Volkswagen Group said Friday it is recalling 2.86 million Volkswagen and Audi branded vehicles worldwide as a precautionary measure to replace a faulty screw that causes drivers to lose control of steering.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the recall impacts over 208,000 vehicles sold in the U.S. The affected models are:
- 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan
- 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas
- 2019-2021Audi Q3
Volkswagen said the bolt that attaches the right steering rack to the vehicle’s subframe could corrode prematurely as moisture enters the area, coupled with operating the vehicle under the influence of road salt over time. This could lead to a loss of steering capabilities, particularly while parking or maneuvering the vehicle in low-speed where steering loads are higher, according to the NHTSA.
There have been no known incidents with damage to persons or property and the recall was determined based on production records, according to the NHTSA and Germany’s KBA motor vehicle agency.
Audi and Volkswagon dealerships will replace the defective screw with a more corrosion-resistant one, free of charge. The repair would take up to an hour.
