Volkswagen ID.4 collision warning problems

Filed Feb 23, 2026 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · CA · crash

I was slowing down to park the car when it lurched forward in high speed and smashed into the wall. The front collision warning never went off, and the emergency braking never came on. My foot was on the accelerator and lifting off to park at low speed like I do all the time, so it wasn't like I was trying to slam on the brakes and pressed on the accelerator by mistake. The car was serviced at the dealership less than a week ago, but VW pushed out an OTA update 2 days ago. I don't know if the OTA update has anything to do with this scary behavior, but I have not experienced anything like this before.

Filed Jun 23, 2025 · Driver assistance, Electrical · MD · crash

I was driving my 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S on March 12, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland, when I was involved in a motor vehicle accident. Although I maintained an adequate stopping distance from the truck in front of me, my forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assistance systems suddenly activated, causing my vehicle to make contact with the truck. My safety—and the safety of others—was compromised. My vehicle sustained front-end damage. This was not the first time these systems engaged without cause. I took my vehicle to Heritage Volkswagen Parkville (located in Carney, Maryland) due to unresolved recalls and these irregular system behaviors. The dealership claims that Volkswagen requires me to replace the tires, align the wheels, and install a new 12V battery before completing the recall work or troubleshooting the issue. I informed the service manager that the vehicle is unsafe to drive and that, under federal law, the dealership is obligated to complete the recall. He responded that the recall work cannot proceed until the tire replacement, alignment, and battery installation are completed. As of June 23, 2025, my vehicle remains at the dealership. I have unsuccessfully attempted to reach VW’s Customer CARE department. The vehicle is not safe. I believe VW is at fault.

Filed Apr 30, 2025 · Driver assistance · ME · crash

I am filing this formal complaint with the federal safety agency regarding a critical safety failure involving my 2024 Volkswagen ID.4. The incident, which occurred on [XXX], involved sudden and unintended acceleration while slowly parking at a Walgreens in Saco, Maine, resulting in a collision with the building. I delayed this submission until the official police report (Saco Police Crash Report #[XXX]) became available on April 21, 2025, to ensure accuracy and proper documentation. Incident Details: •Date/Time: [XXX] •Location: Walgreens Pharmacy, [XXX] •Vehicle: 2024 VW ID.4 (VIN: [XXX] ) •Conditions: daylight conditions, no contributing environmental factors. While shifting from Drive to Park with my foot fully on the brake, the vehicle surged forward twice without accelerator input. IQ Drive, Collision mitigation systems and Park Distance Control (PDC) failed to engage. All driver-assistance features were deactivated. No airbags deployed. Supporting Documentation (attached): •Saco Police Crash Report # [XXX] •Crash scene photographs Prior Warnings: •In August 2024, a powertrain warning appeared; VW service dismissed it as non-critical. •On the morning of the crash, the vehicle emitted an abnormal sound during initial startup Medical Context: At the time of the incident, I was recovering from major cardiothoracic surgery ([XXX]). Though belted, the sudden jolt near my surgical site raised post-operative risks and safety concerns. Request for Action: I respectfully request that the federal safety agency: 1.Investigate this incident for potential inclusion in a broader pattern of unintended acceleration in the VW ID.4 model. 2.Review related TSBs, consumer complaints, or internal manufacturer field reports. 3.Secure pre-reset data from the vehicle’s ECU and EDR. 4.Notify Volkswagen of its duty to report Thank you for your attention to this serious matter INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Feb 26, 2025 · Brakes, Driver assistance · NV

As I described via various work orders to VW Centennial service since 05-15-2024 (5 service orders ago). I am seriously concerned about the sensor ability to prevent and effectively work when needed. Today, 02-26-2025 I am documenting a clear scenario where ACC failed. On Freeway 215 driving 60 MPG with ACC engaged. Traffic on the freeway came to a standstill, the ACC engaged and stopped my ID4 from 55 MPH. This is the ideal outcome. However it failed few moments later. ACC showed ready when at standstill. When traffic resumed, ID4 accelerated to commensurate with the traffic at 25mph and ACC kept on par with the car ahead which is intended with the ideal distance. 5 seconds later, cars stopped again. This is where ACC should have stopped my ID4. However it did NOT. ACC did not stop my ID4 only to find myself facing a red collision alert second later within car length away. Had to hit the brakes hard and swerve to avoid collision with the car in front. I was led into a false sense of security as ACC worked minutes prior. This is not the first time ACC failed, and based on my accounting, it only works ¾ times. Even failure to engage ¼ times this can result in a serious collision. Many times I’ve discussed with the service asking them to replicate the same issue reported here. I also gave service exact scenarios where this happened. ACC also consistently fails 100% on highway off-ramps as the sensor does not see off-ramp barriers. As such you can always find ID4 ACC accelerating into increasing elevation off-ramps. A clear example of such you is on Freeway 215 and 95 off-ramp. This is a severe safety flaw that is 100% reproducible that I’ve explained to my service department time and again.

