Vehicle recall R/2018/133

Volkswagen Passat and others recall: Head restraint may be insecure

DVSA recall R/2018/133 names the Volkswagen Passat, Volkswagen Golf and Volkswagen Touran. It was launched 11 May 2018. It covers vehicles built 14 February 2018 to 31 March 2018.

Recall data updated 22 September 2026

Recall: R/2018/133
Launched: 11 May 2018
Issued by: VW
Manufacturer reference: 72H5
Vehicles: 2,881 across the whole recall

What can go wrong

On a limited production period a burr may have developed on the locking bar of the head restraint guide.

The fix

On affected vehicles the left head restraint guide on both front seats must be replaced.

Models and build dates

As listed in the DVSA recall file. DVSA gives one vehicle number for the whole recall: 2,881.
Model	Built
Volkswagen Golf	14 February 2018 to 31 March 2018
Volkswagen Passat	14 February 2018 to 31 March 2018
Volkswagen Touran	14 February 2018 to 31 March 2018

Is a specific car affected? A recall lists models and build dates, not individual vehicles, so these pages cannot tell you whether one car is included. Enter the registration on the DVSA vehicle recall checker on GOV.UK, or give the vehicle identification number (VIN) to the manufacturer or one of its dealers. Buying used? Ask the seller for proof that any recall work was done.

Other recalls for these models

R/2018/074 Front brake discs may not be correct thickness 19 March 2018, Volkswagen Tiguan, Volkswagen Golf
R/2018/062 Starter motor may malfunction and overheat 7 March 2018, Volkswagen Beetle, Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Passat and others
R/2018/212 Head restraint guide retaining spring may be faulty 7 August 2018, Volkswagen Passat
R/2018/031 Passenger airbag may not deploy as intended 2 February 2018, Volkswagen Golf
R/2017/294 Rear wheel bearing housings may be incorrectly manufactured and could fail prematurely 17 November 2017, Volkswagen Passat, Volkswagen Arteon, Volkswagen Golf
R/2018/331 A short circuit in the LED module of the panorama sun roof can occur 28 November 2018, Volkswagen Tiguan, Volkswagen Touran

Found one you might buy?

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Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA vehicle recall records (RecallsFile.csv), recalls launched 1992 to 2026. Recall data updated 22 September 2026.

Recall wording is DVSA's, with capitals and punctuation tidied and American spellings such as tire, center and windshield given in British English. We list a recall when its make and model match a car or van family with at least 1,000 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2025, and when the maker of the vehicle issued it.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. Methodology · Data sources