Volkswagen is recalling thousands of electric vehicles in Germany due to faulty battery cells that could overheat and pose a fire risk, the company confirmed on Thursday.
A spokesperson said internal quality checks revealed defects in high-voltage battery cells supplied by external manufacturers, affecting a limited production period. In rare cases, the flaw may cause increased thermal stress, potentially leading to a fire. Models reportedly impacted include the VW ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID. Buzz, and Cupra Born from production runs between 2023 and 2025, though the company has not officially confirmed the full list .
As an immediate precaution, Volkswagen has capped charging for affected vehicles at 80% capacity. Some cars will be inspected at service centers, where batteries will be tested; the charging limit will be lifted only if no defects are found. Owners of impacted vehicles will receive letters with details on the recall process and next steps .
Recalls are already underway in the U.S. and U.K., with American authorities reporting over 22,000 ID.4 models affected. German authorities are coordinating with Volkswagen to finalize the recall, which has not yet appeared in the Federal Motor Transport Authority’s database .
