YearToAvoid

2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 51 engine-area complaints for the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4, about 15% of all complaints filed for that model year, tied to 14 crashes and 14 injuries. There is no related recall on file, and median mileage at failure is 32,500.

Engine complaints
51
15% of 333
Crashes reported
14
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
14
Median mileage
32,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Vehicle unexpectedly accelerates to high speed while parking or maneuvering at low speed, often crashing into walls, curbs, or nearby vehicles.
  • Brake pedal is applied firmly but does not slow or stop the vehicle during the sudden acceleration event.
  • Sudden acceleration occurs from a stop, such as at an intersection or while backing out of a parking space, sometimes happening more than once to the same driver.
  • Forward collision warning or automatic emergency braking systems fail to activate despite the vehicle closing rapidly on an obstacle.
  • Airbags deploy and drivers report injuries, including one case with a bruised sternum and hand injuries, after the vehicle failed to respond to braking input.

When 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 6, 2021, latest Sep 21, 2026.

2021 Volkswagen ID.4 engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Sep 2021May 2022Jan 2023Aug 2023Jul 2024Jul 2025Mar 2026Sep 2026
51 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2021 to Sep 2026; peak Jun 2022 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by ID.4 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 202151 (15%)
  2. 202225 (19%)
  3. 202379 (17%)
  4. 20246 (13%)
  5. 20257 (27%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 have engine problems?
NHTSA lists 51 engine-area complaints for the 2021 ID.4, about 15% of all complaints for the year, largely describing sudden unintended acceleration events.
Are there any recalls for the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 engine issue?
No related recall is listed in the NHTSA data for this engine-area complaint pattern on the 2021 ID.4.
How serious are the reported engine complaints?
NHTSA data shows these complaints are tied to 14 crashes and 14 injuries, with no fires reported.
At what mileage do these engine problems occur?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 32,500 miles.
Is the 2021 ID.4 worse than other model years for this issue?
The 2021 ID.4's 15% share of complaints in this area is lower than the 2022 (19%) and 2025 (27%) model years, but higher than 2024 (13%).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.