Volkswagen recalls over three million vehicles worldwide over steering risk
VW is recalling more than three million vehicles worldwide, including Audi Q3 and Seat models, after corrosion was found on a steering mounting bolt that could cause steering failure. No injuries have been reported.
BERLIN — Volkswagen confirmed on Friday that it is recalling more than three million vehicles worldwide over a potential steering risk flagged by Germany’s transport authority, the KBA (AFP via The Straits Times).
The KBA said around 2.16 million VW vehicles are affected — the Tiguan, Touran, Golf, Golf Variant, Golf Sportsvan and Caddy built between September 2013 and July 2024 — alongside some 700,000 Audi Q3 models built from October 2017 to May 2024, with about 950,000 of the recalled vehicles in Germany (dpa, Le Temps).
Seat is recalling 224,000 Ateca and Tarraco models worldwide, a company spokesman told AFP, while Handelsblatt reported that Skoda models are also swept up in the recall (AFP via The Straits Times).
Corrosion of a steering mounting bolt — caused by exposure to road salt over several years — could fracture the bolt and cause steering failure, the KBA said. No injuries or damage have been reported.
A VW spokesman said the problem was found in internal quality checks and the recall is precautionary, adding that drivers can keep using their cars until a dealer appointment, where new, more corrosion-resistant bolts will be fitted — a job the company says takes about an hour.
The recall is a fresh setback for VW, which in early September agreed a deal with unions providing for around 100,000 job cuts by 2030, as the group battles Chinese competition and its lag in electric vehicles (Le Temps).
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