Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Charles from Port Chester, New York, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Ssu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Verdict
Electric compact rated 5 Euro NCAP stars in 2020, with a 385 L boot. Its early years were marked by software bugs and cases of flat 12 V batteries, and it has been subject to safety recalls: a passenger airbag that was incorrectly fixed (cars built from February 2021 to January 2023) and several campaigns on the high-voltage battery, with a risk of fire in the most serious cases. Check with the serial number that all the recalls have been carried out.
- Reliability
- 4.5/5
- Indicative prices
- €20,000 – €32,500
- Monthly cost
- €470
- Euro NCAP
- 5/5
Which version to choose
Versions to favour: Pro 58 kWh 204 ch, Pro S 77 kWh 204 ch.
Pure 45 kWh 170 ch
Electric · Automatic · 170 hp · Crit'Air green
Entry-level version with a 45 kWh battery and 170 hp, cited by EV Market.
Pro 58 kWh 204 ch
✓ RecommendedElectric · Automatic · 204 hp · 16.1 kWh/100 km · 0 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air green
58 kWh battery and 204 hp (150 kW) according to L'argus.
Pro S 77 kWh 204 ch
✓ RecommendedElectric · Automatic · 204 hp · Crit'Air green
77 kWh battery, 204 hp (150 kW) and 310 Nm rear-wheel drive according to L'argus, with a range given between 545 and 556 km depending on the trim. Electrive reports that the power of the Pro S was raised to 170 kW with the 2024 update.
Market prices
€20,000 – €32,500
Indicative range: 2022 to 2026, yearly medians of 115 online listings collected by iAutos (years with at least 3 listings).
Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.
Known faults
Software and infotainment bugs
Severity 1/3 · AnnoyingThe early examples (2020-2021) experienced screens that freeze or have to be restarted, a faulty GPS and unstable CarPlay/Android Auto connections. Owners report that updates fixed a good part of the faults but not all of them (for example a reversing camera that works erratically); others, especially on more recent versions, report no problems at all.
- Versions
- Pure 45 kWh 170 ch, Pro 58 kWh 204 ch, Pro S 77 kWh 204 ch
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Sources
- Volkswagen : de gros problèmes logiciels pour l'ID 3 ? — Caradisiac (new tab)
- Volkswagen ID.3 : ils témoignent des débuts difficiles de la compacte électrique — Automobile Propre (new tab)
- VW ID.3 d'occasion : avis, fiabilité, les problèmes sont-ils résolus ? — Mon Occas Garantie (new tab)
- Forum VOLKSWAGEN ID.3 1st: Fiabilité et autonomie, buggs logiciel ? — Forum Auto Matmut (new tab)
Faulty 12 V battery
Severity 1/3 · AnnoyingOwners have found their ID.3 completely dead after one or two days of standing, or reported a 12 V battery warning, sometimes in cold weather. The remedies cited are replacing the battery under warranty and a software update; these are owner testimonies, not official Volkswagen findings.
- Versions
- Pure 45 kWh 170 ch, Pro 58 kWh 204 ch, Pro S 77 kWh 204 ch
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
High-voltage battery recalls (fire risk)
Manufacturer recallVolkswagen has launched several campaigns on the high-voltage battery of the ID models. A faulty module can create a voltage divergence between cells, light a warning light, reduce the range and, in the most serious cases, pose a fire risk (recall of around 94,000 ID and Cupra Born vehicles according to L'argus). A 2026 recall also concerns cells that may self-discharge abnormally after a manufacturing error, with a risk of thermal overload and fire; another reports possible overheating during charging. Check the serial number on RappelConso or with a dealer.
Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).
