Skip to main content

NHTSA recall,

Volkswagen Audi Q3, Atlas, and Tiguan Vehicles

The steering rack mounting bolt may corrode and break, causing the steering rack housing to break and loss of steering control.

Summary by Recall Canary from the NHTSA notice

What happened

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling certain 2018 Tiguan, 2018-2019 Atlas, and 2019-2021 Audi Q3 vehicles. One of the bolts that attaches the steering rack to the subframe may corrode and break. If this happens, the steering rack housing can break, resulting in a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash. The recall was reported to NHTSA on September 11, 2026, and affects 208,724 vehicles nationwide.

Dealers will replace the right-side steering rack mounting bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 10, 2026. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 48LG and 48VT.

More steering defect recalls

What to do

If you own a vehicle in this recall:

  1. Check your VIN (vehicle identification number) at nhtsa.gov/recalls. VINs are searchable from September 16, 2026.
  2. Dealers will replace the right-side steering rack mounting bolt, free of charge.
  3. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 10, 2026. You may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
  4. Watch your mail. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 10, 2026.

What you get Free repair

Full text from NHTSA

Dealers will replace the right-side steering rack mounting bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 10, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 48LG and 48VT. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 16, 2026.

Is your Audi affected?

3 models

These models and years may be affected.

  • Q3Audi, model years 2019 to 2021
  • AtlasVolkswagen, model years 2018 to 2019
  • TiguanVolkswagen, model years 2018

Your VIN confirms it. Find the 17-character VIN on the driver's side of the dashboard or on your registration card.

Check your VIN on nhtsa.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recall details

Reported to NHTSA
Sold in
Nationwide
Manufacturer
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Component
Steering defect
Campaign
26V590000
Vehicles affected
208,724
Repair cost
Free of charge
Owner letters expected
Manufacturer phone
1-800-893-5298

All recalls from Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Timeline

  1. Reported to NHTSA

  2. Listed on Recall Canary

  3. Summary updated

Other steering defect recalls

See all: Other steering defect recalls

Summary by Recall Canary, written with AI · summary updated Oct 3, 2026 · primary source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (opens in a new tab)