VW Recall: 72,700 Electric Vehicles Affected by Battery Problems

Image: VW

Volkswagen is recalling 72,668 electric vehicles worldwide due to potential safety issues with the high-voltage batteries. In Germany, according to the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), 9,881 vehicles are affected, spread across three separate recall campaigns. These include VW models ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, and ID. Buzz, as well as the Cupra Born. The cause is defective battery cells that can overheat under extreme conditions and trigger a vehicle fire.

Only vehicles from specific production periods are affected. For the four VW models, the recalls cover vehicles manufactured between 2022 and 2025, while for the Cupra Born, they cover vehicles from 2022 to 2024.

According to Volkswagen, the issues were identified during internal quality checks. Certain batteries fail to meet the specified quality requirements due to production defects at suppliers. The KBA describes the affected batteries as having non-compliant, overlapping cells that can overheat, especially during fast charging. As of now, the authority reports no property or personal injuries associated with these recalls.

Affected vehicle owners must take special precautions until the technical inspection is completed. Volkswagen plans to charge the batteries only to a maximum of 80 percent of their capacity initially and to attach corresponding warning labels to the vehicles. In electric cars equipped for this purpose, the charge level limit can be enforced automatically. The temporarily reduced usable battery capacity limits the driving range between two charging sessions.

The affected customers will be notified in writing about the recall campaign and must have their electric vehicles inspected at a service center. There, the condition of the high-voltage battery will be checked, and decisions will be made regarding necessary actions. According to current information, a software update may suffice in some cases, while other vehicles may require replacement of the affected battery components. Whether a specific vehicle is subject to a recall can be determined by checking the vehicle identification number with the manufacturer or an authorized service center.

This is already the second major battery-related recall for Volkswagen in 2026. In March, the company recalled over 90,000 electric vehicles worldwide due to battery issues, including around 28,000 vehicles in Germany. The current recall also affects several model lines and two of the company’s brands.

Also interesting

About the author

Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with experience in the automotive and financial industries. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions for ecomento.de. Learn more.

Reader interactions