VW Recalls 800,000 Vehicles Over Pedal Fears

Volkswagen is engulfed in a diesel emissions scandal

Embattled car maker Volkswagen is recalling 800,000 vehicles worldwide over a possible foot pedal problem.

The recall covers 391,000 VW Touareg models dating from 2011 to 2016, and 409,000 Cayennes made by the group's Porsche brand.

Both are luxury SUV vehicles. New Touareg models sell for more than £40,000 in the UK. The Cayenne ranges from around £50,000 up to £120,000.

The recall notices are another bump in the road for Volkswagen, which is engulfed in a scandal over emissions test cheating.

VW said the Touareg recall included 58,000 vehicles in Germany. It did not give a figure for the number of cars affected in the UK.

It said the reason for it was "possible loosening of a retaining ring on the bearing block of the pedal system". The notice did not specify whether the problem related to a specific pedal.

The company said owners would be contacted directly to bring their cars in to a service centre to check the problem.

Porsche said its recall also covered models dating from 2011 to 2016. They included 88,000 in the US and 10,000 in Canada.

It said: "This is a purely precautionary measure, as there have been no reports of accidents or injuries as a result of this concern."

The announcements follow a recall by VW earlier this week of 177,000 new Passat cars in Europe over a potential electrical fault and a Volkswagen recall last month in the US covering 680,000 cars linked to airbags, which also affected other car makers.

Volkswagen admitted in September that it had deliberately cheated on emissions tests. It has already set aside billions of euros to deal with the affair.

The latest recall announcements came as a US judge gave the company a month to provide a specific plan on how it will bring nearly 600,000 diesel cars into compliance with clean air laws, following the scandal.