Volkswagen ID.4 Battery Recalls Explained

NHTSA recall 26V028000 (aka VW recall "93EW") affects 670 vehicles in the US and Canada, carries a serious "risk of fire warning", and requires battery module replacement ASAP!

https://www.nhtsa.gov/?nhtsaId=26V028000

NHTSA recall 26V030000 (aka VW recall "93EA") affects 43,881 vehicles, and is a proactive software update adding "Self Discharge Detection" software for early detection of similar issues in other cars that could possibly develop this issue.

https://www.nhtsa.gov/?nhtsaId=26V030000

This only affects US and Canadian models with batteries from SK On (mfr. by SK Americas). Models with LG batteries are not affected at this time.

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A transcript, cleaned up by AI and edited by a staffer, is below.

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Transcript:

Welcome back to the VW ID Talk podcast. It’s Jan and Wes here. Jan has been doing some research, and we’ve heard a lot of questions from listeners about recent Volkswagen battery recalls. We wanted to briefly walk through what’s going on.

So far, there are two separate battery recalls. One is labeled V028, and the other is V030.

If you want to check whether your vehicle is affected, you can go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at nhtsa.gov/recalls. There, you can enter your VIN or license plate to see any recalls tied to your specific vehicle. For example, if you look up a 2024 ID.4, you might see multiple recalls listed. That doesn’t mean all of them are currently active—it just shows the full history of recalls for that model.

The two most recent recalls are the ones we’re focusing on here.

The first, V028, is the more serious one. It includes a “fire risk” warning. Volkswagen identified a manufacturing defect where the battery cathode can become misaligned. In rare cases—affecting only a few hundred vehicles—this can lead to a short circuit and potentially a fire. While the number of affected vehicles is small, the issue is considered serious, and Volkswagen expects that these batteries could eventually fail. The fix involves replacing battery modules, and owners are being advised to park their vehicles outside until repairs are completed. If your car is affected, it’s best to schedule service as soon as possible.

The second recall, V030, is proactive. Because of the issue identified in V028, Volkswagen is installing software called Self Discharge Detection (SDD). This software monitors the battery for unusual behavior, such as excessive energy loss, and can alert drivers to potential problems before they become serious.

This software works through the vehicle’s Battery Management System (BMS), which continues operating even when the car is parked. The BMS constantly monitors and balances the battery cells, and with this update, it can quickly detect patterns that might indicate a developing issue. If a problem is detected, the system will notify the driver.

It’s also important to note that the V030 recall is preventative, while V028 addresses a known defect.

Another key detail is that this issue only affects batteries supplied by SK On. If your vehicle has batteries from a different supplier—such as LG, which is used in some European-built models—this recall may not apply to you.

This type of issue isn’t unique to one manufacturer. Other automakers have dealt with similar battery-related recalls in the past. Even internal combustion vehicles have had recalls for serious issues, so while inconvenient, recalls are a normal part of maintaining safety standards.

Manufacturers are required by law to address safety-related defects, but in this case, Volkswagen also issued the V030 recall proactively as an extra precaution.

If you’re curious about what the repair involves, it’s a complex process. The battery pack is located in the floor of the vehicle and consists of multiple modules. Technicians must remove the battery, replace the affected modules, and then reassemble and reseal the system. Specialized tools and diagnostic equipment are required, so this is not something that can be done outside of a dealership.

The good news is that once repaired, the system appears to function normally. If you haven’t already scheduled service and your vehicle is affected, it’s a good idea to do so.

There are also other manufacturers dealing with battery-related recalls. For example, some Ford F-150 Lightning models use similar battery suppliers, and Mercedes has issued recalls related to battery software issues. These situations vary, but they highlight how complex EV battery systems are across the industry.

If you’re unsure about your vehicle, checking your VIN on the NHTSA website is the best first step. Dealers can also run diagnostics and provide detailed reports on battery health. Modern vehicles log a significant amount of battery data, which can be used to assess performance and identify any issues.

One interesting takeaway is how precisely manufacturers can trace these problems. In this case, Volkswagen was able to identify specific machines in the supplier’s factory that caused the defect, then track which battery batches—and ultimately which vehicles—were affected.

Overall, while the situation may be inconvenient, it’s being addressed in a targeted and proactive way. If your vehicle is impacted, scheduling the repair promptly is the best course of action.

Thanks for listening, and we hope this helps clarify things.