VW group recalls 610,297 cars in China as road salt eats steering bolts

VW group recalls 610,297 cars in China as road salt eats steering bolts

6 November 2026: Three Volkswagen group companies in China will recall 610,297 cars from 15 January 2027 because moisture and road de-icing salt can corrode a bolt holding the steering rack, which may then break and limit steering. China's market regulator published the plan alongside filings from Mercedes-Benz and Chery that also reach well into six figures between them.

Not yet independently verified. These are notices from China's State Administration for Market Regulation, read in Chinese and translated by us, and the Volkswagen group total is our own sum of its seven lines. We have not seen statements from the carmakers, and the notices do not say whether cars abroad are affected. We will update this when it can be confirmed, and remove this note.

Audi Q3 makes up most of the Volkswagen total

The bolt fixes the right side of the steering rack to the subframe. As the corrosion worsens the bolt can snap, and the right-hand connection fails. Dealers will fit an improved bolt at no charge. Until then the regulator tells drivers who hear a metallic knock from the front axle, or notice anything odd in the steering, to stop safely and call a dealer.

The filings by company:

• Volkswagen (China) Sales: 22,036 imported Golf and 途威 series cars built 2 September 2014 to 23 August 2019 (S2026M0138V)
• SAIC Volkswagen: 116,864 Teramont, 24,977 Teramont X, 8,529 Viloran and 20,369 Audi Q6 (S2026M0139V), built across dates from 30 November 2016 to 20 September 2026
• FAW-Volkswagen: 29,264 Talagon built 14 December 2020 to 8 July 2022 (S2026M0140V)
• FAW-Volkswagen: 388,258 Audi Q3 built 20 June 2018 to 15 September 2025 (S2026M0141V)

The Audi Q6 line runs to 20 September 2026, so cars only weeks old are included. Fleets running these models on salted roads face a wait, because the work does not start for more than two months.

A damp switch that can leave a Mercedes rolling

Beijing Benz and Mercedes-Benz China will recall 180,277 cars from 19 February 2027. That is 129,819 locally built A-Class, GLA and GLB (S2026M0129V) and 50,458 imported A-Class, B-Class, C-Class, CLA, CLE, GLA, GLB and GLC (S2026M0130V).

The sealing material on the microswitch in the driver's door lock resists moisture poorly, so the switch can corrode and fail to register that the door is open. Locking still works. The parking brake and auto-hold functions tied to opening the driver's door may not engage on their own, though, so the car could move unexpectedly. Dealers will replace the door lock.

The same notice recalls two locally built CLA electric cars (S2026M0128V) at once: damaged components on the power electronics board of the rear drive module could cause a high-voltage short and a loss of drive. Dealers will replace the module.

Rear-axle welds on Chery's Tiggo 5x and Omoda

Chery Automobile will recall 53,882 Tiggo 5x and Omoda series cars built from 6 June 2022 to 31 December 2023, starting 27 November 2026 (S2026M0146V). A manufacturing problem may have left a poor weld between the rear-axle trailing arm and its sleeve. In extreme cases the weld can separate and the wheel goes out of control.

Chery will check the axle's production date code free of charge and replace the axle if it belongs to the faulty batch. Owners will hear by text message and registered letter, and the Chery hotline is 400-883-8888.

How to check a car, and who we list

All three companies point owners to the regulator's recall centre, samrdprc.org.cn, which offers a lookup by vehicle identification number. We list Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Chery among 52 car makers. The regulator also published a software recall this week, Porsche's Cayenne reversing camera fault.

Sources

• State Administration for Market Regulation, Defective Product Recall Centre: Volkswagen China, SAIC Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen recall notice, 4 November 2026, 4 November 2026
• State Administration for Market Regulation, Defective Product Recall Centre: Beijing Benz and Mercedes-Benz China recall notice, 6 November 2026, 6 November 2026
• State Administration for Market Regulation, Defective Product Recall Centre: Chery Automobile recall notice, 6 November 2026, 6 November 2026