2021 Volkswagen ID.4

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 has 531 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 6.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (31% of all complaints), specifically: the infotainment panel sporadically shuts off. this has happened four times in the two months i’ve owned the car. safety features like the backup camera, proximity sensors, and safety feature controls are not accessible.. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 58 crash reports 43 injuries

531

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

6.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

167 complaints

31%

• The infotainment panel sporadically shuts off. This has happened four times in the two months I’ve owned the car. Safety features like the backup camera, proximity sensors, and safety feature controls are not accessible.
• While pulling out of a parking garage at low speed, the car shut down/stopped/lost all power. Also, a second event occurred while backing into a charging station, the car shut down/stopped/lost all power.
• What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Rear window defrost grid How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Potential electrical fire Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Conf

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“The infotainment panel sporadically shuts off. This has happened four times in the two months I’ve owned the car. Safety features like the backup camera, proximity sensors, and safety feature controls are not accessible.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

66 complaints

12%

• Multiple times while driving the car props an error where the speed become unavailable while driving.
• I was driving the car when a loud high pitched sound started coming from the vehicle. I am not a doctor, but the noise was probably loud enough to cause damage to human ears. Today, I picked up the car and was told "Contacted VW Techline. They been made aware of several other similar cases and engin
• The back up camera lighting is so poor it poses a danger at night. Backing up at night even in well lit areas poses a threat to those around the car. If you apply the brakes this emits some light but if not braking the screen is almost black so it is difficult to see if you are on the road/drivewa

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 6 crashes

“Multiple times while driving the car props an error where the speed become unavailable while driving.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

57 complaints

11%

• The vehicle went into complete shutdown, it was unable to be placed into Drive or Reverse and vehicle was completely immobile. Various warnings appeared on the instrument cluster. After letting the vehicle sit it was returned to the dealer, where they experienced the same issues, but eventually repl
• Warning indicator came on several times, brake and steering problems.
• In October, 11 weeks ago, while parallel parking, which I do everyday for work, I reversed back into an empty spot, toggled into Drive to straighten out my car and my car accelerated and hit the car parked in front of me. I kept stomping on the break pedal but it was stiff, I couldn't press it down

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 15 crashes

“The vehicle went into complete shutdown, it was unable to be placed into Drive or Reverse and vehicle was completely immobile. Various warnings appeared on the instrument cluster. After letting the vehicle sit it was returned to the dealer, where they experienced the same issues, but eventually repl”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

52 complaints

10%

• After receiving a service on the vehicle, I pulled out of the dealership and went left to go up a slight hill, I got half way out and the accelerator pedal would not work. I pushed down to the ground and the car would not go. There was a car coming towards me and swerved to avoid me after a second i
• Pulling into a parking space, using reiterative braking (B Mode). When applying brakes, car bolted and could not be controlled. It jumped a curb and drove straight toward a building. Brakes would not respond. Steering would not respond. I managed to steer the car avoiding the building but taking
• the car gives zero audible warnings when the TACC + LANE KEEP turns off. On the freeway driving in a curb, it would turn off without warnings. I almost hit my car.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 18 crashes

“After receiving a service on the vehicle, I pulled out of the dealership and went left to go up a slight hill, I got half way out and the accelerator pedal would not work. I pushed down to the ground and the car would not go. There was a car coming towards me and swerved to avoid me after a second i”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

35 complaints

• It will not stop, can not stop!
• It will not stop! Break don’t work!
• We vehicle is stopped in any type of grade (hill, incline, or decline) when releasing the break pedal the vehicle will roll in the direction of the grade, power must be immediately applied to prevent roll. This could potentially cause a crash if a vehicle is behind/in front of another. The system

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 11 crashes

“It will not stop, can not stop!”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 531 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: The infotainment panel sporadically shuts off. This has happened four times in the two months I’ve owned the car. Safety features like the backup camera, proximity sensors, and safety feature controls are not accessible.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: Multiple times while driving the car props an error where the speed become unavailable while driving.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: The vehicle went into complete shutdown, it was unable to be placed into Drive or Reverse and vehicle was completely immobile. Various warnings appeared on the instrument cluster. After letting the vehicle sit it was returned to the dealer, where they experienced the same issues, but eventually repl
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: After receiving a service on the vehicle, I pulled out of the dealership and went left to go up a slight hill, I got half way out and the accelerator pedal would not work. I pushed down to the ground and the car would not go. There was a car coming towards me and swerved to avoid me after a second i
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)