Is the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 reliable?

Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 ID.4 has a Complaint Index of 75 and ranks 2nd worst among the 5 model years covered, with an Avoid verdict relative to other ID.4 years.

What are the most common problems with the 2021 VW ID.4?

The Electrical System accounts for 55% of complaints (182 of 333), followed by Collision Avoidance & Cameras at 17% and Engine issues at 15%, according to NHTSA data.

Does the 2021 VW ID.4 have recalls?

Yes, NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 2021 ID.4, covering brakes, door handle water intrusion, software display failures, a high-voltage battery module issue, an incorrectly folded passenger airbag, and a steering gear defect.

How does the 2021 ID.4 compare to other model years?

The 2021 ID.4 (Complaint Index 75, Avoid) ranks worse than 2022 (50, Caution), 2024 (0, Best), and 2025 (25, Good), but better than 2023, which has the highest index at 100 and is also rated Avoid.

At what mileage do 2021 ID.4 problems typically appear?

NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 27,000 miles overall, with Fuel System complaints median at 10,000 miles and Brakes complaints median at 16,828.5 miles.

2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

75/100

#2 most-complained of 5 ID.4 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 carries a Complaint Index of 75 and ranks 2nd worst out of 5 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. NHTSA lists 333 complaints, 11 recalls, and 28 crashes tied to reported issues, led by the Electrical System at 55% of complaints.

Complaints: 333
Recalls: 11
Crashes / fires: 28 / 1
Injuries / deaths: 24 / 0
NHTSA overall rating: 5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG: 97; 104 city / 89 hwy

Top 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

What owners report

Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration where the car lunges forward while the brake pedal is pressed, sometimes ending in a collision.
Several reports describe brakes not responding at all during low-speed maneuvers like parking, causing the vehicle to strike objects or other cars.
Owners report the adaptive cruise control or automatic emergency braking system activating unexpectedly, slamming the brakes with no hazard present, in one case causing a rear-end collision.
One owner reported the front doors unlocking and locking rapidly before falling open while driving, followed by a curtain airbag deploying and the steering wheel turning, leading to a head-on collision.
A steering gear defect on one vehicle was tied to a missing or incorrectly assembled drive bushing, prompting a recall.

543 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2021 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q3 (53).

2021 Volkswagen ID.4 recalls

11 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

NHTSA 25V120000Feb 27, 2025Brakes60,490 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2023 ID.4, 2022-2023 Audi Q4 e-Tron, and Q4 e-Tron Sportback vehicles. The instrument panel may not properly display the transmission gear lever indicator. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect."
Risk: Failure to display the gear position may result in a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not engaged, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the brake control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 14, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97H3. Audi's number for this recall is 454R.
NHTSA 24V651000Sep 4, 2024Structure & Body99,064 vehicles
Structure:body:door:handle:exterior
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2024 ID.4 vehicles. The door handles may allow water to enter the circuit board assembly, which can cause the doors to open unexpectedly.
Risk: A vehicle door that opens unexpectedly while driving increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen dealers will inspect and replace the door handles as necessary, and update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 27, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 57J9. This recall expands previous recall numbers 23V-312 and 23V-213. Vehicles previously repaired under 23V-312 and 23V-213 will need to have the new remedy completed.
NHTSA 24V344000May 15, 2024Other79,965 vehicles
Equipment:electrical:infotainment:software
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) is recalling certain 2021-2023 ID.4 vehicles. Due to a software issue, affected vehicles may experience center displays and instrument panel displays that do not boot, or that sporadically reset. This can result in loss of speedometer information or loss of rearview camera image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: Displays that do not show critical information, such as vehicle speed or the rearview camera image, increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 20, 2024. Owners may contact VW customer service at 1-800-893-5298. VW's number for this recall is 919A.

See all 11 recalls for the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 →

2021 Volkswagen ID.4 fuel economy and fuel cost

City: 104 MPG
Highway: 89 MPG
Combined: 97 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA): $800; 15,000 mi/yr
Fuel: Electricity
Current regular gas: $4.32/gal; national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2021 compared with other ID.4 years

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Year	Verdict	Index	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2021	Avoid	75	333	11	97
2022	Caution	50	135	7	101.5
2023	Avoid	100	457	14	107

All Volkswagen ID.4 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 reliable?: Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 ID.4 has a Complaint Index of 75 and ranks 2nd worst among the 5 model years covered, with an Avoid verdict relative to other ID.4 years.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 VW ID.4?: The Electrical System accounts for 55% of complaints (182 of 333), followed by Collision Avoidance & Cameras at 17% and Engine issues at 15%, according to NHTSA data.
Does the 2021 VW ID.4 have recalls?: Yes, NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 2021 ID.4, covering brakes, door handle water intrusion, software display failures, a high-voltage battery module issue, an incorrectly folded passenger airbag, and a steering gear defect.
How does the 2021 ID.4 compare to other model years?: The 2021 ID.4 (Complaint Index 75, Avoid) ranks worse than 2022 (50, Caution), 2024 (0, Best), and 2025 (25, Good), but better than 2023, which has the highest index at 100 and is also rated Avoid.
At what mileage do 2021 ID.4 problems typically appear?: NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 27,000 miles overall, with Fuel System complaints median at 10,000 miles and Brakes complaints median at 16,828.5 miles.