Filed Nov 20, 2024 · Driver assistance · CA

The electronic display has a recall. The display will just blackout at times leaving nothjng readable and not functionable. The collision warning systems constantly go off without anything being in our way causing the car to stop drastically causing passengers to experience severe jolting. This happens often. Door handle defects that are recalled. All recalled issues cannot be fixed according to VW. VW will not take back the car or buy back the car. They currently have a “no sell” on the id.4s and will not buy them back. We cant even get out of this car.

Filed Nov 13, 2024 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · IL

Whole assist package malfunctions on daily basis making the cruise, lane assist, front collision warning, sign recognition not possible to use.

Filed Nov 10, 2024 · Driver assistance, Electrical · NC

On two occasions the entire instrument panel went dark. Speed and other information were not available. It is my perception that lane keeping assistance, blind spot monitoring, automatic braking for collision avoidance and other safety systems were not available during those incidents. I have inquired of dealership maintenance personnel, and they do not know how many systems are affected. When these incidents occur, it is disconcerting for me as a driver and could cause an accident. If the safety systems are not functioning, then the probability of high-speed collision is increased. Examples of that would include front-rear collision at highway speed and lane changing or merging on expressways. A recall for these problems was issued in May, 2024 with an update in July but the manufacturer says they don't know how to fix it. I have asked them for either a prompt repair or for them to buy-back the car. They have denied my request. I believe that so much time has passed that they should be required to repurchase the car.

Filed Oct 8, 2024 · Driver assistance, Electrical · CO

Collision warnings/automatic breaking has failed on vehicle multiple times. Presumably due to the software/hardware not being able to process. This has led to several incidents of near collision when in travel assist (self driving) and in general operation where it has actively backed into objects. Dealer did not have comments on incidents. Also raised infotainment resetting during driving from current campaign which is 6+ months old and they did not have an ETA on a resolution. Recommend pushing a forced buy back campaign as VW is unable to fix these dangerous issues.

Filed Oct 1, 2024 · Driver assistance · FL · crash · 1 injury

On 9/17/2024 roughly at 10:00PM, while in the drive-thru picking up food, my Volkswagen ID.4 suddenly self-accelerated out of nowhere as I was slowly driving towards the window to pay for food. I was completely shocked—I’ve never experienced anything like this. I tried to react quickly, but the car surged forward and slammed into a large cement light post. The impact was hard, and the car is now severely damaged. What really shook me was that none of the safety features I’ve come to rely on worked—there was no automatic braking, late front collision warning, and despite the heavy impact, none of the airbags deployed. I ended up feeling all bruised and now have some severe mid-back pain. The thought that I could have easily been hurt more seriously, or worse, could have harmed someone else if this had happened in a crowded area, is traumatizing. This has made me completely lose trust in the vehicle’s safety systems. If the car can do this in such a low-risk situation, I can’t imagine what might happen in a more dangerous scenario. I brought up other safety concerns to Volkswagen that were completely dismissed.

Filed Jul 18, 2024 · Airbags, Driver assistance · 30,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the "Travel Assist" and the "Forward Collision Avoidance" system warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that while drifting into the lane in the past there was a vibration in the steering wheel to alert the driver. The contact stated that the steering wheel no longer vibrated while the warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the front passenger’s side occupant air bag sensor warning was displayed and stated that the sensor was off, with an occupant seated in the seat. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed the failure with the Forward Collision Avoidance and the Travel Assist and a software update was performed. The contact stated that for the passenger’s side air bag sensor to be diagnosed, the dealer needed to remove the seat to determine the cause of the failure. The seat sensor was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure of the Forward Collision Avoidance and the travel assist had reoccurred. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.