Volkswagen is taking precautionary measures by recalling nearly 80,000 of its electric SUVs due to a critical software issue that poses a significant crash hazard. This recall, affecting certain newer-year ID.4 models, was announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this week.
Volkswagen Electric Vehicles Crash Hazard -The Recall
The NHTSA has identified a software glitch that may cause the center and instrument panel displays to fail to boot or reset sporadically. This malfunction can result in the loss of crucial information such as the vehicle’s speed and the rearview camera image. According to the NHTSA, the absence of this critical information increases the risk of a crash.
“Vehicles may experience center displays and instrument panel displays that do not boot, or that sporadically reset,” the NHTSA noted in a letter to Volkswagen. “This can result in loss of speedometer information or loss of rearview camera image.”
Which Volkswagen Models Are Being Recalled?
The recall specifically targets the following Volkswagen ID.4 models:
2022 Volkswagen ID.4
2023 Volkswagen ID.4
The NHTSA began investigating the software issue in April 2023. Following this investigation, Volkswagen initiated a voluntary recall in early May 2024.
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What Should Affected Owners Do?
Volkswagen will start notifying affected vehicle owners by mail on July 12. Once notified, owners are advised to visit their local dealerships to receive a free software update to rectify the issue.
Steps for Checking Recalls
Owners can check if their vehicle is affected by visiting the NHTSA website and entering their vehicle identification number (VIN). Additionally, the recall number for this issue is 919A
For more information, Volkswagen owners can contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Safety Ratings and More
In related news, it’s worth noting the performance of other Volkswagen models in safety tests. For instance, the Volkswagen Taos received a mixed rating, with only 1 out of 10 SUVs achieving a “good” rating in recent crash tests updated to reflect higher speeds.