2021 Volkswagen ID.4
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2021 models.

- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Body styles
- 4dr SUV Base, 4dr SUV Pro AWD, 4dr SUV Pro RWD
- Engines
- Electric motor
- Horsepower
- 201–295 hp
- Transmission
- 1-speed automatic
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Seats
- 5
- Fuel
- EV
- EV range
- 260 mi · 7.5 h on 240 V
- Length
- 180.3 in
- Curb weight
- 4,339–4,828 lb
- NHTSA rating
- ★★★★★
- Recalls
- 11 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- Strong performanceUp to 295 hp, versus about 203 hp for similar 2021 models.
- AWD / 4WD available
- 5-star NHTSA safety ratingTop overall score in federal crash tests.
- Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Watch out for
- 11 recallsMore than similar models (about 3). Confirm repairs with the VIN.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 30 similar 2021 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 is a small SUV powered by electricity and rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 180 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 109-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,339 lb (4dr SUV Base).
The electric version has an EPA-rated range of up to 260 miles and takes about 7.5 hours to charge on a 240-volt Level 2 charger.
In NHTSA crash testing it earned the top 5-star overall rating.
It has 11 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 338 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the electrical system.
Trims, performance & features
Trims
Safety & driver-assist features
Built in: Zwickau, Germany
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 5 2021 ID.4 configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr SUV Base | 180.3 in | 72.8 in | 64.6 in | 109.1 in | 62.6 / 61.8 in | 4,339 lb | 50/50 |
| 4dr SUV Pro AWD | 180.3 in | 72.8 in | 64.6 in | 109.1 in | 62.6 / 61.8 in | 4,828 lb | 50/50 |
| 4dr SUV Pro RWD | 180.3 in | 72.8 in | 64.6 in | 109.1 in | 62.6 / 61.8 in | 4,610 lb | 50/50 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ID.4 Pro EV | 150 kW AC 3-Phase | Automatic (A1) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 260 mi · 34 kWh/100mi | – | $750 | – |
| ID.4 1st EV | 150 kW AC 3-Phase | Automatic (A1) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 250 mi · 35 kWh/100mi | – | $800 | – |
| ID.4 Pro S EV | 150 kW AC 3-Phase | Automatic (A1) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 250 mi · 35 kWh/100mi | – | $800 | – |
| ID.4 AWD Pro EV | 80 and 150 kW AC 3-Phase | Automatic (A1) | All-Wheel Drive | 249 mi · 34.9117 kWh/100mi | – | $800 | – |
| ID.4 AWD Pro S EV | 80 and 150 kW AC 3-Phase | Automatic (A1) | All-Wheel Drive | 240 mi · 36.2762 kWh/100mi | – | $800 | – |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2021 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Driver / passenger | Side | Side pole | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 5★ / 4★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 10.9% |
| 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 SUV RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 5★ / 4★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 10.3% |


Similar 2021 small SUVs
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 (this car) | 260 mi | ★★★★★ | 11 |
| 2021 Toyota RAV4 | 40 MPG | ★★★★★ | 1 |
| 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime | 38 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2021 Honda CR-V | 38 MPG | ★★★★★ | 5 |
| 2021 Toyota 4Runner | 17 MPG | ★★★★★ | 1 |
| 2021 Hyundai Tucson | 25 MPG | ★★★★★ | 1 |
| 2021 Subaru Forester | 29 MPG | ★★★★★ | 0 |
Recalls (11)
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (Prndl) · Feb 27, 2025
NHTSA campaign 25V120000 · 60,490 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Fix
- 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.
Structure › Body › Door › Handle › Exterior · Sep 4, 2024
NHTSA campaign 24V651000 · 99,064 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Fix
- 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.
Equipment › Electrical › Infotainment › Software · May 15, 2024
NHTSA campaign 24V344000 · 79,965 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Fix
- 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.
Structure › Body › Door › Handle › Exterior · May 3, 2023
NHTSA campaign 23V312000 · 35,325 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2022 ID.4 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have been manufactured with door handles that allow water to enter the circuit board assembly, which can cause the doors to open unexpectedly when the vehicle is subject to high lateral forces at speeds below 9 mph/15 kmh.
- Risk
- A vehicle door that opens unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion increases the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Dealers will update the vehicle software, and inspect the door handles as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 19, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall are 57J5 and 57J8. This recall was replaced by recall number 24V-651
Electrical System › Propulsion System › Traction Battery › Management System/Energy Control Module (Bms/Becm) › Software · Feb 1, 2023
NHTSA campaign 23V040000 · 20,904 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 ID.4 vehicles. Software programing may cause the high voltage (HV) battery management control module to restart or the pulse inverter to deactivate.
- Risk
- A reset or deactivation may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will update the HV battery management control unit and the pulse inverter control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 31, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97ZZ.
Air Bags › Frontal · Nov 2, 2022
NHTSA campaign 22V858000 · 55 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 ID4 vehicles. The passenger air bag may be incorrectly folded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Risk
- An incorrectly folded air bag may not protect the occupant as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Volkswagen will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 14, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number to this recall is 69EH.
Electrical System › Propulsion System › Traction Battery · Mar 16, 2022
NHTSA campaign 22V162000 · 356 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 ID4 vehicles. Incorrect soldering of the flexible printed circuit assembled (FPCA), inside the high voltage (HV) battery, may cause an unreliable connection.
- Risk
- An unreliable battery connection may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the battery cell modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 6, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 9302.
Steering › Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion) · Nov 3, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V852000 · 1 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of American, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling one 2021 ID.4 vehicle. The steering gear may have an incorrectly assembled or missing drive bushing.
- Risk
- An incorrectly assembled or missing drive bushing may cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- A dealer will replace the steering gear, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 5, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 48Q7.
Seat Belts › Rear/Other › Retractor · Aug 5, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V606000 · 45,496 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8, RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe, RS6 Avant, RS7, RSQ8, S4 Sedan, S5 Cabriolet, S5 Coupe, S5 Sportback, S6 Sedan, S7, S8, SQ5, SQ5 Sportback, SQ7, SQ8, and 2021-2022 S3 Sedan vehicles. The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Risk
- An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the middle-rear seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69CR (VW) and 69CS (Audi).
Seat Belts › Rear/Other › Retractor · Aug 4, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V607000 · 12,060 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 ID4 vehicles. Incorrect rear outboard seat belt assemblies without an automatic locking retractor (ALR) function may have been installed, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Risk
- An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the rear outboard seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69CQ.
Exterior Lighting › Headlights · Jun 2, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V413000 · 3,240 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 ID.4 vehicles. Caps were installed on the headlight vertical aim instead of the horizontal aim, allowing for horizontal adjustment of the headlight beam. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Risk
- Adjusting the horizontal headlight beam can increase glare, reducing visibility for the driver and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will remove the caps from the vertical aim and install them on the horizontal aim, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 9406.
Not every 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 11 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Electrical System — 174 owner reports. Test every window, lock, light, screen and USB port; check the battery age.
- Vehicle Speed Control — 35 owner reports. Ask the seller and mechanic specifically about this system.
- Service Brakes — 34 owner reports. Brake firmly from speed; check for pulling, pulsing pedal or ABS warning light.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 27,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Battery health. Ask for a battery state-of-health report, check the remaining battery warranty, and compare the displayed range at 100% charge with the EPA's 260 miles.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other ID.4 years
Compare all years →Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Volkswagen. How we calculate this →