Volkswagen recalls thousands of electric cars over possible battery defect
German carmaker Volkswagen is preparing to recall several thousand electric cars because battery cells made by suppliers with production faults may overheat and catch fire. Recalls are already under way in the US and the UK.
German carmaker Volkswagen (VW) is recalling several thousand electric cars over suspected defects in their high-voltage batteries, which in the worst case could cause a fire. Campaigns are already reported in the United States and the United Kingdom, and recalls are now being planned in Germany and other markets. According to authorities, about 22,000 ID.4 electric cars are affected in the US.
What went wrong
The problem was reportedly uncovered by the company's internal quality checks, according to the newspaper Handelsblatt. A VW spokesperson told the outlet that several thousand vehicles are affected. The company blames production faults at suppliers that made the battery cells, and says the issue is limited to a specific production period. Because of the defect, batteries may be exposed to increased thermal stress, and in extreme cases a fire cannot be ruled out.
Handelsblatt reports that the ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID Buzz and Cupra Born models built between 2023 and 2025 are among those affected. The company has not yet confirmed that list. The recall is being prepared in close coordination with the responsible authorities and has not yet appeared in the databases of Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA).
Interim measures
VW recommends that potentially affected cars be charged to no more than 80 per cent. A proportion of the vehicles will be called to service centres for battery checks. Where no fault is found, the charging limit will be lifted. If a defective battery is identified, the high-voltage battery module would not necessarily need replacing and might be fixed with a software update. Owners of affected cars will be contacted by letter with the next steps.
Background
In September, around 2.86 million VW and Audi vehicles were recalled worldwide over a damaged screw that could have caused steering failure. Battery electric vehicles made up 20 per cent of VW deliveries in the first three quarters of 2026. The group is also facing falling demand worldwide, particularly in China.
