InsightArise CarsU.S. Owner Complaint Index
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2021 Volkswagen ID.4 problems, complaints & recalls

More Within ±30% year on year

NHTSA has received 336 owner complaints about the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4, or 58.1 per year on the road — more complaints than typical (complaint index 1.44, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 85 model-year 2021 vehicles we track, it ranks #65 of 85 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest). Against other Volkswagen models its rate is 102% higher; against other Electric vehicles it is 14% higher.

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

Complaints filed between 2021-05-20 and 2026-10-05. Median delay from incident to filing: 7 days.

336Complaints
58.1Complaints per year on the road
1.44Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
11Recalls
8.6%Share involving a crash or fire
53Last 12 months

Analysis

The following model year (2022) drew 28.6 per year, fewer than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2021 model collected 73 complaints, 19% higher than the average vehicle of the same model year.

The most common problem area is Electrical (47.3% of complaints), followed by Unspecified or other (9.8%) and Brakes (7.4%). Electrical complaints are 3.0 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 29 reports (8.6%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 24 injuries and 0 deaths.

Half of the reported incidents happened within 33 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was years three to five (36% of incidents). In the last 12 months 53 new complaints were filed, versus 56 in the 12 months before — down 5%.

NHTSA lists 11 safety recalls for this model year. 2 NHTSA investigations cover this model year; the most recent is “Inadvertent Door Opening” (recall query, opened 2024-05-16, closed 2024-11-04).

Complaint index

  • vs. all tracked vehicles1.44
  • vs. other Volkswagen models2.02
  • vs. other 2021 models1.5
  • vs. other Electric vehicles1.14
  • Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (73)1.19
  • #65 of 85 · 2021Rankings ›

1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road.

Other model years

  • 202158.1 per year1.44
  • 202228.6 per year0.71
  • 2023121.9 per year3.02
  • 202417.6 per year0.44
  • 202515.1 per year0.37

Volkswagen ID.4 problems, complaints & recalls by model year ›

What owners complain about

  • Electrical159 · 47.3% · 3.01×
  • Unspecified or other33 · 9.8% · 1.09×
  • Brakes25 · 7.4% · 1.23×
  • Body & structure24 · 7.1% · 0.78×
  • Engine19 · 5.7% · 0.26×
  • Transmission / powertrain19 · 5.7% · 0.49×
  • Wheels, tires & suspension13 · 3.9% · 1.56×
  • Driver-assist systems12 · 3.6% · 0.63×

vs. all vehicles: 1.00 = All-vehicle average

Problem areas: Electrical · Unspecified or other · Body & structure · Driver-assist systems · Transmission / powertrain · Brakes · Engine

When complaints were filed

2021: 19 19 2021 2022: 54 54 2022 2023: 99 99 2023 2024: 67 67 2024 2025: 55 55 2025 2026: 42 42 2026
  • Crashes reported: 28
  • Fires reported: 1
  • Injuries: 24
  • Deaths: 0

Vehicle age at incident

  • <1 yr11.3%
  • 1–2 yrs17.0%
  • 2–3 yrs25.9%
  • 3–5 yrs35.7%
  • 5+ yrs10.1%

Median age at incident: 33 months

What owners report

Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.

Segment peers · 2021 · Electric vehicles

ModelsComplaintsComplaints per year on the roadComplaint index
2021 Tesla Model X417.10.18
2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV6711.60.29
2021 Tesla Model S17930.90.77
2021 Volkswagen ID.433658.11.44
2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E35160.61.5
2021 Tesla Model 3669115.62.86
2021 Tesla Model Y1,089188.24.66

Safety recalls (11)

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) Campaign 25V120000 · 2025-02-27

Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2023 ID.4, 2022-2023 Audi Q4 e-Tron, and Q4 e-Tron Sportback vehicles. The instrument panel may not properly display the transmission gear lever indicator. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect."

Risk: Failure to display the gear position may result in a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not engaged, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the brake control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 14, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97H3. Audi's number for this recall is 454R.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HANDLE:EXTERIOR Campaign 24V651000 · 2024-09-04

Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2024 ID.4 vehicles. The door handles may allow water to enter the circuit board assembly, which can cause the doors to open unexpectedly.

Risk: A vehicle door that opens unexpectedly while driving increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen dealers will inspect and replace the door handles as necessary, and update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 27, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 57J9. This recall expands previous recall numbers 23V-312 and 23V-213. Vehicles previously repaired under 23V-312 and 23V-213 will need to have the new remedy completed.

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE Campaign 24V344000 · 2024-05-15

Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2021-2023 ID.4 vehicles. Due to a software issue, affected vehicles may experience center displays and instrument panel displays that do not boot, or that sporadically reset. This can result in loss of speedometer information or loss of rearview camera image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 111, "Rear Visibility."

Risk: Displays that do not show critical information, such as vehicle speed or the rearview camera image, increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 20, 2024. Owners may contact VW customer service at 1-800-893-5298. VW's number for this recall is 919A.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HANDLE:EXTERIOR Campaign 23V312000 · 2023-05-03

Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2022 ID.4 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have been manufactured with door handles that allow water to enter the circuit board assembly, which can cause the doors to open unexpectedly when the vehicle is subject to high lateral forces at speeds below 9 mph/15 kmh.

Risk: A vehicle door that opens unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will update the vehicle software, and inspect the door handles as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 19, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall are 57J5 and 57J8. This recall was replaced by recall number 24V-651

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY:MANAGEMENT SYSTEM/ENERGY CONTROL MODULE (BMS/BECM):SOFTWARE Campaign 23V040000 · 2023-02-01

Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 ID.4 vehicles. Software programing may cause the high voltage (HV) battery management control module to restart or the pulse inverter to deactivate.

Risk: A reset or deactivation may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the HV battery management control unit and the pulse inverter control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 31, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97ZZ.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL Campaign 22V858000 · 2022-11-02

Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 ID4 vehicles. The passenger air bag may be incorrectly folded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: An incorrectly folded air bag may not protect the occupant as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 14, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number to this recall is 69EH.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY Campaign 22V162000 · 2022-03-16

Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 ID4 vehicles. Incorrect soldering of the flexible printed circuit assembled (FPCA), inside the high voltage (HV) battery, may cause an unreliable connection.

Risk: An unreliable battery connection may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the battery cell modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 6, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 9302.

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) Campaign 21V852000 · 2021-11-03

Summary: Volkswagen Group of American, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling one 2021 ID.4 vehicle. The steering gear may have an incorrectly assembled or missing drive bushing.

Risk: An incorrectly assembled or missing drive bushing may cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: A dealer will replace the steering gear, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 5, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 48Q7.

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR Campaign 21V606000 · 2021-08-05

Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69CR (VW) and 69CS (Audi).

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR Campaign 21V607000 · 2021-08-04

Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 ID4 vehicles. Incorrect rear outboard seat belt assemblies without an automatic locking retractor (ALR) function may have been installed, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the rear outboard seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69CQ.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS Campaign 21V413000 · 2021-06-02

Summary: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 ID.4 vehicles. Caps were installed on the headlight vertical aim instead of the horizontal aim, allowing for horizontal adjustment of the headlight beam. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: Adjusting the horizontal headlight beam can increase glare, reducing visibility for the driver and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will remove the caps from the vertical aim and install them on the horizontal aim, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 9406.

How to check whether your car has an open recall ›

Investigations