A serious problem impacts nearly 100,000 Volkswagen ID.4 EVs in the U.S., where their doors could open unexpectedly.
Back in February, Volkswagen told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it was aware of complaints about the electronically-controlled door handle parts on the 2021-2024 ID.4. Throughout the next several months, supplier analysis confirmed water ingress and corrosion was fouling the car’s door handle circuit board, causing potential communication issues between the handle and the door control unit. If the malfunction happens, the door handle module gets an “open” command signal, even when the vehicle is moving and people inside are not trying to open the door.
VW already issued a stop-sale for impacted ID.4 models, but went one further this week by pausing production at its Chattanooga, Tennessee plant while it rolls out a fix. As a result of the production halt, the company will furlough nearly 200 employees at the plant starting September 23.
In total, the problem impacts 99,064 vehicles according to the NHTSA recall report, which is publicly available through the agency’s website. The company says the recall covers all ID.4 production units that made it to the U.S., including early models from Zwickau, Germany as well as those from Chattanooga. The report also states less than 1% of vehicles in the recall population actually have the problem at this moment, but that’s still around 1,000 vehicles, not to mention the problem could spread to other affected units depending on the climate in which those vehicles are driven, until replacement parts are installed.
Volkswagen says it is aware of 135 warranty claims for the problem between June 2023 and May 2024. It further identified 258 vehicles — 254 in the U.S. and 4 in Puerto Rico — as of September 11. No crashes or injuries have been reported.
For the moment, the problem has not been corrected in production, hence the plant stoppage, and VW is still working to develop a remedy and production “countermeasures” to prevent the problem from recurring. The problematic door handle components were supplied by U-Shin and manufactured in Irapuato, Mexico.
The automaker notified dealers of this latest recall on September 6, and says it will notify affected owners no later than November 1. While its workers are furloughed, VW says it is working with the state of Tennessee on securing those employees unemployment benefits, so they will supposedly receive 80% of their base compensation and continue to receive benefits while the production halt continues. Right now, it’s not clear when the company will resume ID.4 production at the Chattanooga plant.
Alongside the ID.4, Volkswagen also builds the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport SUVs. Production for those models will continue unabated, as far as we’re aware.
