Volkswagen recalls 2.8 million vehicles over steering bolts

Volkswagen has issued a worldwide recall for more than 2.8 million VW and Audi vehicles due to the risk of steering bolts breaking. Germany's automotive authority, the KBA, announced the measure on Friday, September 25, 2026, noting that the issue could lead to a loss of steering control.

The recall impacts 2.16 million Volkswagen cars and 700,000 Audi vehicles, with one third of the total located in Germany. For VW, the affected models are the Golf, Golf Variant, Tiguan, Touran, and Caddy built between 2013 and 2024. For Audi, the recall covers Q3 models manufactured from 2017 to 2024.

A company spokesperson told AFP that the recall is preventive and that no personal injuries have been reported. Technicians detected corrosion on the bolts. The spokesperson clarified that the defect is not severe enough to require immediate vehicle grounding, meaning owners can drive their cars to dealerships to have corrosion-resistant bolts installed.

The safety campaign comes amid significant restructuring for the automaker, which reached an agreement with labor unions earlier in September to eliminate up to 100,000 jobs by 2030.