Volkswagen is recalling 1,608 electric vehicles in Belgium because of potentially defective battery cells that could overheat when charged beyond 80%. Belgian importer D’Ieteren has confirmed that 1,444 Volkswagen ID models and 164 Cupra Borns are affected. Owners are now being contacted for inspections and possible corrective measures.

The Belgian figures are the first confirmed local numbers for a wider international recall affecting Volkswagen Group electric cars produced between 2022 and 2025. The Volkswagen models involved are the ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, and ID. Buzz, alongside the Cupra Born.

According to Jean-Marc Ponteville, PR Director at D’Ieteren, the issue involves specific production batches of battery cells that may overheat when charged beyond 80% capacity. In extreme circumstances, this could lead to a battery fire.

The Belgian importer stresses that the recall is primarily precautionary. No actual incidents involving affected vehicles have been reported in Belgium so far.

Owners being contacted

D’Ieteren has started contacting the Belgian owners concerned, inviting them to have their vehicles inspected and, if necessary, modified.

The process took time because the importer first had to trace the affected vehicles and identify their current owners. Not every ID model or Cupra Born produced during the relevant period is affected.

For now, owners of affected cars are advised not to charge their batteries beyond 80%. Volkswagen has confirmed that it has already imposed this temporary restriction remotely on many vehicles in other European markets.

Affected cars can still be driven, and DC fast charging remains possible as long as the 80% limit is respected.

Battery replacement still uncertain

What happens after the initial inspection remains unclear. Ponteville has not yet confirmed whether the remedy will involve software modifications, replacement of individual battery modules, or more extensive battery repairs.

Volkswagen’s British subsidiary says a software update may be sufficient in some cases, while others may require replacing battery modules. The company estimates that the initial inspection takes approximately one hour and that all necessary work is free of charge.

The distinction matters: the recall does not mean every affected vehicle has a defective battery, but that certain battery cells may not meet the manufacturer’s quality standards.

Nearly 73,000 vehicles worldwide

The Belgian recall forms part of a substantially larger international campaign. According to German newspaper Die Welt, Volkswagen is recalling nearly 72,700 electric vehicles worldwide, including approximately 10,000 in Germany.

In the neighboring Netherlands, official RDW recall registrations list another 1,808 affected vehicles, comprising 1,710 Volkswagen ID models and 98 Cupra Born models.

Together with Belgium’s 1,608 vehicles, this brings the confirmed Benelux total to at least 3,416, excluding Luxembourg, for which no country-specific figures have yet been established.

Volkswagen identified the recall campaigns as 93MF and 93MV, which cover selected vehicles manufactured between March 2022 and June 2025, depending on the model and campaign.

Volkswagen has attributed the problem to possible production deviations in battery cells supplied by an external manufacturer but has not publicly identified the supplier.

A precaution, but not without consequences

Volkswagen maintains that affected vehicles can continue to be used safely as long as the temporary charging limit is respected. The company has not reported any confirmed injuries linked to these campaigns, although its British communication acknowledges isolated cases of property damage.

The issue nevertheless highlights the complexity of ensuring battery quality across production batches and suppliers, particularly as manufacturers increase electric vehicle volumes.

For owners, the immediate consequence is straightforward. Until their vehicle has been checked and any necessary corrective work completed, they may have to accept a reduction in usable battery capacity and driving range.

The Belgian owners concerned should receive further instructions directly from D’Ieteren or their authorized dealer