2021 Volkswagen ID3 Max: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2021 Volkswagen ID3 Max?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2021 Volkswagen ID3 Max than on all cars registered in 2021.

• Shock absorbers7.4× usual
  Volkswagen ID3 Max

  12.6% All 2021 cars

  1.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 4.3%, against 0.3% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

Common 2021 Volkswagen ID3 Max MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2021 Volkswagen ID3 Max MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Tyres
  24% 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
  14% 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
  3% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

• Seats and seatbelts
  3% of testsRough price £80–£250

  At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

• 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.

• 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 2021 Volkswagen ID3 Max

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 2021 Volkswagen ID3 Max

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 shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 7.4× as often on the 2021 Volkswagen ID3 Max as on other cars the same age.)
3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?