Summary
- Volkswagen ID.4 and Audi Q4 E-Tron electric vehicles are being recalled due to issues with their 12-volt batteries
- The 12-volt battery may not charge even with plenty of charge in the high-voltage battery pack
- The issue is related to condensation forming within the onboard charger and damaging a printed circuit board
- The NHTSA warns that if a fault with the 12-volt battery is detected, the vehicle will provide warnings and experience reduced driving functions
- The remedy is the replacement of the onboard charger, which VW and Audi dealers will perform free of charge with owner notification letters being sent out on April 29th
Article
The Volkswagen ID.4 and Audi Q4 E-Tron electric vehicles are being recalled due to an issue with their 12-volt batteries. In the 13,769 recalled vehicles, which include a mix of 2024 VW ID.4 and 2024-2025 Audi Q4 E-Tron and E-Tron Sportback models, the 12-volt battery may not charge properly, even when the high-voltage battery pack has plenty of charge. This could result in the cars not starting or experiencing a loss of power or electronic issues if the 12-volt battery runs out of charge while the vehicle is being driven.
The issue with the 12-volt battery can occur even when the battery is relatively new and is related to condensation forming within the onboard charger and damaging a printed circuit board due to insufficient protective coating. This can cause the DC/DC converter to fail and prevent the 12-volt battery from charging. If a fault with the 12-volt battery is detected, the vehicle will display major warnings to the driver and may experience reduced driving functions as a result. The remedy for this issue is the replacement of the onboard charger, which will be done free of charge by dealers.
Volkswagen and Audi plan to mail owner notification letters regarding the recall on April 29. VW customers can contact the brand’s customer service department at 1-800-893-5298 and reference recall number 93CJ, while Audi customers can reach out to their customer service department at 1-800-253-2834, referencing recall number 93FR. The recall comes shortly after VW resumed deliveries of the ID.4 following a stop-sale order and production halt due to a door-handle issue. The 2025 model of the ID.4 has a slightly higher cost, in part due to the temporary unavailability of the smaller battery pack, with midyear features on the way.
Both the Volkswagen ID.4 and Audi Q4 E-Tron are closely related vehicles and have been involved in several other recalls in previous model years, including recalls for instrument panels and screen issues. The recalls point to the importance of thorough testing and quality control in the production of electric vehicles to ensure the safety and reliability of these vehicles. Customers who own the affected models should be vigilant for any warnings regarding the 12-volt battery and contact the respective customer service departments to schedule the free replacement of the onboard charger to address the issue.
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