Volkswagen class action argues an alleged steering wheel defect causes unintended acceleration

Volkswagen ID.4 class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Two customers filed a class action lawsuit against Volkswagen Group of America Inc.
• Why: The plaintiffs say Volkswagen failed to disclose a steering defect in certain of its ID.4 model vehicles.
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in New Jersey federal court.

A new class action lawsuit alleges Volkswagen failed to disclose a defect in certain of its ID.4 model vehicles that allegedly causes the steering wheel to automatically engage Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).

Plaintiffs Janice Beecher and Omar Hakkaoui claim the alleged defect causes the Volkswagen ID.4 vehicles to suddenly and unintentionally accelerate.

Beecher and Hakkaoui argue the alleged defect is the result of overly touch-sensitive capacitive steering wheels, which can automatically engage the ACC with a “mere light brush of the hand” over the steering wheel’s haptic controls.

“Plaintiffs have been involved in fatal crashes because of the Defect, leaving them terrified and hesitant to drive their Class Vehicles,” the Volkswagen ID.4 class action lawsuit states.

Volkswagen failed to disclose or repair ID.4 defect, class action claims

Beecher and Hakkaoui argue Volkswagen failed to disclose the alleged defect, which they claim the automaker knew about from customer complaints, information sent from dealers and its own internal records.

“Despite knowledge of the Defect from customer complaints, information sent from dealers, and its own internal records, Defendant has not offered its customers suitable repairs or replacements free of charge or offered to reimburse its customers,” the Volkswagen class action says.

Beecher and Hakkaoui claim Volkswagen is guilty of common law fraud by omission, breach of express and implied warranty and unjust enrichment, among other things, and of violating consumer protection laws in Connecticut and Massachusetts. 

The plaintiffs demand a jury trial and request declaratory and injunctive relief and an award of actual, general, special, incidental, consequential, punitive and exemplary damages for themselves and all class members.

Volkswagen agreed to a class action settlement earlier this year to end claims that certain of its Atlas vehicles were equipped with a defective second row seat latch. Also this year, Volkswagen agreed to a settlement to resolve claims Audi and Volkswagen concealed a turbocharger defect in some of their vehicles. 

Have you experienced unintended acceleration with a Volkswagen ID.4 vehicle? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by Howard T. Longman of Longman Law, P.C., Nicholas A. Migliaccio and Jason S. Rathod of Migliaccio & Rathod LLP, and Scott D. Hirsch of Scott Hirsch Law Group, PLLC.

The Volkswagen ID.4 class action lawsuit is Beecher, et al. v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., Case No. 2:25-cv-09555, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

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