California Lemon Law News + Info

Volkswagen Audi Rollaway Risk: 60,000+ Vehicles Recalled

Volkswagen recalled more than 60,000 vehicles in its electric lineup due to the Neutral gear position not showing on the instrument panel.

The transmission gear level indicators failing to display in some VW ID.4 and Audi e-Tron vehicles makes them noncompliant with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 102, “Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect.”

Drivers of VW ID.4 and Audi Q4 e-Tron vehicles may not be able to identify the transmission shift position. As a result, they may not engage the parking brake, allowing the vehicles to roll away.

To prevent rollaway events, drivers are advised to make sure the parking brake is engaged before leaving their vehicles. When the parking brake is engaged, the red parking brake indicator light will be illuminated on the instrument cluster.

Volkswagen and Audi owners were notified by mail on March 14, 2025.1

Audi, Volkswagen Rollaway Recall: Overview

  • NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V120000
  • Volkswagen Recall Number: 97H3
  • Audi Recall Number: 454R
  • Number of Vehicles: 60,490
  • Vehicles Recalled: 2021–2023 Volkswagen ID.4, 2022–2023 Audi Q4 e-Tron, and Q4 e-Tron Sportback
  • Vehicle Issue: The instrument panel may not display the transmission gear level indicator, particularly the Neutral gear position.
  • Remedy: Volkswagen and Audi dealers will update the brake control unit software.

In August 2024, Volkswagen was aware of five field cases of Neutral gear position not displaying on the instrumental cluster taking place outside the United States. Following a six-month period of investigation and analysis, Volkswagen issued a recall for VW ID.4 and Audi Q4 e-Tron electric SUVs.

The manufacturer corrected the issue with updated software for the brake control unit. Since October 2023, these vehicles have been manufactured and produced with this up-to-date software.2

Audi and Volkswagen Rollway Recall: Contact Information

  • Volkswagen Customer Service Number: 1-800-893-5298
  • Audi Customer Service Number: 1-800-253-2834
  • NHTSA Safety Hotline: 1-888-327-4236

What Should Audi and VW Drivers Do?

If you are not sure whether your Volkswagen or Audi vehicle is covered by the vehicle rollaway recall, you may confirm through either of the following methods:

  1. Contact Volkswagen or Audi’s customer service department and provide your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to the customer service representative.
  2. Use NHTSA’s Recall Search Tool and type your VIN into the search bar.

If you have already received a recall notice, follow the instructions provided to you. You will be instructed to schedule a repair service with your local Volkswagen or Audi dealership. The manufacturer recommends that you schedule a repair service online through Volkswagen’s Find A Dealer or Audi’s Dealer Search tool.3 Alternatively, you may call the manufacturer’s customer service department and request a repair service appointment.

If you have a 2021–2023 Volkswagen ID.4, your recall notice may reference two recalls: 97H3 and 919A, both of which pertain to software updates.4 Recall 97JH3 addresses the Volkswagen rollaway risk.

Volkswagen’s Recall 919A – or NHTSA Campaign Number 24V344000 – addresses additional software issues that affect center displays and instrument panels. This population of Volkswagen ID.4 vehicles may also experience a loss of speedometer information or loss of a rearview camera image due to displays that fail to boot or reset randomly. If your Volkswagen ID.4 is part of this recall population, you should have received a notice as early as December 2024.5

When Recall Repairs Do Not Work: Consult an Attorney

A manufacturer, through its dealerships, has to ensure that vehicle issues are addressed within a reasonable number of repair attempts. What’s considered “reasonable” is determined on a case-by-case basis. If your Volkswagen or Audi vehicle issues cannot seem to be resolved within a reasonable number of attempts from your dealership or repair facility, the California Lemon Law may consider your vehicle to be defective.

Owners of defective vehicles are eligible to recover cash compensation, a replacement vehicle or a lemon law buyback (a refund approximately equal to your vehicle’s purchase price, give or take a mileage-based offset), along with compensation for out-of-pocket expenses for your vehicle issues.

If your Volkswagen or Audi vehicle has ongoing issues that your dealership or repair facility cannot seem to resolve, we recommend that you get a free consultation from our lemon law attorneys. To sign up, fill out our consultation form below or call us at: 833-208-8181.

References

  1. (2025, February 27). Gear Position Indicator Not Displayed/FMVSS 102. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://www.nhtsa.gov/?nhtsaId=25V120000
  2. Part 573 Safety Recall Report 25V-120. (2025). https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V120-7267.PDF
  3. Subject: Compliance Recall 454R – Brake Control Unit Software. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCONL-25V120-7032.pdf
  4. Subject: Compliance Recall 97H3 – Brake Control Unit Software. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCONL-25V120-8389.pdf
  5. (2024, May 15). Instrument Panel Display Malfunction/FMVSS 101. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://www.nhtsa.gov/?nhtsaId=24V344000

Lemon Law Help by Knight Law Group is an automotive lemon law firm that exclusively practices in California, with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and Orange County. If you are a California resident who purchased or leased a defective vehicle from a licensed dealership in California, we may be able to help you get rid of your potential lemon and recover significant cash compensation. Model year restrictions apply: 2020–Present vehicle models only.

However, we cannot help those who reside outside of California or purchased their vehicle outside of California unless they are active duty members of the Armed Forces, nor will we be able to refer those to a lemon law firm in their states.

To learn more about the California Lemon Law and your legal rights, visit our guide on the California Lemon Law for more information.

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