Volkswagen’s retro-inspired electric van, the ID. Buzz, faces a recall due to its third-row bench being too wide for U.S. safety standards, prompting a stop-sale and raising questions about design compliance.
At a Glance
- Volkswagen recalls 5,637 ID. Buzz vans over third-row seat width
- Third-row bench designed for two, but wide enough for three, violating FMVSS 208
- VW’s remedy: install fixed unpadded trim to reduce seating width
- No reported injuries; recall affects vehicles built between Sept 2024 and Feb 2025
- Owner notifications to begin by June 20, 2025
Design Meets Regulation
Volkswagen of America is recalling 5,637 2025 ID. Buzz vans after discovering the third-row bench is too wide for U.S. safety standards. Although designed for two passengers, the seat’s width could accommodate a third person, thereby violating Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, which governs crash protection requirements. The recall was triggered after a routine compliance review by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Instead of adding a third seatbelt, Volkswagen plans to install fixed unpadded trim parts to restrict the bench’s usable seating area, ensuring it complies with the regulation for two-passenger use. While the solution is pragmatic, it underscores a recurring challenge for global automakers who must adapt ambitious designs to satisfy local rules.
Watch a report: VW’s Electric Bus Recalled for Too Much Seating Room.
Recall Details and Impact
The recall affects ID. Buzz vans manufactured between September 18, 2024, and February 11, 2025. According to Electrek, no injuries or crashes have been linked to the issue, and Volkswagen has not received any field claims. Nevertheless, the automaker has issued a stop-sale order for all affected vehicles until the problem is resolved.
Owners will begin receiving letters by June 20, 2025, explaining how they can get the trim modification done free of charge. Volkswagen says the remedy will bring all affected units into full compliance without compromising vehicle performance or cabin utility.
A Global Lesson in Local Compliance
This case illustrates the friction between global design vision and national regulation. The ID. Buzz was engineered for comfort and flexibility, but in the U.S., those very features created a liability. As Automotive News reports, the calculated width of the third-row seat exceeded the maximum allowable for two passengers, hence failing FMVSS standards.
The recall raises larger questions for automakers: Are they moving too fast in their pursuit of innovation, or are national standards simply out of step with modern design? Either way, the ID. Buzz recall is a reminder that creativity in automotive engineering must always steer around regulatory checkpoints.
