After Volkswagen recalled nearly 100,000 electric vehicles worldwide in the spring due to potential battery issues (including nearly 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 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 greater than 80 percent. In the worst case, this could cause a fire in the vehicle.
Until a final repair solution is available, Volkswagen recommends that owners charge their vehicles only to a maximum of 80 percent. Depending on the vehicle configuration and online connectivity, the maximum charge level for some ID.4 models may also be technically limited to 80 percent. Additionally, warning messages will be displayed on vehicles as an interim measure.
Volkswagen estimates that around 0.1 percent of 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 reports or related complaints in the United States.
The current recall follows two US recalls initiated in January covering a total of 44,551 ID.4 vehicles. At the time, the problem was misaligned electrodes on SK Battery America’s battery cells. In the recently announced recall, the high-voltage battery is also supplied by SK Battery America, but the exact cause is still unclear according to Volkswagen. So far, it has only been confirmed that certain charging profiles combined with a state of charge greater than 80 percent can cause 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 if the root cause had not yet been identified. The recall is numbered 93EX at Volkswagen and reference 26V630 at NHTSA. The first notifications to owners are expected to be sent by November 27.
This means that the ID.4 will again be 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 nearly 44,000 ID.4 models in the United States.
ID. Polo and Cupra Raval withdrawn from the market in Germany
In parallel, a technically unrelated recall of several newer Volkswagen Group models is underway, also affecting Germany. Due to potentially poorly secured seat belts, a total of 1,109 VW IDs were produced. The Polo and 10,151 Cupra Raval and Terramar vehicles around the world must be inspected.
In the DNI. Polo, it is possible that the seat belt system on the passenger side is not properly secured to the B-pillar anchor point. According to the German Federal Road Transport Authority (KBA), this could significantly reduce the restraint effect in the event of an accident. A total of 239 vehicles manufactured in Germany between July 21 and September 3, 2026 are affected. Volkswagen carries out the campaign with the code 69G1, with the reference number KBA 17099R.
For Cupra, the problem is securing the front seat belts at the lower anchor point. The recall affects 10,151 Raval and Terramar vehicles worldwide, including 1,936 in Germany. The production period runs from June 7, 2025 to September 3, 2026. The action code is 69C8, with the reference number KBA 17072R.
Affected vehicles must be inspected at authorized workshops. If necessary, the respective seat belt will be replaced. The KBA has not yet received any reports of property damage or injuries related to the two seat belt recalls.
electrek.co, insideevs.com
