NHTSA complaint #11762220

Owner complaint summary

PRIMARY SAFETY DEFECT — SUDDEN STOP IN ACTIVE TRAFFIC: The vehicle suffers from severe, uncommanded electrical/drive-system shutdowns. While driving in live traffic, the ID.4 panics, flashes error alerts on the display, and abruptly stops within seconds. This sudden, violent stopping in active lanes creates an extreme safety hazard, leaving the EV dead in traffic with no warning and creating an immediate, severe risk of high-speed rear-end collisions, loss of control, and serious occupant injury. SECONDARY SAFETY DEFECT — ELECTRICAL & CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE: Immediately upon picking up the EV post-warranty service on Aug 31, 2026, the dash displayed persistent error messages: "Your Charging Socket is not working." A VW Master Tech/Engineer at the dealership evaluated the vehicle, witnessed the failure, and explicitly warned that driving long distances poses a severe risk of complete vehicle disablement and becoming stranded on public roads due to total charging failure.REPAIR HISTORY & DAYS OUT OF SERVICE (OOS): The safety issues first occurred around Feb 2025 (towed to dealer). Since then, I returned the EV to the authorized dealer (Jim Ellis VW Kennesaw) at least 5 separate times for the same unresolved flaws. The vehicle has been OOS for warranty repairs for over 90 cumulative days, including 60 continuous days during the last visit. Dealer diagnostic logs confirm central control unit (CCU) replacements and extensive electrical repairs, yet the hazardous conditions remain uncorrected. MANUFACTURER RESPONSE: VW Group of America acknowledged this history under cases 07530936, 07526164, 07386099, 07334984, and 07709898. VW offered a 4.5k cash settlement, which I rejected as insufficient to address the extreme safety risks. VW has since refused a repurchase, ended negotiations, and closed the case without resolving the defect. This EV is dangerous and unroadworthy. My family and I have lost all confidence in this car.