Volkswagen has recalled close to 73,000 electric vehicles worldwide because of faulty battery cells, and the company is restricting charging on the affected cars until a repair is ready.
Earlier this month, VW filed a recall with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration covering 22,524 ID.4 electric SUVs in the United States. Information from Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority, known as the KBA, now shows the global scope is far larger. Three separate recalls under review by the agency cover a combined 72,668 vehicles, 9,881 of them in Germany.
The affected vehicles include certain batches of the ID. Buzz, ID.3, ID.4 and ID.7 built between 2022 and 2025, along with Cupra Born models produced from 2022 to 2024.
Volkswagen said an internal investigation found that some battery cells made during that period fail to meet specifications, and that the problem traces back to a supplier defect. According to the company, "certain charging profiles combined with a state of charge over 80% may trigger thermal propagation," a process that can lead to a battery fire.
As an interim measure, VW is urging owners to charge no higher than 80% of maximum battery capacity. Where technically possible, the company said, "the maximum available charging capacity will be temporarily limited to 80% by the system."
US owners of recalled vehicles received an email from Volkswagen stating that, unless they opt out by October 21, the company "intends to apply a temporary vehicle setting that limits charging to 80%." The change will be delivered remotely and shown in the mobile app on or about October 27, 2026. Some owners have already received the update.
A permanent remedy is still being developed. Letters notifying owners of the risks are expected to be mailed on November 27, 2026, and Volkswagen will send further letters once a fix is available.
Owners with questions can call Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and refer to recall number 93EX. In the US, the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline is 1-888-327-4236, and more information is available at NHTSA.gov under campaign number 26V630. The KBA recall codes are 93MV, 93MF and 93W4, the last of which applies to the Cupra Born.
