US Investigation Initiated as VW ID.4 Doors Open While Driving

The doors of Volkswagen ID.4 electric vehicles have been reported to open while the vehicles are in motion. This issue affects models from 2021 to 2023 and has prompted an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The federal agency decided to act after 12 reports emerged of doors opening even after a previous recall fix was applied.

Volkswagen had earlier recalled these vehicles due to problems with door handles not meeting factory specifications against water damage. This led to circuit board damage, especially under high lateral forces at speeds below 9 mph (15 km/h). In response, Volkswagen provided a software update, inspected each door handle, and replaced faulty ones.

Despite these measures, consumer complaints continued to surface. Drivers reported intermittent door openings while driving and malfunctioning door handles, complicating both entering and exiting the vehicle. These ongoing issues have triggered NHTSA's deeper probe into whether previous remedies were effective.

The probe encompasses approximately 51,500 vehicles and aims to evaluate the effectiveness of prior recall remedies enacted by Volkswagen. Pending the findings of this ongoing investigation, NHTSA may mandate further recall actions to enhance safety.

Source: Carscoops