I was driving my 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 when, seemingly out of nowhere, my driver-side door made several unusual clicking noises and then popped open. “That’s not good,” I thought, as I quickly shut the door while also attempting to keep my hands on the wheel.

Volkswagen announced it will temporarily suspend production of the ID.4 at its Chattanooga plant following a nationwide recall that affects Chattanooga workers.

Production of the ID.4 is paused after recalling 98,606 vehicles for door handle faults. About 200 employees will be furloughed, with each receiving 80% of their base pay. VW has not provided a timeline for when a solution to the issues will arrive.

Volkswagen issued a recall for 98,806 ID.4 electric crossovers due to a door handle water ingress problem. As of September 18, however, the issue has escalated, with VW issuing a stop-sale order and a production halt of the EV SUV.

Volkswagen put a stop-sale on the ID.4 electric SUV after issuing a recall for potentially defective door handles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), water can get into the electronic door handles,

As a result of a stop-sale, VW is pausing ID4 production in Chattanooga with some employees set to be furloughed.