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Volkswagen Engine Recalls Address Loose Covers and Engine Support Bolts
Loose engine covers are the recurring issue in Volkswagen's engine notices. Certain 2022 Golf GTI and Golf R vehicles have covers that may loosen during driving situations such as high acceleration maneuvers. Certain 2024–2025 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles have covers that may come loose after improper installation following vehicle service. Both notices describe covers contacting hot engine surfaces, melting, and increasing fire risk, but their stated causes differ. The other listed engine defect concerns improperly tightened engine support bolts in certain 2018 Tiguan long wheelbase vehicles, with potential engine breakdown or loss of power. Cover removal and bolt replacement are distinct remedies.
Warning signs to watch for
- Recall 10F7: Improperly tightened engine support bolts may lead to unexpected engine breakdown or loss of engine power.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
The March 2022 Golf GTI and Golf R engine-cover notice does not tell owners to stop driving. The February 2025 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport engine-cover notice likewise does not tell owners to stop driving. The March 2018 Tiguan long wheelbase engine-support-bolt notice also does not tell owners to stop driving. None of these supplied notices includes a park-outside instruction. They provide no owner driving workaround or temporary operating instruction while awaiting the specified dealer remedy.
What the free repair involves
The 2022 Golf GTI and Golf R remedy is free engine design cover removal, followed by a free updated cover under a separate Service Action once parts become available. Recall 10X5 removes the Atlas engine cover free of charge. Recall 10F7 replaces Tiguan engine support bolts free of charge.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 2 |
| high | 1 |
Models affected most
Where owners report engine problems most
NHTSA owner complaints filed under engine for the Volkswagen models and years in this guide. Complaints are unverified reports and are not limited to the recalled defects.
| Vehicle | Engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan | 80 |
| 2024 Volkswagen Atlas | 30 |
| 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport | 16 |
| 2025 Volkswagen Atlas | 7 |
| 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport | 6 |
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 17, 2025 | Volkswagen Atlas Engine Cover May Cause Fire | critical |
| Mar 16, 2022 | Volkswagen Golf R Engine Cover May Loosen and Melt | critical |
| Mar 8, 2018 | VW Tiguan Engine Support Bolts May Be Loose | high |
Common questions
Will Volkswagen replace the engine cover on my Golf GTI or Golf R?
The March 2022 notice calls for dealers to remove the engine design cover free of charge. It also says Volkswagen will provide a free updated engine design cover under a separate Service Action once parts become available.
Does the Atlas engine-cover recall promise a replacement cover?
Recall 10X5 specifies free removal of the engine cover on certain 2024–2025 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The supplied notice does not promise a replacement cover. It describes a cover that may loosen after improper installation following vehicle service.
Is the 2018 Tiguan engine recall about a loose cover?
Recall 10F7 concerns engine support bolts on certain 2018 Tiguan long wheelbase vehicles. Improper tightening may cause unexpected engine breakdown or loss of engine power. Dealers replace the bolts free of charge; the notice does not tell owners to stop driving.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.