VW Recalling 2.64M Vehicles Worldwide Over Engine, Light Issues

Globally, however, VW will be recalling 800,000 Tiguans, according to Automotive News, with the focus on CUVs built between 2008 and 2011. The issue with the Tiguan relates to a simple fuse swap, so this is rather unremarkable, aside from the sheer number of vehicles being fixed. The real, troubling issues relate to gearboxes and pickups.

239,000 Amarok pickups (pictured right) are being recalled over fuel leaks, while 1.6 million vehicles are being recalled to swap the synthetic oil in dual-clutch transmissions with mineral oil. Now, the transmission issue is one for the global Volkswagen Group to address, not just the VW brand - vehicles from Audi, Škoda and Seat use the same seven-speed DSG and are covered under the recall, as well.

Why the switch from synthetic to mineral oil? Apparently, using the synthetic oil in a DSG and then subjecting it to stop-and-go conditions or heavy loads in a hot and humid climate can lead to electronic malfunctions, according to a Volkswagen press release. The switch, from the sounds of it, is largely a preventative measure.

That makes it no less troubling, though. With 1.6 million DSG-equipped vehicles being recalled worldwide, this is certainly a ding to the perception of Volkswagen reliability. Most troubling for the brand, though, is the distribution of the affected models. Over 640,000 units need to be recalled in China, alone, according to Bloomberg. Not only is the People's Republic hugely important to the German brand's future plans, but this latest issue marks the second time this year that there's been a six-figure recall for VW in China.