[ShenelC]

I love my 2021 ID4 (Pro S AWD); however, in October 2022, approximately eight months after ownership and about 20,000 miles in, I was on the freeway in the fast lane when the car suddenly stopped with little to no warning. There was flash indications stating electrical error, battery malfunction, etc. (right before it stopped) and I was stuck on the freeway with no ability to move for about 20 minutes. Cars were zooming past me (thankfully I didn’t get rear ended). It was terrifying! After some time passed, I attempted to start the vehicle again, and thankfully it started, but it was as if nothing happened which was also terrifying. I had about 170 miles dangle left. Fast forward to January 26, 2023 (about 29,000 miles, 140 miles of range left), I was on Highway 152/Pacheco Pass, where there’s a little to no shoulder area in case of emergency, and my car did the same thing as October 1, 2022. I was driving along on the highway, and then it suddenly stopped with the same notifications prompting a few seconds before. Again, I was stuck and unable to move praying that nobody would rear end me. Thankfully, my car started again after about 20 minutes and then I turned around towards my Volkswagen dealership in San Jose, CA. Given that this has happened twice within three months, I am convinced that my car is a lemon, and I’m terrified to drive it. The car is still at the shop with no eta on a replacement electrical motor (they still trying to figure out what’s going on in general) . I hope that no one else ever experiences this! It is the most terrifying thing ever to have your car randomly stop on the freeway with little to no warning and be helpless. Thankfully my children were not in the car with me. Overall, everyone at the dealership has been amazing and my claim with corporate is pending.

Has this happened to anyone else? What was the outcome?

 

[wardagainstID]

From everything I've read, this is fairly common. There's no recall on your vin?

 

[NOVA49]

Fairly common? Really? Not in this planet!

 

[VW Dave]

Every time I'm out driving the roads are littered with disabled ID.4s!

I'M KIDDING!

@OP, that would indeed be a scary experience. It's hard to know for sure that updating your car to v3.1 with a new 12V battery would cure this problem (no mention that it's been updated?). There could be other things going on. It's for the dealer and VW to sort out. Honestly you may have adequate grounds for a buyback.

 

[rhhousehold]

This happened to my 2021 RWD Pro. I took it to the dealer and explained what happened. They found some fault codes and replaced the DC to DC inverter (converts high voltage to 12V to charge the regular battery).

Definitely take it to the dealer and complain.

Also file a complaint with the NHTSA.

 

[truthseeker]

Happened to my wife on a friend’s driveway once. A bunch of error messages on the binnacle, which she took pictures of. The ID.4 wouldn’t move for about 10-15 minutes. She got out, locked it, walked away, then came back, got inside, and the car started working again. Hasn’t happened for about 4 months since then. We’ve taken a lot of road trips, and it was solid, but I wouldn’t want this to happen to me, especially on a highway. If it ever does, I will be demanding a buy back immediately. This should never happen to anyone.

I took the ID.4 to the dealer immediately after that happened and showed them all the pictures. I also took screenshots from the OBDEleven app with all the error codes and emailed them to the technician. He had no clue what it was and how to troubleshoot it. The guy was the only technician who was “trained” by VW on the ID.4. Last time I was at the dealer about 3 weeks ago picking up my ID.4 after they replaced a failed latch on the lift gate, I asked about the guy and was told he had left to work at Rivian.

 

[ShenelC]

From everything I've read, this is fairly common. There's no recall on your vin?

There isn’t a recall on my specific VIN. If it is “fairly common” for a new vehicle to stop/become unresponsive while traveling on a freeway, then that’s concerning.

 

[NOVA49]

There isn’t a recall on my specific VIN. If it is “fairly common” for a new vehicle to stop/become unresponsive while traveling on a freeway, then that’s concerning.

It’s not fairly common. It’s extremely rare. Look at the id of the individual that posted that comment.

 

[ShenelC]

This happened to my 2021 RWD Pro. I took it to the dealer and explained what happened. They found some fault codes and replaced the DC to DC inverter (converts high voltage to 12V to charge the regular battery).

Definitely take it to the dealer and complain.

Also file a complaint with the NHTSA.

The first time they said it was a faulty module so they replaced it. This most recent time they indicated my electrical motor needs to be replaced. It’s extremely frightening and it has made me lose trust in my new vehicle.

What’s the process for filing with the NHTSA? I asked my service person at the dealership about doing it and they said they don’t deal with them.

 

[ShenelC]

It’s not fairly common. It’s extremely rare. Look at the id of the individual that posted that comment.

I’d hope so. This isn’t something I’d wish for anyone to experience. I’m hoping for a positive resolution because absent from this major safety issue, I have loved my vehicle. This obviously has impacted my feelings around it and increased concerns. I’ve always had a positive experience with Volkswagen vehicles, especially when it comes to safety, so this has been disheartening.

