- The Volkswagen ID.4, as well as other ID models, come with capacitive buttons on the steering wheel.
- While they look good, they increase the risk of accidental touches.
- One ID.4 owner got fed up with the stock setup and found a simple way to install regular buttons on the steering wheel.
Automakers love capacitive buttons. Whether it’s because they look cooler than conventional clicky buttons or because they’re cheaper to make–or both–I don’t know. What I do know is that they can get on your nerves fast because instead of pushing just one small button, a whole plastic panel moves.
Volkswagen is one of those automakers. When the ID.4 went on sale, reviewers and new owners complained that the capacitive buttons on the steering wheel can be a bit annoying. That, and the fact that there are just two buttons on the driver’s door to control all four windows. Luckily, though, there’s now a simple DIY fix for the steering wheel buttons.
“The capacitive controls on the steering wheel are as frustrating as ever,” the InsideEVs review of the ID.4 found.
It all comes courtesy of a VW ID Talk forum user who goes by the “Waldo22” handle. After a bit of fiddling, he discovered that the steering wheel buttons from the gas-powered Volkswagen Atlas SUV fit like a glove on the ID.4’s steering wheel.
There’s no coding required, and the whole operation can be done at home in a couple of hours. That said, it’s not perfect. Everything works as intended, except for the backlighting, the “View” button and the track buttons. However, audio tracks can be changed via the up and down arrows on the right side of the steering wheel, leaving just two small issues to get used to.
All the parts can be bought from Volkswagen or other reputable parts suppliers, and the whole thing costs about $150. To make it work, the battery must first be disconnected. Then, the airbag and trim need to be removed. Six small screws are needed to attach the new buttons to the trim, and you need to remember to remove the CAN pins from the mechanical buttons. If they’re left connected, the horn will sound, which isn’t great.
Putting it back together is simple and straightforward, so if you’re the kind of person who likes to tinker with things and doesn’t like the capacitive buttons on the ID.4, this is a great DIY mod. Although there’s no evidence to support this, the same mod might work on the ID. Buzz minivan, too.
I know I’ve changed the audio track in my Volvo V90 a couple of times by accident when gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly, so I would happily do this sort of modification to my wagon if it were available.
Volkswagen knows more buttons are good, too, and the facelifted ID.4 will be the first in line to get more of them. “They will be in every car that we make from now on. We will never, ever make this mistake again. On the steering wheel, we will have physical buttons. Honestly, it’s a car. It’s not a phone,” Volkswagen’s head of design Andreas Mint said.
