German carmaker Volkswagen has announced a large-scale recall campaign for its ID.4 electric crossovers after a series of reports of battery overheating. More than 44,500 vehicles have been affected by the service action, in which critical defects in battery modules and the absence of necessary software for safety monitoring have been identified. This is reported by UNN.
Details
The recall is divided into two main blocks. The first concerns about 43,900 vehicles from the 2023-2025 model years that were not equipped with a self-discharge detection system (SDD). This software is designed to timely warn the driver about abnormal cell overheating, preventing possible thermal runaway and fire.
The second, more risky group, includes 670 crossovers from the 2023–2024 model years. These cars have a hardware defect – electrode displacement inside the battery cells from the supplier SK Battery America.
According to NHTSA, displaced electrodes can lead to a short circuit and sudden battery ignition even when the car is parked
Recommendations for owners and repair deadlines
While a solution to fix the defect is being developed, Volkswagen strongly recommends that owners of potentially dangerous cars adhere to strict safety rules. In particular, it is advised not to charge the battery above 80%, avoid using fast DC charging stations (Level 3), and always park the electric car outdoors away from buildings immediately after a trip or charging.
Official notifications about the start of free repairs will begin to be sent to owners by mail starting March 20, 2026. Dealers will diagnose the condition of the modules, update the battery controller firmware, and replace damaged cells with new equipment if found.