Josh Cowan, a devoted Volkswagen fan, may be forced to reconsider his loyalty after this ordeal
From an outside perspective, it’s evident that the Volkswagen ID.4 has faced its fair share of challenges since its launch. While some issues are minor, others are more concerning—such as doors unexpectedly opening because they can’t handle water exposure. However, it’s not often we get a firsthand account of what living with such a car is really like. One Florida man, Josh Cowan, is now sharing his frustrating experience with the ID.4.
Cowan, a lifelong Volkswagen enthusiast, has owned three Jettas, a Tiguan, and an Atlas. His wife’s first car was also a Volkswagen. Naturally, when it came time to buy a new family car, the ID.4 seemed like a logical choice. But instead of enjoying the EV, Cowan has spent the last seven months driving a loaner Tiguan.
Shortly after purchasing a low-mileage, used ID.4 from CarMax, Cowan noticed an airbag warning light. He brought the car to a dealer and mentioned an odd noise as well. “There was a clunking sound that happened every time you turned a corner and accelerated,” he told WFTV.
Initially, the dealer suspected a faulty motor mount. When that fix didn’t resolve the issue, they concluded the ID.4 needed a new transmission. Seven months later, the car remains in the shop. Why the delay? According to the dealer, Volkswagen has yet to provide the necessary tools to replace the gearbox.
“So, there it sits. It’s now been seven and a half months,” Cowan explained. “In the meantime, two additional recalls have been issued for the car, and there are no fixes for them yet.” Surprisingly, Volkswagen appears ready to distance itself from the situation, offering the Cowans $3,000 as compensation.
Josh suspects that accepting the offer would mean waiving any future claims against VW. “It’s frustrating, and we feel really let down by Volkswagen,” he said. For now, all he can do is wait for the dealer and the automaker to resolve the issues.
