VW ID.4 recalled for door handle and airbag inflator issues

• VW issued two recalls for its ID.4 EV
• One recall stems from an issue with the door handles while the other involves the airbag inflator
• Affected ID.4s will need to make a visit to a VW dealership

Volkswagen recently confirmed two recalls of its ID.4 that encompass nearly 100,000 of the electric vehicles.

ID.4 door handle recall

The first, much larger, recall includes 98,806 vehicles from model years 2021 to 2024. These vehicles could have improperly manufactured door handles, which could allow water to seep into a printed circuit board and disrupt communication between the door handle and an onboard control unit, causing the door to unlock unexpectedly.

VW estimates that less than 1% of the recalled vehicles have this defect, which is due to door handles that don’t meet factory specifications for water ingress, according to recall documents filed with the NHTSA. If doors do unlock by themselves, drivers will hear a clicking sound similar to if the doors had been unlocked conventionally.

VW told the NHTSA that it is aware of 135 warranty claims related to this issue (made between June 2023 and May 2024) but is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to it. The automaker issued two previous recalls for the same issue; owners who had recall work performed previously will have to take their cars back to dealerships to have additional work performed.

This time, dealers will inspect door handles and replace them with improved parts if necessary, as well as perform a software update. All of this work will be performed free of charge, and VW will reimburse owners who previously paid for any related work out of pocket. Owner notification letters will be mailed November 1.

ID.4 airbag inflator recall

The second recall, covering 837 vehicles from model years 2023 and 2024, addresses airbag inflators that may be improperly secured. Nuts securing the primary inflator of the passenger front airbag may have been left loose at the factory. This could cause airbags to inflate incorrectly, increasing the risk of injury, according to the NHTSA.

VW estimates a larger share of recalled vehicles—80%—have this defect. Owners may hear a rattling sound in the dashboard if the nuts securing the airbag inflator are loose.

Dealers will check the torque of the airbag inflator screws, and replace the airbag if the screws are found to be loose, free of charge. Owner notification letters for this recall will be mailed October 18. Owners looking for more information about either recall can contact VW customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or visit VW’s recall hub.

These recalls include the refreshed 2024 VW ID.4, which got a price hike to $41,160 with destination, but remains one of the more affordable electric crossover options, especially for shoppers who qualify for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. The 2024 ID.4 was not included in a previous recall earlier this year addressed software and display issues in earlier models.