MODEL
Volkswagen ID.4
NHTSA safety across every Volkswagen ID.4 model year we cover.
Across the 5 model years of the Volkswagen ID.4 we cover (2021 to 2025), the strongest crash-test showing is the 2025 at 89 on the NHTSA Safety Index, and the lowest is the 2023 at 76. 40 recalls have been issued across those years.
The Volkswagen ID.4 is a fully electric compact SUV that has been VW's primary entry into the mainstream American EV market since its 2021 debut. Positioned against rivals like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E, it targets tech-forward family buyers who want a familiar, practical crossover form factor paired with zero-emission driving. MotorCaliber covers the 2021 through 2025 model years for safety.
The ID.4 puts up genuinely impressive crash-test numbers at its best. The 2025 model earns an 89 out of 100 on the MotorCaliber Safety Index, and across covered years shoppers will find frontal and side crash ratings of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA, with a slightly softer 4 out of 5 stars in rollover protection. That rollover figure is worth noting for a taller SUV body style, though it is not unusual in the segment. The bigger concern here is the recall picture. Across the 2021 through 2025 model years, the ID.4 has accumulated 40 recalls, a notably high count for a vehicle in this price class and age range. Five of those are classified as park-outside or do-not-drive campaigns, the most serious tier of recall action, signaling that regulators identified conditions serious enough to restrict normal use entirely. That is a pattern shoppers cannot overlook. Owner complaints total 960, with 100 alleged crash incidents, 13 alleged fires, and 67 reported injuries noted in the unverified NHTSA filings. These are allegations, not confirmed findings, but the fire complaint count deserves attention given the vehicle's high-voltage battery architecture. The ID.4 can earn a strong score in a controlled crash, but its real-world safety record carries meaningful asterisks. Verify your specific VIN for open recalls before purchase.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally appreciate the ID.4 for its composed, comfortable ride and well-resolved interior for an early-generation electric SUV. Most praise its straightforward controls and spacious cabin while acknowledging that early software and build-quality growing pains tempered enthusiasm. The consensus tends to position it as a solid but imperfect pioneer in VW's EV lineup rather than a class benchmark.
- The ID.4 has accumulated 40 recalls across the 2021 to 2025 model years, including 5 park-outside or do-not-drive campaigns. Always run your VIN through NHTSA's recall database and confirm any open campaigns are remedied before buying or driving.
- Crash-test performance is a genuine strength, with 5 out of 5 NHTSA stars in both frontal and side impact testing for the best-performing model years, and a MotorCaliber Safety Index score of 89 out of 100 for the 2025 model year.
- Rollover protection earns 4 out of 5 stars, one step below the top rating. This is common among taller SUVs but is a real trade-off buyers should weigh, especially those who prioritize single-vehicle accident protection.
- Owner complaints include 13 alleged fire incidents across the covered model years. These are unverified NHTSA allegations, but given the ID.4's high-voltage battery system, any fire-related recall or technical service bulletin affecting your specific vehicle and model year warrants immediate attention.
Most-recalled year on record: 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 with 13 recalls.