Skip to content
AnyRecalls

Vehicle recall 85V031000 · March 25, 1985

Volkswagen Golf and Rabbit

Front seat belt retractors may not properly lock during sudden heavy brake application or impact due to the interference of two positioning tabs.

Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.

Summary
Front seat belt retractors may not properly lock during sudden heavy brake application or impact due to the interference of two positioning tabs. Consequence of defect: the seat belt would not retain the driver or passenger subjecting them to possible injury in case of an accident.
Remedy
Replace the front seat belts and modify the retractor positioning tabs.
Notes
Vehicle description: two door model passenger cars. System: front seat belt.

Recall details

NHTSA campaign
85V031000
Reported to NHTSA
March 25, 1985
Filed by
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Vehicles potentially affected
21,000
Initiated by
the manufacturer
Components
Seat belts
Recall 85V031000 on nhtsa.gov, with the manufacturer’s documents

Vehicles covered

As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.

Has your Volkswagen been repaired?

Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.

NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. Recall repairs are free.