According to the German newspaper Handelsblatt, citing its own sources, the Volkswagen Group is to recall around four million vehicles worldwide over possible steering problems. The paper reported this on 25 September 2026.[1][2] More than a million of the vehicles are said to be Škoda-brand cars.[1][2]
Scope
According to figures so far available from the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), the measure is to cover about 2.16 million Volkswagen vehicles and around 700,000 Audi vehicles. According to Handelsblatt's sources, it also affects more than a million Škoda vehicles and roughly 200,000 Seat vehicles.[1][2] Handelsblatt said the scale of the action has no precedent within the group since the emissions scandal of roughly a decade ago.[1] In the Czech Republic, according to the Czech News Agency, the recall affects nearly 48,000 cars.[1]
The fault
The KBA stated that, for the Volkswagen brand, the fault concerns the Tiguan, Touran, Golf Variant, Caddy and Golf models manufactured between 24 September 2013 and 1 July 2024, and for Audi, the Q3 model from the period between 31 October 2017 and 23 May 2024.[1][2] The steering can fail due to a bolt securing the steering mechanism breaking off. The remedy is to replace it with a corrosion-resistant bolt.[1] The KBA reported no damage or injuries and is continuing to investigate the case. According to a Volkswagen spokesperson, owners of affected vehicles may continue driving them.[1][2]
Škoda Auto confirmed to the Czech News Agency that it is calling on owners of affected vehicles to visit an authorised service centre. Spokesperson Martin Ježek said that during prolonged operation in the presence of road salt, the fastening bolt in the steering system can corrode and, in isolated cases, impair the function of the steering. He said no injury or significant property damage had so far been reported in connection with this.[1]
Related articles: Škoda Auto
Chronology
- — Volkswagen Group is recalling about 200,000 vehicles in the Czech Republic over possible steering problems, around 150,000 of them of the Škoda brand. ČTK / České noviny ČT24
- — According to press reports, Volkswagen is to recall about four million cars over steering problems, including more than a million Škoda vehicles. iROZHLAS ČTK / České noviny
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Impact on the Czech Republic
On 3 October 2026, Czech Television reported, based on statements from Škoda Auto, that the recall would affect around 200,000 vehicles in the Czech Republic, of which approximately 150,000 are Škoda-brand vehicles. Worldwide, the action affects roughly four million vehicles of the group, of which more than a million are Škoda-brand vehicles.[3][4]
Jiří Maláček, head of Škoda Auto for the Czech market, said the bolt replacement concerns the Octavia, Karoq, Kodiaq and Superb models. In vehicles manufactured between 2013 and 2024, the steering can fail due to a bolt securing the steering mechanism breaking off. The bolt is being replaced with a corrosion-resistant one. Škoda Auto called on owners of affected vehicles to visit authorised service centres already at the end of September 2026.[3][5]
In the Czech Republic, the action also affects 44,756 Volkswagen vehicles of the Touran, Tiguan, Tiguan Allspace, Golf Sportsvan, Golf Variant and Caddy model ranges, 1,971 Seat vehicles of the Ateca and Tarraco models, and 894 Audi Q3 vehicles.[3][5]
The German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) previously stated that no damage or injuries had been reported in connection with the problem, and that it is continuing to investigate the case. According to a Volkswagen spokesperson, owners of affected vehicles may continue driving them.[3]
Context within the Volkswagen Group
According to the Czech News Agency, news of the large-scale vehicle recall came at a time when the Volkswagen Group is grappling with high costs, excess capacity, growing competition from China and US tariffs. The group's supervisory board approved the largest restructuring plan in the company's history in September 2026. Among other things, Volkswagen plans to cut up to 100,000 jobs worldwide out of a total of roughly 663,000 by the end of the decade, or to reduce the number of models. Škoda Auto has repeatedly stated that the group's new transformation plan has no direct impact on its operations.[3]
Czech Television states that for drivers and service centres, the recall will be a bigger strain than the group's emissions scandal of roughly a decade ago.[4]
Scope of the action in the Czech Republic
According to a statement by Škoda Auto to Czech Television on 3 October 2026, the action will affect around 200,000 vehicles in the Czech Republic, of which an estimated 150,000 are Škoda-brand vehicles. Worldwide, the group is recalling approximately four million vehicles, more than a million of which are Škoda-brand.[3][4]
Jiří Maláček, head of Škoda Auto for the Czech market, said the bolt replacement concerns the Octavia, Karoq, Kodiaq and Superb models manufactured between 2013 and 2024. The bolt secures the steering mechanism and can break off. It is being replaced with a corrosion-resistant bolt.[3] Škoda Auto called on owners of affected vehicles to bring them to authorised service centres already at the end of September 2026.[3]
In the Czech Republic, the action also affects 44,756 Volkswagen-brand vehicles (Touran, Tiguan, Tiguan Allspace, Golf Sportsvan, Golf Variant and Caddy), 1,971 Seat-brand vehicles (Ateca and Tarraco), and 894 Audi Q3 vehicles.[3]
The German newspaper Handelsblatt described the scale of the action as the largest since the emissions scandal of roughly a decade ago. The Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) is continuing to investigate the case and, according to its earlier statement, no damage or injuries had been reported in connection with it. A Volkswagen spokesperson said owners may continue driving their vehicles.[3]
Sources
- ČTK / České noviny — 25 September 2026
- Echo24 — 25 September 2026
- ČTK / České noviny — 3 October 2026
- ČT24 — 3 October 2026
- Novinky.cz — 3 October 2026