The problem
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some of these vehicles do not comply with the head injury criterion requirements of FMVSS no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impact." the upper retainer clip near the bp1 impact location is designed to break when impacted by the head form. In some cases, the material of the trim part May be more impact resistant as a result of variations in the molding process.
The risk
This condition could prevent the clip from breaking on impact and result in less deformation in the impacted area and a higher decleration of the head form, increasing the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash.
The fix
Dealers will remove the trim cover from each of the b pillars and install a new cover.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 99V-251 (99V251000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer number | UM |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. |
| Component | Structure › Frame and members |
| Report date | September 17, 1999 |
| Owners notified | March 15, 2000 |
| Vehicles affected | 67,076 |
| Initiated by | OVSC |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the body & structure
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 99V-251 repair free?
Yes. Volkswagen dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will remove the trim cover from each of the b pillars and install a new cover.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 67,076 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.