NHTSA complaint #11605019

Owner complaint summary

During a recent trip to Oregon, my Volkswagen ID.4 experienced a critical failure of both the interior and exterior lighting systems, including the headlights and emergency lights. Initially, upon returning from a walk, I found the lights were on despite the vehicle being locked and not in the "Auto" mode as I had left them. Locking and unlocking the vehicle did not resolve the issue. When I entered the vehicle, a warning light indicating a malfunction in the lighting system appeared on the dashboard, and subsequently, all lights stopped functioning entirely. This malfunction posed a significant safety risk to both myself and other road users, as the failure occurred during a time when proper lighting was essential for visibility and safety, potentially leading to a dangerous situation, especially as it was almost evening. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center at this time. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or other relevant parties, although a video recording of the incident is available for review and is attached to the report in the PDF file. Prior to the failure, there were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms indicating a potential issue. However, during the incident, a warning light for a lighting system malfunction appeared on the dashboard.