The defect
CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." ALL THREE REAR SEAT POSITIONS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER POSITION ARE EQUIPPED WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS THAT HAVE A LOCKING FEATURE WHICH CONVERTS THE RETRACTOR FROM AN EMERGENCY LOCKING RETRACTOR (ELR) MODE TO AN AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR (ALR) MODE FOR THE PURPOSES OF CHILD RESTRAINT INSTALLATION. THE BELT MAY DEACTIVATE THE ALR MODE WITH CERTAIN CHILD RESTRAINTS.
The risk
WHEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH, THE CHILD RESTRAINTS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SECURED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES OR DEATH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY INSTALL A 'CLIP' IN EACH OF THE TWO REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELTS. THE CLIPS WILL PREVENT UNWANTED DEACTIVATION OF THE ALR MODE WITH CHILD SEAT INSTALLATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 11, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by OVSC
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen Touareg | 2004, 2005 |
Components: SEAT BELTS
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Touareg | 2004 | 231 | 4 |
| Volkswagen Touareg | 2005 | 75 | 2 |
Other seat belts recalls in 2004
36 of the 601 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2004 concerned the seat belts; VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC filed 63 campaigns in all.
| 04V608000 18 Dec 2004 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 04V595000 15 Dec 2004 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 04V593000 15 Dec 2004 | PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 04V582000 10 Dec 2004 | MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS |
| 04V550000 18 Nov 2004 | HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) |
| 04V532000 2 Nov 2004 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 04V407000 17 Aug 2004 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 04V403000 17 Aug 2004 | NEWMAR CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2004