Volkswagen is recalling nearly 75,000 electric vehicles in the U.S. in two separate recalls, one regarding a possible roll-away risk; and the other about a possible loss of power. Both recalls affect the same models: the Volkswagen ID.4, the Audi Q4 e-Tron SUV, and the Audi Q4 e-Tron Sportback.
The first recall is the larger, and covers 50,971 Volkswagen ID.4 EVs from the 2021 through 2023 model years; as well as 7,492 Audi Q4 e-Trons from model years 2022 and 2023, and 2,027 Sportback versions of the same model from the same model year. Those numbers are for affected vehicles in the U.S. market, but 5,475 ID.4s and an unknown number of Audi models also fall under the campaign in Canada.
On affected vehicles, a display issue on the dashboard means the correct gear may not be indicated, and so drivers may not realize they’re in Neutral, for example, or whether the parking brake is engaged. “Failure to display the gear position may result in a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not engaged, increasing the risk of a crash,” reads the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) paperwork on the recall. VW apparently aims to fix this roll-away risk via an update to the brake control unit software, performed for free.
The second recall covers 13,769 examples of the same models of vehicle in the U.S., though from the 2024 model year, in the case of the Volkswagen ID.4; and from the 2024 and 2025 model years in the case of the Audis. It is unclear how many, if any, cars are affected by the problem in Canada at this time.
On some of these vehicles, the “on-board charger (OCDC) may fail and stop charging the 12-volt battery, which can result in a loss of drive power,” says the NHTSA, which if it happens while driving can of course pose the risk of a crash. VW’s remedy here is to simply replace the OCDC.
The Volkswagen ID.4 was previously recalled in September 2024 over an issue with its doors potentially falling open.
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