NHTSA // CRASH-TESTED
2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Safety Ratings
The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 scores 79 out of 100 on the NHTSA Safety Index (Average), with a 5-star overall NHTSA crash rating, 11 recalls, and 318 owner complaints on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4's Safety Index of 79/100 positions it in the Average band, a score significantly influenced by 11 distinct recall campaigns for this model year. While the vehicle achieved strong crash-test scores and a perfect rating in avoidance technology, these positives are tempered by a notably weak defect record, as indicated by the recall frequency.
The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 received an NHTSA 5-star overall crash-test rating and a NHTSA Safety Index of 79 out of 100, sourced from NHTSA crash-test and recall data.
MotorCaliber Safety Desk // NHTSA data, verified Oct 1, 2026
Among the 118 SUVs from 2021 that NHTSA has crash-tested, the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 ranks 85 for overall NHTSA Safety Index.
- new and teen drivers who want standard crash-avoidance tech
- urban drivers exposed to side-impact risk
| NHTSA Safety Index | 79 / 100 (Average) |
|---|---|
| Overall crash rating | 5 of 5 stars |
| Frontal / Side / Rollover | 5 / 5 / 4 stars |
| Rollover risk | 10.9% |
| Recalls on file | 11 |
| Owner complaints | 318 (unverified allegations) |
| Class rank | 85 of 118 SUVs tested for 2021 |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4?
The 2021 ID.4 presents a complex safety profile in its debut year for the U.S. market. While it achieves an exceptional 5 out of 5 stars overall from NHTSA, with a perfect 66 out of 70 in crash protection and a 10 out of 10 for avoidance technology, its defect record significantly impacts its overall Safety Index. The vehicle’s 79/100 Average band score is sharply pulled down by a low 3 out of 20 in the defect record sub-score. This reflects 11 recall campaigns, spanning software, electrical, and structural issues. Of particular note for a first-year launch are the battery management system software recall and two separate door-handle campaigns. Owner-reported complaints further reinforce these concerns, with 318 total complaints, 167 of which pertain to the Electrical System. This inaugural model year is thus characterized by a tension between best-in-class crash protection and a substantial volume of field issues.
NCAP // CRASH TESTHow did the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 perform in crash tests?
The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 achieved an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA, demonstrating strong performance in crash protection. This was supported by 5-star scores in both frontal and side impact assessments. The rollover evaluation presented a slightly softer outcome, with the ID.4 receiving 4 out of 5 stars and an 11 percent rollover risk; it did, however, show a "No Tip" result in the dynamic test.
Source: NHTSA NCAP, VehicleId 15583
Index breakdown
NCAP // CRASH IMAGESCrash-test images
Crash-test images are US federal government works (NHTSA / NCAP), public domain.
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 have any recalls?
Yes, 11 recall campaigns cover the 2021 ID.4. Named components include the automatic transmission gear position indication (PRNDL), exterior door handles (two separate campaigns), a back-over prevention software fault, and battery management system software affecting the high-voltage system. No park-outside or do-not-drive directive is listed in the data provided, but the high-voltage battery software recall warrants close attention.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)25V120000
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.
Reported 2025-02-27
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HANDLE:EXTERIOR24V651000
Risk: A vehicle door that opens unexpectedly while driving increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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 23
Reported 2024-09-04
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE24V344000
Risk: Displays that do not show critical information, such as vehicle speed or the rearview camera image, increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Reported 2024-05-15
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HANDLE:EXTERIOR23V312000
Risk: A vehicle door that opens unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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
Reported 2023-05-03
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY:MANAGEMENT SYSTEM/ENERGY CONTROL MODULE (BMS/BECM):SOFTWARE23V040000
Risk: A reset or deactivation may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Reported 2023-02-01
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL22V858000
Risk: An incorrectly folded air bag may not protect the occupant as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
Reported 2022-11-02
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY22V162000
Risk: An unreliable battery connection may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Reported 2022-03-16
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)21V852000
Risk: An incorrectly assembled or missing drive bushing may cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Reported 2021-11-03
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR21V606000
Risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: 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).
Reported 2021-08-05
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR21V607000
Risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Reported 2021-08-04
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS21V413000
Risk: Adjusting the horizontal headlight beam can increase glare, reducing visibility for the driver and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Reported 2021-06-02
NHTSA // COMPLAINTSWhat do owners report about the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4?
Owners have submitted 318 unverified allegations to NHTSA for this model year, including reported 26 crashes and 22 injuries. The most frequently alleged problem area is the Electrical System at 167 reports, followed by Forward Collision Avoidance at 39 and Service Brakes at 35. All are unverified consumer allegations, not established facts.
318 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4?
Any shopper considering a used 2021 ID.4 should run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup tool before purchase. With 11 recall campaigns on record, including battery software and door-handle issues, confirming which remedies have been completed at a Volkswagen dealer is the single most important safety step.
- The 2021 ID.4 carries 11 NHTSA recall campaigns, the highest-stakes of which addresses battery management system software that may affect the high-voltage system, a concern unique to this inaugural model year.
- The defect record sub-score of 3 out of 20 is the single largest drag on the 79/100 Safety Index, meaning the crash-test performance is substantially better than the overall index number suggests.
- Owner-reported allegations to NHTSA total 318, with the Electrical System category alone representing 167 of those unverified reports, an unusually concentrated complaint pattern for one component area.
- Two separate exterior door-handle recall campaigns were issued for this model year, one in 2023 and one in 2024, meaning a used example may have had one remedy completed but still require the second, making a VIN-specific recall check essential.
RANKINGSWhere the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 places
The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 qualifies for these MotorCaliber safety rankings:
FAQ2021 Volkswagen ID.4 safety questions
Was the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 crash-tested by NHTSA?
Yes. NHTSA crash-tested the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4, and it earns a NHTSA Safety Index of 79 out of 100, placing it in the Average band. The index combines federal crash-test stars, standard crash-avoidance tech, and the recall record.
What are the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 crash-test star ratings?
In NHTSA testing the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 earned 5 out of 5 stars for overall, 5 out of 5 stars for frontal, 5 out of 5 stars for side, and 4 out of 5 stars for rollover. Its measured rollover risk is 10.9%. Categories NHTSA did not test show as not rated.
How many recalls does the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 11 vehicle recalls are on file for the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which apply to your car.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 318 owner complaints are on file for the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. These are unverified allegations submitted by owners, not confirmed defects, and include reports involving a crash or a fire.
Cross-check this record against independent expert reviews and the live NHTSA database before you buy.
Other ID.4 years
Rivals in SUV (2021)
| Vehicle | NHTSA Safety Index | Overall stars | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Tesla Model X 5-Seat | 98/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
| 2021 Tesla Model X 6-Seat | 98/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
| 2021 Tesla Model X 7-Seat | 98/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
| 2021 Nissan Murano | 96/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
| 2021 Audi Q5 Sportback | 95/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
| 2021 Mazda CX-3 | 95/100 | 5 of 5 | 1 |
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: New Car Assessment Program crash tests (VehicleId 15583), the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the Volkswagen ID.4 2021.
- SCORE The NHTSA Safety Index (0-100) weights crash protection, standard crash-avoidance tech, and the defect record. Full formula on the methodology page. It ranks 85 of 118 in the SUV class for 2021.
- EDITED Written by the MotorCaliber Safety Desk and reviewed for accuracy and plain-language clarity by Ivanna Verstliar, Editor, against the source figures on this page.
- VERIFIED Data last synced Oct 1, 2026. Recalls change; confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. See our corrections policy and disclosure.