Volkswagen is recalling 23,883 units of the 2023 and 2024 ID.4 electric crossover due to a potential issue with the panoramic sunroof’s roller sunshade. The fabric used in the sunshade may not meet fire retardant standards set by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 302, which regulates the flammability of interior materials.
Internal testing by Volkswagen revealed inconsistencies in the fabric’s burn rate, with some samples burning faster than allowed under the FMVSS standard. In the event of a vehicle fire, the rapid combustion of the sunshade fabric could pose a risk of injury to occupants.
The supplier of the fabric had consistently passed its own internal fire retardant tests. After further investigation, Volkswagen decided to issue a noncompliance recall due to the inconsistent test results.
To address this issue, affected Volkswagen ID.4 owners will need to take their vehicles to an authorized Volkswagen dealership to have a flame retardant applied to the sunshade fabric.
Volkswagen is currently unsure of the exact cause of the inconsistent burn rate results. However, for ID.4 models produced after August 1, 2023, the roller sunshade has been flipped, with the exterior surface now facing inward. This modification has resulted in “consistently better performance” during fire retardant testing.
Volkswagen has already notified dealerships about the recall and will begin sending letters to affected owners starting January 5, 2024. Owners with questions or concerns can contact Volkswagen customer service at 800-893-5298 and mention internal recall number 60G3. Alternatively, you can contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 800-424-9153) or visit the NHTSA website at www.nhtsa.gov and search for campaign number 23V750000.
