Every Volkswagen Safety Recall In The UK, By Model And Year, With What Each Fault Means And How To Get It Fixed

Volkswagen has 220 UK safety recalls in DVSA records, including 88 since 2020. The most common recent faults involve airbags, brakes and doors and latches. Enter your registration to check your Volkswagen; you won't usually pay for a recall repair at a franchised Volkswagen dealer.¹

Volkswagen has one of the lower recall rates among major brands, with 2.11 car recalls per 100,000 cars on the road since 2020, but three recent recalls carry stop-drive wording, so owners should check. The largest, R/2023/178, replaces Takata front airbags on older Beetle, Crafter, Eos, Fox and other models, covering 287,441 vehicle-records, and in 2025 a stop-drive recall followed for some of those cars (R/2025/357). Two more 2025 stop-drive recalls were smaller: a Polo rear axle bolted connection (R/2025/385) and a Tiguan seat height lever (R/2025/004). Electric Volkswagens have software recalls, such as R/2025/516 for exterior door handle software on the ID.4, ID.5 and ID.7, and the ID. Buzz and ID.3 had a charge-outdoors instruction until their fix (R/2026/150). The Golf, Passat and Arteon had a brake servo recall on cars with a DSG gearbox (R/2024/014). Transporter owners should see our van recalls page. Any Volkswagen retailer can check your VIN.

Latest Volkswagen Recalls

These are the newest Volkswagen recalls registered with DVSA, newest first.

Open any reference for the build dates covered, the fix and what to do. Urgency labels follow our published rules.

Volkswagen Recalls By Model

Choose your model to see only its recalls. The Passat, Golf and Tiguan have the most Volkswagen recall references since 2015.

• Passat25
• Golf24
• Tiguan22
• Polo15
• Touareg11
• Touran11
• T-Roc9
• Arteon9
• Caddy8
• Amarok7
• Crafter7
• Transporter6
• Beetle6
• UP!6
• Sharan5
• Tiguan Allspace5
• ID Buzz4
• ID.34
• ID.43
• ID.73
• EOS3
• Tayron3
• Atlas3
• Transporter T63

Some models have their own page with a full recall history: Volkswagen Caddy, Volkswagen Transporter, Volkswagen UP!. A recall can cover only certain build dates or engines, so confirm with Volkswagen by VIN. See where to find your VIN.

How Many Recalls Has Volkswagen Had?

Since 2020 Volkswagen has launched 88 UK recalls. Adjusted for its cars on the road, that is 2.11 car recalls per 100,000 licensed cars.

201020182026

The per-car figure divides car recalls since 2020 by the number of Volkswagen cars licensed in the UK in 2026 Q2, with van-only recalls removed.² A higher count doesn't mean a car is less reliable: it reflects the size of the range, how vans are counted and how readily a maker recalls. See which car makes have the most recalls.

The Most Common Volkswagen Recall Faults

Recent Volkswagen recalls most often involve airbags, brakes and doors and latches.

• Airbags22
• Brakes10
• Doors and latches9
• Suspension6
• Wheels and tyres6
• Fire risk5
• High-voltage battery4
• Seat belts4
• Software4
• Takata airbags3
• Steering2
• eCall1
• Other airbag inflators1

A recall can involve more than one type of fault, so the rows overlap. 7% of Volkswagen recalls include a software update, often done in under an hour. Each fault type links to a page explaining the warning signs and what to do.

Biggest Volkswagen Recalls Since 2020

The largest recent Volkswagen recall is R/2023/178 (takata front airbag), covering about 287,441 vehicle-records.

Vehicle-records are the manufacturer's estimates, and one car can appear in several recalls.

Volkswagen Stop-drive Recalls

3 Volkswagen recall in DVSA's data told keepers not to drive until the repair was done.

If your car is in a stop-drive recall, don't use it, and ask Volkswagen to collect it. See do not drive recalls.

How To Get A Volkswagen Recall Fixed

Book with any franchised Volkswagen dealer using your VIN and the campaign code on your letter. The work is normally free, and the dealer records it with Volkswagen.¹

Have your VIN, registration, mileage and the code from your letter ready. See manufacturer recall helplines and how long a recall repair takes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Volkswagen Recalls Free?

Yes. You won't usually pay for a safety recall repair.¹ See do you have to pay for a recall?.

Do Volkswagen Recalls Expire?

No. A recall stays in force for any car that wasn't fixed, even after it is closed for reporting.³ See do car recalls expire?.

Can I Drive My Volkswagen With An Open Recall?

Follow your letter. Most recalls let you drive until the repair; a stop-drive notice doesn't. See can you drive a car with a recall?.

What Does The Code On My Volkswagen Letter Mean?

It is Volkswagen's campaign reference. Look it up with our recall code lookup.

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Data: DVSA vehicle recall data (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 15 October 2026.