2021 Volkswagen ID.4 transmission & drivetrain problems
Updated from NHTSA data · How we count
23 owners have reported transmission & drivetrain problems with the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4, 7% of all complaints about this model year.
- Transmission & Drivetrain complaints
- 23
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Related recalls
- 1
- Median mileage
- —
Specific components reported
Transmission & Drivetrain covers: transmission shifting, slipping, axles, driveshaft, transfer case.
| Component | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Power train | 23 |
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints across Volkswagen ID.4 years
Related recalls
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) · 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.
What owners say
- Filed Oct 5, 2026FLElectrical SystemLightingTransmission & Drivetrain
High voltage battery modules fail often and continuously. I am on my third battery module replacement of the year taking up to two weeks for repair. There is also a lighting failure when the weather is hot. All lighting system fail and dont turn on until car is driven for a while and the system cools down. This happens often as I am located in florida. During the summer its almost every day. Dealer hasnt been able to fix. All they have said was that VW told them that is due…
NHTSA complaint #11769159 · source - Filed Sep 10, 2026FLElectrical SystemEngineTransmission & Drivetrain
Incident Summary VW ID.4 Loss of Power/Stall Date: Monday, September 7, 2026 Location: Highway (3-lane), traveling ~45 mph Vehicle: Volkswagen ID.4 Sequence of events: While driving at approximately 45 mph, multiple warning messages appeared in rapid succession: ESC Error "Electrical system not working correctly" "Front Assist is not available" Error Rear Traffic Alert Error "12V power supply. Safely park the vehicle! See owner's manual." The vehicle lost accelerator power…
NHTSA complaint #11763357 · source - Filed Aug 22, 2026NCBrakesTransmission & Drivetrain
After periods of rain or driving in wet conditions, when parking on an incline, the vehicle will not release the automatic parking brake without hard physical input to the accelerator causing a loud bang from the rear axle - this has happened numerous times over the past year
NHTSA complaint #11758693 · source - Filed Aug 19, 2026TXElectrical SystemFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain
The vehicle developed a charging/electrical/high-voltage battery problem. Level 3 charging stopped first, then charging later stopped on all levels. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Volkswagen dealer on 08/06/2026. The dealer referenced high-voltage battery/module and charging-system issues, including fault/code information involving P0BBD00 / J840 / 008C and campaign/action history involving 93P7 / 97ZZ. The dealer quoted a very expensive repair involving a…
NHTSA complaint #11757937 · source - Filed Jul 17, 2026NCBrakesTransmission & Drivetrain
While stopped at traffic light, and with foot depressing brake pedal, vehicle started to move forward on its own. Foot was fully depressed on brake and vehicle still rolled forward, almost causing accident. Extremely dangerous and seems to be a very common issue with this vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11751055 · source - Filed Jul 16, 2026CAElectrical SystemFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain
My 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S has unexpectedly lost propulsion and come to a complete stop while being driven on at least three separate occasions. When this occurs, the vehicle jolts, stops moving, and cannot be placed into Drive or Reverse. I am only able to shift it into Neutral. After the first incident, I took the vehicle to a Volkswagen dealership the following morning. The dealership stated they could not reproduce the problem or identify any faults. The same failure…
NHTSA complaint #11750851 · source - Filed Apr 7, 2026MAElectrical SystemEngineTransmission & Drivetrain
I am reporting a safety-related failure involving my 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The vehicle has experienced two separate incidents where it suddenly lost power while driving and became inoperable without warning. The first occurrence happened while I was in the middle of an intersection. The vehicle lost power and could not continue moving, creating a dangerous situation with surrounding traffic. The second occurrence occurred shortly after beginning a trip, approximately one…
NHTSA complaint #11729783 · source - Filed Jan 30, 2026NCBrakesTransmission & Drivetrain
After rain or snow, vehicle will not release from park even when shifted to drive. After pressing accelerator a few times vehicle will make a loud bang from the rear (loud enough to sound as though something is coming apart) and then start to move. This happens in warm and cold weather
NHTSA complaint #11714389 · source - Filed Jan 6, 2026CATransmission & Drivetrain
Vehicle is able to be shifted from park to drive or reverse without foot pressing brake pedal. On multiple occasions I have shifted from park to reverse and the vehicle has immediately started idling backwards.
NHTSA complaint #11709258 · source - Filed Nov 5, 2025COElectrical SystemTransmission & Drivetrain
Electrical system not working correctly. Powertrain maintenance needed. Vehicle randomly had a light come on the dash, and included the message about electrical systems. Vehicle lost power, when I tried to accelerate, it was accelerating extremely slow and finally was able to get to posted speed limit of 35 in 0.5 miles. Never had a light come on until now. Recently had the 10,000 mile safety check completed by the dealer.
NHTSA complaint #11697737 · source - Filed Jun 4, 2025CATransmission & Drivetrain
Speedometer display went black for 15-10 seconds while the vehicle was in motion. Both the screen in front of the steering wheel and the infotainment screens went blank. The speedometer eventually came back. The other screen took much longer to recover.
NHTSA complaint #11664866 · source - Filed May 23, 2025CAElectrical SystemSteeringTransmission & Drivetrain
The car completely stopped without warning. The dashboard lit up with all the lights and informed me that the I need to pull over. There was no time to pull over as the car completely lost all power. The car was traveling on the freeway. It would not start back up and I needed to call 911 for help. The tow truck could not get the car started and the CHP needed to run a traffic break to get it towed off the road. The dealer could only find an NV-energy management alarm…
NHTSA complaint #11662858 · source
Other 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 problem areas
- Electrical System (179)
- Other / Unknown (68)
- Driver Assistance & Safety Tech (64)
- Body & Structure (39)
- Brakes (37)
- Acceleration & Cruise Control (35)
- Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion (25)
- Engine (19)
- Steering (17)
- Wheels & Tires (14)
- Airbags (12)
- Lighting (10)
- Visibility & Wipers (5)
- Seats & Seat Belts (2)
- Suspension (2)
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology