Volkswagen has issued a recall for more than 60,000 electric vehicles in the United States due to a potentially hazardous display error affecting the gear indicator.
The issue, which prevents certain gear positions from being displayed, poses a risk of unintended vehicle movement if the parking brake is not engaged.
This prompted the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to announce the recall, affecting two of Volkswagen Group’s fully electric models—the Audi Q4 e-tron and the Volkswagen ID.4. In total, 60,490 vehicles are being recalled across the US.
According to Volkswagen’s official safety recall report, the malfunction is attributed to a software glitch. The company first became aware of the issue in August after receiving reports of five cases happening outside the US.
This recall follows another recent software-related issue for Volkswagen after the German automaker recalled approximately 30,000 vehicles in the US due to a fault in the rearview camera display, which failed to function correctly earlier this month.
In November 2023, Volkswagen recalled nearly 115,000 vehicles in the US due to defective airbags in certain Beetle and Passat models manufactured between 2006 and 2019. The NHTSA warned that the driver’s side frontal airbag inflator could explode due to long-term exposure to high humidity and temperature fluctuations, posing a serious safety hazard.
Volkswagen, a leader in global automotive innovation, has been rapidly expanding its electric vehicle portfolio. The ID.4, one of the models affected by the current recall, is Volkswagen’s first global electric SUV and plays a crucial role in the brand’s push toward sustainable mobility.
Built on the company’s MEB platform, which underpins multiple EV models, the ID.4 has been well received for its range, spacious design, and affordability. Meanwhile, the Audi Q4 e-tron, a luxury compact SUV, offers premium features and is also built on the MEB platform, highlighting Volkswagen Group’s commitment to electrification.
The automaker has invested heavily in its electric future, with plans to introduce more EV models under the ID. family, including the upcoming ID. Buzz—a modern take on the classic Volkswagen Microbus. Volkswagen is also constructing new battery production facilities and software development centers to enhance vehicle performance and reliability.
Volkswagen is not the only automaker facing safety-related recalls. Tesla recently announced a recall of nearly 700,000 vehicles in the U.S. due to a malfunction in the warning system. The issue, which affected certain 2024 Cybertruck, 2017-2025 Model 3, and 2020-2025 Model Y vehicles, involved a faulty tire pressure monitoring system warning light.
The NHTSA warned that the light might not stay illuminated between drive cycles, failing to alert drivers to under-inflated tires, which could increase the risk of a crash.
Tesla stated that it would address the problem with a free software update, impacting approximately 694,000 vehicles. Owner notification letters were expected to be sent by February 15, 2025.
This recall adds to a series of technical issues affecting Tesla in 2024, including seven recalls related to the Cybertruck. In October, Tesla recalled over 27,000 Cybertrucks due to delays in the activation of the rearview camera image when shifting into reverse.
