⚡ The quick answer
Volkswagen Group is recalling about 2.86 million cars worldwide: roughly 2.16 million Volkswagens (Golf, Golf Variant, Tiguan, Touran, Caddy built September 2013 – July 2024) and about 696,000 Audi Q3s (built October 2017 – May 2024). A bolt fixing the steering rack can corrode and break. No crashes or injuries have been reported. Dealers will fit a new rust-resistant bolt for free, and the job takes about an hour.
It is one of the biggest car recalls of the year, and it comes down to a single screw. On Friday, Volkswagen Group confirmed it is calling back 2.86 million Volkswagen and Audi vehicles around the world as a precaution. The problem was flagged by Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), which says a bolt that secures the steering gear can rust over time and break.
The list reads like a who's-who of Europe's best-selling family cars: the VW Golf, Tiguan, Touran, Caddy and the Audi Q3. If you drive one built in the last decade, this is worth five minutes of your time.
What exactly is wrong with the cars?
The steering rack is the part that turns your steering-wheel movement into the wheels turning left or right. It is held to the car's frame (the subframe) by bolts. According to US safety regulator NHTSA, the bolt on the right side of the rack can let moisture in and rust early, especially after years of driving on salted winter roads.
If that bolt snaps, the steering can stop working properly. NHTSA says the risk is highest at low speed, such as when parking or maneuvering, because that is when the steering is under the most load.
How a small bolt becomes a big problem
Full list of affected models
Here are the production windows reported by the Associated Press, based on the KBA filing. Only cars fitted with the specific steering rack in question are included, so being on this list does not automatically mean your car is affected.
| Brand | Model | Built between |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen | Golf | Sep 2013 – Jul 2024 |
| Volkswagen | Golf Variant (estate) | Sep 2013 – Jul 2024 |
| Volkswagen | Tiguan | Sep 2013 – Jul 2024 |
| Volkswagen | Touran | Sep 2013 – Jul 2024 |
| Volkswagen | Caddy | Sep 2013 – Jul 2024 |
| Audi | Q3 | Oct 2017 – May 2024 |
🇺🇸 In the United States
NHTSA lists just over 208,000 US vehicles under recall 26V590: the 2018 VW Tiguan, the 2018–2019 VW Atlas and the 2019–2021 Audi Q3. Note that the Atlas appears on the US list even though it is not named in the global KBA summary.
Where the recalled cars are
Germany, Volkswagen's home market, carries a large share of the Volkswagen-branded cars. Audi's exposure is mostly outside Germany.
Is it still safe to drive my car?
A Volkswagen spokesperson told AFP that drivers can keep using their cars while they wait for a dealer appointment. The company calls this a precautionary recall, and both Germany's KBA and NHTSA say there are no known incidents involving damage or injury. The recall was triggered by internal quality checks and production records, not by accidents.
The fix: a new bolt with a corrosion-resistant polymer coating, fitted free of charge in about an hour.
Summary of the remedy described by Volkswagen, Audi and NHTSA🚨 Stay alert: if your steering suddenly feels loose, makes a knocking or clunking sound, or pulls strangely, especially when parking, stop driving and contact an authorized dealer straight away rather than waiting for the letter.
What owners should do now
🌍 Middle East and Africa owners: Volkswagen has not yet published a country-by-country breakdown for the region. Since cars in hot, dry climates see little road salt, the risk may differ, but the only way to know is to check your VIN with your local authorized dealer.
How big is this compared to VW's other recalls?
It is large, but not the largest. Earlier this year, Volkswagen Group recalled nearly 100,000 electric ID models over battery issues. Both are dwarfed by the 2015 "Dieselgate" emissions scandal, which led to a recall of 8.5 million diesel cars across Europe.
The timing is awkward for the company. Volkswagen is already dealing with weaker sales and has been cutting jobs and scaling back some plants to save money. One more point to keep in mind: on the KBA website, the case is still marked "under investigation", meaning the authority's final assessment is not yet complete.
Timeline
Frequently asked questions
How many cars are included in the Volkswagen recall?
About 2.86 million worldwide: roughly 2.16 million Volkswagens and about 696,000 Audis. In the US, NHTSA counts just over 208,000 vehicles.
Which models are recalled?
VW Golf, Golf Variant, Tiguan, Touran and Caddy built September 2013 to July 2024, and Audi Q3 built October 2017 to May 2024. In the US the list is the 2018 Tiguan, 2018–2019 Atlas and 2019–2021 Audi Q3.
What is the defect?
The bolt that attaches the right side of the steering rack to the subframe can corrode, mainly from moisture and road salt over several years, and may break. This could cause loss of steering, especially at low speed.
Can I keep driving my car?
Volkswagen told AFP drivers can keep using their cars while waiting for an appointment. If the steering feels loose or noisy, stop and contact a dealer immediately.
Is the repair free?
Yes. Dealers replace the bolt with a new one that has a corrosion-resistant polymer coating at no cost. The work takes up to about an hour.
How do I check if my car is affected?
Give your 17-character VIN to an authorized Volkswagen or Audi workshop. US owners can also enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Know someone who drives a Golf, Tiguan or Q3?
Send them this list. It takes one minute to check.
Sources: Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA recall 26V590), Associated Press, Euronews, AFP, NBC4 Washington.
