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Suspension, steering, brakes and wheels

Problems with the rear axle: symptoms, cost and affected models

We have documented 32 faults with the rear axle in 32 cars. The most important by severity and frequency: recurring rear axle mounting problems across three successive campaigns (2019-2023) (DS DS 7 Crossback), risk of cracks in the rear axle crossmember (two campaigns: 2019 and 2022) (Opel Crossland) and corrosion of the rear multi-link axle eccentric bolts (Audi A4 B9).

Documented faults
32
22 of high or critical severity
Cars analysed
32
with at least one fault on this part
Affected models
32
car generations in our database
Garage repair
No data
No reliable published costs

2 sourcesHow we work

How it works and why it fails

Rear axle

The rear axle can be a torsion beam (a crossmember joining the two wheels) or an independent multi-link suspension. On several models, welds, crossmembers or fixing bolts have had manufacturing defects that manufacturers have corrected with recalls.

What to do

If the car pulls to one side, makes noises from the rear or the rear tyres wear unevenly, check the axle. Use the VIN to see whether your car has an outstanding campaign: these are usually free and quick inspections.

General explanation by MotorFiable. The specific faults of each engine and car, with their sources, are on the linked pages.

Common symptoms

The symptoms that come up most often in the documented faults with the rear axle. Open each one to see what other faults cause it.

Problems with the rear axle by car

Faults documented on specific cars, which occur with any engine. From most to least important.

