VW ID.Buzz Recalled in U.S. Over Seatbelt Regulation Violation

VWS electrical ID.Buzz violates US security regulations – for a curious reason. The third row of seats offers space for three people, but only has two seat belts. Now the e-bus has to go to the workshop.

Trouble for the VW ID.Buzz in the USA

The electrical VW Id.buzz ensures unusual headlines in the USA. Volkswagen has to call back more than 5,600 copies of his e -bullis – not because of technical defects, but because the third row of seats is too spacious. According to the US transport security authority NHTSA, the electrobus thus violates the safety regulation FMVSS 208 on occupant protection. The problem: The back seat offers space for three people, but is only equipped with two seat belts.

The construction error is the generous dimensioning of the bench. Although the third row of the ID.Buzz was designed for two passengers and has two seat belts accordingly, the seat is so wide that three people could easily take a seat. The NHTSA sees this a considerable security risk because users could be tried to transport a third passenger without a seat belt. Volkswagen has already found a solution for this unusual deficiency.

Like that Expert magazine Road and Track reports, the manufacturer will “add out -of -the -top disguise parts to limit the seat width of the third row”. This measure is intended to physically prevent a third passenger from taking a seat on the back seat. The rectification is carried out free of charge for vehicle owners.

Almost all ID.buzz models sold in the USA are affected by the recall. The sales figures are around 1,162 units by the end of 2024 and another 1,901 vehicles in the first quarter of 2025. Together with the vehicles in the dealer stock, the number adds up to around 5,700 affected electric buses.

Strict US regulations for seat widths

The NHTSA regulations are extremely detailed in terms of seating widths. A bench with more than 140 centimeters (55.2 inches) width must be equipped with at least three seat belts. This corresponds to about 37.6 centimeters (14.8 inches) per seat – less than the closest seats in low -cost airlines.

Although the ID.Buzz with around 122 centimeters (48 inches) hip freedom and 135 centimeters (53 inches) is actually below the limit, it still falls below this provision. Volkswagen admits that the error is based on a misinterpretation of the US security standards. So far, no accidents or injuries related to the too wide back seat have become known.