Family's Terrifying Near-Miss as Electric Volkswagen ID.7 Veers into Oncoming Traffic
A father has recounted how his family narrowly avoided a catastrophic head-on collision when his electric Volkswagen ID.7 suddenly veered into the opposite lane without any driver input. Ian Chisholm, 66, described the harrowing incident that occurred while driving on a winding A-road in Essex, claiming the car's steering assist system appeared to take on a mind of its own.
Multiple Safety Failures in Electric Vehicle
Mr Chisholm reports experiencing a series of alarming malfunctions with his leased ID.7, including:
- Violent, unexpected emergency braking that would activate without warning
- Complete brake failure lasting up to 30 seconds at a time
- The vehicle steering in the opposite direction to where the wheel was turned
- Random door locking that trapped terrified passengers inside the car
"We're going along a winding A-road, and going around a bend at 30 or 35mph, following the natural course of the road at an appropriate speed," Mr Chisholm explained. "We are steering to the left, but the car is going right - full on to the right. Had it gone right and there was a car at that point, I'd have possibly had a head-on collision."
Growing Pattern of ID Series Issues
This incident represents the latest in a concerning pattern of reported problems with Volkswagen's ID series electric vehicles. Last month, father-of-two Ken Hadley told how his VW ID.5 lost control on a busy motorway twice within three months, leaving his family terrified. Weeks earlier, Ashenafei Demissie was cleared of causing death and serious injury by careless driving when his ID.4 accelerated forward unexpectedly, killing five-year-old Fareed Amir.
Mr Chisholm's experience mirrors these previous cases, with the lane assist system allegedly "taking us all over the road - violently" and making drivers feel "totally like you aren't in control of the car."
Frustrating Attempts at Resolution
After the terrifying incidents, Mr Chisholm visited his local VW dealership seeking repairs or a replacement vehicle. However, he claims he was passed between different departments and initially refused a courtesy car. When the dealership eventually inspected the vehicle, they identified a problem with the door handle that they believed was causing the braking issues and replaced the part.
Despite this repair, problems persisted. "We got the car back, started driving it, but it was still all over the place," Mr Chisholm reported. The braking issues continued, with periods of complete brake failure lasting 10 to 30 seconds, and additional door locking problems emerged.
Safety Concerns and Precautions
So concerned about potential entrapment in an accident, Mr Chisholm has taken extraordinary safety measures. "I have now bought four glass safety hammers, and put them in every door because if that car got involved in an accident, if the steering suddenly packed up or the brakes packed up, and all the locks went, we could be in a situation where we can't get out the car," he explained.
His attempts to resolve the situation through official channels have proven frustrating. After being passed between VW Customer Service and VW Finance, he was eventually directed to the financial ombudsman. "The service is just atrocious, it is non-existent," he concluded.
Volkswagen's Response
A Volkswagen spokesperson stated: "From the technical side, the car was inspected and the software checked and adjusted; a physical repair was also made to the door handles. Both faults were quickly identified and rectified by the dealer with no requirement for further escalation."
Regarding the financial aspect, the spokesperson added that Volkswagen Financial Services had offered Mr Chisholm "the opportunity as a discretionary gesture to end the agreement."
Broader Implications for Electric Vehicle Safety
These incidents raise significant questions about the safety and reliability of advanced driver assistance systems in modern electric vehicles. With multiple ID series owners reporting similar experiences of unexplained braking and steering malfunctions, concerns are mounting about potential systemic issues that could put drivers, passengers, and other road users at risk.
Mr Chisholm's case highlights the challenges consumers face when dealing with complex vehicle software issues and the importance of robust safety protocols in increasingly computerized automobiles. As electric vehicles become more prevalent on British roads, ensuring their safety systems function reliably becomes increasingly critical for public safety.
