issue. I have been advised to wait for Volkswagen/Techline/Connected Services because the issue may require a future software, backend, or OTA update. However, the vehicle remains unrepaired while the GPS/SOS/connected-services condition continues. The absence of fault codes may mean the vehicle is not recording a conventional hardware diagnostic trouble code, but the problem is still present. My concern is not merely an infotainment inconvenience. The issue may affect the vehicle’s ability to determine or report its location, the status of SOS/connected services, and the availability of Travel Assist/adaptive cruise-related functions. I did not activate the SOS emergency button as a test because I did not want to initiate a false emergency call. I cannot determine whether this is caused by hardware, software, backend systems, module firmware, or a combination of factors. I also cannot determine whether other vehicles are affected. I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA can review whether this GPS/SOS/connected-services condition warrants further safety review.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11746297June 24, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I was parked in front of my townhouse I have a witness who saw me at a stop. Next thing I know car accelerates and hits my townhouse. I did not accelerate I was not speeding and I have a witness who saw me stopped
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745372June 20, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Backup camera does not work. Pulling the fuse will fix it for 1-2 trips and then will stop working again. Error pops up on dashboard: backup camera error. Affects safety while reversing. Possible safety risk to children and pedestrians if not working properly.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11745270June 19, 2026
POWER TRAIN, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11744412June 16, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
While driving very slow in a subdivision to enter a driveway my car suddenly accelerated and the peal went down. I steered to the right to avoid hitting the garage door and the car crashed against the wall at the side of the garage door. The distance between the curve and the house in very short. The friend I was visiting was by the door and the neighbor right in front of the house witnessed all. My wife was in the passenger side. By coincidence the lady across the street that saw the incident came running towards us point at the car and screaming :"those cars have a sensor problem". I made the claim to insurance and open a case with VW USA. VW USA sent a technician to the shop and concluded that the pedal was pushed all the way down and therefore it was my fault. My take is it was the adaptive cruise control that was triggered the cruise control (which by the way I NEVER USE) when I was turning right to enter the driveway at very low speed. There was no lights indicating malfunction prior to the incident. I was very concerned that I could have hit either my friend or any other person near the house. When I came back home I googled by "VW ID.4 sudden acceleration" and saw many many incidents with ID.4 and other models using adaptative cruise control.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11744068June 14, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
We are experiencing ongoing connectivity and safety‑related issues with our Volkswagen vehicle that have remained unresolved for more than six months. The vehicle is not connecting to the VW app, which has resulted in the SOS emergency call function being inoperable. Additionally, the vehicle’s built‑in GPS system is displaying our location in an entirely different state, which raises significant concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the system. We have visited multiple Volkswagen dealerships and contacted Volkswagen customer support numerous times by phone. Despite these repeated attempts, the issue has not been diagnosed or corrected. As a result, in the event of an accident or emergency, we currently have no functioning means of alerting emergency services through the vehicle. Furthermore, the navigation system—specifically the feature that locates charging stations and was included in our original purchase—has not worked since approximately six months after we acquired the vehicle and continues to be nonfunctional. The VW app has also been inoperable since May 19, 2026, and despite contacting two dealerships and VW support, we have not received any follow‑up or resolution. Without app connectivity, we cannot determine whether the vehicle is locked, fully charged, or if it has been accessed. At this time, neither we nor Volkswagen appear to know the cause of these failures. Our primary concern is safety, and we are requesting that this matter be addressed promptly and thoroughly.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742965June 9, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Complaint Summary I am filing a complaint against Volkswagen of America for excessive repair delays and lack of customer support for my ID.4. My vehicle has been out of service over a month, with a 7–8 week part delay, leaving me without transportation while still making payments. Details In May 2026, my ID.4 was diagnosed with rodent damage to the wiring harness (not under warranty). However, the part delay is unreasonable. My vehicle will likely be unusable for nearly four months total, and I have continued making full payments. Attempts to Resolve I requested: trade-in/lease option, buyback assistance, rental coverage, and help shipping the vehicle to Texas after relocating. All were denied. Impact I am without a vehicle, still making payments, incurring extra transportation costs, and may have to pay to ship the car. Resolution Requested Rental reimbursement, goodwill compensation, shipping assistance, or buyback/trade-in consideration. Conclusion While not a warranty issue, the prolonged delay and lack of support reflect poor customer care. I am seeking a fair resolution.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740971May 30, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2023 Volkswagen ID.4 (VIN [XXX] ), purchased new [XXX]; now ~20,000 miles. Since the first months of ownership it has had recurring, intermittent electrical/software/capacitive-control and safety failures: the center infotainment screen and instrument cluster go blank while driving (loss of speedometer); the power windows operate opposite to the control input or fail to respond (about 1 in 4 drives); the vehicle intermittently fails to detect occupants and enters standby while people are inside, including while charging; door handles malfunction; and the high-voltage battery has recently been overheating. It is subject to recalls 919A/24V-344 (display software), 57J9/24V-651 (door handles), and 93EA/26V-030 & 26V-028 (battery fire risk), yet the defects persist after these remedies. Dealers repeatedly recorded "could not duplicate" - at times despite video I provided - but a second dealer verified the display and window faults and replaced the J685 display unit and the driver's-door master window switch ([XXX], May 2025). VW's own recall filing (24V-344) states a "definitive root cause could not be established." Dealers also clear the CAN bus / fault memory during recall service, erasing the intermittent codes and making the defects hard to document. These failures create genuine crash and fire risk. No crash or injury to date. Dated video and repair-order documentation available - some provided in packet below. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740645May 28, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739806May 24, 2026
