Volkswagen’s expanding safety campaign involving electric vehicle traction batteries has now surpassed 85,000 affected vehicles globally, following the inclusion of specific Audi models. The latest expansion introduces thousands of Audi electric crossovers to a growing recall tied to potential battery overheating and fire risks.
Audi Q4 E-Tron Models Added to Global Recall
The Volkswagen Group added further electric vehicles to the KBA recall database, bringing the total global impact to 85,402 electric vehicles. This update includes 12,734 Audi Q4 E-Tron and Q4 Sportback E-Tron vehicles globally, which spans model years 2024 to 2025 in the United States and international markets. Specifically, Volkswagen Group of America notified safety regulators in a letter that the U.S. portion of the Audi recall affects 9,048 vehicles.
The safety action stems from reports reviewed by Audi’s Product Safety Committee regarding battery thermal events occurring in other Volkswagen Group electric vehicles that utilize the same battery systems found in the Q4 E-Tron lineup.
Charging Restrictions and Temporary Fixes
While the exact root cause of the battery overheating issue remains under investigation, automakers are taking immediate precautionary steps to mitigate safety hazards. Owners of affected vehicles have been urged to limit their daily vehicle charging capacity to 80%.
In communication sent to owners, Volkswagen noted plans to apply a temporary vehicle setting that automatically restricts charging capacity to 80%, unless owners actively opted out of the software adjustment by mid-October. The broader Volkswagen EV battery recall previously impacted popular models like the Volkswagen ID.4, leaving tens of thousands of drivers operating under temporary charging limitations while engineers investigate long-term remedies.
