Problems · by component
2023 Volkswagen ID.4 engine problems
26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 cite engine, 6% of all 466 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
26
6% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Recall 93EA / NHTSA campaign 26V030000 (high-voltage battery). I am the owner of a 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 subject to safety recall 93EA (high-voltage battery). I live on the [XXX], and bought the car on this island from Pre-Owned Motor Cars. There is no authorized Volkswagen recall-service facility on the island; VW directs me to a dealer on [XXX], requiring inter-island ocean shipment of the vehicle. Since XXX, I have pursued the no-charge recall remedy through VW Customer Care, and since XXX I have an official case.number On XXX VW verbally refused any loaner vehicle and refused to escalate my call to a supervisor. On XXX, VW confirmed its position in writing : reimbursement of only 25% of round-trip transportation costs, capped at $1,000, with no loaner or alternate transportation offered. Inter-island shipment costs several hundred dollars each way, so I would pay roughly three-quarters of the shipping out of pocket (after fronting the full cost for later reimbursement) and be without my only vehicle for the duration, with no transportation provided. I live outside town with no practical public transportation. Additionally, VW's written response is addressed…”
“This is a supplemental report to my previous filing regarding a 2023 VW ID.4 battery fire. On May 28, 2025, while being operated, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic thermal event. White smoke emanated from the front compartment followed by active flames. The vehicle was a total loss. Critical Safety Finding: A subsequent forensic examination conducted on October 29, 2025 (File 27739-01) by a certified fire investigator confirmed that after the initial fire was suppressed, the vehicle reportedly caught fire an additional time while being held at a tow/storage facility. Component Failure: The fire originated in the front compartment area. The failure is consistent with the "thermal runaway" risks identified in Recall 26V030, involving defective battery cell electrodes. Safety Risk: The multiple ignition nature of this failure poses a lethal risk to occupants, emergency responders, and tow/salvage facility operators. The fact that the vehicle reignited twice in storage, long after the initial suppression, suggests that current safety protocols or the scope of the existing recall may not fully address the volatility of this specific battery defect. Inspection…”
“My car failed to connect/stay connected to a charger. When a successful charge started, within 5 minutes , my dash lit up with warning messages to stop moving the car. Place car in park. Battery needs to be replaced. My car was in park at the time. Then the charging session ended and wouldn't reconnect. My car wouldn't start either. Leaving me stranded at the charging station . I called for towing service for which I was charged $122.88 for the tow. Then $479 for a new 12v battery. This didn't fix the issue. My car has been at Hawk since then waiting for a main battery. This is an unreasonable amount of time.”
“1. The car accelerates erratically when it is charged to 90 to 100%. This just plain dangerous. 2. The battery is charging to 100% when it set to charge to 80%. I learned that there is a recall for this vehicle due to the battery overheating and possibly catching on fire. However as of yesterday, there are neither diagnostics available to show whether the recall actually applies to my car, nor is their a repair available. Given the nature of the recall, this puts me in the untenable situation of not trusting my car battery - to not overheat and to not catch fire. I brought the car into VW Glenwood Springs and asked them to diagnose the problems. VW Glenwood neither charged the car to 100% nor did they drive it other than around the block. Therefore they did not experience the problem - and of course could not give me any answers. They said that car is safe to drive! I can attest that this car is not safe to drive.”
“This vehicle is a total safety hazard due to two distinct failures: 1. Unresolved Door Defect (14+ Months): For over 14 months, the vehicle has suffered from 'Self-Opening Door Handles.' Despite 4 repair attempts, the manufacturer has failed to fix this, posing a risk of doors opening while driving. 2. Fire Risk & Use Restriction (Current Recall 26V-028): Currently, the vehicle is under a 'High-Voltage Battery Fire Risk' recall. The manufacturer has no remedy available and advises to 'Park Outside' and 'Away from Structures,' while also advising against fast charging. Conclusion: I am stuck with a car that has doors that open on their own and a battery that might catch fire. The manufacturer refuses to repurchase this unsafe vehicle. I request an immediate investigation.”
“The high-voltage battery in my two leased Volkswagen ID.4 vehicles are subject to NHTSA recall 26V030 (VW campaign 93EA, Jan 2026) for potential overheating and fire risk due to missing Self-Discharge Detection (SDD) software updates. This can cause thermal propagation even when parked. No failure or fire has happened in my vehicles yet; the battery remains available for inspection. However we do have warning lights, messages, range loss, and other electrical symptoms that have appeared before the recall notice. The defect creates a serious safety risk for my family. Both vehicles normally charge indoors in the garage directly under my toddler's bedroom. A fire during charging could endanger my young child and home. Recall guidance requires parking outdoors, no indoor/overnight charging, 80% max charge, and no Level 3 (DC fast) chargers until fixed (remedy starts ~March 2026). These restrictions make safe, practical use impossible: outdoor charging in Philly winter is impractical and risky (damage/theft), and no fast charging limits daily family mobility severely. The issue hasn't been reproduced or inspected by a dealer in my case—it's precautionary based on…”
Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.