2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Loss of Drive Power Recall
Volkswagen has issued a recall for certain 2021 ID.4 vehicles. A software programming error in the high voltage battery management control module or pulse inverter could lead to a sudden loss of drive power, increasing crash risk. Dealers will update the software free of charge.
Why This Matters: Safety Risk
This recall addresses a critical safety concern. A software programming error can cause the high voltage (HV) battery management control module to restart or the pulse inverter to deactivate. Should this occur, drivers may experience a sudden ID.4 loss of power while driving, which significantly increases the risk of a crash.
What's Being Recalled
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling certain 2021 ID.4 vehicles. The issue lies within the electrical system, specifically the propulsion system's traction battery management system/energy control module (BMS/BECM) software. The faulty software programming can lead to the high voltage battery management control module restarting or the pulse inverter deactivating.
How to Check if Your Vehicle is Affected
This recall specifically impacts 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 models. Owners can verify if their specific vehicle is included in this recall by contacting Volkswagen customer service or checking the NHTSA website using their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Volkswagen's recall number for this campaign is 97ZZ.
Manufacturer's Remedy
To resolve the issue, Volkswagen dealers will update the software for both the HV battery management control unit and the pulse inverter control unit. This repair will be performed free of charge to the owner. This software update is designed to prevent the unexpected ID.4 loss of power.
Owner Action
Owner notification letters are anticipated to be mailed by March 31, 2023. If you own a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4, you should wait for this official notification. Once received, contact your authorized Volkswagen dealer to schedule the necessary software update. For any immediate concerns or questions, owners can contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. You may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visit www.nhtsa.gov.
Source: NHTSA Recall ID: 23V040000
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 recall about?
- The recall, NHTSA ID 23V040000, addresses a software issue in the high voltage battery management control module or pulse inverter that can cause a sudden ID.4 loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Which Volkswagen ID.4 models are affected by the loss of power recall?
- This recall specifically affects certain 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 vehicles.
- What is the remedy for the ID.4 loss of power issue?
- Volkswagen dealers will update the software for the HV battery management control unit and the pulse inverter control unit, free of charge to the owner.
- When will I be notified about the 2021 ID.4 recall (Volkswagen recall number 97ZZ)?
- Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed by March 31, 2023. You can also contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 for more information.
What Volkswagen ID.4 owners report
Counted from the records in our database across 6 model years.
- 1,027
- Owner complaints
- 27
- Recalls
- 570
- Service bulletins
- 113
- Crashes reported
- 13
- Fires reported
- 73
- Injuries reported
The 2021 model year
339 complaints, the 2nd most of 6 model years on file. Owners reported 28 crashes, 1 fire and 24 injuries for this year, which also has 11 recalls on file.
Electrical System, the system this article covers, accounts for 516 of 1,027 complaints (50%), including 181 for 2021.
Complaints by model year
| 2021 | 339 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 137 | |
| 2023 | 466 | |
| 2024 | 53 | |
| 2025 | 31 | |
| 2026 | 1 |
Most-reported systems
- Electrical System — 516
- Forward Collision Avoidance — 154
- Vehicle Speed Control — 124
- Structure — 119
- Service Brakes — 98
Latest recalls for the 2021 model year
- 25V120000 — Power Train (Feb 2025)
- 24V651000 — Structure (Sep 2024)
- 24V344000 — Back Over Prevention (May 2024)
Recent owner reports about electrical system
While driving, the red "electrical system not working" error message displayed. The car lost control of acceleration and was non responsive. Loss of vehicle control while driving at freeway speeds is a safety risk to myself and others.
Read owner complaints →This is related to my earlier NHTSA complaint 11771852 for the same vehicle. On 10/16/2026 a Volkswagen dealer ran a diagnostic on a yellow dashboard electrical warning light on my 2021 ID.4 and reported fault codes P0BBD00 (hybrid battery pack voltage…
Complaints are owner reports filed with NHTSA. They are unverified, and counts depend on how many vehicles were sold, so they are not a failure rate.
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