Volkswagen Recalls Thousands of EVs Due to Fire Risk and Battery Defect

Volkswagen Recalls Over 72,000 Electric Vehicles Worldwide Over Battery Fire Risks

Volkswagen AG is recalling 72,668 electric vehicles globally due to a high-voltage battery defect that can cause overheating and, in extreme cases, vehicle fires. The recall impacts popular models produced between 2022 and 2025 across both the Volkswagen brand and its subsidiary Cupra, forcing the German automaker to issue temporary charging restrictions while a permanent technical solution is developed.

Internal quality checks revealed that specific battery cell components from an unnamed supplier may not meet required technical specifications. The defect creates safety hazards when a specific charging profile combines with a state of charge exceeding 80 percent. While German sources report no fires or material damages so far, the manufacturer treats the issue as a safety risk and is recalling vehicles preventively.

Volkswagen and Cupra Launch Three Recall Campaigns

The largest campaign, designated 93MF under KBA reference number 17137R, covers 62,927 vehicles manufactured between July 13, 2022, and June 6, 2025. This primary cohort includes Volkswagen ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, and ID.Buzz models. Out of this total, 7,112 units are registered inside Germany.

A second Volkswagen campaign, tracked as 93MV with KBA number 17101R, encompasses an additional 5,050 vehicles produced from September 18, 2023, to June 27, 2025. This group accounts for 1,538 registrations in the German domestic market. Concurrently, the Cupra brand faces campaign 93W4 under KBA number 17103R, affecting 4,691 Cupra Born hatchbacks built between September 2022 and May 2024, with 1,231 units located in Germany. In total, the KBA accounts for 9,881 vehicles inside Germany out of the 72,668 worldwide total.

Obmedzenie Nabíjania Batérie Na 80 Percent

Volkswagen odporúča majiteľom dotknutých elektromobilov v rámci zvolávacej akcie obmedziť nabíjanie batérie na najviac 80 percent. Vehicle owners receiving recall notices by mail have also found a pair of warning stickers inside the envelope displaying 80-percent charge limit pictograms.

Owners checking whether their specific vehicle requires intervention should verify their unique VIN at an authorized Volkswagen or Cupra service network, as production date ranges alone do not definitively identify flawed battery packs. This recall may also impact vehicles currently operating in Slovakia, where owners are advised to seek verification through official service channels.

Scope of the Global Recall

While the KBA-monitored campaigns account for the 72,668 vehicles mentioned, some industry reports suggest the broader scope of affected vehicles across the global fleet could reach over 85,000 units, potentially involving additional models like the Audi Q4 e-tron, which saw production units manufactured between November 2023 and June 2025 included in wider recall efforts. The current initiative follows a previous, separate recall campaign from March that involved a significantly higher number of electric vehicles for unrelated battery concerns.

In the event of a fire, the manufacturer instructs drivers to safely pull over if possible, park the vehicle outdoors if possible, switch off the ignition, exit the vehicle, move away, and contact emergency services. The scope of any necessary repair will be determined by the service inspection, and it remains unknown exactly how many of these vehicles will ultimately require a full replacement of their battery modules.