VW’s Fix for Fire-Risk ID.4 EVs: An Over-the-Air Update That Cuts Range by 20%

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 22,524 ID.4 electric SUVs from the 2023–2026 model years after warning that a defect in the high-voltage battery pack could trigger a fire, NHTSA confirmed. The recalled vehicles, built between January 1, 2023 and February 1, 2025, may fail internally: certain charging profiles combined with charging beyond 80% can “trigger thermal propagation internal to the high-voltage battery,” a chain reaction that overheats neighboring cells, according to the NHTSA filing. VW estimates just 0.1% of the recalled vehicles actually carry the defective cell.

Until engineers finish developing a permanent remedy, VW is taking an unusual step: it emailed owners saying it intends to apply a temporary vehicle setting limiting charging to 80% of maximum capacity, unless they opted out by October 21. The over-the-air update is scheduled around October 27 and will be reflected in the mobile app. The cost is real: the 20% capacity cut can bring some ID.4 versions down to roughly 162 miles per charge, CarBuzz calculated.

Alex Ansley, chief of NHTSA’s recall management division, said the remedy is currently under development and interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed November 27, 2026. This is already the third ID.4 fire-risk action in the US: VW recalled more than 44,000 2023–2025 ID.4s across two recalls notified to NHTSA in January 2026, following another 629-vehicle action in December 2025. The ID.4 is due to be replaced next year by a heavily facelifted model reportedly badged ID. Tiguan.