Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise, lane keeping, backup camera).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact stated that while driving on a highway at a moderate speed, traffic came to a sudden halt. The vehicle's forward avoidance collision feature was activated; however, the feature did not perform at full capacity and hesitated to fully stop. The contact repeatedly pumped the brake pedal; however, the vehicle independently accelerated and crashed into the vehicle ahead which resulted in a five-vehicle accident. An unknown red warning light appeared on the instrument panel during the failure. The air bags deployed upon impact. Upon air bag deployment, the contact sustained burns to the left thumb and chest; additionally, the contact experienced soreness to the cervical spine, neck, both knees and ankles. The driver of the vehicle which the contact directly hit also sustained a sore neck but neither driver sought medical attention. …
I had backed in to a parking space in a parking lot. To exit, I shifted the car into Drive, gently touched the accelerator (which should have accelerated the car to 2 MPH) and turned the steering wheel about 90 clockwise with my left hand to straighten the wheels. In doing so, the base of my left thumb inadvertently pushed the Set button on the cruise control, causing it to set to 15 MPH, its minimum setting, and the car to rapidly accelerate. I jammed on the breaks but wasn't able to stop in time to avoid colliding into the side of a passing car. Because my right knee was locked in my effort to stop my car, the force of the impact was transferred to my hip and, though nothing was broken, I ended up spending two days in the observation unit of my hospital followed by eight days in residential rehabilitation. …
I was driving my 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S on March 12, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland, when I was involved in a motor vehicle accident. Although I maintained an adequate stopping distance from the truck in front of me, my forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assistance systems suddenly activated, causing my vehicle to make contact with the truck. My safety-and the safety of others-was compromised. My vehicle sustained front-end damage. This was not the first time these systems engaged without cause. I took my vehicle to Heritage Volkswagen Parkville (located in Carney, Maryland) due to unresolved recalls and these irregular system behaviors. The dealership claims that Volkswagen requires me to replace the tires, align the wheels, and install a new 12V battery before completing the recall work or troubleshooting the issue. …
My 2021 ID.4 has experienced two separate incidents of sudden, unintended forward acceleration while parking. In both cases, I was maneuvering at very low speeds (less than 5 mph) and transitioning from a stopped position, or from reverse into drive, with the intention to move forward only a few inches. But instead of creeping forward as normal, the vehicle suddenly jerked forward approximately one foot. In the first of two incidents (approx. October 2025), it crashed into the car in front of me. In a second incident (3/14/2026), it crashed into an EV charging station. This is a safety concern and may be related to steering wheel capacitive touch controls, possible unintended activation of adaptive cruise control (ACC) or "resume" function, or erroneous or overly sensitive input from the steering wheel control module. No warning signs or messages appeared prior to the failure. …
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the "Travel Assist" and the "Forward Collision Avoidance" system warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that while drifting into the lane in the past there was a vibration in the steering wheel to alert the driver. The contact stated that the steering wheel no longer vibrated while the warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the front passenger's side occupant air bag sensor warning was displayed and stated that the sensor was off, with an occupant seated in the seat. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed the failure with the Forward Collision Avoidance and the Travel Assist and a software update was performed. …
I drove an ID-4 down south and preparing for right turn. Suddenly, the car was accelerating to a very high speed with the accelerator not being pressed (spontaneous acceleration). I tried hard to press the brake, but no effectiveness. Instead of turning a 90-degree angle to the west direction, the car only turned 45 degrees toward southwest, hitting the safety island and jump over the island, then crossing the eastbound road, climbing up the curb and the left side of the car hit the street tree. The car then snaked along the sidewalk and grass toward west before it stopped. The car then is pulled to the body shop (Caliber in San Jose). 1) Accelerator and brake are both failed. The car spontaneously accelerates itself and cannot be stopped even pressing the brake paddle 2) In the collision, my left shoulder and neck got hurts. 3) Not yet. The car is in the body shop. …
The first time I was stopped at an intersection. Luckily there was no one in front of me as the car, without warning, accelerated at full throttle. Although my foot was on the brake, and I was braking as hard as I could, the car continued to lunge forward. It finally stopped and I backed up to my original position in the intersection. The second time it happened I was pulling into a parking spot in a busy shopping center. Without warning, the car accelerated out of control, and, although I was braking as hard as I could the car continued to accelerate forward. It jumped the curb, crossed the sidewalk, and hit a large commercial postal mailbox knocking it off of its base in the concrete. There was significant damage to the vehicle but luckily in both cases no one was injured. Had anyone been on the sidewalk in that shopping center they would have been killed. …
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V344000 (Back Over Prevention, Equipment, Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the center display failed to turn on. The contact stated while reversing at 5MPH, the rearview camera failed to engage, causing the rear vehicle panel to strike a tree and to become bent. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the failure was related to the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000. …
I was driving on a highway using the cars adaptive cruise control, when the car suddenly without warning slammed on the brakes. This caused me to be rear ended by a car behind me. The automatic emergency braking system had triggered without any hazard in front of me. Although there had not been a warning light of a malfunction, the car had previously activated phantom emergency braking. Previously the car on several occasions the cars AEB system activated but only briefly applied the brakes before quickly disengaging and the AEB warning went away. However, this time the brakes fully activated causing the car to stop abruptly from 50-60mph to a stop. I have not yet reported the issue to the dealer and no one has yet inspected the vehicle. Although no one was hurt, this issue could have caused very serious injuries and did cause significant damage to my vehicle and the other vehicle.
I was driving at 35 mph when the front doors began unlocking and locking rapidly three times, then both front doors fell open ajar, at the same time the screen went grey with a triangle ! icon as an audile alarm went off then the drivers side curtain airbag deployed forcing the steering wheel to the right causing the vehicle to collide head on into an electric utility pole. I tried to brake but was pushed by airbag from brake pedal. I was wearing a seat belt but suffered an burn from the airbag on right inner forearm that was impression of VW logo and has resulted in lasting scar, I had modest right wrist sprain and right shin contusion, abrasion. The vehicle rolled back in the road and was towed and later totaled by insurance. The automatic braking detection nor any other airbag deployed on collision.
Collision Avoidance complaints in other ID.4 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are collision avoidance problems on the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4?
NHTSA has 64 complaints about the driver assistance of the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4, 19% of the model year's 338 complaints. The component named most often is adaptive cruise control (22 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 collision avoidance problems?
No. NHTSA lists no driver assistance recall for the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4, though it has 11 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 collision avoidance problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 35,000 miles, and 20% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 19 crashes, 0 fires and 8 injuries to driver assistance problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.