Five VW electric models recalled over battery fire risk that could result in 'severe or deadly injuries' - 5,000 UK owners can't charge above 80%

Some 5,000 drivers of electric Volkswagen and Cupra models are being prevented from fully charging their cars amid concerns that batteries could overheat, catch fire and 'lead to severe or deadly injuries of persons within and outside of the vehicle'.The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency's (DVSA) vehicle safety recall database has added notices for five different electric cars produced by the VW Group in recent days.The recall affects the ID.3 hatchback, ID.4 SUV, ID.7 saloon and ID.Buzz MPV built between 2022 and 2025. Cupra Born hatchbacks, which are effectively rebranded versions of the ID.3, produced during the same period are also affected.A similar recall has been issued for the Audi Q4 e-tron in other markets, although the DVSA has yet to announce a UK recall for this car.Owners of the affected EVs are due to receive letters from the VW Group in the coming days informing them that their EVs must be taken to dealers so battery components can be assessed to ensure they 'meet quality standards'.Until a vehicle's battery has been signed off as safe, VW has issued an electronic update preventing the EVs from charging above 80 per cent, restricting driving range and creating inconvenience for longer journeys. Owners of electric VW cars produced between 2022 and 2025, including the ID.3 hatchback pictured, have been told they cannot charge their EVs over 80% due to a battery fire risksAccording to Autocar, around 85,000 VW electric vehicles worldwide have been caught up in the recall, although only about 5 per cent of these are on UK roads.The DVSA added the recall to its database last month.It states: 'On vehicles of the ID. product line equipped with high-voltage batteries from a certain supplier there is a suspicion that individual components of the high-voltage battery may not meet our high quality standards.'VW has yet to specify which battery sizes are affected, saying any technical faults would not be 'necessarily recognisable', meaning all 5,000 vehicles will need to be inspected.'In rare cases when the high-voltage battery is at a high charge level the battery may overheat,' the recall notice adds.'This creates a risk of fire which could lead to severe or deadly injuries of persons within and outside of the vehicle as well as to significant material damage.'VW told Autocar there have been no reported injuries linked to the fault.However, the company is aware of some incidents of property damage caused by EVs catching fire as a result of batteries overheating. Until batteries are signed off as safe, VW has issued an electronic update preventing the EVs from charging above 80%, restricting driving range by around 70 miles per charge Another of the electric Volkswagen models impacted is 2022-2025 ID.Buzz MPVs. A 80% charging restriction wipes around 60 miles off the van's 300-mile claimed rangeJoin the discussionShould carmakers be held accountable when battery faults put owners¿ safety and convenience at risk?What's your view?Volkswagen and the DVSA said: 'Until the check and if necessary repair of the vehicle it is very important that the high-voltage battery only be charged to a maximum charge level of 80 per cent.'The carmaker says it has already rolled out a Battery Care Mode to affected vehicles where possible, remotely preventing batteries from charging beyond 80 per cent capacity.Using the ID.3 as an example, the 20 per cent reduction in available battery capacity could cut driving range by around 40 to 70 miles per charge.Owners will be told to take their cars to workshops for an hour-long battery safety inspection. If problems are identified, battery modules will need to be replaced, potentially leaving vehicles off the road for longer.Some models may also be able to have the health of their battery packs assessed and updated over the air, with owners set to receive further instructions in due course.The 80 per cent charging restriction will be lifted as soon as the batteries are considered safe. However, the German automotive giant has yet to provide a timeframe for when the process will be completed.Among the Volkswagen EVs impacted is the ID.4 SUV (left) and ID.7 saloon (right) The Cupra Born hatchabck is also included in the recall. It is mechanically identical to the ID.3 and uses the same batteriesA similar issue has been plaguing owners of one electric Volvo model throughout 2026.More than 10,000 drivers of the EX30 SUV have been left for months with family cars that struggle to cover 150 miles before requiring a recharge after the manufacturer imposed strict charging restrictions on safety grounds.In December 2025, 10,365 UK owners of EX30 SUVs were told not to charge their cars above 70 per cent due to concerns that the batteries could overheat and, in rare cases, catch fire.They were also warned not to leave vehicles unattended while charging in garages or under cover because of fears temperatures could escalate.Volvo issued a recall in February but, months later, many cars are still awaiting repairs because of major delays sourcing parts from China.Furious drivers previously told This is Money the problem had become a 'constant inconvenience', with some already considering a return to petrol or diesel vehicles.