Volkswagen Recalls ID.4 for Third Time Due to Door Malfunction

Recall Details

• Volkswagen is recalling the ID.4 for a third time to fix doors that can unexpectedly open.
• Water entering the handles can reach a circuit board, causing a malfunction that opens doors.
• The new recall impacts nearly 100,000 vehicles including those previously repaired.

When one door closes, another opens. That’s ringing a little too true for Volkswagen these days as the automaker is recalling 98,806 ID.4s that have doors which can unexpectedly open while driving.

Background

If that problem sounds familiar, it should as this has been a reoccurring issue. As the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration explained, the latest recall expands on the previous 23V-312 and 23V-213 efforts, and vehicles repaired under those recalls will need to have the new remedy completed.

Cause of the Problem

Door handles on 2021-2024 ID.4s do not meet the factory specifications for protection against water ingress. This allows water to get onto a printed circuit board, leading to malfunctions including an “open command”.

Safety Concerns

The issue hasn’t resulted in any injuries or crashes, but Volkswagen has received 135 warranty claims between June 2023 and May 2024.

Fixing the Problem

A fix is still being finalized, but it will eventually involve dealers inspecting each door handle and replacing them with improved parts if necessary. The ID.4 is also slated to get a software update that will change the “door handle parameters”.