Volkswagen recalls 4.6 million vehicles over steering component concerns

Volkswagen is recalling approximately 4.6 million vehicles across multiple brands due to concerns regarding potentially corroded screws in the steering gear. Andreas Krepp, head of group-wide quality assurance, stated that the decision was driven by safety rather than financial considerations, emphasizing that steering safety is a matter of life and death.

The issue involves a screw on the steering gear that may rust under specific regional conditions involving road salt and moisture. While the risk of actual damage is considered low and no personal injury accidents have been reported, the company is addressing the issue globally. Krepp noted that while mechanical quality has improved over the last decade, software remains a primary area of complexity in modern vehicles.

In a separate matter, Ford has issued recalls for Transit and Tourneo models. One recall involves Transit Double Cab-in-Van models where a screw may damage the fuel tank, increasing fire risks. A second recall concerns gas pressure struts in various Ford and Volkswagen transporter models, which could cause the tailgate to fall if the strut detaches.