Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words
Pulled into a parking space with foot on the brake and accelerator pedal. The vehicle sped forward, pushing a car parked in front of me into the driveway, just missing another vehicle
12-volt onboard battery error codes, stating battery charge is low, and to safely park the vehicle. Alternatively, drive the vehicle to charge the battery. Or charge the vehicle. The car has been to the dealer for testing, and they say that the on-board battery checks out without any problems, yet I continue to get the battery error codes. We don't feel safe to driving the car in fear of complete lockout failure.
Claim submitted to VW Customer Care on March 8, 2026. Current problems cited include: Doors malfunctioning; vehicle difficult to start and power off; steering and braking warnings; complete loss of power steering; compromised performance in significant lag between accelerator depression and vehicle response; electrical malfunction alerts (17+); numerous dashboard warnings; distressing repetitive whining sound (not mechanical); persistent underperformance regarding vehicle range. On March 10, vehicle was towed to commence inspection at Bay Ridge Volkswagen Service & Parts – [XXX] . Further evidence of vehicle issues provided as accompaniment to VW Customer Care Claim via: [XXX] This current March 2026 concern follows on multiple service visits and loss of vehicle usage during April–August 2025 claims process. During this time, Brooklyn Volkswagen Service (now permanently closed) conducted an evaluation of the car, including documented video evidence of issues with the car – even beyond those which were the original cause for my concerns (e.g. they cited degradation of cables and wiring within the car’s hood due to their being made of edible soy wrappings). Link provided: [XXX] . Vehicle was ultimately released back to me with unresolved repairs (citing backorder of parts amongst other concerns that VW would not consent to resolving related to compromised bumper electronics) and interim repair offered to resolve compromise to vehicle airbag systems. The primary use of this vehicle is in transportation of my children. It is patently unsafe to drive. Given that the vehicle is subject to a federal safety recall without an available remedy I have requested a prompt determination of the vehicle repurchase / lease buy‑back and compensation for loss of use and incurred costs to support alternative transportation requirements until resolution under this claim. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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 mobile app will not connect, preventing charging monitoring or battery pre-conditioning in cold weather. Charging frequently fails to initiate or stops prematurely. Level 2 (slow) charging often stops after only 5–10% of charge is added but is unpredictable. Even when charging on a level 3 charger, the vehicle often charges to random levels below 80% (the level to which the vehicle is supposed to charge). DC fast charging is slow and often struggles to reach 40%-50% within a reasonable time. Charging equipment often reports significantly more energy delivered than vehicle displays. This has occurred at multiple charging locations (and multiple chargers). The vehicle’s range has been severely reduced. The vehicle’s range is dramatically less than it used to be. The battery is often drained and needs to be recharged in less than 100 miles. The vehicle often loses power. This is inconsistent, but when it happens, I am only able to get the vehicle moving at a very slow pace, which was not the case previously. I have contacted the selling dealer multiple times and Volkswagen directly. Charging-related issues have continued to worsen.
The ABS violently stops at random times in parking lots or reversing from my garage going FWD or backwards, screen has turned black, software updates won’t go through, charging issues/wont charge, premature inner tire wear notably in the right rear passenger side, doors, especially passenger doors, won’t open, the heat is nonexistent in the rear & barely works in the front, most recently a code popped up in my app for powertrain. VW dealer wouldn’t specify until I came in person a month later & allowed me to take a picture of the code (attached) “Driving an EV with a P0AA600 isolation fault is dangerous, as it indicates a failure in the high-voltage (HV) system's insulation, causing current to leak to the chassis. Risks include severe electric shock or electrocution, fire hazards from damaged components, and potential complete vehicle failure or refusal to start.”
