Volkswagen ID.4 years to avoid (and the best years)
995 NHTSA owner complaints and 25 recalls across 5 model years, 2021 to 2025. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
- 995complaints
- 25recalls
- 108reported crashes
- 13reported fires
- 70reported injuries
Which Volkswagen ID.4 years should you avoid?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the Volkswagen ID.4 years to avoid are 2023 and 2021. The typical Volkswagen ID.4 year has 135 complaints on file.
- 2023: 454 complaints, 3.4 times the typical year. Most complaints name the electrical system (50% of complaints) and the forward collision avoidance system (16% of complaints).
- 2021: 332 complaints, 2.5 times the typical year. Most complaints name the electrical system (53% of complaints) and the forward collision avoidance system (12% of complaints).
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26 | 0.2× | 2 | 9 | 5 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2024 | 48 | 0.4× | 8 | 4 | 1 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2023 | 454 | 3.4× | 13 | 53 | 32 | Approach with caution | Electrical system |
| 2022 | 135 | 1.0× | 7 | 15 | 10 | Some concerns to check | Electrical system |
| 2021 | 332 | 2.5× | 11 | 27 | 22 | Approach with caution | Electrical system |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 995 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Electrical & infotainment495 (50%)
- Structure & body159 (16%)
- Engine & powertrain127 (13%)
- Brakes87 (9%)
- Steering, suspension & tires66 (7%)
Recalls (25)
Electrical system · 26V630000 · Sep 2026 · model year 2025
A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Electrical system · 26V028000 · Jan 2026 · model years 2023, 2024
A vehicle fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Electrical system · 26V030000 · Jan 2026 · model years 2023, 2024, 2025
A high-voltage battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Electrical system · 25V836000 · Dec 2025 · model years 2023, 2024
A vehicle fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Brakes · 25V434000 · Jun 2025 · model years 2023, 2024
A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 25V125000 · Feb 2025 · model year 2024
A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 25V120000 · Feb 2025 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023
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.
Safety · 24V875000 · Nov 2024 · model year 2023
A blank rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Structure · 24V651000 · Sep 2024 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
A vehicle door that opens unexpectedly while driving increases the risk of injury.
Airbags · 24V643000 · Aug 2024 · model years 2023, 2024
An improperly secured air bag inflator may not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Safety · 24V344000 · May 2024 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023
Displays that do not show critical information, such as vehicle speed or the rearview camera image, increase the risk of a crash.
Structure · 23V750000 · Dec 2023 · model years 2023, 2024
In a fire, fabric that is not fire retardant may further fuel a fire, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 23V436000 · Jun 2023 · model year 2022
A rearview camera with a delayed or deactivated image may reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Structure · 23V312000 · May 2023 · model years 2021, 2022
A vehicle door that opens unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion increases the risk of injury.
Electrical system · 23V040000 · Feb 2023 · model year 2021
A reset or deactivation may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 22V956000 · Dec 2022 · model year 2023
A short circuit may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. A short circuit also increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Electrical system · 22V830000 · Nov 2022 · model year 2023
Coolant that leaks into the high-voltage system may impact safety-critical systems and warning lights, causing a loss of vehicle control or unintended air bag deployment, and increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Airbags · 22V858000 · Nov 2022 · model year 2021
An incorrectly folded air bag may not protect the occupant as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 22V823000 · Nov 2022 · model years 2022, 2023
An inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 22V764000 · Oct 2022 · model year 2022
A rearview camera with a delayed or deactivated image reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 22V162000 · Mar 2022 · model year 2021
An unreliable battery connection may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Steering · 21V852000 · Nov 2021 · model year 2021
An incorrectly assembled or missing drive bushing may cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Seat belts · 21V606000 · Aug 2021 · model year 2021
An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Seat belts · 21V607000 · Aug 2021 · model year 2021
An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Exterior lighting · 21V413000 · Jun 2021 · model year 2021
Adjusting the horizontal headlight beam can increase glare, reducing visibility for the driver and increasing the risk of a crash.