Volkswagen is recalling nearly 21,000 of its electric ID.4 crossover vehicles due to a potential loss of power and stalling while driving. The root cause of this issue is found to be with the software controlling the high-voltage battery, which can reset itself under certain conditions, leading to the deactivation of the pulse inverter. This in turn can cause the electric motor to lose power.
The affected ID.4s were manufactured between May 26, 2020, and January 20, 2022, with the problem first being identified in July 2021. However, after investigation, Volkswagen concluded in September 2021 that the drivers were not at risk as the steering and braking functions were not impacted.
Despite this, the investigation continued and in January 2022, Volkswagen’s supplier informed the brand that the pulse inverter software also had problems that could result in stalling.
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However, newer vehicles using a newer software version are not affected by this problem. Vehicles manufactured after January 20, 2022, are considered safe to drive and use a newer software version. Affected vehicles will display an alert on the dashboard by the end of March, directing owners to schedule a service appointment at a Volkswagen dealership for the installation of a software fix for the high-voltage battery management control unit and the pulse inverter control unit.
In addition, around 1,000 ID.4s from the 2022 and 2023 model years are part of another recall due to a cable for the 12-volt battery that could potentially rub against the crossover’s steering column and cause a short-circuit and fire.
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The VW ID.4, which sold over 20,000 units in the US in 2022 and over 300,000 vehicles globally, has a starting price of $39,995 for the Standard trim and goes up to $55,245 for the top-of-the-line AWD Pro S Plus. The ID.4 offers a range of options, including an all-wheel drive system, a 62 kWh or 82 kWh battery pack, and a range of 209 to 255 miles.
