I have a 2024 Golf R with only \~14,000 km and am still well within the factory warranty. The small plastic retaining tab/lug for the rubber seal between the headlight and fender has broken, so the rubber seal now sticks out.

The car has never been in an accident and has never had any body/headlight repair. I genuinely have no idea how the tab broke. It is also located in a very narrow gap between the headlight and body panel, so accidental external damage seems unusual.

My VW dealer previously tried gluing the seal back down, but the repair failed. They are now questioning whether there may have been outside damage and suggested something like a screwdriver could have been inserted into the gap. I have never done anything like that and can't think of any reason anyone would.

I understand there is a U.S.-market VW TSB describing essentially this exact failure—damage to the locking lug causing the rubber headlight seal to detach—but apparently it may not apply directly in Canada.

Has anyone else with a Mk8 Golf r/GTI had this exact tab break? **Especially interested in Canadian owners:** was VW willing to cover the repair under warranty, and if so, what did they do?

Photos attached.

Mk8 Golf R – broken headlight rubber seal retaining tab. Anyone else had this covered under warranty?