NHTSA // CRASH-TESTED
2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Safety Ratings
The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 scores 76 out of 100 on the NHTSA Safety Index (Average), with a 5-star overall NHTSA crash rating, 13 recalls, and 439 owner complaints on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
A strong crash-test performance for the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 is significantly undermined by its recall record. This includes multiple "park outside" battery campaigns that notably diminish its standing compared to the previous model year. The ID.4 achieves a NHTSA Safety Index of 76/100, positioning it within the Average band.
The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received a NHTSA Safety Index of 76 out of 100 and an overall NHTSA crash-test rating of 5 out of 5 stars, according to NHTSA data.
MotorCaliber Safety Desk // NHTSA data, verified Oct 1, 2026
Among the 139 SUVs from 2023 that NHTSA has crash-tested, the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 ranks 124 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 | 76 / 100 (Average) |
|---|---|
| Overall crash rating | 5 of 5 stars |
| Frontal / Side / Rollover | 5 / 5 / 4 stars |
| Rollover risk | 10.9% |
| Recalls on file | 13 (includes park-outside) |
| Owner complaints | 439 (unverified allegations) |
| Class rank | 124 of 139 SUVs tested for 2023 |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4?
The 2023 ID.4's Safety Index of 76 out of 100 places it in the Average band, a notable decline from the 2022 model's 83, which was in the Strong band. This seven-point drop is directly attributable to the vehicle's defect record. Thirteen recalls were issued for the 2023 ID.4, three of which mandated park-outside directives due to high-voltage battery concerns. These recalls fully negate the defect component of the Safety Index, bringing its score to 0 out of a possible 20 points. By contrast, the 2023 ID.4 demonstrated exceptional crash protection. It earned 5 out of 5 stars in overall, frontal, and lateral crash tests from NHTSA, contributing 66 out of 70 points to its Index score. The vehicle also achieved a perfect 10 out of 10 for its standard avoidance technology, which includes forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and electronic stability control. The 439 owner complaints, 218 of which cite issues with the electrical system, further underscore the pattern of defect-related concerns for this model year.
NCAP // CRASH TESTHow did the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 perform in crash tests?
The 2023 ID.4 achieved a full 5 out of 5 stars in its overall crash-test rating from NHTSA. This included perfect 5-star scores in both the frontal and side impact protection categories. The vehicle's rollover rating was 4 out of 5 stars, with an 11 percent rollover risk and a No Tip result in the dynamic tip test.
Source: NHTSA NCAP, VehicleId 18302
Index breakdown
NCAP // CRASH IMAGESCrash-test images
Crash-test images are US federal government works (NHTSA / NCAP), public domain.
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 have any recalls?
Yes. The 2023 ID.4 carries 13 recall campaigns. Three are park-outside or do-not-drive actions tied to the high-voltage traction battery, covering risks of overheating and cell module failure. Additional campaigns address service brakes and an automatic transmission gear-position indication issue spanning 2021-2023 ID.4 vehicles. The battery recalls are the most urgent safety concerns.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY26V028000
Risk: A vehicle fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside immediately after charging and not leave their vehicles charging indoors overnight until the recall repair is complete. Also, owners are advised not to use Level 3 DC chargers and to limit the maximum charge of the battery to 80% until the remedy has been completed. Dealers will replace the high voltage battery cell modules as necessary, free of charge. Owner not
Reported 2026-01-21
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY26V030000
Risk: A high-voltage battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will update the high-voltage battery software, and replace the high-voltage battery, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 18, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 93EA. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 23, 202
Reported 2026-01-21
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY25V836000
Risk: A vehicle fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside immediately after charging and not leave their vehicles charging indoors overnight until the recall repair is complete. Also, owners are advised not to use Level 3 DC chargers and to limit the maximum charge of the battery to 80% until the remedy has been completed. Dealers will replace the high voltage battery cell modules as necessary, free of charge. Owner not
Reported 2025-12-03
SERVICE BRAKES25V434000
Risk: A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 25, 2025. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42HX.
Reported 2025-06-30
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
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA24V875000
Risk: A blank rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the peripheral camera control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 26, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 91B3.
Reported 2024-11-20
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
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE24V643000
Risk: An improperly secured air bag inflator may not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the air bag as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 10, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagens number for this recall is 69E8.
Reported 2024-08-28
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
STRUCTURE23V750000
Risk: In a fire, fabric that is not fire retardant may further fuel a fire, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will apply flame retardant to the sunshade fabric, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 15, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 60G3.
Reported 2023-12-07
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES22V956000
Risk: A short circuit may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. A short circuit also increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the remedy has been completed. Dealers will inspect the 12-Volt battery charging cable and repair or replace it, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 27, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97HA.
Reported 2022-12-29
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION MOTOR22V830000
Risk: Coolant that leaks into the high-voltage system may impact safety-critical systems and warning lights, causing a loss of vehicle control or unintended air bag deployment, and increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the electric motor, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 6, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 19Q9.
Reported 2022-11-09
NHTSA // COMPLAINTSWhat do owners report about the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4?
NHTSA has logged 439 unverified owner complaints for the 2023 ID.4. The most-alleged component is the Electrical System at 218 reports, followed by Unknown or Other at 112, Forward Collision Avoidance at 69, Structure at 60, Vehicle Speed Control at 52, and Back Over Prevention at 47. These are unverified consumer allegations, not established facts.
439 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4?
Three separate park-outside battery recall campaigns underscore a critical safety concern for the 2023 ID.4. Any prospective buyer of this model year must verify, via a VIN-specific NHTSA lookup, that these severe safety issues have been definitively remedied. An unaddressed recall of this nature poses direct and substantial risks.
- Three separate park-outside or do-not-drive recall campaigns targeting the 2023 ID.4's high-voltage traction battery are the defining safety event of this model year and directly caused the defect-record component of the Safety Index to score 0 out of 20.
- The 2023 ID.4's Safety Index of 76 out of 100 represents a seven-point decline from the 2022 model year's score of 83 out of 100, dropping the vehicle from the Strong band to the Average band, a shift attributable entirely to recall volume.
- Despite the recall burden, NHTSA crash-test performance for the 2023 ID.4 is at the top of the scale, with 5 out of 5 stars overall, frontally, and in the side test, and a 4 out of 5 in rollover with an 11 percent risk figure.
- Unverified owner complaints to NHTSA total 439 for this model year, with 218 alleged to involve the electrical system, a concentration that aligns with the battery-focused recall activity specific to 2023 production vehicles.
RANKINGSWhere the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 places
The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 qualifies for these MotorCaliber safety rankings:
FAQ2023 Volkswagen ID.4 safety questions
Was the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 crash-tested by NHTSA?
Yes. NHTSA crash-tested the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4, and it earns a NHTSA Safety Index of 76 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 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 crash-test star ratings?
In NHTSA testing the 2023 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 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 13 vehicle recalls are on file for the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4, including a park-outside or do-not-drive campaign, which is the most serious class of recall. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which apply to your car.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 439 owner complaints are on file for the 2023 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 (2023)
| Vehicle | NHTSA Safety Index | Overall stars | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Tesla Model X Later Release | 100/100 | not rated | 0 |
| 2023 Tesla Model Y Later Release | 100/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
| 2023 Tesla Model Y Rwd Early Release | 100/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
| 2023 Tesla Model Y Rwd Later Release | 100/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
| 2023 Buick Envision | 96/100 | 5 of 5 | 1 |
| 2023 Lexus Rz 450e | 96/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: New Car Assessment Program crash tests (VehicleId 18302), the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the Volkswagen ID.4 2023.
- 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 124 of 139 in the SUV class for 2023.
- 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.