- Volkswagen recalls 5,637 ID. Buzz models over an issue with third-row seating space.
- The third-row seating fails to meet safety standards due to insufficient seat belts.
- The company’s solution involves reducing space in the ID Buzz’s third-row seats.
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz is facing another setback just as it finally starts to gain some traction. The much-hyped electric minivan, praised for its spacious interior, has been hit with a second recall and a stop sale order, this time because its third-row bench is too wide for its own good. The solution? VW is taking space away from customers. Yeah, that’s how you win people over.
More: Mercedes Minivan Concept Is A Billionaire’s Shuttle With A Face Only A Mother Could Love
According to documentation filed with the NHTSA, VW is recalling 5,637 ID. Buzzes due to a compliance issue with federal safety standards. Specifically, the third row is too wide to have just two seat belts. Interestingly, it was the supplier who pointed this out to Volkswagen. That said, it falls short of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, which governs occupant crash protection.
So, What’s the Problem?
Put more plainly, Volkswagen touted its interior space and created a third row that is genuinely awesome in terms of space, but then only installed two seat belts, even though the row fits three people. The worst part is that Volkswagen’s solution feels like a slap in the face to those who bought this to, you know… carry lots of people.
Rather than adding a third seat belt, VW will have dealers install “fixed unpadded trim parts to limit the seating surface.” That’s right, if you loved the ID. Buzzes third row, get ready to love it less. It’s unclear at this point how much space is going to be taken away from customers by Volkswagen, but owners are already popping up online searching for answers.
Since VW doesn’t have a remedy ready yet, unsold ID Buzzes will have to sit idle on dealer lots until the recall can be addressed. Those who already have an ID. Buzz should, of course, be thoughtful about how they use the third row. This is the second stop sale in the last month for the ID. Buzz. The other was equally odd in that it related to the brake icon in the gauge cluster not having the word “Brake” in it.