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Recurring Defects – 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S Vehicle * Year/Model: Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S * Ongoing recurring defects across software, electrical, interior, safety, and mechanical systems. Aesthetic / Interior Defects Interior Trim and Structural Noises * Fading light bar panel. * Excessive interior plastic creaking during cold weather. * Roof creaking noises in cold temperatures. Software / Electrical / Safety Defects Infotainment System Failures * Infotainment center becomes laggy or unresponsive. * Touchscreen and touch-sensitive buttons frequently fail to respond. * Infotainment screen intermittently shuts down completely and remains black until the vehicle is powered off and restarted. Door Locking / Unlocking Malfunctions * Doors unlock randomly while driving. * Vehicle locks itself while key fob remains inside vehicle. * Trunk may remain unlocked while doors lock. Seatbelt Detection and Warning System Failures * Rear passenger seatbelt warning light activates while passenger is properly restrained. * Warning light cycles on and off intermittently while passenger remains buckled. * Rear seatbelt sensor eventually stopped functioning entirely. * Driver seatbelt warning now intermittently activates while driving at freeway speeds despite seatbelt being engaged. * Audible seatbelt alarm activates randomly while driving. Major Electrical System Failure While Driving Incident occurred while: * Driving uphill at approximately 35 mph. * Sitting stopped at a traffic light on city streets. Symptoms included: * All dashboard warning lights illuminated simultaneously. * Horn activated repeatedly (“beep beep beep”). * Hazard lights activated without driver input. * Turn signal sounds activated unexpectedly. * Event lasted approximately 2–3 minutes. * Vehicle then emitted a power-down sound. * Entire system shut off and later resumed normal operation. Navigation / Connectivity Failures * Satellite/navigation system unable to locate vehicle. * Maps and connected navigati
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738778May 19, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Gps module is non functioning after software update 3.8.11 Gps module consistently shows wrong location and speed in addition to constantly pinging the driver visually and audibly which distracts the driver and covers the main display with a message that it is unavailable. It also affects the semi autonomous driving function, making it randomly brake and behave erratically because it doesng know where it is. This will cause an accident. Consistently showing hundreds of miles off and has been reported by other users as being an issue VW is aware of but refuses to address.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738467May 18, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I had recall campaign 919A completed on 4/28/25. NHTSA Safety Issue 24V344000. In March 2926 I was driving on a highway and the same issue that was supposed to be corrected by the recall occurred. The screens went blank and rebooted and the odometer/speedometer display on the dashboard had its colors inverted while the system rebooted. Displays that do not show critical information, such as vehicle speed or the rearview camera image, increase the risk of a crash. NHTSA ID Number: 24V344000 Manufacturer Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. Components BACK OVER PREVENTION, EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Potential Number of Units Affected: 79965
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738431May 17, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While entering a parking lot at a low speed, with my foot already firmly applied to the brake due to the close proximity of a parking space, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own unexpectedly. Despite continuous pressure on the brake pedal, the vehicle proceeded forward, struck another parked vehicle, and continued moving for approximately two additional seconds before coming to a stop on its own. Additionally, no forward collision/crash warning alert was activated prior to impact, and the airbags did not deploy during the collision.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737465May 12, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 experienced a high-voltage battery system failure yesterday while DC fast charging, about two weeks after the vehicle underwent recall/campaign service related to high-voltage battery monitoring and software updates associated with NHTSA Recall 26V030. During charging, I heard a loud popping sound from the charging port/high-voltage battery area. After disconnecting from the charger, the vehicle displayed warning messages stating: “Electrical system not working correctly. Safely stop the vehicle!” and “Error: 12V power supply. Safely park the vehicle! See owner’s manual.” The Ontario California Volkswagen dealership informed me that a high-voltage battery fuse/protection component malfunctioned or blew and that the vehicle now has to be manually de-energized and partially disassembled to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle and failed components should be available for inspection through the dealership. I believe this created a serious safety risk because the failure occurred during active DC fast charging involving the high-voltage battery system. I am concerned about fire risk, sudden loss of propulsion, or other high-voltage battery hazards. The issue has been preliminarily confirmed by an authorized Volkswagen dealership, and I was informed Volkswagen engineering representatives may need to assist with the diagnosis. Prior to the failure, the vehicle had recently undergone recall/campaign service on 04/28/2026, and I was informed the battery control module software required multiple sleep cycles to complete the update process. The dealership is charging me approximately $2,000 in diagnostic and battery teardown fees while determining whether repairs will be covered under warranty. I believe the failure may be related to the recall, software update, or a defective high-voltage battery system and I am requesting Volkswagen consider a buyback or other appropriate remedy.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volkswagen ID.4