VW recalls another 22,524 ID.4 vehicles due to fire risk

Volkswagen has announced another recall in the US for 22,524 ID.4 units. Until a final solution is available, affected vehicles should only be charged up to a maximum of 80 per cent.

22,524 ID.4 units must be recalled in the US due to a potential battery risk.

Image: VW

After Volkswagen recalled nearly 100,000 EVs worldwide in spring due to potential battery issues (including almost 44,000 ID.4 models in the US), another recall has now been announced for the electric SUV. In a notice to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Volkswagen has announced the recall of 22,524 ID.4 vehicles from model years 2023 to 2026.

The exact cause has not yet been clarified. According to Volkswagen, certain high-voltage batteries may experience thermal runaway due to specific charging profiles combined with a state of charge exceeding 80 per cent. In the worst case, this could lead to a vehicle fire.

Until a final repair solution is available, Volkswagen recommends that owners charge their vehicles to a maximum of 80 per cent only. Depending on the vehicle configuration and online connectivity, the maximum charge level for some ID.4 models may also be technically limited to 80 per cent. Additionally, warning messages will be displayed in the vehicles as an interim measure.

Volkswagen estimates that around 0.1 per cent of the recalled vehicles are actually affected by the defect. The manufacturer identifies SK Battery America as the supplier of the affected battery cells. Between January 2024 and August 2026, Volkswagen received 22 related reports or complaints in the US.

The current recall follows two US recalls initiated in January covering a total of 44,551 ID.4 vehicles. At that time, the issue was misaligned electrodes in battery cells from SK Battery America. In the newly announced recall, the high-voltage battery is also supplied by SK Battery America, but the exact cause remains unclear according to Volkswagen. So far, it is only confirmed that certain charging profiles combined with a state of charge exceeding 80 per cent can trigger thermal runaway.

The investigation began in June. In September, Volkswagen’s Product Safety Committee concluded that, given the potential safety consequences, a voluntary recall should be initiated even though the root cause had not yet been identified. The recall bears the number 93EX at Volkswagen and the reference 26V630 at the NHTSA. The first owner notifications are expected to be sent by 27 November.

This means the ID.4 is once again affected by a battery-related recall in a short period. In spring, Volkswagen recalled nearly 100,000 MEB electric vehicles worldwide due to potential battery issues, including almost 44,000 ID.4 models in the US.

ID. Polo and Cupra Raval recalled in Germany

In parallel, a technically unrelated recall is underway for several newer models from the Volkswagen Group, which also affects Germany. Due to potentially incorrectly secured seatbelts, a total of 1,109 VW ID. Polo and 10,151 Cupra Raval and Terramar vehicles worldwide must be inspected.

In the ID. Polo, the seatbelt system on the passenger side may not have been correctly secured to the anchoring point on the B-pillar. According to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), this could significantly reduce the restraint effect in the event of an accident. A total of 239 vehicles in Germany produced between 21 July and 3 September 2026 are affected. Volkswagen is conducting the campaign under code 69G1, with the KBA reference number 17099R.

For Cupra, the issue involves the securing of the front seatbelts at the lower anchoring point. The recall affects 10,151 Raval and Terramar vehicles worldwide, including 1,936 in Germany. The production period ranges from 7 June 2025 to 3 September 2026. The action code is 69C8, with the KBA reference number 17072R.

The affected vehicles are to be inspected at authorised workshops. If necessary, the respective seatbelt will be replaced. The KBA has not yet received any reports of property damage or injuries related to the two seatbelt recalls.