Engine complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
When I am parking at 5mph in a medical center parking structure, the car suddenly got an uncontrollable acceleration that hit the parking cement and hit the wall in front of the parking area. I cannot imagine that if it is not in the parking structure with 5 mph, it will be fatal or injured and hit more people and cars on the freeway. I want a safe vehicle and spent over $55K for my daily chore. I lost confident on an electric vehicle, and hope your agency will iron all these out prior to introduce to the public. It is similar to the following case: An owner from Georgia describes what happened after getting into the ID.4, putting a foot on the brake, and then putting it into gear. "The car jumped forward and I had to press brakes with all my strength to keep it from accelerating to full 'throttle.' It did the exact same when I put it in reverse. …
On 7/4/2024 at approximately 6pm, I disconnected my 2023 VW ID4 from an electrical charging station. I moved my vehicle 2 blocks away to an apartment building parking lot, which I had parked in previously. While pulling into the parking spot, I was coming to a complete stop, perhaps going 1-2 miles per hour and as I came to a stop, the car accelerated out of nowhere and crashed into a few small trees and a chain link fence for the neighbor's home. I had a passenger in the front passenger seat and neither of us could understand what had just happened. It made no sense and I have no idea what happened to cause the acceleration.
The contact owns a 2022 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact stated that there was a message to update the software displayed. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the vehicle came to a complete stop. While driving at various speeds, the camera and the infotainment screen were inoperable. The vehicle failed to start as needed. While the vehicle was idling, all the doors were locked, with the contact holding a key fob. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V344000 (Back Over Prevention, Equipment, Electric System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. …
Got in car, put foot on the brake and put it in gear. The car jumped forward and I had to press brakes with all my strength to keep it from accelerating to full "throttle". It did the exact same when I put it in reverse. I turned the car off, got out, gave it a couple of minutes and tried two more times. It did the same thing every time. It is like the accelerator is pressed to the floor as soon as you put it in gear without you touching it. I almost hit my house due to the wheels being turned before the first try. I called a tow truck to take it to the dealer. I have only had the car for two weeks. The consumer stated that they discovered what the issue was and that they would like to cancel their complaint.
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V040000 (Electrical System) and 23V312000 (Structure) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the low coolant and the electrical system warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated to 5 MPH. The contact was able to park on the side of the roadway. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer: Napleton's Volkswagen of Orlando (12700 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32826:[phone]), where it was diagnosed with needing the radiator to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The warning message "High Voltage - Electrical Hazard - Don't Drive - Park Vehicle" were illuminated. The contact turned the vehicle off and, on several times, until the warning message disappeared. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. No issues were found with the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the failure was associated to an air pocket in the cooling system. The dealer bled the cooling system; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V162000 (Electrical System). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000.
Frequently asked questions
Which Volkswagen ID.4 years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2023 (26), 2021 (19) and 2022 (5) model years. Engine complaints make up 6% of all complaints for the 2023.
Is there a recall for Volkswagen ID.4 engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for any Volkswagen ID.4 model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Volkswagen ID.4 engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 25,000 miles; 100% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the cooling system › radiator assembly (2 mentions), followed by the cooling system (1).
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.