Problem Description The core issue stems from a production fault in the battery cells that can cause increased self-discharge. In a high-voltage battery pack, which operates like a chain of interconnected modules, a single faulty module with elevated self-discharge becomes the “weakest link.” This leads to: • Degradation of the overall usable capacity. • Reduced driving range and power limitations. • Potential cascading failures affecting additional modules over time. • Warning indicators, such as a yellow electrical system fault in the instrument cluster (fault code P0BBD00: Hybrid Battery Pack Voltage Variation Exceeded Limit). • Infotainment messages like “Electronic system does not work correctly. Please go to workshop.” • In severe cases, unexpected shutdowns or failure to pass technical inspections, potentially rendering the vehicle non-roadworthy under local regulations. The fault is linked to specific battery module part numbers from LG, including: • 0Z1.915.592.G/H/J • 0Z1.915.599.G/H/J/P These were produced through the end of 2023 (up to December 4, 2023) and include configurations like 12S2P (small capacity) and 8S3P (large capacity), meaning all MEB battery setups could be impacted. Volkswagen does not publicly disclose full VIN ranges, exact affected counts, or the precise technical cause of the manufacturing fault, but internal escalation procedures exist to identify additional defective batches.
I am reporting a potential safety-related defect involving the high-voltage battery system and associated diagnostic software in a 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S AWD. The vehicle has experienced abnormal battery behavior, including accelerated degradation and confirmed system faults affecting battery management, charging, and vehicle communication. An independent EV diagnostic test shows the high-voltage battery at approximately 91% state of health, representing about 9% degradation in under two years of normal use. The testing facility stated this rate of degradation is abnormal for the vehicle’s age, where typical expectations would be significantly lower. In addition, vehicle diagnostics show confirmed and recurring fault codes involving critical systems, including the CAN Gateway (inter-module communication), the high-voltage battery charger/battery management interface, and the emergency call and communication module. These faults are repeatedly logged as “confirmed” and “test failed since last DTC clear,” indicating persistent system-level issues rather than intermittent events. These systems are responsible for battery condition reporting, charging control, communication between vehicle control modules, and safety/telemetry functions. Limitations or failures in these systems raise concerns that battery condition and integrity may not be accurately detected or reported to the driver. Volkswagen dealerships have declined to perform the definitive manufacturer-certified battery capacity test, stating it will not be authorized unless battery capacity is already below warranty thresholds. As a result, more accurate and intrusive testing is unavailable due to manufacturer policy rather than lack of concern. I am also aware of an independent investigation released in January 2026 documenting production-related battery cell defects in Volkswagen Group MEB vehicles from model years 2021–2023, involving increased battery self-discharge and diagnostic measures that may
I am writing to bring to your attention an issue we recently encountered with our 2023 VW ID.4. We began hearing a clicking noise and brought the vehicle in for a diagnostic inspection. The dealership has informed us that the rear drive motor has failed and that the vehicle requires a full motor replacement, estimated at nearly $5,000. Our ID.4 is only 2.5 years old with 62,000 miles. We have truly enjoyed driving it and chose Volkswagen because of its reputation for quality and reliability. To see such a critical component fail this early is very disappointing.
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact was informed that the vehicle was included in the NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V434000 (SERVICE BRAKES, SUSPENSION), 24V651000 (STRUCTURE), 25V120000 (POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), and 24V344000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION, EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). After contacting the local dealer and the manufacturer, the contact was informed that parts to complete the recalls were on backorder. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced the failure.