 

[d287]

So, it looks like this issue is covered by the recall that was just announced- and the fix is is a software update. Which is great news on both counts - first, they’ve gotten to the bottom of a very rare put concerning issue in a way that they’re certain will fix it, and that it’s a software update means they don’t need to disassemble our cars to fix it!

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCLRPT-23V040-5903.PDF

 

[rhhousehold]

So, it looks like this issue is covered by the recall that was just announced- and the fix is is a software update. Which is great news on both counts - first, they’ve gotten to the bottom of a very rare put concerning issue in a way that they’re certain will fix it, and that it’s a software update means they don’t need to disassemble our cars to fix it!

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCLRPT-23V040-5903.PDF

I agree this is great news. I read the report. The crash risk seems real, it was a scary. I plan to contact the dealer about this and see if they even know about it yet.

 

[ShenelC]

So, it looks like this issue is covered by the recall that was just announced- and the fix is is a software update. Which is great news on both counts - first, they’ve gotten to the bottom of a very rare put concerning issue in a way that they’re certain will fix it, and that it’s a software update means they don’t need to disassemble our cars to fix it!

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCLRPT-23V040-5903.PDF

Thank you for sharing. This is promising. My claim with corporate is still pending, and my car remains in the shop with no ETA of return given my electric motor was found to be another issue. Unfortunately, it is back ordered no knowledge of when you’ll be available. I really did love my car but this whole experience has really impacted my level of trust with my vehicle. I didn’t get a Tesla for reasons like this 🤪 lol

 

[NiceMann]

So, it looks like this issue is covered by the recall that was just announced- and the fix is is a software update. Which is great news on both counts - first, they’ve gotten to the bottom of a very rare put concerning issue in a way that they’re certain will fix it, and that it’s a software update means they don’t need to disassemble our cars to fix it!

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCLRPT-23V040-5903.PDF

I love how the first date is from July 2021 with it becoming a known issue. Testing in September 2021 says "Risk assessment indicated no unreasonable risk for motor vehicle safety" January 2022 "The supplier reported an issue with the pulse inverter software that could potentially lead to the deactivation of the pulse inverter. Analysis started."

October 12, 2022: Topic was presented in Volkswagen Product Safety Committee. No unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety determined since steering and braking functions are not affected. Vehicle remains fully controllable. After restart vehicle will operate normal. Decision to address this issue as a service campaign

January 25, 2023: Topic was presented in Volkswagen Product Safety Committee. An update of potential field data from the US market was presented. Based on this information a recall was decided. The recall decision is based on identified fault entries in US vehicles which indicate that the recall condition could have been present: HV battery CU 384/pulse inverter 32

Then let's wait till March 31st to notify the dealers and owners. I understand they don't think it's a major safety concern but as the OP said it is scary as hell.

 

[Nai3t]

Then let's wait till March 31st to notify the dealers and owners.

It appears the March 31st notification thing is just a byproduct of the NHTSA rules.

They say notifications must be made no later than 60 days after the manufacturer notifies NHTSA of the recall. The notice was submitted February 1. Sixty days later is April 1.

"Recall Schedule: Description of Recall Schedule: Dealers/Owners: On or before March 31, 2023"

 

[rhhousehold]

They are knowingly playing the odds: it is fairly rare this fault can happen, but it does happen.

Imagine losing power right as you are making a critical correction to avoid hitting someone who cut you off or another danger.

This fault could be lethal.

 

[wardagainstID]

It’s not fairly common. It’s extremely rare. Look at the id of the individual that posted that comment.

Not sure what my ID has to do with anything. I am a 2023 RWD owner. Considering the recall that just affected all 20k+ 2021 cars delivered in the US and numerous people commenting about experiencing it on reddit and this forum...it is definitely fairly common...

 

[NOVA49]

Not sure what my ID has to do with anything. I am a 2023 RWD owner. Considering the recall that just affected all 20k+ 2021 cars delivered in the US and numerous people commenting about experiencing it on reddit and this forum...it is definitely fairly common...

The incident is not fairly common. Your ID speaks for itself.

 

[wardagainstID]

The incident is not fairly common. Your ID speaks for itself.

Both VWs own recall and anecdotal evidence prove otherwise... Facts are facts

 

[NOVA49]

Both VWs own recall and anecdotal evidence prove otherwise... Facts are facts

The recall addresses two issues that could potentially cause an incident. Very few incidents have been recorded: 384 of one 32 of the other. And not a single accident . Out of 20K+ cars. That is not “fairly common” at all. Facts are facts, indeed.

The vast majority of 2021 ID4s have had nothing but positive experiences. Complaints among a self-selected population are anecdotal. Facts are facts.