VW's battery recall affects 72,700 electric vehicles – including 10,000 in Germany
Several days ago, it was reported that VW was preparing a battery recall for several ID models. Now it’s here: Due to defective electric vehicle batteries, Volkswagen is sending nearly 72,700 electric cars worldwide to repair shops. In Germany, 10,000 vehicles are expected to be affected.
Image: Volkswagen
According to the now official statements, the defect occurs in certain batches of the ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, and ID Buzz models as well as the Cupra Born. Volkswagen’s subsidiary Skoda’s electric vehicles are not affected. The initiative is divided into three separate recalls. Two of these concern the aforementioned VW vehicles manufactured between 2022 and 2025. The third recall relates to Cupra Born vehicles from 2022 to 2024. Owners of the relevant cars will be notified by mail.
This recall is a precautionary measure. According to the KBA, no incidents causing property or personal injury have been reported. Last week, the “Handelsblatt” already reported that Volkswagen was preparing such a recall. The issue stems from possible manufacturing defects in certain high-voltage battery cells. Internal quality checks revealed that cells in specific ID-series vehicles do not meet quality standards due to errors in production by suppliers, a VW spokesperson told the business magazine. In rare cases, the affected cells could overheat, posing a fire risk in extreme situations.
As an immediate safety measure, Volkswagen plans to limit the maximum charge level of affected vehicles to 80 percent via an over-the-air update. Incidentally, a similar recall has already begun in the UK for the VW ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID. Buzz, and ID. Buzz Cargo models. There, the action relates to high-voltage batteries from a specific supplier manufactured between 2022 and 2025. In that case as well, the charge level will first be restricted to 80 percent.
The specifics of how the permanent repair will be carried out remain unclear. According to reports in the “Handelsblatt,” workshops are supposed to check the high-voltage battery or individual modules in vehicles that show signs of problems. The “Handelsblatt” generally stated that the recall primarily affects Europe. However, the KBA mentions a worldwide recall. Yet, the large number of affected cars in Germany suggests that the focus is at least mainly on Europe.
In the U.S., another battery recall is currently underway for 22,524 ID.4 models from model years 2023 to 2026. There, Volkswagen also recommends charging the vehicles to no more than 80 percent until a final solution is found. The manufacturer identifies SK Battery America as the supplier of the affected battery cells. However, the exact cause has not yet been determined; according to Volkswagen, certain charging profiles above 80 percent can facilitate a thermal runaway within the battery.
This is distinct from two previous U.S. recalls in early 2026 involving a total of 44,551 ID.4 vehicles. These affected only cars manufactured at the Chattanooga plant that used battery cells from SK Battery America in Georgia. The issues stemmed from, among other things, improperly aligned electrodes in certain cells. European ID.4 models produced in Zwickau and Emden used different battery cells and were explicitly not affected by these actions.
heise.de, kba-online.de (the three KBA reference numbers are 17137R, 17101R, and 17103R)