2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Engine Problems

I am reporting a safety-related failure involving my 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The vehicle has experienced two separate incidents where it suddenly lost power while driving and became inoperable without warning. The first occurrence happened while I was in the middle of an intersection. The vehicle lost power and could not continue moving, creating a dangerous situation with surrounding traffic. The second occurrence occurred shortly after beginning a trip, approximately one thousand feet down the road. Again, the vehicle lost power without warning and became inoperable. In both cases, after the failure occurred, the vehicle would power on and could be shifted into drive or reverse; however, the vehicle would not move or provide any propulsion in either gear. The vehicle had to be manually pushed out of the roadway. The vehicle has been brought to the dealership multiple times over the course of ownership for issues involving the electrical and high-voltage systems. Service records show repeated diagnostic procedures, recall and campaign work, and repairs involving the battery system and related control functions. Diagnostic fault codes associated with this issue have included P0BEE00 and P0BE600 (drive motor current sensor circuit faults), along with communication-related faults. Despite these multiple service visits and repairs, the condition has not been reliably resolved, indicating an ongoing and intermittent system failure. Most recently, the dealer diagnosed a failure related to the drive motor system. The rear drive motor was replaced; however, after replacement, the vehicle still would not properly communicate with the motor. The dealer has since identified the issue as being related to the control module responsible for communication with the drive motor (gateway), which also requires replacement. The vehicle has been out of service for extended periods, including a current repair period exceeding one month. Given that the vehicle has lost propulsion without w

NHTSA ID

11729783

Incident

Feb 19, 2026

The vehicle has been in to the dealer multiple times for electrical system failures. The car is not safe to drive and has stalled multiple times while driving. The system has errors that light up stating there is an electrical system failure. The car has stopped driving in the middle of a trip, I have been stuck with my family multiple times while on short trips and long trips. The vehicle has been repaired multiple times for the same issue and it just came back again after several months being repaired. Each time the repairs occur, I end up renting a car and the time it sits at the dealer or repair shop has varied from 45 days to several days. This car needs to go. The issue first occurred a little over a year ago and has happened 3-7 times since and at random times. The issue has been reproduced by the dealer and reported to VW HQ.

NHTSA ID

11717983

Incident

Feb 13, 2026

After charging with my home charger, the electrical system has been one unusable or shown electrical error codes. In March 2025, the engine battery cells had a significant failure that required towing to the service center as it was completely unable to drive. This repair took 5 weeks to complete. The car had regular service and inspection 7/19/25 and issues with the navigation system and the charging port door were indicated. On 7/22/25 a warning light for electrical issues please service now came on. It was drivable to the service center but it is still not diagnosed due to another ID4 being serviced at the same time and they’re unable to work on 2. Of course with all of these downtimes we are still paying for a loan on a car we are not able to drive due to it being unsafe.

NHTSA ID

11674190

Incident

Mar 1, 2025

This vehicle has had multiple electrical system failures that minimally disable driver assist safety features. An error message is received that the vehicle is experiencing electrical system failure. This is the third such message recieved since July 2024. I have had the vehicle serviced to resolve the prior two instances, after which the message is produced again. Given the high number of recalls for the model and the stop sale order last year, I don’t believe the manufacturer is honestly addressing the safety defects for this model. I have reported the issue to VW of America and they closed my case pending evidence. The VW dealership who serviced the vehicle purged my service records. When I produced the evidence I had of the system failures, VW of America is unresponsive.

NHTSA ID

11643551

Incident

Jul 1, 2024

On [XXX] approximately [XXX], I was in the drive-up line for Starbucks. The drive-up line was very slow so we waited for about 1/2 hour and I ended turning off my engine. I had plenty of room at least between 2-3 feet between myself and the car in the front. Then the line moved so, I put the car in Drive and covered the brake. I tapped the Gas/electric pedal and the car accelerated from 0 to 30 and lunged forward and I hit the car in front of me and they were pushed into the car in front of them. No one was seriously hurt, but police were called and ambulance arrived and found no injury - so there wasn't a police report. I was completely shocked that this happened so fast and I wasn't able to stop my car. So, when I hit the people in front of me. Their car was a Ford Mini-van older model. I dented their bumper, but see attached photos of damage to my car. I went on a VD owner website to see if other volkswagen owners had any acceleration problems and I was surprised to find so many people affected by acceleration issues. I decided to call Volkswagen headquarters and a case was opened. Volkswagen set up a data review with a Volkswagen technician. I dropped off the car at the dealership in Ventura. I was not provided with a report from the Data retrieval. I just received a letter from the case manager, Sarah that they did not find anything unusual. After reviewing the letter, they had the wrong date of my accident. The accident occurred on [XXX], and Sarah said the accident was on April 8, 2024. Of course, they did not find anything??? I will enclose their letter and when I asked about the report or speaking with the technician, I was told that they do not give copies, nor provide information. On the website for Volkswagen ID4 owners, there are many claims of acceleration problems, This vehicle is an self-driving electric car. There is a recall for a software issue, that has not been established yet if it is related to acceleration. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C

NHTSA ID

11598425

Incident

Mar 17, 2024

Car stopped without warning on six lane road in busy traffic. Display indicated electrical system failure. Vehicle would not re-start. Fortunately I was able to exit the vehicle and make it to the edge of the road but this was a very dangerous situation. Car was traveling between 30-40 mph at time. All active recall work had been performed per the dealership.

