[03GLX4MOWag]

Am I correct that the center rear headrest (which is slightly smaller than the two side headrests) has shorter chrome legs than the two side headrests? The legs on the side rests are very long - the center ones are much shorter. Just wanted to make sure this is correct as I have two center headrests and one side headrest. Will be able to swap them out at Pull A Part - just wanted to make sure I get the correct one.

Thanks in advance - 2003 Passat GLX

 

[dbrick]

I just removed and measured all three rear headrests on my owned-from-new '01 GLS sedan. All are identical: mounting shafts are the same length, headrest pads are the same size. Maybe the wagons are different.

 

[TheRustySuper]

Pretty sure the legs are shorter on the middle one, at least they are on our '05 GLS wagon.

 

[smac4th]

Just checked on on 04 GLS wagon, the middle headrest has shorter legs than the two other rear headrests.

 

[03GLX4MOWag]

Hi guys - I can't thank you enough for taking the time to double check on this for me. I was pretty sure the middle headrest was different. I do think the middle headrest is also a little smaller - to better facilitate rear-view mirror usage. As dbrick mentions, this may be different for the sedans - but I would think the sedan would have the same rear-view mirror issue - that a larger headrest would reduce rearward vision.

Thanks again guys - very helpful. I now need to go and exchange a middle headrest for a side headrest. I ended up with two center ones!

 

[dbrick]

Perhaps the distinction in center headrest size isn't between wagon and sedan, but instead is between early cars (like mine, with three identical headrests) and later cars (like those of the OP and the other two posters, with the smaller center one). I suppose one could dig into ETKA to see what it says.

 

[03GLX4MOWag]

I was at my local VW dealer today to pick up a fog lamp bulb and one of the dash air vent bulbs. I had the parts person look up the rear headrests for a 2003 and, even though the headrests were listed with one entry listed as "left,right headrest - 2 req" and a second listing for "center headrest - 1 req", both listings carried the same part number. We both thought that was odd.

 

[pw.passat]

From my 2003 sedan. Posts for middle headrest are definitely shorter. Headrests themselves seem to be exactly the same size. :thumbup:

 

[03GLX4MOWag]

Well I exchanged my extra center headrest for one of the side headrests - one with the longer legs. The short legs on the center headrest are needed to clear the pullout center armrest that nestles in the rear seatback. The headrest itself is the same size as the other two - I was wrong in thinking that the center headrest was smaller.

Oh well, all is right with the headrests now! $5.95 is not a bad price for a perfect headrest! Thanks again for the assistance.