Volkswagen is facing a class-action lawsuit in the United States over one of its most derided designs: steering wheels fitted with capacitive touch buttons. Two American customers claim the controls are beyond irritating. They are straightforwardly dangerous.
The lawsuit accuses Volkswagen of knowingly selling cars with controls so sensitive that drivers could activate crucial functions by accident. Among the features at the center of the case is adaptive cruise control, which can cause the vehicle to accelerate suddenly if engaged unintentionally.
No serious harm
Two ID.4 owners from Massachusetts and Connecticut are leading the claim. Both describe unnerving incidents while attempting to park, in which a stray hand movement triggered acceleration.
In one case, the car lurched into a garage door; in another, it shot forward into a tree. Next to excessive repair bills – a number of $14,000 (€12,000) was cited in the latter case – it also resulted in a minor hand injury.
The complaint also mentions numerous similar episodes reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the US safety regulator, ranging from unintended surges during low-speed maneuvers to alleged failures of emergency braking systems. One driver told investigators that a “mere light brush of the hand” had restarted cruise control after a turn, causing the car to accelerate without pedal input.
Sleek alternative
Volkswagen has already admitted that the touch buttons – first marketed as a sleek alternative to physical switches – were a misstep. They were introduced in the 2019 Golf and later rolled out across the ID range of electric cars.
In 2023, Andreas Mindt, the company’s head of design, conceded they were “a mistake” and pledged to return to conventional buttons. Updated models, such as the 2024 Golf, now feature the familiar click of analog controls.
But the lawsuit argues that for thousands of drivers, the damage has already been done. It claims Volkswagen ignored customer complaints, dealer reports, and its own internal records, failing to offer free repairs or suitable replacements. Instead, the company allegedly left drivers with vehicles that are harder – and sometimes riskier – to operate.
Broader unease
The plaintiffs are seeking damages of an undisclosed sum. Volkswagen declined to comment on the pending litigation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is aware of the complaints and has started an investigation into the Volkswagen haptic controls last summer.
The case highlights a broader unease with the automotive industry’s rush to digitize vehicle interiors. Also, Tesla decided to reverse its omission of the turning signal stalk on the Model 3.
Chinese customers are offered a retrofit at an extra cost. The updated Ioniq 6 also reintroduces physical buttons for specific functions that were previously manipulated on the touchscreen in the first generation.
Manufacturers have been eager to replicate the smartphone experience, replacing knobs and buttons with touchscreens and haptic surfaces. But for many customers, that shift has stripped away the tactile certainty needed when operating a car.
