Home › Guides › Volkswagen › Seats
Volkswagen Seat Recalls Involving Loose Tracks and Weak Frames
Volkswagen’s seat recalls involve two recurring concerns: welds that may compromise crash protection and missing hardware that may let a seat move. The November 2018 recall concerns rear head restraint guide sleeve welds in certain 2018 e-Golf and Golf R vehicles. The August 2020 recall concerns front seat frame and backrest adjuster welds in certain 2020 Atlas Cross Sport, Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan vehicles, plus the 2021 Atlas. The February 2021 recall addresses missing front seat track bolts in certain 2021 Jetta and Tiguan Long Wheelbase vehicles. Jetta and Tiguan appear in both front-seat notices, involving different model years and defects.
Warning signs to watch for
- February 2021 Jetta and Tiguan front seat bolt recall (72L6): the seat can move front and back without restriction if bolts are missing.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
The November 2018 rear head restraint recall, August 2020 front seat weld recall and February 2021 missing seat track bolt recall do not tell owners to stop driving. None of these notices gives a park-outside instruction. Their stated risks concern occupant protection during a crash: reduced rear head restraint stability, a backrest adjustment that could break in a rear-end crash, or a seat that can move without restriction. The notices do not provide a separate driving restriction based on whether an owner notices seat movement.
What the free repair involves
For the November 2018 recall, dealers inspect guide sleeve welds and replace the rear seat frame as necessary. For August 2020, they inspect front seats and replace seatback frames as necessary. For February 2021 recall 72L6, they inspect front seat tracks and install bolts as necessary. Each notice specifies that its remedy is free of charge.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 1 |
| medium | 2 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2021 | Volkswagen Jetta and Tiguan Front Seat Bolts Missing | medium |
| Aug 26, 2020 | Audi, VW Front Seat Frame Weld Defect | medium |
| Nov 14, 2018 | e-Golf, Golf R rear head restraints may weaken | high |
Common questions
Why do Jetta and Tiguan appear in more than one seat recall?
The August 2020 notice covers front seat frame and backrest adjuster welds in certain 2020 Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan vehicles. The February 2021 notice covers missing front seat track bolts in certain 2021 Jetta and Tiguan Long Wheelbase vehicles.
What is wrong with the e-Golf and Golf R rear head restraints?
The November 2018 notice says rear head restraint guide sleeves may be incorrectly welded to the seat frame in certain 2018 e-Golf and Golf R vehicles. This can reduce head restraint stability in a crash. Dealers inspect and replace the rear seat frame as necessary.
Does the missing seat bolt recall mean my seat will be replaced?
Recall 72L6 specifies inspection of the front seat tracks and installation of bolts as necessary, free of charge. Its stated remedy does not specify replacing the seat. The notice describes unrestricted forward and backward seat movement if bolts are missing.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.