Volkswagen
Volkswagen has a bit of a headache with the ID.4 crossover. There’s an issue with the electric vehicle’s recessed door handles, which VW says don’t meet water-resistance requirements. This can allow moisture to seep into the door controller’s circuit board, potentially causing the door to open while the EV is in motion.
As a result, VW has issued a recall for nearly 100,000 ID.4s, halted production of the popular crossover at its Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant, and issued a stop sale to VW dealers. The stop sale applies to pre-owned ID.4s and vehicles on lots that have not yet found a first owner.
The recall applies to all U.S. ID.4s: a total of 99,064, from the first 2021 model year cars built in Germany to the latest 2024 models made in the U.S. VW began hearing complaints in February 2024. In June, the company, together with its suppliers, determined that the problem was due to insufficient protection against water entering and subsequently corroding the door handle electronics.
Meanwhile, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Office of Defects Investigation had also launched an investigation into the matter after receiving twelve reports of ID.4 doors opening while driving.
This is actually the second recall aimed at fixing ID.4 doors: In May 2023, VW recalled 35,325 ID.4s for the same issue. NHTSA found that the 12 affected reports had all undergone the previous recall and wanted to know why the problem was still happening. In some cases, the doors would open intermittently while driving, but in other cases, the doors would instead refuse to open.
There have been no reported accidents or injuries as a result of the problem, but VW says there have been 293 relevant warranty claims.
What's the problem?
According to VW, owners will be notified of the recall on November 1. Unfortunately, the automaker has not yet provided a solution to the problem. Ars reached out to VW, which sent us the following statement:
After extensive research, in response to the suspension of sales of the ID.4, we will temporarily suspend production of the vehicle at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant until a resolution is available. While we address the issue, we are focused on doing right by our employees, dealers and consumers during this disruption. Approximately 200 employees in Chattanooga will be furloughed beginning September 23, and we are supporting them by supplementing their Tennessee unemployment benefits so they continue to receive 80 percent of their base compensation and remain covered by all current benefits during this time. We are also investigating ways to support our dealers while we determine a resolution for our customers. This disruption in no way changes our commitment to the ID.4 and our growing BEV portfolio. The ID.4 remains one of America’s best-selling electric vehicles.
Once a repair is available, ID.4 owners can schedule an inspection with a dealer, who can then determine if any of the door handles are damaged and need to be repaired.
