Second Hand Volkswagen ID.3 CV Joints

Yes, CV joints do exist on the ID.3 — despite being fully electric, it still uses conventional driveshafts with CV joints to transfer drive from the motor to the wheels. The rear-wheel-drive layout (used on all standard ID.3 models) means the driven CV joints are at the rear axle, so if you're searching for a front driveshaft CV joint you're unlikely to find one on a standard ID.3. The ID.3 GTX, which has a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup, also has front CV joints, so make sure you know which variant and which axle you need before contacting a breaker.

The ID.3 launched in 2020 and received a notable facelift and update for the 2023 model year, which introduced changes including revised motor outputs and some chassis updates. CV joints from a pre-facelift (2020–2022) car may not carry straight over to a 2023-onwards car, and we'd recommend you confirm compatibility with the breaker quoting against your exact registration rather than assuming year-to-year interchangeability across that boundary. Always supply your VIN or registration to the breaker so they can cross-reference the correct part.

Trim level alone does not affect CV joint fitment on the ID.3 — Life, Business, Tour and similar grades are cosmetic and equipment packages rather than distinct mechanical specifications. What matters more is whether your car is the standard rear-wheel-drive single-motor version or the dual-motor GTX, and which axle the joint is from. Give the breaker your registration and confirm the drivetrain layout to make sure you get the right part.

It's worth being aware that the ID.3 was offered with different power outputs (such as the 145 PS and 204 PS variants) alongside different battery pack sizes, and in some cases this corresponds to different motor hardware. Whether this produces differences in the driveshaft and CV joint specification is something you should confirm with the breaker against your registration, as running gear can vary with power output even when the overall model looks the same. Don't assume a lower-output car's joint will swap straight into a higher-output version without checking.

A clicking noise on full lock is a classic symptom of a worn CV joint, and it's important to correctly identify whether it's the nearside (NS, kerb side) or offside (OS, driver's side) joint before contacting a breaker — on a rear-wheel-drive ID.3, both rear joints are driven. You can often isolate the faulty side by noting which direction of steering lock produces the louder noise, or have a mechanic confirm it before you order. Always tell the breaker which side you need, as these are handed parts and the wrong side won't fit.

The ID.3, ID.4, and ID.5 share Volkswagen's MEB platform, and there may be some component commonality, but they are different vehicles with different weights, motor configurations, and chassis tuning. Whether a specific CV joint from an ID.4 or ID.5 will correctly fit an ID.3 is not something we can confirm as fact — run this question past the breaker with both vehicles' registrations and let them cross-reference part numbers before purchasing. Platform sharing doesn't guarantee interchangeability of running-gear components.