Steering may fail

Massive recall at the VW Group: Over 2 million cars!

The VW Group must recall millions of vehicles.(Bild: AP/Michael Sohn)

A minor issue is turning into a multimillion-dollar problem for the VW Group. In several models from Volkswagen, Skoda, Audi, and Seat, a steering mounting bolt can corrode and break off. In the worst-case scenario, the car can no longer be steered. Tens of thousands of vehicles are also affected in Austria. 

For the core Volkswagen brand alone, the recall affects 2,159,054 vehicles worldwide. The models listed are the Golf, Golf Variant, Tiguan, Touran, and Caddy produced between September 24, 2013, and July 1, 2024. In Germany, just under 900,000 vehicles are affected. 

For Audi, an additional 696,547 Q3 models are included, built between October 31, 2017, and May 23, 2024; of these, just under 60,000 are in Germany and approximately 6,000 in Austria.

For Seat, the recall affects the Ateca and Tarraco models. This involves 66,224 vehicles worldwide, produced between April 2016 and September 2024.

The VW Group must recall millions of vehicles.(Bild: AP/Michael Sohn)

For Skoda, the number exceeds one million vehicles, though according to the *Handelsblatt*, no official information is yet available regarding the affected models. This brings the total number of vehicles affected by the recalls announced so far to around four million worldwide.

As of now, 75,000 VWs, 6,000 Audis, and 14,000 Seats are affected in Austria.

Porsche Austria auf „Krone“-Anfrage

This is how many cars are affected in Austria
In response to an inquiry from “Krone,” the importer Porsche Austria stated that a total of approximately 95,000 Volkswagen Group vehicles are being recalled in Austria. These include 75,000 VWs, 6,000 Audis, and 14,000 Seats. “As part of this precautionary recall, affected customers will be notified in writing based on the vehicle registration database and asked to visit service centers,” said a spokesperson for the importer. Those who are not notified do not need to take any action on their own.

The repair is relatively simple
The cause sounds far less dramatic than the potential consequence: corrosion can weaken the affected screw over time. If it breaks, the steering mounting may be compromised.

At the repair shop, the existing bolt will be inspected and replaced with a more corrosion-resistant version. The repair is free of charge for vehicle owners.

Important: Not every vehicle in the listed model series and model years is automatically affected. The vehicle identification number is the determining factor. 

This is how many cars VW estimates are actually affected
According to information from “kfz-betrieb,” which is based on documents related to the parallel U.S. recall, Volkswagen estimates that the actual proportion of vehicles with the problem is at most around one percent. According to the ADAC, no accidents or injuries have been reported so far. However, because a broken bolt could, in the worst-case scenario, result in a loss of steering control, the manufacturer must recall all potentially affected vehicles—even if the probability of this occurring is low.

Number of Recalls Has Risen Sharply Overall
It has become the norm—it feels like almost every day, some manufacturer is recalling cars. The ADAC counted 532 recall campaigns in Germany alone for 2025. In 2010, there were only 185. The club cites several reasons for this increase: more models, more registered vehicles, more complex technology, and shorter development cycles. For several years now, however, the number of recalls has remained at a relatively constant high level.

A recall alone is not proof of generally poor vehicle quality. On the contrary: the fact that a manufacturer identifies a known safety defect and repairs vehicles free of charge is precisely the purpose of the recall system. It would be more critical if a known defect were delayed or not adequately addressed.

In the current case, what makes it unique is the combination of a massive vehicle population and potentially serious consequences. The steering system, along with the brakes and restraint systems, is one of those components where even a low probability of failure must be taken seriously.

Large, but not historically unprecedented
Even the figure of nearly three million vehicles is put into perspective somewhat on a historical scale. The Takata airbag scandal has affected tens of millions of vehicles worldwide for years; according to the ADAC, more than 3.5 million cars in Germany alone were affected by Takata recalls announced since 2022. In the VW diesel scandal, around three million passenger cars in Germany had to be taken to repair shops.