Overview
- The recall was announced Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and covers 208,724 U.S. SUVs from Volkswagen and Audi.
- Affected vehicles include certain 2018 Tiguan, 2018–2019 Atlas and 2019–2021 Audi Q3 models built in specific date ranges tied to one steering-rack design.
- NHTSA found moisture can enter around the right-side rack bolt, causing corrosion that can break the bolt head and, with continued loading, fracture the steering-rack housing and risk loss of steering control.
- Dealers will replace the right steering-rack mounting bolt at no cost with a polymer-coated, corrosion-resistant bolt and owner notification letters are scheduled to be mailed on November 10, 2026.
- Volkswagen and Audi say they are not aware of any crashes, injuries, fires or deaths linked to the defect, and the recall is limited to vehicles fitted with the specific steering rack so other models are not affected.