- The government is investigating over 50,000 Volkswagen ID.4s that may have doors that can open while the vehicle is in motion.
- The crossover was already involved in two previous recalls related to the issue.
- 12 vehicles that were ‘fixed’ had a door open, so the government is looking into the effectiveness of the recall remedies.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into approximately 51,500 Volkswagen ID.4 crossovers from the 2021 to 2023 model year. It will focus on doors opening while the vehicle is in motion as the government has already received 12 reports of this happening.
According to the Office of Defects Investigation, the complaints allege the doors opened due to a failure of the door handle assembly. The government also noted the affected models previously had a recall remedy completed. Those recalls focused on “door handles that do not meet the factory specifications for protection against water ingress.”
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While that might sound like a relatively minor issue, the recalls noted a “door could open unexpectedly when the vehicle is subject to high lateral forces at speeds below 9 mph / 15 kmh.” The problem stems from a circuit board, which could be damaged and inadvertently cause a door to open.
Reports varied, but the government noted some consumers said a door opened intermittently while driving. In some cases, people have also reported door handles that don’t allow them to enter or exit the vehicle.
The original remedies included a software update as well as an inspection of each door handle. If an issue was found, the faulty door handle was to be replaced.
It appears some might have slipped through the crack as the government has now opened an investigation into the effectiveness of the earlier recall remedies. What happens next remains unclear, but it’s possible further action might be required to ensure doors no longer open unexpectedly.
