Volkswagen, Audi Recall 208,000 SUVs Over Steering Defect
Volkswagen, Audi Recall 208,000 SUVs Over Steering Defect
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Key Points
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The 2025 Tiguan vehicles involved were built between March 24 and Aug. 30, 2025, and the recall is listed by NHTSA under campaign number 26V587. Volkswagen attributed the resets to incorrectly configured error-handling software in the body-control module.
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The 208,724-vehicle steering recall breaks down to 82,601 Volkswagen Atlases, 85,713 Volkswagen Tiguans and 40,410 Audi Q3s.
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Volkswagen said moisture can enter around the right-side steering-rack bolt and cause corrosion over the vehicle’s lifetime. If the bolt breaks, the rack may remain attached at one mounting point before continued steering loads fracture the housing; metallic rattling or knocking from the front axle may provide an early warning.
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The steering defect was first reported to Volkswagen outside North America in October 2024; additional reports followed in August and December 2025, prompting the company to investigate alternative bolt surface treatments.
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Owners seeking information can check their vehicle identification numbers through NHTSA or contact Volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298. Cars.com identifies the Volkswagen recall numbers as 48LG and 48VT and lists NHTSA’s safety hotline as 888-327-4236.
Volkswagen and Audi are recalling 208,724 SUVs and crossovers in the United States because a steering-rack bolt can corrode and break, potentially causing a complete loss of steering control Star-Telegram. The recall covers 82,601 Volkswagen Atlases, 85,713 Volkswagen Tiguans, and 40,410 Audi Q3s from 2018–2021. Separately, Volkswagen is recalling nearly 50,000 2025 Tiguan models because faulty software can shut off the ignition and disable power steering while driving.
Two Steering Problems Affecting Different Model Years
The larger recall targets older vehicles built between 2018 and 2021. Moisture enters around the right-side steering-rack bolt and causes corrosion over time Miami Herald. When the bolt breaks, the steering rack can fracture under normal driving loads, making the car impossible to steer. Owners may hear metallic rattling from the front axle as an early warning sign.
The newer 2025 Tiguans face a different problem. Software in the body-control module can reset while driving, shutting off the ignition and disabling power steering, exterior lights, and airbags News Observer. This affects 50,000 vehicles built between March 24 and August 30, 2025.
Dealers Will Replace Bolts at No Cost
Volkswagen and Audi said they have no reports of crashes, injuries, or deaths from the steering defect in North America. Owner notifications are expected to begin November 10, 2025 The State. Dealers will replace the faulty bolts for free. The company is also investigating better bolt surface treatments to prevent future corrosion.
How Owners Can Check Their Vehicle
Owners can identify whether their vehicle is affected by checking their vehicle identification number on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website. For help, Volkswagen owners can call 1-800-893-5298 Macon. The NHTSA safety hotline is 888-327-4236. The steering recalls are listed under NHTSA campaign number 26V587.
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