Click to enlarge.
Volkswagen Group of America is recalling ~6000 model year 2025 ID. BUZZ vehicles. The third-row rear bench is wide enough for three passengers, but is designed for two passengers and equipped with two seat belts. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, Occupant Crash Protection. (read AutoInformed.com on: Three-Row ID.Buzz Debuts on International VW Bus Day)
“Based on the third-row rear bench seating surface width, the vehicle is required to have three DSPs. The third-row rear bench in the ID.Buzz has only two DSPs and with this only two seat belts available. If three passengers were to be seated the third-row rear bench, there would be insufficient seat belts for all three passengers. This could increase the risk of an injury for passengers in the event of a crash,” Volkswagen said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Chronology
12 February 2025: Supplier (Faurecia Autositze GmbH) notified Volkswagen about a potential non-compliance of the third-row rear bench in the ID.BUZZ regarding the number of DSPs. Volkswagen began investigating.
13 February – 20 March 2025: Potential non-compliance was analyzed and discussed with the supplier.
21 March 2025: Volkswagen contracted with an external testing institute to conduct FMVSS compliance testing.
1 April 2025: The external testing institute confirmed that, due to the width of the third-row rear bench, the third-row rear bench should provide 3 seat belts.
16 April 2025: Topic was presented to Volkswagen’s Product Safety Committee and a non-compliance with 49 CFR Part 571.10 and FMVSS 208 was determined. No field claims known.
Dealers will install trim to adjust the width of the third-row rear seats, free of charge as required by U.S. safety regulations. Owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 20 June 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 72LC. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to www.safercar.gov about NHTSA Campaign Number 25V269 or 25V-269.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Volkswagen Recalls ID.BUZZ Third Row Seats
Click to enlarge.
Volkswagen Group of America is recalling ~6000 model year 2025 ID. BUZZ vehicles. The third-row rear bench is wide enough for three passengers, but is designed for two passengers and equipped with two seat belts. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, Occupant Crash Protection. (read AutoInformed.com on: Three-Row ID.Buzz Debuts on International VW Bus Day)
“Based on the third-row rear bench seating surface width, the vehicle is required to have three DSPs. The third-row rear bench in the ID.Buzz has only two DSPs and with this only two seat belts available. If three passengers were to be seated the third-row rear bench, there would be insufficient seat belts for all three passengers. This could increase the risk of an injury for passengers in the event of a crash,” Volkswagen said in the mandatory safety defect recall filing made public today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Chronology
12 February 2025: Supplier (Faurecia Autositze GmbH) notified Volkswagen about a potential non-compliance of the third-row rear bench in the ID.BUZZ regarding the number of DSPs. Volkswagen began investigating.
13 February – 20 March 2025: Potential non-compliance was analyzed and discussed with the supplier.
21 March 2025: Volkswagen contracted with an external testing institute to conduct FMVSS compliance testing.
1 April 2025: The external testing institute confirmed that, due to the width of the third-row rear bench, the third-row rear bench should provide 3 seat belts.
16 April 2025: Topic was presented to Volkswagen’s Product Safety Committee and a non-compliance with 49 CFR Part 571.10 and FMVSS 208 was determined. No field claims known.
Dealers will install trim to adjust the width of the third-row rear seats, free of charge as required by U.S. safety regulations. Owner notification letters are not expected to be mailed until 20 June 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 72LC. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to www.safercar.gov about NHTSA Campaign Number 25V269 or 25V-269.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.