Volkswagen Calls Back New ID.4 Sport Utility Vehicles

Some Volkswagen sport utility vehicle owners may be driving around in cars whose doors could fly open at any time. 

VW is recalling more than 16,000 ID.4 SUVs, the automaker recently announced. A manufacturing mishap left the door handles susceptible to water leaks, which could cause electric systems to short circuit.

“Water ingress at the printed circuit board assembly of the door handle may cause a situation where a vehicle door could open unexpectedly when the vehicle is subject to high lateral forces at speeds below 9 mph/15 kmh,” VW said in a notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

“An open door on a moving vehicle puts occupants at risk of injury and cause damage to objects and people who may be outside of the vehicle,” the company continued.

The recall covers certain 2023 ID.4 vehicles produced in Mexico in March, according to Ford.

Volkswagen said it planned to alert owners via mail by the end of May. The problem, however, is that the company appears to have not yet come up with a fix for the defect. The company said the remedy is “to be determined.”

Other Volkswagen Safety Issues

This is not the only safety problem that Volkswagen has on its hands.

The company in April announced that it was calling back nearly 150,000 Atlas SUVs, for instance. VW told NHTSA at the time that a sensor malfunction on passenger side airbags may make the safety devices inoperable.

Just months earlier, the company recalled nearly 40,000 Beetle vehicles over a different airbag problem. The cars are equipped with faulty Takata airbags known to be at risk of exploding unexpectedly and blamed in crashes and deaths around the globe.

And near the end of last year VW called back about 225,000 cars across models. The company said the vehicles’ tires could unexpectedly lose pressure, increasing the risk of an accident.

Know Your California Lemon Law Rights

Fortunately, California’s lemon law offers some important rights and protections to car owners and lessors in the Golden State.

The lemon law generally requires carmakers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also obligates them to buy back vehicles that they are not able or flat out refuse to fix. 

That includes compensating the owner for any down payment on the car, as well as for monthly loan payments, the outstanding balance on any loan. The manufacturer is also responsible for towing, rental car and other related expenses. 

A car manufacturer can instead offer to replace the vehicle, but it is up to the owner to decide whether to accept or reject this alternative arrangement. 

Talk with a California Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a California lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law attorney.