As many as 100,000 electric cars produced by the Volkswagen Group are expected to be recalled due to issues with the battery modules that could pose a fire risk. It is understood that the issue affects cars produced between February 2022 and August 2024, including Volkswagen ID. and Cupra Born models.
Data from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) indicates that in the time around the production issue, approximately 8,500 Volkswagens and 730 Cupra electric vehicles were registered in Ireland, though not all may be affected by this recall.
It is expected that the cars will receive a software update as part of the recall, and that the high-voltage battery modules will be inspected and replaced if they are found not to meet the required specifications.
<h4>Any word from Volkswagen Ireland?</h4>
In an official statement, Volkswagen Group Ireland has said:
As part of our continuous quality monitoring, we have identified that in vehicles from the ID. series produced during a limited period, one of the modules in the high-voltage battery – where individual battery cells are combined into functional units – may not fully meet our technical specifications in all cases. As a result, there may be a reduction in electric driving range or the illumination of a yellow warning indicator in the vehicle. The extent of any potential reduction in range cannot be stated in general terms, but in individual cases it may be noticeable. In very rare cases, there is also a possibility of thermal overload within a battery module, which in extreme situations could lead to a fire.
To eliminate any potential risks, we are taking precautionary measures to inspect all affected vehicles. This involves first performing a software update at a Volkswagen service centre, enabling a detailed analysis of the condition of each battery module. If any irregular module is identified, it will be replaced as a precaution. This will be carried out at no cost to customers.
In Ireland, the measure affects 1 per cent of all ID. series models sold to date. Customers will be contacted in the coming days to arrange the necessary steps and schedule an appointment with their service centre.
No personal injuries have been reported in connection with this issue.
How do vehicle recalls work?
Generally, owners can expect to receive a letter from the brand stating that their vehicle is the subject of a recall, and they will be invited to contact their local or preferred authorised workshop to make an appointment for the checks to be carried out. These are done free of charge, and in some instances, owners may be provided with a courtesy vehicle to minimise inconvenience. Any additional work that needs to be carried out to rectify the issue is also done at the manufacturer's cost, not the customer's.