VW Recalls Over 5000 ID. Buzz In The US

About 5,700 VW electric vans were recalled because a U.S. regulator found the bench seat too large for just two passengers.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced a recall of Volkswagen’s electric van ID. Buzz which has already sold around 5,700 units in the US. All vans sold so far will have to be serviced for an unusual reason. Inspectors have determined that the bench in the third row of seats of the van, intended for the transport of two people, is oversized. However, it is not that passengers would be cramped there; on the contrary. NHTSA says that the bench is wide enough for three, and there are only two seat belts on it.

This is not in line with strict safety regulations, and Volkswagen will have to recall all vans sold and make changes to them. According to the width of the bench seat, the vehicle must have three designated seats, NHTSA writes, and there are only two. “If three passengers sat on that bench, they would not have enough seat belts. This could increase the risk of injury to passengers in the event of a crash.”

The ID. Buzz user manual states that seating is limited by the number of seat belts, which is acceptable. However, the third-row bench seat is too wide. To address this, owners of affected vans will receive a modification at service stations to indicate there are only two seats instead of three. This marks the first known recall for such an issue.

ID. Buzz Third Row Seats

• Also See: VW To Be Fined 1.5 Billion Euros Over Exceeding CO2 Emissions