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Cupra cars

Cupra Born problems (2021–today)

The only engine of the Cupra Born that we have documented, the MEB (ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID.Buzz, Enyaq, Born, Q4 e-tron), has high or critical severity faults in the versions it is fitted to. Our verdict for the versions it is fitted to: «With caution».[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Outside the engine: Apart from the battery, charging and traction motor, which we assess under its electric motor, the Born shares with its platform siblings immature infotainment software in the early deliveries (slow or rebooting screens). It also has a recall for a bolt on the driver's seat frame.[2][8]

Cupra Born (2021–today)
Photo: Alexander-93 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Reference image for this generation.
02468106.2out of 10

Cupra Born rating: acceptable reliability

Calculated using only 6 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. How it is calculated

  • Electric motor5.24 faults
  • Gearbox10.0No documented faults
  • Suspension10.0No documented faults
  • Brakes10.0No documented faults
  • Tyres and wheels10.0No documented faults
  • Steering10.0No documented faults
  • Electrical system10.0No documented faults
  • Headlights and lights10.0No documented faults
  • Electronics and infotainment8.91 fault
  • Climate control10.0No documented faults
  • Bodywork and interior10.0No documented faults
  • Airbags and safety7.91 fault

Ranked 33 of 93 among the compact cars with solid evidence. See the ranking

The weak points of the Cupra Born

  1. 1Critical severity: Faulty modules in the high-voltage battery with fire riskMEB (ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID.Buzz, Enyaq, Born, Q4 e-tron) engine
  2. 2Critical severity: Faulty supplier cells: charging limited to 80% until the battery is checkedMEB (ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID.Buzz, Enyaq, Born, Q4 e-tron) engine
  3. 3High severity: Cells with high self-discharge in early cars: service measures 93P7 and 93Q2MEB (ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID.Buzz, Enyaq, Born, Q4 e-tron) engine
  4. 4High severity: Recall 72A2: driver's seat frame boltAirbags and safety
  5. 5Medium severity: Charging that does not start or cuts out (AC and fast charging)MEB (ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID.Buzz, Enyaq, Born, Q4 e-tron) engine

Documented engine

The first label is the most serious fault affecting that engine in this car; the second, our verdict for the versions it is fitted to. Each engine's risk index is calculated only from the faults that affect this car (how we calculate it). We only show engines we have documented with sources: if yours does not appear, we have not analysed it yet. View all engines

See what to check before buying

Outside the engine

1 recall or campaign documented, the latest: Campaign 72A2: driver's seat. See the campaigns for the Cupra Born

12 sourcesHow we work

MEB (ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID.Buzz, Enyaq, Born, Q4 e-tron)

Volkswagen MEB: motor síncrono APP 310 / APP 550 and baterías de 55 a 91 kWh · Electrical

In the Born
since 2021[2][9]
Names
Born 58 kWh 204 CV · Born 77 kWh 231 CV · Born E-Boost · Born VZ 326 CV
Faults that affect it
4 · 3 of high or critical severity
Risk index on this car
48
Moderate risk

Verdict for the versions it uses

Faults that affect the Born

  1. Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalTraction batteryFaulty modules in the high-voltage battery with fire riskYes: in March 2026 Volkswagen and Cupra recalled around 74,600 ID.3, ID.4, ID.5 and ID. Buzz and around 19,500 Born built between 2022 and 2024, because some battery modules can overheat while charging and, in the worst case, catch fire. It is fixed with software and by replacing modules.
  2. Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalTraction batteryFaulty supplier cells: charging limited to 80% until the battery is checkedIn October 2026 the KBA published new campaigns (93MV, 93MF and 93W4 on the Born) for high-voltage battery cells that do not meet the required quality. While the car is being checked, charging is limited to 80% and must be done outdoors.
  3. High severityFrequency: OccasionalTraction batteryCells with high self-discharge in early cars: service measures 93P7 and 93Q2Some 2020 ID.3s and 2021 ID.4 and Cupra Born may have cells with high self-discharge that reduce usable capacity and trigger a warning. Volkswagen and Cupra fix this with service measures (93P7 and 93Q2) that check the modules and replace faulty ones.
  4. Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalChargingCharging that does not start or cuts out (AC and fast charging)In several MEB cars, owners and the press describe charging that does not start or is interrupted, both on AC and on fast charging. The sources point to the on-board charger, connector locking or software, with no single cause.

Born MEB (ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID.Buzz, Enyaq, Born, Q4 e-tron) pageAll versions and faults of the MEB (ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID.Buzz, Enyaq, Born, Q4 e-tron)

Faults of the Cupra Born outside the engine

Suspension, brakes, tyres, electronics and the rest of the car. They occur with any engine.

