Volkswagen, Audi Recall 60,000 EVs Over Rollaway Risk

• Faulty software could fail to display “N” on the instrument cluster of the Volkswagen ID.4 and Audi Q4 E-Tron.
• As a result, the EVs are being recalled to fix the issue.

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 60,490 electric vehicles sold in the United States because of a fault with the gear selection display that may increase the risk of rollaway.

The 2021-2023 Volkswagen ID.4, 2022-2023 Audi Q4 E-Tron and 2022-2023 Audi Q4 E-Tron Sportback are affected, but the automotive group did not detail in its recall report how many units of each model are involved. That said, the defect rate is just 1%, according to the documents submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The problem is that under certain circumstances, the “N” gear position may not appear in the instrument cluster when it is supposed to be displayed. As a result, “the driver may not be able to identify the transmission shift position, increasing the risk of a crash and vehicle roll away,” as per the NHTSA recall report. In other words, the car could be in Neutral but the display could show that it’s in Park, which is not safe.

Software is the culprit, and an update will fix the issue. However, that software update for the brake control unit–version 0526–will have to be performed by a dealer, as it cannot be applied over-the-air. 

The update is free and owners will be notified by April 25 to schedule an appointment. Until the fix is applied, drivers are advised to double check that the parking brake is on before leaving the vehicle.

This is the 11th recall for the Volkswagen ID.4 in the United States. The previous recall was for faulty electronic door handles that could open the doors while driving–it led to a stop-sale that lasted roughly three months and caused sales figures to plummet.

As for the Audi Q4 E-Tron and its Sportback body style, this is its fifth recall. The previous recalls dealt with incorrect headlight software, faulty rearview cameras, torn airbag and an increased risk of overheating the charging cable on the portable charger supplied with the car.