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Volkswagen Group of America is recalling ~80,000 2021-2023 ID.4 compact electric SUVs. Bad software in the affected electric vehicles may have center displays and instrument panel displays from LG Electronics in Poland that do not boot, or that sporadically reset. This can result in loss of speedometer information or loss of rearview camera image. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101 “Control and Displays” and 111 “Rear Visibility.” The initial investigation was prompted by queries from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration based on user complaints.
If the rear view camera display is delayed or not displaying an image, there is an increased risk of crash or injury when the vehicle is backing up. If the instrument panel display is not working or reboots, the driver would not be able to see important vehicle information, such as the vehicle speed, which could result in an increased risk of a crash.
“The updated software will contain certain bug fixes and robustness improvements to prevent software resets and rearview camera/dashboard display issue,” VW said in the required NHTSA filing.
Chronology
- April 28, 2023: Agenda item added to Quarterly Meeting by the NHTSA triggered analysis into the topic. Root cause analysis started.
- May 24, 2023: Topic was first presented in the VW AG Product Safety Committee. The failure modes certain potential software bugs were identified that could potentially lead to these failure modes. Some known bugs were already fixed in an earlier software version (SW 0561). Duration of unwanted behavior after resets unclear.
- May 24, 2023: Quarterly meeting with the NHTSA where the topic of instrument panel failures was discussed. June 14, 2023: Topic was presented again in the VW AG Product Safety Committee. Definitive root cause in the requested VOQ field vehicles could not be established. Duration of unwanted behavior after resets and differences between the software version presented and discussed.
- July 25, 2023: Volkswagen discussed rollout strategy with the NHTSA and provided detailed technical explanation of known root causes presented. It was confirmed that highly sporadic faults based on diverse root causes will be fixed, either directly if identifiable or by robustness measures.
- February 28, 2024: The topic and a planned software rollout in the field were presented to the NHTSA in the Quarterly Meeting.
- April 16, 2024: The NHTSA conveyed its position that the failures affect FMVSS compliance and need to be addressed by a recall.
- May 08, 2024: The VW AG Product Safety Committee reviewed the current all the current and past results from the activities and the input from the NHTSA and decided to conduct a non-compliance recall. Volkswagen is aware of 354 warranty claims dating from 04/18/2023-02/27/2024.
- Volkswagen is not aware of any crashes or injuries related to safety defect.
Dealers will update the vehicle software free of charge as required by Federal safety regulations. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 12 July 2024. Owners may contact VW customer service at 1-800-893-5298. VW’s number for this recall is 919A. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov about NHTSA 24V344.
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About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Volkswagen Group Recalls ID.4 EVs for Bad Software
Click for more information.
Volkswagen Group of America is recalling ~80,000 2021-2023 ID.4 compact electric SUVs. Bad software in the affected electric vehicles may have center displays and instrument panel displays from LG Electronics in Poland that do not boot, or that sporadically reset. This can result in loss of speedometer information or loss of rearview camera image. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101 “Control and Displays” and 111 “Rear Visibility.” The initial investigation was prompted by queries from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration based on user complaints.
If the rear view camera display is delayed or not displaying an image, there is an increased risk of crash or injury when the vehicle is backing up. If the instrument panel display is not working or reboots, the driver would not be able to see important vehicle information, such as the vehicle speed, which could result in an increased risk of a crash.
“The updated software will contain certain bug fixes and robustness improvements to prevent software resets and rearview camera/dashboard display issue,” VW said in the required NHTSA filing.
Chronology
Dealers will update the vehicle software free of charge as required by Federal safety regulations. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 12 July 2024. Owners may contact VW customer service at 1-800-893-5298. VW’s number for this recall is 919A. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov about NHTSA 24V344.
AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.