- Versions
- Pro 58 kWh 204 ch, Pro S 77 kWh 204 ch
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Sources
- Rappel Volkswagen/Cupra. Problème de batterie haute tension sur les véhicules électriques — L'argus (new tab)
- Volkswagen rappelle près de 100 000 voitures électriques pour un risque d'incendie de batterie — Mac4Ever (new tab)
- Rappel Consommateur - ID. BUZZ, ID.BUZZ Cargo, ID.3, ID.7 Voiture particulière VW — RappelConso (new tab)
- Rappel Volkswagen ID : risque de surchauffe batterie — Moteur Actu (new tab)
- Rappel Volkswagen ID : risque d'incendie batterie — Moteur Actu (new tab)
Front passenger airbag incorrectly fixed (recall)
Manufacturer recallThe front passenger airbag cushion may have been incorrectly fixed during assembly, which risks impairing its protection in a crash. The recall (reference 69EX) concerns ID.3s built between 5 February 2021 and 12 January 2023; Volkswagen specifies that on most examples the airbag is correctly installed and the operation is then limited to a check.
Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).
- Versions
- Pro 58 kWh 204 ch, Pro S 77 kWh 204 ch
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Manufacturer recalls
See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Volkswagen ID.3”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.
Real monthly cost
Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated
| Electricity | €36 |
|---|---|
| Insurance | €92 |
| Maintenance | €30 |
| Depreciation | €312 |
| Total per month | €470 |
⚠ Estimates to treat with caution
- Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
- Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
- Electricity€36
Pro 58 kWh 204 ch version: combined consumption of 16.1 kWh/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 0.194 €/kWh, for 1,000 km a month.
16.1 × 1.15 × 0.194 € × 10 = €36
Electricity price: EDF regulated Base tariff, home charging (as of 7 October 2026).
- Insurance€92
Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.
- Maintenance€30
Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.
- Depreciation€312
Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.
Inspection checklist
Volkswagen ID.3 I — inspection checklist
Things to check
- Ask Volkswagen, using the serial number, for the list of recalls carried out: high-voltage battery and, for cars built from February 2021 to January 2023, the passenger airbag.
- Check that the latest software updates have been installed and test the central screen, the GPS, CarPlay/Android Auto and the reversing camera.
- Check whether a 12 V battery warning or a battery light appears at start-up.
- Ask for a traction battery state-of-health report and the real range observed on the test drive.
- Check the foot brake and the bodywork: the TÜV finds the foot brake fails a little more often than average, and French inspections point to the bodywork.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have all the recalls (high-voltage battery, passenger airbag) been carried out? Can you prove it?
- Have the software updates been installed, and has the 12 V battery already been replaced?
- Has the car had a high-voltage battery diagnosis, and what did it say?
Test-drive tip: read the fault codes
A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.
Electric or hybrid equivalent
No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost
Alternatives
Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
Volkswagen Golf
VIII · since 2020
- Price
- €18,800 – €31,100
- Reliability
- 3.5/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid
Photo: Ethan Llamas, CC BY-SA 4.0
Tesla Model 3
I · since 2019
- Price
- €21,000 – €47,000
- Reliability
- 4/5
- Fuel types
- Electric
Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
Peugeot e-208
II · since 2019
- Price
- €14,390 – €24,490
- Reliability
- 4.5/5
- Fuel types
- Electric
Before you buy: check and equip
Check the history
Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.
Read fault codes
An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.
Parts and maintenance
Compare prices of parts for the Volkswagen ID.3 I (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.
Insure the car
Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.
Frequently asked questions
What Euro NCAP rating does the Volkswagen ID.3 have?
5 stars in October 2020, with 87% for adult occupant protection, 89% for children, 71% for vulnerable road users and 88% for safety assist systems.
Has the Volkswagen ID.3 been recalled?
Yes: a front passenger airbag incorrectly fixed (cars built from 5 February 2021 to 12 January 2023) and several campaigns on the high-voltage battery, with a risk of fire in the most serious cases. Check the serial number on RappelConso or with a dealer.
Is the ID.3 reliable at the technical inspection?
Rather: a summary relayed by iAutos gives 6.1% of failed re-inspections against 18.9% national average, and Auto Bild considers it very solid at the TÜV, with a foot brake that fails a little more often than average.
Found a listing?
Soon, we will analyse your Volkswagen ID.3 listing: price, mileage, watch points.
Get notified at launch