Volkswagen issues EV vehicle recall over battery issues 'which could lead to fire'

Volkswagen has issued a recall of a number of electric vehicles sold in Ireland and in Europe over a battery issue that could limit driving range and in extreme cases lead to fire.

The recall notices affect nearly 100,000 vehicles across Europe — 75,000 vehicles from Volkswagen’s ID series and nearly 20,000 Cupra Borns which rolled off the line between February 2022 and August 2024. Some of the affected models include the ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, and ID.Buzz.

A spokesperson from Volkswagen Group Ireland said it affects a small number of vehicles — 1% of all ID series models sold here — and some affected customers have already been contacted, while the remainder will be contacted over the coming days.

“As part of our continuous quality monitoring, we have identified that in vehicles from the ID series produced during a limited period, one of the modules in the high-voltage battery — where individual battery cells are combined into functional units — may not fully meet our technical specifications in all cases,” a company statement said.

Reduction

“As a result, there may be a reduction in electric driving range or the illumination of a yellow warning indicator in the vehicle. The extent of any potential reduction in range cannot be stated in general terms, but in individual cases it may be noticeable. In very rare cases, there is also a possibility of thermal overload within a battery module, which in extreme situations could lead to a fire.

“To eliminate any potential risks, we are taking precautionary measures to inspect all affected vehicles. This involves first performing a software update at a Volkswagen service centre, enabling a detailed analysis of the condition of each battery module. If any irregular module is identified, it will be replaced as a precaution. This will be carried out at no cost to customers.

“Customers will be contacted in the coming days to arrange the necessary steps and schedule an appointment with their service centre. No personal injuries have been reported in connection with this issue.”