Volkswagen recalls 22,524 ID.4 EVs in the US over battery fire risk

Volkswagen is recalling 22,524 ID.4 electric SUVs in the United States because of a possible defect in the high-voltage battery that could, in rare cases, lead to thermal runaway and a vehicle fire. The recall was filed with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Which cars are affected

The campaign covers ID.4 vehicles from model years 2023 through 2026. The affected cars use high-voltage battery cells supplied by SK Battery America.

Volkswagen says it has not yet identified the exact root cause. What it has found so far is a possible link between certain charging profiles and a battery state of charge above 80%.

What owners should do now

Until a permanent fix is ready, Volkswagen is asking owners to limit charging to a maximum of 80%. Depending on a car's configuration and whether it is connected online, VW may also:

• apply a technical limit that stops charging at 80%, and
• display warning messages in the vehicle as an interim safety measure.

Owner notification letters are expected to go out in the coming weeks. If you own an ID.4, you can check whether your vehicle is included by entering its VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup page or by contacting a Volkswagen dealer.

Not the first ID.4 battery recall

The ID.4 was subject to an earlier battery-related recall this year that also involved cells from the same supplier. Volkswagen has not confirmed that the two issues share the same underlying defect.

Why it matters

Charging to 80% is already a common recommendation for daily driving to reduce battery wear, so for many owners the interim advice changes little day to day. It does, however, cut usable range on longer trips until the remedy arrives. Keep an eye on official communication from Volkswagen and NHTSA for the permanent fix.

This article is based on published recall information; LandGadget has not independently verified details beyond the cited source.