Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2021 Volkswagen ID.4
NHTSA data on file today
The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 has 11 NHTSA recall campaigns and 340 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #25V120000 Gear Position Indicator Not Displayed/FMVSS 102 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V651000 Vehicle Doors May Open Unexpectedly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V344000 Instrument Panel Display Malfunction/FMVSS 101 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V312000 Vehicle Doors May Open Unexpectedly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V040000 High Voltage Battery Control Module May Restart NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V858000 Incorrectly Folded Passenger Air Bag/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V162000 Unreliable HV Battery Connection May Cause Stall NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V852000 Missing Drive Bushing May Cause Steering Loss NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V606000 Seat Belt Locking Retractor Malfunction/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V607000 Incorrect Seat Belt Assemblies Installed/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V413000 Headlights Can Be Misadjusted/FMVSS 108 NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 182 complaints
- Unknown or Other 59 complaints
- Forward Collision Avoidance 40 complaints
- Structure 36 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 36 complaints
- Service Brakes 34 complaints
Of the 340 complaints on file, 28 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 340 complaints, owners report 24 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 has a below-average reliability due to numerous recalls and complaints, particularly in the electrical system. Recurring issues with software, door handles, and battery management contribute to potential higher maintenance costs and reliability concerns.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | 10,000–30,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | very common |
| door handles | 10,000–30,000 miles | $250–$750 | common |
| battery management system | 20,000–40,000 miles | $800–$1,600 | common |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- annual software updates
- battery inspection every 2 years
- tire rotation every 10,000 miles
- brake inspection every 20,000 miles
- cabin air filter replacement yearly
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- instrument panel malfunctions
- unexpected door openings
- battery performance issues
- unresponsive controls
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.