Volkswagen Recalling 208,700 US Vehicles Over Steering Rack Bolt Defect

September 22, 2026 by

Volkswagen is recalling 208,724 vehicles in the U.S. due to a faulty steering rack bolt that could break and cause a loss of steering control, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Friday.

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Here are some details from NHTSA:

  • Affected vehicles include certain 2018 Tiguan, 2018-2019 Atlas, and 2019-2021 Audi Q3 vehicles.
  • The steering rack bolt in the vehicles might corrode and break, causing a potential loss of steering control, which can increase the risk of a crash, the auto safety regulator warned.
  • As part of the recall remedy, dealers will replace the right-side steering rack mounting bolt, free of charge.

(Reporting by Khanna in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema)