Washington: German automaker Volkswagen is recalling 208,724 vehicles in the US due to a steering system defect, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

According to Anadolu Agency, the recall affects specific models, including the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, 2018-2019 Volkswagen Atlas, and 2019-2021 Audi Q3. The issue stems from one of the bolts attaching the steering rack to the subframe, which may corrode and break. This defect could potentially cause the steering rack housing to fracture.

A broken steering rack housing could lead to a loss of steering control, thereby increasing the risk of a crash. In response, authorized dealers will replace the right-side mounting bolt on the steering rack at no cost to the vehicle owners.

Volkswagen plans to send out owner notification letters beginning on November 10. The recall is registered under NHTSA campaign number 26V590000, with Volkswagen's internal recall codes being 48LG and 48VT.