Volkswagen ID.4 recall 26V630 and 93EX: affected cars, charging limit and VIN checks

© A. Krivonosov

Having the same ID.4 badge does not mean facing the same battery risk. According to Handelsblatt, Volkswagen is preparing a recall of several thousand electric vehicles in Germany, but the KBA reference, precise VIN range and final repair procedure have not been published. The 22,524 vehicles involved in the US are covered by a separate campaign, not a list applicable to Europe.

These are not the same recall

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has registered recall 26V630, Volkswagen code 93EX. It covers certain US-built ID.4 vehicles from model years 2023–2026, manufactured between January 1, 2023 and February 1, 2025. Investigators are still working to establish the root cause: some charging patterns above 80% battery capacity could trigger thermal propagation within the pack. Volkswagen estimates that about 0.1% of the recalled vehicles may actually have the defect.

Handelsblatt reports that the planned German campaign could include the Volkswagen ID.3, ID.4, ID.7 and ID. Buzz, as well as the Cupra Born, from 2023–2025. The group has not confirmed a final list of vehicles or VINs. Volkswagen says excessive heat in the battery could, in rare cases, result in a fire. Separate measures in the UK use campaign codes 93MV and 93MF; these codes must not be treated as German or US recall identifiers.

An 80% charging limit is not a repair

Not every US vehicle will receive an automatic charging cap. Whether it can be applied depends on the vehicle configuration and connectivity. Affected owners are to receive warning labels telling them not to charge beyond 80%. An ordinary Battery Care Mode setting at 80% does not, by itself, establish that a vehicle is subject to recall. A permanent remedy for campaign 93EX is still being developed.

Volkswagen also initiated a separate recall of 43,881 ID.4 vehicles, NHTSA number 26V030 and manufacturer code 93EA. That action involved a battery software update and replacement of faulty components when necessary. An earlier European campaign also called for battery-module checks. The totals should not be added together: the reasons, markets and VIN populations differ.

Owners and used-car buyers should check the VIN

An imported vehicle may not receive a recall letter at its current address. Owners should identify the original market of sale and check the VIN with the relevant national authority or ask Volkswagen or Cupra for its status. For US-market ID.4 vehicles, VIN checks for campaign 26V630 have been available through NHTSA since October 6, 2026.

If a vehicle is subject to the recall, follow the manufacturer's instructions and do not charge above 80% until the problem is resolved. Do not bypass an installed software limit before authorized diagnosis. Buyers of used cars should obtain proof that the required recall work was completed; a battery state-of-health report alone is not enough.

For the US campaign 26V630 (93EX), Volkswagen plans to mail interim owner notices on November 27, 2026. A further notice will follow once a final remedy is approved. US owners can check their VIN on the NHTSA website or contact Volkswagen of America at 1-800-893-5298. For the planned German campaign, the KBA number, notification schedule and final repair instructions have not yet been announced.