- Leaking door handles halted production and delivery of the ID.4 in September
- With replacement parts ready, VW soon resumes production
- Repairing customer vehicles and dealer stock is a priority
Volkswagen on Friday reported disappointing US delivery numbers this year for what would have been its best-selling electric car. It sold 17,021 ID.4 EVs in the US in 2024—down 55% from 37,789 sales in 2023.
In part, the problem was that the ID.4 system could not be sold for several years—first there was a break as the updated 2024 models were installed, then there was a recall that halted production and deliveries.
VW also confirmed on Friday that the ID.4 has returned to its original condition. It has enough door handle hardware to resume deliveries of its ID.4 and clear the backlog of vehicles in the dealer's stock—and, within the next few weeks, resume production at its US facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
VW issued a recall for all 2021-2024 ID.4 models in September, totaling 98,806 vehicles, as it includes a fix for defective door handles that could cause the EV's door to open unexpectedly. The recall effort has been expanded to include 99,064 vehicles in the US plus 20,790 vehicles in Canada.
2024 Volkswagen ID.4
2024 Volkswagen ID.4
At the same time, VW also released a to stop the sale of ID.4which combines both new and pre-owned vehicles in the dealer's inventoryand established model production in Zwickau, Germany, and Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The concern is centered around the design of the door handle itself, and the part that can't seal properly. According to the recall documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), water can enter through the door handleaccess to the printed circuit board and cause “communication problems” between the handle and the control unit. That can cause the clicking sound that VW says in the documentation is similar to a door being made when it is normally opened.
2021 Volkswagen ID.4 1st Edition
VW has already sent letters to owners, and is sending a redesigned door handle going to the dealerships, they will be using them not only to make repairs but to restart their stock delivery as well. “The priority is to repair the existing cars and to get the cars that were sitting in the shops into the hands of customers,” said Volkswagen spokesman Mark Gillies.
Under the recall, dealers will inspect and replace door handles as needed, and update the vehicle's software. VW stressed that under federal law, the recall must be completed prior to delivery.
2025 Volkswagen ID.4
2024 Volkswagen ID.4
2025 Volkswagen ID.4
The 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 is a top seller and has so far received a series of meaningful improvements resulting in faster acceleration and more range, as well as faster new infotainment hardware and a more advanced interface. The interface made the experience especially sour for some beginners (remember the 2021-2023 models for those screen problems). Considering the ride, handling, and packaging advantages this model has always had, the '24 now feels like it should have when it was introduced.
All 2024 VW ID.4 models are eligible for the full EV tax credit of $7,500—bringing the base price of $41,160 to $33,660 for some), while the 2025 VW ID.4 is exempt, until now. But the 2025 ID.4 gets ChatGPT functionality that sets the stage for the next-generation in-car voice assistant.