Risk of electric battery fire: VW recalls thousands of cars again
By Franziska Müller Published on 16/10/2026 - 6:47 GMT+2 A few weeks ago it was a faulty screw; now a suspected battery defect means VW...
By Franziska Müller
Published on 16/10/2026 - 6:47 GMT+2
A few weeks ago it was a faulty screw; now a suspected battery defect means VW has to recall thousands of cars once again. In the worst case, there is a risk of fire.
Recall campaigns are already reported to be under way in the United States and the United Kingdom, and models in Germany are now also being taken out of circulation. According to the authorities, around 22,000 ID.4 electric cars are affected in the US.
VW prepares recall in Germany
Following these two countries, recall campaigns are now being planned and rolled out in Germany and on other markets.
Individual batteries for Volkswagen electric cars are defective. Internal quality checks have reportedly revealed the problem, according to Handelsblatt. A Volkswagen spokesperson told the outlet that several thousand vehicles are affected.
VW cited production faults at suppliers as the cause of the faulty battery cells. The issue is limited to a specific production period.
Because of the defect, the batteries may be exposed to increased thermal stress, according to the information available. In extreme cases, a fire in these electric vehicles cannot be ruled out, VW now has to concede.
According to Handelsblatt, the VW ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID Buzz and Cupra Born models produced between 2023 and 2025 are among those affected. The company has not yet confirmed this list of models.
The recall is being prepared in close coordination with the responsible authorities, the spokesperson said. It has not yet appeared in the databases of Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA).
VW sets out immediate measures
To prevent possible damage and incidents, the group is now recommending that potentially affected cars be charged only to a maximum of 80 per cent. The manufacturer plans to recall a proportion of the vehicles to service centres to check the batteries. Once inspected, the charging limit will be lifted for cars in which no fault is found.
If a defective battery is identified, the high-voltage battery module would not necessarily have to be replaced and could potentially be brought up to date with a software upgrade.
Customers whose vehicles are affected will be contacted by the company, the report continues. Owners will receive a letter informing them of the next steps.
A damaged screw led to a recall of around 2.86 million VW and Audi vehicles worldwide in September. The component could have caused the steering to fail, the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) warned.
20 per cent of VW deliveries are electric
VW’s electric-car business is strongest in Europe compared with the rest of the world. The share of battery electric vehicles in deliveries rose to 20 per cent in the first three quarters of 2026, meaning one in five cars was fully electric.
Overall, the group is grappling with falling demand worldwide, with business in China in particular slumping. In Germany, VW continues to dominate both the market for new electric registrations and the used EV market.
