Volkswagen is recalling 126,000 Jetta and Beetle vehicles in Canada to fix an issue that can cause the rear suspension to fail if the car is not repaired properly after an accident.
The recall also affects 442,000 cars in the United States and is inclusive of 2011 to 2013 Jetta models and 2012 and 2013 Beetle models.
The German automaker outlined the issue in a document posted by the U.S. safety regulators today. The potential problem can occur if the rear trailing arms, which are the parts that connect the axle to the frame, are damaged in a crash and not properly repaired as they can suddenly fracture, causing a loss of control and potentially a crash.
Volkswagen says that the reports of the problem primarily come from Asian countries. There have not been any crashes or injuries as a result of the problem in the United States.
Dealers will inspect the trailing arms for any damage and install sheet metal to help prevent any loss of control, should the problem occur. The sheet metal will be provided free of charge to the customer, but if there is pre-existing suspension damage, then the customer will have to absorb that cost.
This isn’t the first recall that Volkswagen had to issue this year, having previously pulled back 151,000 Tiguans in North America. However, this hasn’t deterred any buyers. Volkswagen remains one of the top-selling automakers in the world, surpassing even General Motors this year.
The 2014 year has been choke-full of vehicle recalls. Some of the stand-outs include the GM ignition switch fiasco and massive Takata airbag recalls.
Volkswagen owners can contact the automaker’s customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
