Volkswagen is recalling about 98,000 ID.4 electric SUVs, saying door handles may allow water to enter a circuit board assembly and cause the doors to open unexpectedly, and the issue is affecting production of the vehicle in Chattanooga.
The 2021-24 model year vehicles included in the recall may have been built with door handles that do not meet the factory specifications for protection against water ingress, according to a notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Water getting into the printed circuit board can lead to malfunctions causing an “open command” to the door lock, the notice said.
“An open door on a moving vehicle puts occupants at risk of injury and can cause damage to objects and people who may be outside of the vehicle,” according to the notice.
But, VW said in the notice it’s not aware of any crashes or injuries as a result of the issue.