The top U.S. auto safety regulator has opened a recall query into Volkswagen’s electric ID.4 units. This comes after complaints of vehicle doors opening unexpectedly when the vehicle is in motion. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Monday that it had opened a recall query into 51,500 Volkswagen ID.4 units. This action followed 12 complaints alleging that the vehicles’ doors had opened while in motion.
The recall applies to ID.4 vehicles built between 2021 and 2023 and is related to a previous door recall that had been performed on the vehicles. The NHTSA has clarified that no injuries or fatalities have been connected to the issue. The notice states that doors may open unexpectedly when the vehicle is subject to high lateral forces at speeds below 9mph/15kmh, causing the door to deploy an “open command” to the handle. The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) highlighted that some consumers reported the vehicle’s door intermittently opens while driving with no reasonable detectability.
They also mentioned that the vehicle door handles will not allow occupants to enter or exit the vehicle. In addition to this recent issue, the ID.4 was previously recalled due to an issue causing the vehicle to stall, which was rectified with a software update deployed last February. It’s important to note that there is no mention of injuries or fatalities related to the door issue. Overall, the announcement from NHTSA brings attention to a potential safety concern with Volkswagen’s ID.4 units.
The detailed investigation report provided by NHTSA offers transparency and serves as an example of regulatory measures being taken to address safety issues in the automotive industry.