TSB for Headrest Rattle

[KensingtonPark]

While I was having my update installed, I had service look at the passenger seat rattle (14-way seat). To my slight surprise, they reported that there is a TSB for the rattle in the headrest and have ordered parts! Looking forward to having it fixed. Will update eventually...

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[WalterG]

While I was having my update installed, I had service look at the passenger seat rattle (14-way seat). To my slight surprise, they reported that there is a TSB for the rattle in the headrest and have ordered parts! Looking forward to having it fixed. Will update eventually...

Thanks for posting! I am bringing mine in tomorrow for a seat rattle (14-way) and will mention this. It's a significant rattle - sounds like something became detached inside the upper back of the seat. Maybe it is different but appreciate the heads up about the TSB.

 

[chrisk]

Good to see finally see some progress towards addressing rattles for existing customers. I hope they issue another one for the door panels and the driver sear..

 

[KensingtonPark]

I will add that, in addition to requiring parts from Germany, the repair will require them to remove the seat and send it to an upholstery firm to install the fix. Hoping it won't take too long...

 

[kort]

my rattle was in the passenger headrest and as per a post on the forums here the fix was to extend it out, then give it a hard whack pushing back to position. it worked for me the rattle was gone.

 

[porsche_coyote]

While I was having my update installed, I had service look at the passenger seat rattle (14-way seat). To my slight surprise, they reported that there is a TSB for the rattle in the headrest and have ordered parts! Looking forward to having it fixed. Will update eventually...

Any idea what the number is for the TSB? This is the one issue I haven't been able to get resolved by the dealer. They 'fixed' it by moving the headrest to an intermediate position, but it immediately rattled again after my wife sat in the seat.

 

[KensingtonPark]

Any idea what the number is for the TSB? This is the one issue I haven't been able to get resolved by the dealer. They 'fixed' it by moving the headrest to an intermediate position, but it immediately rattled again after my wife sat in the seat.

I don't know. I will ask when they take my car, though.

 

[mcreston]

any updates?

 

[KensingtonPark]

Sorry, when I picked the car up, the Service Advisor who was there (a different one) didn’t know about a TSB, and the receipt shows that the original SA simply ordered a part and did not attach it to a TSB. So I totally forgot to report the TSB number to the forum since there apparently was not one.

 

[Gronk]

I am having the same annoying headrest rattle issue. I found a link on Facebook that both replicates the rattle and describes the fix:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1277152780817774?fs=e&s=TIeQ9V&fs=e&fs=e

Apparently the carrier part is about $40, but removing the seat back is quite involved (there is a post here on the forums that describes the process, the poster did it to replace the seatbacks with carbon fiber).

In the meantime, I’ve found a temporary fix is to move the headrest between detents, so that the headrest button is not popped out all the way. I’ll see if this fix holds in the long term, but for now it’s blessed silence.

When I get a long weekend and the motivation, I do plan to pop the seat back off and see exactly what the issue is (I’m out of warranty and have taken apart my German cars in the past). I’ll report back if/when that happens.

 

[bigkraig]

@Gronk thanks for sharing it, that looks like the problem. also nice that it looks like the work can be done with the seat in the car.

the carrier part number is 9J1881571.

i'll order a couple of these since both of my headrests will rattle. annoyingly there doesn't appear to be an updated part number, so it'll likely fail again in the future.

i've attached the instructions for removing the seat and disassembling it to access the carrier

 

[bigkraig]

no need to buy replacement carriers, the loose metal brackets can be held tight with zipties. this is a better solution anyway since it would prevent the replacement part from coming loose later.

 

[Gronk]

no need to buy replacement carriers, the loose metal brackets can be held tight with zipties. this is a better solution anyway since it would prevent the replacement part from coming loose later.

That’s awesome. Does that mean you did it already, and if so about how long did it take you? I’ve just procrastinated since I didn’t want it to take multiple days and drive around without the seat backs in place.

 

[bigkraig]

it's pretty quick. probably 20 minutes to disassemble, you need T20, T25 and T30 screwdrivers and 4 zip ties per side. I also ordered the VW tool to release the snapping pieces, its worth getting, its cheap on amazon and those clips are very tight, having the proper tool will help.

it would be good to have a torque wrench/screwdriver and follow the torque settings in the docs i attached, the screws that hold the headrest to the bracket are very sensitive. if you over-tighten the latching mechanism will stick.

i also used some white lithium grease (spray style) to lubricate the locking pieces, because mine was a little sticky and i think them properly locking 100% is part of the rattling problem.

i haven't reassembled yet, mostly because it was improperly assembled. i had my headrest worked on at the dealership once before, i think they had replaced the bracket too, but its how i learned about the zip ties. unfortunately they lost about half of the clips that hold the leather to the seat back, one of the screws in the bottom was missing (i found it hanging around inside the seat) and the other side was loose, and both of the snaps that hold the backrest to the seat near the shoulder area were not connected . i have ordered more of the missing clips and i am waiting for them before i can finish reassembly.

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