Volkswagen recalls over 208,000 SUVs in the U.S. due to steering bolt corrosion

Volkswagen Group of America announced a recall of 208,724 sport-utility vehicles after discovering that the right-side mounting bolt on the steering rack may corrode and break. Affected models include the 2018 Tiguan, 2018-2019 Atlas and 2019-2021 Audi Q3, all built with a particular steering rack design. When moisture reaches the bolt, the head can fracture, leaving the rack secured by only one mounting point and possibly causing the rack housing to fail under load, which could result in loss of steering.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration noted that such a failure could increase crash risk, though the manufacturers report no related crashes, fires, injuries, or fatalities. Replacement bolts featuring a highly corrosion-resistant polymer coating will be provided free of charge by dealers, and owners are slated to receive recall notices on Nov. 10.