Audi and VW Recall Around 2.8 Million Vehicles

The campaign has been running since September 25, 2026 and, at this scale, is one of the more extensive recalls the group has carried out in recent years. According to official information, it involves around 2.8 million vehicles worldwide, with by far the largest share registered in Germany. The KBA will publish the exact figures per model line in the coming days.

The workshop visit and repair are free of charge for owners. The prerequisite is that the vehicle falls within the affected production batch. Customers generally do not need to make any insurance or warranty claims – the manufacturer bears the costs in full. An extension of the warranty is also not required according to the group, as the defect will in any case be remedied within the regular deadlines.

What do owners need to do?

Porsche Holding Salzburg, which is responsible for group distribution in Austria, has explained the procedure to domestic customers. "Im Rahmen dieser vorsorglichen Rückrufmaßnahme betroffene Kunden werden auf Basis der Zulassungsdatenbank schriftlich verständigt und in die Servicebetriebe gerufen", so die Porsche Holding. Customers who do not receive a letter within a few weeks are therefore not affected by the recall.

The group emphasizes that this is a precautionary measure. According to the manufacturer's own information, no fires or injuries attributable to the described defect have come to its attention so far. The response is being made proactively as part of ongoing quality monitoring and in coordination with the Federal Motor Transport Authority.

In the coming weeks, affected owners will be contacted by post. Anyone who wants to know whether their own vehicle is affected can check the vehicle identification number (VIN) on the Volkswagen and Audi service portals or contact an authorized workshop directly. The brands' telephone hotlines are also available according to the group.

Regardless of the official notice, motoring clubs and experts recommend taking up the workshop appointment promptly. If there are visible fuel traces under the vehicle or a smell of petrol in the interior, owners should stop the car immediately and call roadside assistance until the workshop has rectified the defect.

Background and Context

Volkswagen has had to contend with major recall campaigns repeatedly in recent years, including software updates for diesel engines and questions over exhaust gas treatment. The current case must be considered separately from those – it concerns a mechanical component in the area of the fuel supply and not emissions-related components.

For the group's accounts, the recall is likely to have a noticeable financial impact given the sheer number of vehicles involved, even though the repair per vehicle is comparatively inexpensive. Industry experts estimate the cost at several hundred euros per vehicle, with logistics and workshop times added on top. Volkswagen has so far not commented specifically on the costs.

The campaign also illustrates how consistently the KBA pursues safety-relevant defects. Only last year, the authority called on several manufacturers to carry out coordinated recalls. Even if, in the authority's assessment, the present case remains manageable, it highlights the growing role of supervision in the quality management of automobile manufacturers.