Checklist for buying a used Cupra Born

Check the advert or the paperwork to see which engine the car has and go through its section. Each point comes from a documented fault; you can tick them off as you inspect.

If it has the MEB (ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID.Buzz, Enyaq, Born, Q4 e-tron) (since 2021)

Faulty modules in the high-voltage battery with fire risk

Critical severity

Faulty supplier cells: charging limited to 80% until the battery is checked

Critical severity

Cells with high self-discharge in early cars: service measures 93P7 and 93Q2

High severity

Charging that does not start or cuts out (AC and fast charging)

Medium severity

Wear parts for the Cupra Born

Brakes, wiper blades, pollen filter and battery, searched for this model. The exact part number depends on the engine and year: confirm it with the registration plate or VIN.

Affiliate links: if you buy from these shops, MotorFiable may receive a commission at no cost to you. Check compatibility against the registration plate or VIN before ordering. Affiliate links

Buying a Cupra Born?

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Own a Cupra Born? Tell us what faults you have had, at what mileage and how much you paid. Report your fault.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Cupra Born reliable?

The only engine of the Cupra Born that we have documented, the MEB (ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID.Buzz, Enyaq, Born, Q4 e-tron), has high or critical severity faults in the versions it is fitted to. Our verdict for the versions it is fitted to: «With caution». Apart from the battery, charging and traction motor, which we assess under its electric motor, the Born shares with its platform siblings immature infotainment software in the early deliveries (slow or rebooting screens). It also has a recall for a bolt on the driver's seat frame.

What problems does the Cupra Born have apart from the engine?

Apart from the battery, charging and traction motor, which we assess under its electric motor, the Born shares with its platform siblings immature infotainment software in the early deliveries (slow or rebooting screens). It also has a recall for a bolt on the driver's seat frame. The most important documented faults are: recall 72A2: driver's seat frame bolt (airbags and safety, high severity) and immature software: the screen freezes, restarts or loses the phone (electronics and infotainment, low severity).[2][8]

What faults does the Cupra Born have?

The most important by severity and frequency, on the engines we have documented, are: faulty modules in the high-voltage battery with fire risk (MEB (ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID.Buzz, Enyaq, Born, Q4 e-tron), critical severity), faulty supplier cells: charging limited to 80% until the battery is checked (MEB (ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID.Buzz, Enyaq, Born, Q4 e-tron), critical severity), cells with high self-discharge in early cars: service measures 93P7 and 93Q2 (MEB (ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID.Buzz, Enyaq, Born, Q4 e-tron), high severity) and charging that does not start or cuts out (AC and fast charging) (MEB (ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID.Buzz, Enyaq, Born, Q4 e-tron), medium severity).

What is the best year to buy a Cupra Born?

According to our rating by year, the best is 2021 (8.0/10); the worst rated is 2022 (7.1/10). Each year's rating counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those units: open each year to see what changes.

Does the Cupra Born have recalls?

Yes: we have documented one campaign for the Cupra Born, such as campaign 72A2: driver's seat. Check with your VIN at the official service centre whether yours has been done.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Safety Gate SR/00953/26: VW ID. BUZZ, ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, ID.BUZZ CARGO (batería de alta tensión)EU Safety Gate · Official body · published 31 March 2026 · consulted 30 October 2026
  2. Cupra Born: Bekannte Probleme, Schwachstellen und RückrufeGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · published 7 August 2026 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  3. VW ID.3: bekannte Probleme, Schwachstellen und RückrufeGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · published 19 May 2025 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  4. Volkswagen ID.3 Battery Holds Up Amazingly After 160,000 Km Test (prueba de resistencia del ADAC)Zecar · Motoring press · published 17 July 2025 · consulted 30 October 2026
  5. 107,000 mile VW ID.3 loses just eight miles of range in independent endurance testElectrifying.com · Motoring press · published 16 July 2025 · consulted 30 October 2026
  6. Brandgefahr: Rückruf für VW ID.3, ID.4, ID.7, ID. Buzz und Cupra BornADAC · Reliability study · published 21 October 2026 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  7. VW bereitet Batterie-Rückruf für mehrere ID.-Modelle vorelectrive · Motoring press · published 16 October 2026 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  8. Cupra verschickt jetzt Rückrufschreiben an Halter des Modells BornPresseportal · General press · published 26 April 2026 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  9. Cupra BornWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
  10. Volkswagen ID.Buzz (2022-2024): recall of the high-voltage battery (fire risk)car-recalls.eu · Motoring press · published April 2026 · consulted 30 October 2026
  11. VW ID.4: bekannte Probleme, Schwachstellen und RückrufeGebrauchtwagenberater · Motoring press · published 21 September 2026 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  12. Tous les problèmes sur Skoda Enyaq 2021 (15 témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French