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V651000 (STRUCTURE) and 25V120000 (POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), 24V344000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION, EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle stalled, with unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the dealer was unable to diagnose the vehicle. On another occasion, the vehicle started to make a grinding sound and jerked abnormally. Additionally, the contact stated that on another occasion, after shifting into reverse, the display screen turned off unintendedly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,544. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V120000 (Power Train, Service Brakes, Hydraulic), 24V344000 (Back Over Prevention, Equipment, Electrical System), and 24V651000 (Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that after shifting to park(P) on an incline, the hazard lights started flashing, and the indicator lights and horn were unintentionally activated. The contact reversed a little and shifted back into park(P), and the failure was self-corrected. The failure occurred again while parked in a parking lot with the vehicle unoccupied. The contact returned to the vehicle, and the failure was self-corrected. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the software update was unavailable under NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V120000 (Power Train, Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and 24V344000 (Back Over Prevention, Equipment, Electrical System). The dealer placed the contact on a waiting list for the repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V651000 (Structure) for 5 months. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
On [XXX], our 2023 VW ID.4 Pro S which kept breaking down during our Vegas trip. It’s still under manufacturer warranty. 17,931 miles, VIN # [XXX] . We got home around 10:30 PM on July 7th after leaving Vegas before noontime, EV battery overheated in the 120 degrees heat at Baker and 112 degrees temperature at Barstow and couldn’t be driven until battery cooled hours later after each stop. It was a complete nightmare with my poor wife and kids in that super hot weather. Thank you. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
As I described via various work orders to VW Centennial service since 05-15-2024 (5 service orders ago). I am seriously concerned about the sensor ability to prevent and effectively work when needed. Today, 02-26-2025 I am documenting a clear scenario where ACC failed. On Freeway 215 driving 60 MPG with ACC engaged. Traffic on the freeway came to a standstill, the ACC engaged and stopped my ID4 from 55 MPH. This is the ideal outcome. However it failed few moments later. ACC showed ready when at standstill. When traffic resumed, ID4 accelerated to commensurate with the traffic at 25mph and ACC kept on par with the car ahead which is intended with the ideal distance. 5 seconds later, cars stopped again. This is where ACC should have stopped my ID4. However it did NOT. ACC did not stop my ID4 only to find myself facing a red collision alert second later within car length away. Had to hit the brakes hard and swerve to avoid collision with the car in front. I was led into a false sense of security as ACC worked minutes prior. This is not the first time ACC failed, and based on my accounting, it only works ¾ times. Even failure to engage ¼ times this can result in a serious collision. Many times I’ve discussed with the service asking them to replicate the same issue reported here. I also gave service exact scenarios where this happened. ACC also consistently fails 100% on highway off-ramps as the sensor does not see off-ramp barriers. As such you can always find ID4 ACC accelerating into increasing elevation off-ramps. A clear example of such you is on Freeway 215 and 95 off-ramp. This is a severe safety flaw that is 100% reproducible that I’ve explained to my service department time and again.
Loud audible drive shaft noise usually found on a turn or after hitting a pothole. Dealership has not been able to identify and remedy the problem after 2 attempts on 12-27-24 and 1-3-25. Researching into this matter, I found many others in the community with these same problems (Reddit, VW User group, Facebook VW ID4 user group). I typed into the Google AI for why this problem exists, and it clearly shows this is an axle design flaw that cannot accommodate the weight of the car. I've attached this screenshot for your review. Concerned about a complete drive shaft failure causing an accident and injuries. VW not been able to resolve the problem for 2 months is another point of concern.
Two problems. 1) the infotainment module cuts in and out. 2) Most important, the vehicle lunged ahead for no reason from a dead stop. We were lucky not to hit the truck in front of us. The vehicle is not safe to drive. VW corporate doesn't answer their phone and the dealer keeps giving us 800 numbers to try to contact them. What can we do?
So our door handles have not been working to the point where my kids are stuck in the car and they can’t open the door and from the outside we are not able to open the door. We have safety warnings that pop up often then disappear and also we have our screens turn black and take a mom to turn back on. We have called VW corporate and they told us to keep taking it in then we take it for service and they can’t do anything due to them not having a solution to fix these issues because their under recalls and were physically having the issues they can’t do anything. It’s annoying and it’s a huge safety issue for us and our kids!!
While backing out of my driveway onto our residential street the car died without warning and all information displays went blank for a moment and then all the warning lights came on. The car would not change gears and my car was obstructing the roadway. My children were in the backseat of the car. I pressed the start stop button on the dash and the car "rebooted". warning lights were gone. I took the vehicle into the dealership a few days later for a scheduled repair to the steering wheel. I informed them of the incident and asked them to inspect. They ran a diagnostic and determined that they needed to replace a module in the vehicle's electrical system. Once the repair was complete we retrieved the car. Less than seven days after picking up the "repaired" vehicle my husband was backing out of our driveway and the same thing happened - only this time he was still in the driveway. Our driveway has a slight slope and the car was behaving as though it was in neutral (rolling down the drive) with no ability to change gears. Warning lights indicating electrical system failure were on the dash. He had to open his door and start to exit the vehicle while depressing the brake pedal in order to get the car to turn off. We had the vehicle towed to the dealership. They had the car for over 45 days trying to diagnose and duplicate the issue. We were told that there were no error codes and that they could not duplicate the problem. In the end we initiated a buyback request from VW and were denied with no explanation. I do not feel safe in this vehicle. It appears to have a major fault in its electrical system that is triggered by a yet to be determined set of circumstances. I frequently drive in and out of driveways on all sorts of roads and feel fortunate that this happened where it did. If this happened to me while I was backing out onto a more heavily trafficked roadway it could cause a life threatening accident.