NHTSA ID

11595938

Incident

Jun 22, 2024

Manufacturer and dealership in my area have been unable to schedule me for getting Safety Recall for High Voltage Battery Management Control Module Software (97ZZ) done to my vehicle. I have been in the waitlist for dealership to do this recall since May 2023. Several times the dealership has said that the battery modules are backordered with no ETA.

NHTSA ID

11569253

Incident

May 13, 2023

The car was inoperative because it would not allow the driver to shift from neutral to drive or reverse. There was an error code with the emergency break and the auto hold break.

NHTSA ID

11550177

Incident

Oct 15, 2023

The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V040000 (Electrical System) and 23V312000 (Structure) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the low coolant and the electrical system warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated to 5 MPH. The contact was able to park on the side of the roadway. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer: Napleton's Volkswagen of Orlando (12700 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32826:(855) 843-6461), where it was diagnosed with needing the radiator to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11532944

Incident

Jul 15, 2023

Mileage

30,000 mi

The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact stated that while starting or turning off the vehicle, antifreeze would leak onto the ground. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was a hole in the radiator caused by wear and tear, and that the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 27,000.

NHTSA ID

11519473

Incident

Apr 28, 2023

Mileage

27,000 mi

The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was smoke coming into the cabin of the vehicle through the air vents. No medical attention was received for smoke inhalation. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

NHTSA ID

11504411

Incident

Jan 30, 2023

Mileage

35,000 mi

Car displayed error while driving and immediately began to lose speed. Stopped in the middle of a 6 lane road with a posted speed limit of 35mph. Car would not go into drive. Turned car off and attempted to restart and put it back into drive, but did not work. Turned car off and waited 1 minute and tried again, turned car off a second time and waited 3 minutes. Car restarted with errors but was able to be put into drive and driven. The car was blocking a driving lane in the road for approximately five minutes with hazard lights on. If this has happened on a highway it would have been extremely dangerous.

NHTSA ID

11500615

Incident

Jan 7, 2023

Car 12V battery drained. Car "dead". AAA jump-started and I drove home. Kept all unnecessary items off (heat, radio, etc). Put car on trickle charge overnight; charged to 90+%. After driving car for awhile, "12v battery low" message came on. 3 local dealers can't service until December. Known defect that battery is under-powered. VW has offered replacement sometime in early 2023. Meanwhile car sits in garage inoperable.

NHTSA ID

11494098

Incident

Nov 17, 2022

Driving on the highway and with no warning got an “error” message and a message that the electrical system was shutting down. Also popped up some reference about the 12 volt battery. Car went into a neutral type mode and started to slow due to complete loss of power. Luckily we were able to get to the emergency lane from the middle highway lane and coast to a stop. Extremely dangerous for a complete loss of power to occur with no warning. Car turned itself off while we were calling VW roadside assistance. It then was able to be turned back on and driven as normal. Based on VW id4 blogs, this is happening too often and dealerships are not able to determine it through diagnostics.

NHTSA ID

11472996

Incident

Jul 8, 2022

The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The warning message "High Voltage - Electrical Hazard - Don't Drive - Park Vehicle" were illuminated. The contact turned the vehicle off and, on several times, until the warning message disappeared. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. No issues were found with the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the failure was associated to an air pocket in the cooling system. The dealer bled the cooling system; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V162000 (Electrical System). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000.

NHTSA ID

11458732

Incident

Apr 28, 2021

Mileage

4,000 mi

While backing out of the drive way, electronic console of the car went black, we lost control over steering and accelerator functions and potentially brakes (unsure) while car was still moving. This happened at low speed (5-10 MPH). The instrument panel showed message to call service immediately. To regain control, we pressed the start engine button, which allowed us to again control the car. The call service message disappeared.

NHTSA ID

11456294

Incident

Feb 9, 2022

On multiple occasions, my brand new ID.4 has shut down while driving giving various error messages relating to the electrical system and safety features--including with the electrical system generally, with the "12 Volt electrical system", with the auto assist braking, with lane assist, etc.

NHTSA ID

11453460

Incident

Feb 22, 2022

It will not stop, can not stop!

NHTSA ID

11431878

Incident

Sep 6, 2021