Volkswagen Group has announced a recall of up to 4 million vehicles across its Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda brands after quality control checks identified a corrosion risk in a steering-system connection screw.
The recall, announced on 25 September 2026, is the German automotive group’s largest vehicle callback since the Dieselgate emissions scandal. The affected part can deteriorate when exposed to road salt and damp environments. If corrosion progresses, the steering gear bolt could potentially lead to a loss of steering control.
The group said drivers can continue using their vehicles while they arrange a dealer appointment for the replacement. The work will be free and should take up to one hour. Dealers will replace the vulnerable screw with a more corrosion-resistant version.
No road incidents, injuries or property damage have been linked to the problem, according to the information released with the recall. Audi described its action as a precautionary recall.
Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority, known as the KBA, said 2,159,054 Volkswagen-brand vehicles were affected. Volkswagen’s affected models include the Golf, Golf Variant, Tiguan, Touran and Caddy assembled between 24 September 2013 and 1 July 2024.
The recall also covers 696,547 Audi vehicles. The affected Audi models are Q3 vehicles produced between 31 October 2017 and 23 May 2024.
More than 1 million Skoda vehicles and 200,000 Seat vehicles are included in the action. Seat’s affected models are the Ateca and Tarraco, built between April 2016 and September 2024.
The totals cover several model years and four core group brands, though the risk centres on one relatively small component. The practical remedy is correspondingly limited: replacement of the screw before corrosion can undermine the steering connection.
In Germany, the recall affects 895,832 Volkswagen passenger cars and 58,555 Audi models. In Switzerland, approximately 66,000 group vehicles are affected, according to Amag.
The issue was found through quality control checks rather than after reported steering failures on the road. Volkswagen has not provided further details on the extent of corrosion across production batches, the countries beyond Germany and Switzerland involved in the recall, or the timetable for customers to obtain appointments.
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