2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Gear Box Recall (21V852)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · 1 vehicles · Reported November 3, 2021
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling 1 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 vehicles. 4 vehicle. The steering gear may have an incorrectly assembled or missing drive bushing. An incorrectly assembled or missing drive bushing may cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V852 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V852000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 48Q7 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | November 3, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 |
| Units affected | 1 |
| Component | Steering > Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion) |
| Safety risk | An incorrectly assembled or missing drive bushing may cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 in recall 21V852?
4 vehicle.
Volkswagen Group of American, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling one 2021 ID.4 vehicle. The steering gear may have an incorrectly assembled or missing drive bushing.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 ID.4 with recall 21V852?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An incorrectly assembled or missing drive bushing may cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An incorrectly assembled or missing drive bushing may cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the gear box.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V852?
Recall 21V852 covers 1 vehicles: 2021 Volkswagen ID.4.
NHTSA lists 1 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Volkswagen | ID.4 |
What is the fix for the ID.4 gear box recall?
Yes. A dealer will replace the steering gear, free of charge.
A dealer will replace the steering gear, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 5, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 48Q7.
When was recall 21V852 announced?
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. reported recall 21V852 to NHTSA on November 3, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as November 5, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| November 3, 2021 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V852000. |
| November 5, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 59 months ago. If your ID.4 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my ID.4 is part of recall 21V852?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V852 is open on your ID.4, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 21V852000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should ID.4 owners do about recall 21V852?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V852000 applies to your ID.4.
- Call a Volkswagen dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the gear box happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are ID.4 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 335 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 17 of them about the steering.
Since recall 21V852 was reported on November 3, 2021, owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the steering on these vehicles. 1 of them (6%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the steering and were received on or after November 3, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related steering issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 335 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 17 of them involve the steering. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Volkswagen ID.4: 335 complaints in total, 17 about the steering
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
While stopped at a red light waiting to turn left, with foot on the brake, my car suddenly accelerated and lunged forward , plowing into the car in front of me with great force. I had to jam down the brake almost to the floor to get the car to stop.
2021 Volkswagen ID.4 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11638342, filed January 24, 2025
The car completely stopped without warning. The dashboard lit up with all the lights and informed me that the I need to pull over. There was no time to pull over as the car completely lost all power. The car was traveling on the freeway.
2021 Volkswagen ID.4 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11662858, filed May 23, 2025
The contact owned a 2021 Volkswagen ID.4. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 25 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and there was a loud revving noise coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle then independently accelerated at full speed.
2021 Volkswagen ID.4 owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11704680, filed December 12, 2025
Can recall 21V852 make my ID.4 a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this gear box recall means their ID.4 qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
A steering problem on the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 is the kind of safety defect that California law treats seriously. Fewer repair attempts may be needed for a claim than with a comfort or convenience defect.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the ID.4 went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your ID.4 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Volkswagen ID.4 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V852
Did the recall 21V852 fix work?
Since recall 21V852 was reported on November 3, 2021, owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the steering on these vehicles. 1 of them (6%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed November 5, 2021.
Is the 21V852000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my ID.4 is part of recall 21V852000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V852000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 7, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq., Founder and Managing Attorney of America’s Lemon Lawyer (Wynn Law Group, APC). Licensed by the State Bar of California, No. 362320. His practice focuses on California lemon law under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
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Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Volkswagen. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.