Volkswagen ID.4 problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 5 model years (2021–2025), NHTSA has logged 991 owner complaints and 24 safety recalls for the Volkswagen ID.4. That averages 48.7 complaints per year on the road — a typical number of complaints (index 1.16 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Electric vehicles segment it ranks #7 of 10 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 56.4.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
Across five model years from 2021 to 2025, NHTSA has logged 991 owner complaints and 24 safety recalls for the Volkswagen ID.4, with the trend worsening as the 2023 and 2024 models run 111% above earlier years. The 2023 model year shows the highest rate at 123.3 complaints per year and is at least 50% above the model's own average, while Electrical issues account for 46.2% of all complaints and are 2.9 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Owners report 70 injuries and 0 deaths in 121 complaints describing a crash or fire, with half of all incidents occurring within 23 months of the model year's start. Recent data includes 215 complaints filed in the last 12 months versus 296 in the previous year, alongside 24 recall campaigns including three with do-not-drive warnings and investigations into inadvertent door opening.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 111% above the 2021 and 2022 models (158 early complaints per model year versus 61).
The 2023 model year has the highest rate (123.3 complaints per year) and the 2025 model year the lowest (15.5). The 2023 model year runs at least 50% above the model's own average — the one to research most carefully. Model years 2022 and 2024 sit well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Electrical (46.2% of complaints), followed by Interior & equipment (10.4%) and Body & structure (8.9%). Electrical complaints are 2.9 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Recurring terms in owner reports: “door”, “electrical”, “prevention equipment”, “available” and “system recall”. 121 complaints (12.2%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 70 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 215 complaints versus 296 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace. The 2023 model year generated the most recent reports (108). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 23 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 24 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2022 (6), 3 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 2 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model; the latest is “Inadvertent Door Opening” (opened 2024-05-16, closed 2024-11-04).
Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Tesla Model S, Chevrolet Bolt EV, Tesla Model X and Ford Mustang Mach-E; Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Tesla Model Y have more.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 330 | 58.2 | 1.38 | 73 | 1.19 | 49 | 11 | Electrical | View › |
| 2022 | 134 | 28.7 | 0.68 | 49 | 0.66 | 16 | 7 | Electrical | View › |
| 2023 Years to research carefully | 453 | 123.3 | 2.93 | 278 | 3.35 | 108 | 13 ⚠ | Electrical | View › |
| 2024 | 48 | 17.9 | 0.43 | 39 | 0.55 | 22 | 8 ⚠ | Electrical | View › |
| 2025 Fewest complaints | 26 | 15.5 | 0.37 | — | — | 20 | 1 | Electrical | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 215 · Previous 12 months: 296 Steady
Problem areas
Electrical ›
458 · 46.2% · 2.93 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- electrical134
- prevention equipment42
- system recall61
- speedometer52
Body & structure ›
88 · 8.9% · 0.97 vs. all vehicles · Falling
- door44
- notification structure17
- structure recall16
- opened27
Driver-assist systems ›
60 · 6.1% · 1.06 vs. all vehicles · Falling
- cruise18
- adaptive13
- acc7
- suddenly16
Transmission / powertrain ›
57 · 5.8% · 0.49 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- electrical system20
- error16
- deel miami3
- power21
Wheels, tires & suspension
31 · 3.1% · 1.26 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- tires22
- bridgestone10
- alenza7
- front16
Other
21 · 2.1% · 1.17 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- accelerated7
- passenger seat4
- crashed4
- accelerator5
Steering
19 · 1.9% · 0.3 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- steering14
- wheel10
- left8
- suddenly7
Fuel system
16 · 1.6% · 0.37 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- releasing4
- battery6
- accelerate5
- mode4
Airbags & seat belts
16 · 1.6% · 0.42 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- airbag9
- error5
- automatic braking3
- seat5
Lighting
11 · 1.1% · 0.71 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- night5
- lit3
- controls3
- design3
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- door182
- electrical182
- prevention equipment46
- available214
- system recall63
- speedometer65
- open129
- infotainment80
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 23 months
What owners report
The car was in neutral while in a drive through car wash. Then, when stopped and shifted to drive, the car bolted forward very suddenly and fast. Went through fence.
In the process of parking, vehicle was stopped in the parking spot and vehicle suddenly accelerated to a high speed and crashed into a brick column. Air bags did go off.
My car spontaneously accelerated out of control, onto my neighbor's lawn. I had to brake hard to stop the car from crashing into their house. This could have injured myself and my neighbors, if the car did not stop.
This is a follow-up to my previous complaint #XXX regarding my 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 (VIN [XXX]). The defect remains unresolved.
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…
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Electric vehicles
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesla Model S | 708 | 17.4 | 0.41 | Worsening | Falling | 31 | Interior & equipment |
| 2 | Chevrolet Bolt EV | 532 | 17.8 | 0.42 | Stable | Steady | 13 | Electrical |
| 3 | Tesla Model X | 736 | 18.6 | 0.44 | Worsening | Falling | 33 | Interior & equipment |
| 4 | Ford Mustang Mach-E | 650 | 28.9 | 0.69 | Improving | Steady | 0 | Electrical |
| 5 | Ford F-150 Lightning | 536 | 33.4 | 0.79 | Improving | Falling | 2 | Electrical |
| 6 | Kia EV6 | 535 | 38.5 | 0.91 | Improving | Rising | 5 | Electrical |
| 7 | Volkswagen ID.4 | 991 | 48.7 | 1.16 | Worsening | Steady | 24 | Electrical |
| 8 | Tesla Model 3 | 4,228 | 100.4 | 2.39 | Worsening | Steady | 35 | Driver-assist systems |
| 9 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 1,319 | 114.8 | 2.73 | Improving | Rising | 14 | Electrical |
| 10 | Tesla Model Y | 3,749 | 128.3 | 3.05 | Stable | Steady | 36 | Driver-assist systems |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 24
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 3
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2021 (11) · 2022 (7) · 2023 (13) · 2024 (8) · 2025 (1)
Investigations
- Inadvertent Door Opening Closed
On May 16, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Recall Query (RQ) RQ24010 to investigate the remedy and scope of recalls 23V-213 and 23V-312. The affected vehicles by these recalls included model years (MY) 2021 through 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vehicles. ODI received reports of the vehicleâs doors opening while the vehicle was in motion post recall remedy. ODI, also, received si…
- Pedestrian alert sounds Closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…
Frequently asked questions
Which Volkswagen ID.4 model year has the most complaints?
The 2023 model year has the highest rate (123.3 complaints per year) and the 2025 model year the lowest (15.5).
Is the Volkswagen ID.4 getting better or worse?
The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 111% above the 2021 and 2022 models (158 early complaints per model year versus 61). In the last 12 months owners filed 215 complaints versus 296 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace.
What are the most common Volkswagen ID.4 problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Electrical (46.2% of complaints), followed by Interior & equipment (10.4%) and Body & structure (8.9%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “door”, “electrical”, “prevention equipment”, “available” and “system recall”.
How does the Volkswagen ID.4 compare with other Electric vehicles?
Within the Electric vehicles segment it ranks #7 of 10 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 56.4. Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Tesla Model S, Chevrolet Bolt EV, Tesla Model X and Ford Mustang Mach-E; Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Tesla Model Y have more.
Does the Volkswagen ID.4 have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 24 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2022 (6), 3 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 2 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model; the latest is “Inadvertent Door Opening” (opened 2024-05-16, closed 2024-11-04).