One of Volkswagen Group's biggest recalls in years is getting even larger, with approximately 4.6 million vehicles now potentially affected worldwide by a problem involving a single bolt in the steering system.
The campaign covers vehicles sold under Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda and Seat.
The latest major expansion comes from Škoda.
German automobile organization ADAC reports that 1,719,030 Škoda vehicles worldwide are being recalled, including 370,347 in Germany. The affected Škoda models are the Kodiaq, Karoq, Octavia and Superb produced between November 2015 and August 2026.
The problem involves a mounting bolt in the steering system.
According to Škoda information cited by ADAC, corrosion can develop on the bolt under certain environmental conditions, particularly after prolonged use in areas where road salt is common.
If the bolt eventually breaks, the steering system could be compromised. In the worst case, steering control could fail.
Volkswagen had previously confirmed that internal quality checks identified a potential steering problem affecting several model ranges.
Reuters reported that the broader campaign was initially expected to involve around four million vehicles across the Volkswagen Group, making it the company's largest recall operation since the Dieselgate era.
Among Volkswagen vehicles, affected models include the Golf, Golf Variant, Tiguan, Touran and Caddy produced during specified periods between 2013 and 2024.
Around 696,000 Audi Q3 vehicles are also affected, while Seat Ateca and Tarraco models are included in the campaign.
The addition of Škoda has pushed the reported global total even higher. Current figures compiled from the individual campaigns put the number of potentially affected vehicles at approximately 4.64 million.
There is an important point for owners.
Having one of the affected models does not automatically mean that a particular vehicle contains the defective component. Owners need to check the vehicle identification number, or VIN, to determine whether their specific car is included in the recall.
The repair itself is relatively straightforward.
The steering system bolt is inspected and replaced, with Volkswagen previously saying the work should generally take no longer than about an hour. The repair is performed without charge to affected owners.
ADAC reports another complication, however. Because of the enormous size of the campaign, supplies of the newly designed corrosion resistant replacement bolts are currently limited. Some owners could therefore require an additional workshop visit once the upgraded component becomes widely available.
No injuries linked to the problem had been reported when the recall was announced, and the campaign has been described as precautionary.
For Volkswagen Group, however, the scale is significant.
A defect involving one relatively small component has now resulted in millions of vehicles across four of Europe's biggest car brands being called back to workshops around the world.
