VW battery recall now covers 72,700 ID. EVs worldwide

Volkswagen's battery problem is bigger than one model in one country. Earlier this month the company recalled 22,524 ID.4s in the US. Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has now published three recalls that together cover 72,668 electric cars worldwide, according to electrive and Electrek. About 9,900 of them are in Germany.

Which cars are affected?

The recall covers specific production batches, not every car of a given model:

• Volkswagen ID.3, ID.4, ID.7 and ID. Buzz built between 2022 and 2025 (two of the three recalls)
• Cupra Born built between 2022 and 2024 (the third recall)

In the UK, the same action also includes the ID. Buzz Cargo van. Škoda models reportedly aren't affected. Owners will get a letter. The KBA reference codes are 93MV, 93MF and 93W4 (Cupra Born), so you can ask your dealer to check your VIN against them.

What is wrong?

Volkswagen says internal quality checks found that some high-voltage battery cells don't meet its specifications because of manufacturing faults at a supplier. In rare cases those cells could overheat, and in extreme cases there is a risk of fire. Volkswagen says that "certain charging profiles combined with a state of charge over 80%" may trigger thermal propagation, meaning heat spreading from cell to cell.

The KBA says no property damage or injuries have been reported, and the company calls the recall precautionary.

What happens now?

• 80% charge cap. Where technically possible, VW will limit charging to 80% with an over-the-air update. In the US, the remote cap is due to appear in the app around 27 October. We explained how that works.
• No final fix yet. According to Handelsblatt, cited by electrive, workshops will inspect the battery or individual modules once a remedy is approved.
• Range in the meantime. An 80% cap means less range per charge. Plan longer trips around more charging stops.

What owners should do

1. Check for a recall letter, or ask a VW or Cupra dealer to run your VIN.
2. Until the cap arrives, set the charge limit to 80% yourself in the car or the app.
3. Charging to 80% every day is good for the battery anyway; see our EV battery care guide. If you charge at home, the habits in our home EV charger guide still apply.

This is separate from the earlier US recalls of ID.4s built in Chattanooga with SK Battery America cells. European ID.4s from Zwickau and Emden were not part of those.