Volkswagen Group is recalling nearly four million cars and SUVs worldwide because of a problem involving a single bolt that secures the steering rack to the subframe. The recall includes Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda models, with 208,724 vehicles affected in the United States, including the VW Atlas, Tiguan and Audi Q3.
Recall Covers VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda Models
The recall first surfaced in Germany after the country’s safety regulator, KBA, published the information late last week. Across multiple recalls, KBA documents list 2.16 million Volkswagens, including the Golf, Tiguan and Touran, along with 700,000 Audi Q3 SUVs and vehicles from Seat and Skoda.
Volkswagen USA confirmed that the U.S. recall covers the 2018-2019 VW Atlas, the 2018 Tiguan and the 2019-2021 Audi Q3. Those vehicles account for 208,724 of the nearly four million vehicles involved worldwide.
Corroded Bolt Could Eventually Affect Steering
The issue centers on a bolt connecting the steering rack to the subframe. According to Volkswagen, corrosion can cause the head of the bolt to fracture.
There are two bolts securing the steering rack to the subframe, meaning the failure does not immediately result in a complete loss of steering. However, continued driving could place additional stress on the remaining mounting, potentially causing it to fatigue, fracture and break.
If the second mounting breaks, the vehicle could experience a loss of steering capability.
Documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, state that the fracture is most likely to occur during parking and low-speed maneuvering. Volkswagen said steering loads are higher in those situations than they are at high speeds.
Volkswagen and Audi Will Replace the Bolt
The recall remedy involves replacing the affected fastener. Volkswagen and Audi will install a new bolt featuring “a highly corrosion-resistant polymer coating.”
The replacement bolt will have a different appearance and is designed to provide greater durability over time.
Volkswagen first learned of a bolt failure in late 2024 outside North America. The company then focused its analysis and testing on corrosion and how moisture could enter the system.
By the end of 2025, Volkswagen had received three field reports involving the problem, all from outside North America.
No North American Crashes or Injuries Reported
Volkswagen’s safety team determined that the failure would not necessarily be obvious to the driver. Following its investigation and testing, Volkswagen and Audi decided to launch the recall.
Volkswagen and Audi told the NHTSA that they were not aware of any crashes, fires, injuries or warranty claims related to the issue in North America.
Letters are scheduled to go out to affected owners on November 10. Owners can check their vehicle identification number, or VIN, on their brand’s website or through the NHTSA’s recall database.
International Recall Dates Back to 2013
The international recall covers vehicles from 2013 through 2024. Around half of the affected vehicles were sold in Germany.
While the worldwide recall involves nearly four million vehicles across Volkswagen Group brands, the U.S. portion covers 208,724 vehicles from Volkswagen and Audi.
