Volkswagen recalls nearly 73,000 EVs due to faulty batteries

Volkswagen issued a recall affecting nearly 73,000 EVs globally. Until a remedy is available, VW will limit charging on impacted vehicles to 80% of their maximum battery capacity.

Which EVs are included in the Volkswagen recall?

After issuing a recall with the NHTSA earlier this month that impacts 22,524 ID.4 electric SUVs in the US, official information from the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) reveals several thousand more EVs are affected worldwide.

In three separate recalls now under investigation by the KBA, a total of 72,668 EVs are impacted worldwide, including 9,881 in Germany.

The recall affects certain batches of the ID. Buzz, ID.3, ID.4, and ID.7 models produced between 2022 and 2025, as well as Cupra Born models from 2022 to 2024.

Volkswagen issued the recall after an internal investigation found that some battery cells produced during that period do not meet specifications. The recall stems from a supplier defect.

In some instances, “certain charging profiles combined with a state of charge over 80% may trigger thermal propagation,” or a battery fire, Volkswagen said.

Until a remedy is available, Volkswagen is urging owners to limit charging to 80% of its max capacity. If technically possible, VW said: “the maximum available charging capacity will be temporarily limited to 80% by the system.”

In the US, Volkswagen emailed owners of vehicles included in the recall, saying that unless they opt out by October 21, it “intends to apply a temporary vehicle setting that limits charging to 80%.”

The update will be done remotely and reflected in the mobile app on or about October 27, 2026. Some owners have already received the update.

Volkswagen is still working on a remedy. Letters informing owners of the risks are expected to be mailed out on November 27, 2026. Once the remedy is available, VW will send additional letters.

Owners can contact Volkswagen’s customer service at 1-800-893-5298 with questions or concerns. VW’s recall number is 93EX.

Those in the US can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit NHTSA.gov for more information. The NHTSA campaign number is 26V630.

The manufacturer’s recall codes with the German KBA are 93MV, 93MF, and 93W4 (for the Cupra Born).