Volkswagen has just issued a recall for the ID.Buzz, its electric van, in the United States. The brand was forced to recall 5,637 vehicles, all manufactured between September 18, 2024, and February 11, 2025. The recall follows a decision by the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).
The US federal agency deemed the van's third-row seats too spacious. This row is equipped with removable seats designed to accommodate two people. This is why Volkswagen only included two seat belts in the third row. It makes sense.
A third row that's too spacious
Unfortunately, the NHTSA deemed that the electric van's third row was actually wide enough for three people. So there's a mismatch between the actual seating capacity and the number of seat belts... which is a violation of the federal motor vehicle safety standard that governs occupant protection in the event of a crash. The federal agency has strict standards for the size of seats designed for two occupants.
According to the NHTSA, Volkswagen is endangering the ID.Buzz's passengers by installing a bench seat designed to accommodate three people, while only providing protection for two. This design error risks encouraging passengers to cram three abreast of the van, despite the lack of sufficient seat belts.
To correct this, Volkswagen will install "unpadded trim pieces" that will reduce the actual usable area of the rear seat and prevent three people from sitting comfortably. All drivers are encouraged to visit their dealership to have the elements added. The operation is, of course, free of charge. Volkswagen clarifies that there are "no known complaints" regarding the bench seat criticized by the NHTSA.
A second recall for the ID.Buzz
For the record, this is already the second recall concerning the ID.Buzz. A few weeks ago, the NHTSA discovered that the brake system warning light on the dashboard screen did not comply with current legislation. The problem was fixed with a simple update installed by the dealer.
Source: Electrek
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