My car popped up a messaging stating “Electrical system not working correctly. Please service vehicle.” I called in for service and the dealer told me that the message was not urgent as it was a yellow message and that they would not be able to get me in until Tuesday. I continued to drive the car and the message would come and go for two days. On the last day, I got the message and heard an electrical whirring noise when pressing the accelerator. Then the sound and message went away. Later that evening when charging, the fans were running extremely loud so I got the car out of my garage to avoid it catching fire. I called VW who said that I could drive it to the dealer. I left my house and the car popped up the message and then said it was disabling functions. It never said to pull over. Then a turtle popped up and my speed was dropped to 45 mph. I was on a highway at the time and turned around to head back home. Then it dropped my speed to 25. Right after doing that it came to a stop in the middle of the road. It never said to pull over or avoid driving it either but I was stranded in the road. A few minutes later all the messages disappeared and it started driving normally. I made it home and called for a tow truck.
My 2023 ID.4 is riddled with electrical problems. MY ID.4 keeps stalling and is going tomorrow for a 3rd time to be looked at for this issue. My screens and speedometer blackout while driving frequently. 2 weeks ago I had every error on my instrument cluster screen (all systems were disabled including ABS, collision, etc), the car door locks were disabled, the radio screen was black, and speedometer itself was black. Here we are again and the car is stalling still, experiencing blackouts, and speedometer not visible. I feel extremely unsafe driving this vehicle. They should not be on the market. They are death traps.
I was halfway into a parking stall. There was a cement sign post at the end of the stall and a truck facing me opposite. About six feet from the post the car accelerated and glanced off the post and hit the truck slightly. It happened very fast but I am 99% sure the car accelerated on its own. We did a search afterwards and found many reports of our model doing similar things.
The contact owns a 2023 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds and after stopping at a stop sign and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal needed to be depressed several times before the vehicle accelerated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer however, the cause for the failure was not found. The contact stated that a technician test-drove the vehicle with him and noticed the failure however since the mechanic was unable to retrieve an error code, the vehicle could not be properly diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
After coming to a stop or slowing the vehicle down to under 5 mph, the vehicle occasionally does not respond to the accelerator being pressed. When this happens, I can take my foot completely off the accelerator and press the accelerator to the floor several times before the car will begin moving. It generally starts moving again after a few seconds. There are no error messages displayed on the dash, and the car remains in the drive mode. This has happened when attempting to make unprotected left turns; I luckily have not been hit, but its led to several close calls where my car creeps across oncoming traffic instead of accelerating as I keep pressing the pedal.
5264 miles – Red warnings come on after charging vehicle. Pulled over and turned vehicle off. Took vehicle to AutoNation VW. By the time I arrived at dealership the red triangle and warning were no longer on the screen. Jeffrey Lopez had me sit in the waiting area. Tech scanned the vehicle but claimed they were unable to duplicate the concern. Nothing was documented; I was given no paperwork and was sent on my way.
When maneuvering off our steep driveway and performing a right turn onto the road, it's necessary to reverse back up the driveway to do this. When putting the car in reverse and then pressing the accelerator, the car went forward (more than a small roll, about a foot or so). This happened 3 times in the course of this maneuver - so put car in reverse, applied accelerator car went forward, braked to stop car going forward, put car in reverse, applied accelerator, car went forward, and repeated. This took us dangerously close to a drop off. This seems like a safety problem that the car goes forward to that extent when in reverse. The problem has been reported to the dealer. They have not tried to reproduce this problem.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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