Volkswagen, Audi recall 2.86 million vehicles over steering screwQuartzCris TolomiaUpdatedFri, September 25, 2026 at 6:36 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleVolkswagen is recalling 2.86 million vehicles over a steering screw that could fail hero imageVolkswagen and Audi are recalling approximately 2.86 million vehicles worldwide because corrosion could cause a steering gear bolt to break, potentially causing drivers to lose steering control, according to Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority.The recall covers several Volkswagen models — the Golf, Golf Variant, Tiguan, Touran, and Caddy — produced between September 24, 2013, and July 1, 2024, as well as the Audi Q3, manufactured between October 31, 2017, and May 23, 2024, according to Euronews. Nearly 2.16 million of the affected vehicles are Volkswagen models, including roughly 900,000 in Germany. More than 696,000 are Audi vehicles, including about 58,555 in Germany.Audi said the recall followed internal inspections revealing that exposure to road salt and other environmental factors could degrade a steering-system bolt in certain Q3 models over the course of several years. Should the corrosion advance far enough, the company said, it can compromise the vehicle's ability to steer. The repair takes up to an hour and is free for customers.AdvertisementAdvertisementGermany's transport authority said the matter is currently marked as "under investigation," meaning a final assessment is still pending. The authority said it is not aware of any incidents involving related damage or injury.Volkswagen Group of America announced a separate recall of 208,724 SUVs in the United States earlier this week covering the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas, and 2019-2021 Audi Q3. That recall identified water intrusion near the right-side steering rack mounting bolt as the trigger for a corrosion process that can eventually cause the bolt head to break apart, leaving only a single mounting point to hold the steering rack to the vehicle's subframe. Further stress can then fracture the housing and eliminate steering capability. The first field report involving the defect came from outside North America in October 2024, and Volkswagen spent nearly two years investigating before deciding to conduct a voluntary safety recall on September 4, 2026. Owner notification letters in the U.S. are scheduled to be mailed on November 10, 2026.According to Euronews, owners can bring their vehicle identification number to an authorized workshop to find out whether their car is included in the recall.