Volkswagen Group Recalls 610,297 Vehicles in China Over Steering Bolt

Volkswagen Group companies are recalling 610,297 vehicles in China because corrosion can damage a bolt that helps secure the steering gear. China’s State Administration for Market Regulation said the problem can eventually break the right-side connection between the subframe and steering gear, limiting steering and creating a crash risk.

The official SAMR notice was published November 4, 2026. The campaign is scheduled to begin January 15, 2027, and covers imported and China-built Volkswagen and Audi models. The regulator says authorized dealers will replace the affected right-side steering-gear mounting bolt with an improved part at no cost.

Which Volkswagen and Audi models are included

The total combines four recall campaign numbers filed by Volkswagen (China) Sales, SAIC Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen. The affected populations and production periods listed by SAMR are:

• Campaign S2026M0138V: 22,036 imported Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan-series vehicles built from September 2, 2014, through August 23, 2019.
• Campaign S2026M0139V: 116,864 China-built Volkswagen Teramont vehicles produced from November 30, 2016, through July 7, 2022; 24,977 Teramont X vehicles built from July 27, 2020, through July 5, 2022; 8,529 Viloran minivans built from November 26, 2021, through July 28, 2022; and 20,369 SAIC-Audi Q6 SUVs built from August 9, 2022, through September 20, 2026.
• Campaign S2026M0140V: 29,264 FAW-Volkswagen Talagon SUVs produced from December 14, 2020, through July 8, 2022.
• Campaign S2026M0141V: 388,258 China-built Audi Q3 SUVs produced from June 20, 2018, through September 15, 2025.

The Audi Q3 accounts for nearly two-thirds of the total. This is a China-market filing; it should not be read as a statement that every vehicle with the same badge in another country is included. Owners should use the recall lookup provided by the regulator or the relevant Volkswagen or Audi customer-service channel for a vehicle-specific answer.

How corrosion can affect steering

SAMR says long-term exposure to water and road de-icing salt can corrode the bolt that fixes the right side of the steering gear to the subframe. As corrosion progresses, the bolt may break. The resulting loss of that mounting connection can restrict steering function.

The notice does not say that every recalled vehicle has a damaged bolt, and it does not report a crash or injury count. A recall population identifies vehicles that may contain the condition and need the prescribed inspection or repair.

Until the campaign begins, SAMR advises drivers to stop safely and contact an authorized dealer if they hear an abnormal metallic knocking sound from the front-axle area or notice unusual steering behavior. That warning is more specific than simply watching for a dashboard light: a mechanical noise or change in steering feel can be an important early sign.

What owners should expect

Volkswagen (China) Sales, SAIC Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen are expected to contact owners by text message and registered mail. The free remedy is replacement of the right-side steering-gear mounting bolt with an improved component. Because the repair campaign starts January 15, 2027, owners who notice symptoms before then should not wait for a routine appointment.

The large China campaign is distinct from Chiefs Review’s earlier report on a Volkswagen ID.4 battery-fire recall, which involved a different defect and market. Readers following Audi safety actions can also see the separate Audi Q4 e-tron battery recall.

The filing arrives as Chinese vehicle production and exports continue to expand. Chiefs Review recently reported that China’s October passenger-car exports rose 68.2%, underscoring the importance of clear market-specific recall information as manufacturers serve increasingly global customer bases.

Featured image: Archive photo of a 2022 China-market SAIC-Audi Q6, one of the model lines included in the recall. The photo does not depict the defect. Photo by User3204 via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. No changes were made.