Recall 20V579 affects 6 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles for loose third-row seat belt anchor bolts. Do not use the third row. Volkswagen will repurchase them.
Volkswagen is recalling 6 2020 Tiguan SUVs under recall 20V579 because the third row seat belt anchor bolts need inspection for improper torque. In a crash, improperly torqued bolts can keep the third row belt from working as designed and increase injury risk, so Volkswagen dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The third-row seat belt anchor in the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan is the fixed mounting point that holds the rear seat belt to the vehicle body. When someone rides in that row, the belt relies on that anchor bolt to stay tight so the belt can restrain the passenger as designed.
On the recalled Tiguan SUVs, the anchor bolt was not tightened correctly during factory work. Volkswagen traced the problem to an improper rework method and an incorrectly sized bolt diameter at the seat belt anchor point. A bolt that is the wrong size or not tightened to specification does not give the anchor the secure clamping force it needs.
There is no warning sign before failure. The belt can look normal from inside the cabin, so an owner is not expected to spot this problem during normal use.
Who's affected?
| 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan | seat belt |
| Units affected | 6 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
Improperly torqued bolts can stop the third row seat belt from protecting the occupant as designed in a crash, increasing injury risk. No one should ride in the third row until Volkswagen completes the remedy. Contact a Volkswagen dealer for the next step. Repair is free at any franchised Volkswagen dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Volkswagen dealer to start the free vehicle repurchase process.
- Keep passengers out of the third row seat because this recall involves the third row seat belt anchor bolts.
- Bring the recall notice if Volkswagen mailed one. If not, reference recall number 20V579 when you call.
- Call Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 with questions about the repurchase process.
What happens at the repair
For this recall, Volkswagen will repurchase the affected 2020 Tiguan vehicles rather than perform a standard parts repair. Contact Volkswagen customer service or a Volkswagen dealer and reference recall 69BA so they can confirm the repurchase process for your VIN. Until Volkswagen completes the repurchase, no one should occupy the third row seat due to the safety risk. Volkswagen is not offering reimbursement for this campaign.
| Reimbursement | No separate reimbursement |
|---|
Timeline
| September 23, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 2, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| October 2, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| October 2, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| October 7, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V579?
Recall 20V579 covers 6 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan LWB vehicles with third row seat belt anchor bolts that were not properly torqued. In a crash, the third row seat belt can fail to perform as designed, increasing injury risk. Volkswagen's remedy is vehicle repurchase.
What should I do if my 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Tiguan is included in recall 20V579. If it is, do not let anyone sit in the third row. Contact a franchised Volkswagen dealer or call Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and reference recall 69BA.
Is the recall remedy free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to provide the recall remedy at no cost. For recall 20V579, Volkswagen will repurchase the affected vehicles instead of repairing the third row seat belt anchor bolt issue.
Is it safe to use the third row seat?
No. Volkswagen advised that no one should occupy the third row seat because of the safety risk. The concern is limited to third row seat belt anchor bolts that were not properly torqued, which can keep the belt from performing as designed in a crash.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V579000 |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen customer service | 1-800-893-5298 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V579 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V579000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →