El Grupo Volkswagen ha iniciado una campaña preventiva que afecta a casi cuatro millones de vehículos. El fallo se localiza en los tornillos de fijación de la caja de dirección, una pieza compartida por marcas como Audi, SEAT y Skoda.
A single part for four brands
SEAT and Skoda have been part of the Volkswagen Group structure for decades. This integration means the companies share engines, invisible mechanical elements, and the MQB platform. Practically, a Volkswagen Golf, an Audi Q3, a SEAT Ateca, and a Skoda Octavia use the exact same steering box. Because a single batch of screws was used in assembly lines between 2013 and 2024, the risk of corrosion is spread equally across the four manufacturers.
German transport authorities have broken down the affected numbers by brand. Volkswagen counts 2.16 million cars manufactured between September 24, 2013, and July 1, 2024. This includes high-volume models like the Golf, Tiguan, Touran, and Caddy. Audi contributes 700,000 units of its Q3 SUV, built between 2017 and 2024. SEAT reports 200,000 units of its Ateca and Tarraco crossovers from 2016 to 2024. Skoda adds over a million vehicles, led by the Octavia produced in that same ten-year window. The total reaches four million cars distributed globally.
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The technical fault and the fix
Technical staff discovered the defect, known internally as code 48VS, during routine quality checks. The Federal Motor Transport Authority of Germany explains that road salt accumulation during winter and constant humidity eventually corrode the metal bolt. If the screw snaps, the steering box loses a support point on the chassis. This can make turning the wheels difficult or lock the system, especially during parking maneuvers or low-speed driving. Volkswagen estimates the actual defect will appear in fewer than 1% of the recalled cars.
This recall arrives at a difficult time for the group’s leadership. Calculating the cost to replace parts and pay labor on four million vehicles leaves a gap of between 200 and 450 million euros. Este gasto extra llega en pleno proceso de reestructuración interna, mientras la empresa negocia un duro plan de recortes que prevé la salida de unos 100.000 empleados hasta 2030. Logistical challenges also arise in organizing appointments for millions of drivers without overloading dealer networks. Beyond the financial hit, the issue creates a reputational stain. Seeing a corrosion problem affect key components over more than ten years damages the image of German quality at a time when Chinese brands are pressing hard in the European market.
