What the source says
The documented condition
NHTSA lists the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan in safety campaign 18V324000. The official record says: The nut that holds the lower ball joint of the front wheel on each side of the vehicle may be loose or improperly tightened. The stated safety consequence is: A loose or improperly tightened ball joint nut can result in the separation of the lower ball joint causing steering, traction or other stability issues, increasing the risk of a crash. A make, model and year match does not confirm that a specific VIN is included or that the repair remains open.
Compare the pattern
Symptoms and vehicle scope
Words owners may use
- 2018 Tiguan loose lower ball joint
- Tiguan sudden steering problem
- VW Tiguan front suspension instability
- Tiguan suspension and front recall
- NHTSA campaign 18V324000
Symptoms in the record
- Steering control changes suddenly
- Traction or stability becomes impaired
Vehicles and limits
- 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan
- Vehicles included in NHTSA campaign 18V324000
- VIN confirmation is required
Manufacturer position
What the official procedure directs
Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will replace the nut on the lower ball joint and, as necessary, clean the thread in the ball joint, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40N4. Note: owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair has been performed.
Mileage context
Campaign 18V324000 is based on the recalled vehicle population and VIN, not a published mileage threshold. Mileage alone cannot confirm or exclude it.
Original evidence
Open the documents behind this record.
Safety recall · NHTSA 18V324000 · May 16, 2018
Tiguan loose lower ball joint nut can affect steering
NHTSA lists Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. for this campaign and returned this exact make, model and year. VIN status still needs confirmation.
Repair paths and safe checks
Match the action to the evidence.
Complete recall 18V324000
Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will replace the nut on the lower ball joint and, as necessary, clean the thread in the ball joint, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40N4. Note: owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair has been performed.
A year and model match does not confirm VIN eligibility. Do not substitute an owner repair for an open safety recall.
Check the VIN and record what happened
Check the 17-character VIN with NHTSA or Volkswagen. Save campaign 18V324000, any warning messages and a short description of when the symptom occurred for the service appointment.
Do not recreate a dangerous symptom for a photo or video.
Record reviewed in the source on August 2, 2026. Confirm the current document and VIN instructions before arranging work.
How we check a problem · All records for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan