The Volkswagen Group of America is recalling over 208,724 vehicles in the United States due to a potential safety issue with the steering rack mounting bolt. The bolt may corrode and eventually break, leading to a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a collision.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced that the recall affects a total of 208,724 SUVs, including certain models such as the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas, and 2019-2021 Audi Q3.
Owners can expect to receive notification letters by November 10th.
The affected Tiguan vehicles were manufactured from March 22, 2017, to June 18, 2018; the affected Atlas vehicles were produced from November 30, 2016, to September 22, 2018; and the affected Audi Q3 vehicles were made from May 21, 2019, to July 16, 2021.
The recall pertains to vehicles equipped with specific models of steering racks, so those with different steering rack models are not impacted by this recall.
According to the notice, the steering rack mounting bolt on the right side may corrode after exposure to moisture. If the bolt head breaks, the steering rack may be left with only one connection point on the subframe. Continued stress could lead to the steering rack housing further fracturing, resulting in a loss of steering control and an increased risk of a crash.
The greatest load and pressure on the steering system occur when a vehicle is parked or making low-speed turns, making the housing fracture more likely in these scenarios.
Both Volkswagen and Audi have stated that they have not discovered any collisions, fires, injuries, or property damage related to this defect. Dealers will replace the mounting bolt free of charge, with new bolts featuring a highly corrosion-resistant polymer coating for improved protection against corrosion.
The Volkswagen Group of America, headquartered in Virginia, oversees the operations of Volkswagen AG in the United States and North American markets, which includes brands like Volkswagen, Audi, Bentley, and Lamborghini. They also manage the local network of independent dealerships, component distribution, and financial services.
(Adapted from a report by FOX BUSINESS)