2023 Volkswagen ID3: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2023 Volkswagen ID3?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2023 Volkswagen ID3 than on all cars registered in 2023.

• Tread depth2.7× usual
  Volkswagen ID3

  26% All 2023 cars

  9.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 0.9% of all 2023 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

Common 2023 Volkswagen ID3 MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2023 Volkswagen ID3 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  31% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Suspension
  3% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Lights and electrics
  2% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
  2% of testsRough price £15–£250

  At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

• Oil and fluid leaks
  1% of testsRough price £80–£600

  At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

• Brakes
  1% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

Known faults on the 2023 Volkswagen ID3

Reported by owners, mechanics and buying guides for this model and age. Check which engine the car has, as some apply to one engine only.

• Software and infotainment glitches

  All versions

  Early cars suffer infotainment crashes, blank screens, erratic voice control, adaptive cruise problems and persistent warning lights. Updates have fixed some but not all. Cars delivered before January 2021 lacked the final software.

  At the viewing: Ask what software version it runs, and test the screen, navigation, phone link and cruise control.

  Source: RAC: Volkswagen ID.3 (2020-2023) used car review, What Car?: Volkswagen ID.3 reliability

• 12V battery and key faults

  All versions

  The 12V battery is a known problem, and some keys and the keyless entry have failed, locking owners out.

  At the viewing: Make sure the car unlocks and starts reliably with each key.

  Source: RAC: Volkswagen ID.3 (2020-2023) used car review

• Battery self-discharge fix

  All versions

  VW called in more than 10,000 ID.3 and ID.4s worldwide to fix batteries that lost charge too quickly because of a manufacturing flaw.

  At the viewing: Run the free DVSA recall check on the reg and ask whether the battery work was done.

  Source: RAC: Volkswagen ID.3 (2020-2023) used car review

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2023 Volkswagen ID3

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Has it had all the software updates?
2. Any recent work on the tread depth? (Flagged at MOT 2.7× as often on the 2023 Volkswagen ID3 as on other cars the same age.)
3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?