Volkswagen halts ID.4 production after failing to fix leaky doors

Volkswagen will suspend production of the all-electric ID.4 at its Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant starting September 23 to address an ongoing issue affecting tens of thousands of vehicles.

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Since April 2023, Volkswagen has been struggling with door handles that are prone to water ingress and can be opened without any operation. The brand has issued three recalls for the ID.4 in an attempt to fix the fault, but still has no comprehensive solution. Coupled with the continued suspension of the car, this means that it no longer makes sense to continue producing the electric crossover.

Read: Volkswagen recalls ID.4 for third time because doors often open automatically

Volkswagen has confirmed that it will suspend production of the ID.4 until a solution is found. The company has not yet disclosed the length of the suspension, but said it will put around 200 employees at the factory on furlough.

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“While we resolve this issue, we are focused on doing the right thing for our employees, dealers and customers during this disruption,” the automaker confirmed. “Starting September 23, approximately 200 employees in Chattanooga will be furloughed and we will support them through Tennessee unemployment benefits so that they will still receive 80% of their base pay and will continue to receive all existing benefits.”

Carscoops has reached out to Volkswagen for comment on the suspension and will update this article when we hear back. Volkswagen also said it is “exploring ways to support dealers” as remediation efforts continue.

Earlier this month, the ID.4 was recalled due to door handle problems. The recall involves 98,606 ID.4s. Between June 2023 and May 2024, Volkswagen has received 135 warranty claims related to water ingress issues.

This year, sales of the ID.4 in the United States have fallen sharply, partly due to the suspension of sales. In the second quarter, Volkswagen sold only 5,690 ID.4s, a 15% drop compared to the second quarter of 2023, marking the second consecutive quarter of year-on-year decline.

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