  1. 1Critical severityCommonFrequency: CommonDS DS 7 CrossbackRecurring rear axle mounting problems across three successive campaigns (2019-2023)DS has recalled the DS7 Crossback in three successive campaigns over rear axle mounting problems: an unstable mounting (built 2019-2020), cracks on the hybrid version (2020) and a badly fitted adjustment element with a risk of loss of control (2022-2023).
  2. 2Critical severityCommonFrequency: CommonOpel CrosslandRisk of cracks in the rear axle crossmember (two campaigns: 2019 and 2022)Opel has recalled the Crossland X twice for the same weak point: the rear axle crossmember can crack because the steel is not hard enough, first on 2019 units and again on 1,109 units built between 26 May and 15 June 2022.
  3. 3Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalAudi A4 B9Corrosion of the rear multi-link axle eccentric boltsYes: Audi recalled A4 B9s built between November 2019 and April 2021 because the eccentric bolts that secure the rear axle arm can corrode and break. A second campaign in 2022, for the same build period, extended the recall to uneven tyre wear caused by the same loss of geometry.Repair: €0
  4. 4Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalAudi Q5 IICorrosion of the eccentric bolts on the multi-link rear axleYes: Audi recalled Q5 II cars built between November 2019 and April 2021 because the eccentric bolts that secure the rear axle arm can corrode and break. A second campaign in 2022, for the same build period, extended the recall to the uneven tyre wear caused by the same loss of geometry.Repair: €0
  5. 5Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C3 Aircross ICracks in the rear axle crossmember due to insufficient steel hardness (built May-June 2022)Citroën recalled C3 Aircross I cars built between 24 May and 15 June 2022 because the rear axle crossmember may have insufficient steel hardness and crack, which compromises the mounting of the rear suspension.
  6. 6Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C4 IIICracks or fractures in the rear axle (built January-February 2023)Citroën recalled C4 III cars built between 26 January and 24 February 2023 because the rear axle may not meet specifications and may show cracks or fractures.
  7. 7Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C4 XRear axle cracks or fracture due to faulty welding (built January and February 2023)Yes: on C4 X cars built between 27 January and 24 February 2023 the rear axle may develop cracks or fractures because of a faulty weld, which worsens handling and increases the risk of an accident. Citroën is addressing it with a 2024 recall and a second alert in 2026 covering a wider period.
  8. 8Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFord RangerRear axle differential failure under heavy load and loss of tractionCampaign 22S30 covers 43,545 Rangers built from 1 September 2018 to 31 May 2019: under heavy loads, the rear axle differential can fail and leave the car without traction or lock the rear wheels.
  9. 9Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFord TransitInsufficient rear axle lubrication causing rear wheel bearing failureRecall 24S57 covers Transits built between 26 September 2023 and 29 April 2024: the rear axle may not be lubricated enough, which causes the wheel bearings to malfunction and can lock the rear wheels, with a loss of control.
  10. 10Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Clase R W251Front and rear axle mounting bolts incorrectly tightened (2014-2015 units)In 2017 Mercedes recalled R-Class, M-Class and GLE models built between September 2014 and March 2015 because the front and rear axle bolts might not be properly secured, with a risk of overloading the remaining bolt and losing control.
  11. 11Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz GLC X254Faulty welding of the rear axle subframe mounts with risk of breakageYes: a Mercedes recall (code 3594808; KBA 14674R; Safety Gate alert SR/00587/25) covers just 127 vehicles, GLC and E-Class built between 12 April and 2 December 2024: the weld on the rear axle subframe mounts can break while driving and affect wheel guidance.
  12. 12Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Sprinter 906Breakage of the leaf spring or its mount on the rear axleTwo separate campaigns have affected the rear leaf springs: one for units built between September 2009 and February 2011 (a weld bead on the leaf spring seat that can break) and another from April to November 2016 (a leaf spring mount that can split and lead to the spring breaking). Both can cause a loss of control.
  13. 13Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Sprinter 907Rear axle leaf spring defects: breakage and untempered clampsTwo campaigns affect the rear leaf springs: one for cars built between March 2018 and January 2019, whose leaf springs could break because of a manufacturing defect, and another from 2023 (1,655 cars) for untempered leaf spring clamps that can give insufficient preload and tilt the rear axle.
  14. 14Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 508 IIProduction campaigns on the rear axle: mounting (2020) and cracks in the stub axles (2021)The Peugeot 508 II had two separate production campaigns relating to the rear axle: in 2020 for a mounting problem that could cause unstable handling, and in 2021 for possible cracks in the rear stub axles.
  15. 15Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault FluenceRear axle stub axle bolt badly tightened on cars from February 2016Yes: Safety Gate alert A12/1664/16 covers Fluence cars built between 1 and 17 February 2016, because the rear stub axle bolt (right, left or both) may have been left untightened or badly tightened, with a risk of sudden loss of the wheel. It is a preventive and very narrow recall.
  16. 16Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalSuzuki S-Cross IRear axle bolts without the coating that stops them working looseS-Cross vehicles built between 29 October and 17 December 2015 may have left the factory with rear axle mounting bolts lacking the friction-increasing coating, so they could work loose, come off or break and leave the car unable to be driven. It was put right with a recall in 2016.
  17. 17Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Crafter ICracks in the rear axle mounting plates on air-suspension modelsIn 2014, Safety Gate was notified (alert A12/0673/14) that on the Crafter with air suspension (5 t types 2EKZ and 2FJZ) the rear axle mounting plates can crack, with a risk of a self-steering effect and an accident. It covers units built from October 2006 to February 2014.
  18. 18Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Jetta VIDeformation of the rear axle trailing arm after an impactAccording to campaign 42G8 in the British register (DVSA), the rear axle trailing arm on Jettas built between October 2011 and August 2013 can become deformed in a rear impact or when reversing quickly over a high obstacle; if not detected, it can break later and cause a loss of steering control.
  19. 19Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonCitroën XsaraWear of the rear axle and its bearings on the Citroën XsaraThe rear axle is the most cited fault on the Xsara: around 90 mentions out of 495 owner reports on fiches-auto.fr, with uneven tyre wear, noises and a floaty rear end; the repair may require reconditioning the whole axle. No public recall is recorded.
  20. 20Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonPeugeot 206Wear of the rear axle and suspension ball jointsOn the Peugeot 206 it is common for the rear axle mounts and the front suspension ball joints to wear out earlier than expected, with noises, vague steering and uneven tyre wear.
  21. 21Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonVolkswagen Tiguan IPremature wear of the suspension mounts (bushes) and multi-link rear axleYes: according to German inspection statistics (TÜV), the Tiguan I's suspension mounts are among the components with the most defects, and a French reliability site backs up the pattern with 16 complaints about suspension/shock absorbers and 8 about bearings out of 439 reviews; broken springs are more occasional and are usually down to overloading.
  22. 22Critical severityRareFrequency: RarePeugeot 307Risk of the rear axle mounting bolts working looseA 2006 campaign (ref. r2006116) recalled all Peugeot 307s over the risk of the rear axle mounting bolts working loose.
  23. 23Critical severityRareFrequency: RareSuzuki VitaraRear axle bolts without the correct anti-abrasion coatingIn a very specific production window (late October to mid-December 2015), the Vitara's rear axle bolts may have been made without the coating that stops them working loose, with a risk of them coming off or breaking. Suzuki recalled the affected vehicles.
  24. 24Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën Berlingo IWear of the rear axle arm bearingsThe Citroën Berlingo I page and that of its twin cite wear of the rear axle arm bearings: knocking, the rear of the car sitting low and unevenly worn tyres. The Berlingo page has 21 reports.
  25. 25Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 308 IIRear axle creakSome 308 II units built up to 2016 develop a loud creak in the rear axle. Injecting expanding foam can fix it; if not, the axle has to be replaced.
  26. 26Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot Partner IWear of the rear axle arm bearingsThe Peugeot Partner I page and that of its twin cite wear of the rear axle arm bearings: knocking, the rear of the car sitting low and unevenly worn tyres. The Berlingo page has 21 reports.
  27. 27High severityRareFrequency: RareCitroën C3 IIIRear axle crossmember out of specification (2022 production)Yes: a July 2023 campaign (ref. r2023220) covers vehicles built between 24 May and 15 June 2022 because of a specification problem in the rear axle crossmember, a structural suspension part.
  28. 28High severityRareFrequency: RareFord Fiesta VRecall over a possible welding problem on the rear axlefiches-auto.fr records that certain Fiesta V cars were recalled over a possible welding problem on the rear axle, with no further detail on dates or chassis numbers affected.
  29. 29Medium severityRareFrequency: RareBMW Serie 2 F22Rear axle and damper replacement on the 240iAccording to the testimonials collected by fiches-auto.fr, one 240i owner (340 hp) had the rear axle and dampers replaced under warranty. It is an isolated case and no official campaign is on record.
  30. 30Medium severityRareFrequency: RareBMW Serie 7 G11Rear axle air suspension failureAccording to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, one owner describes faulty air suspension on the rear wheels from around 90,000 km. It is an isolated case among only three reports, not a fault documented as general.
  31. 31Medium severityRareFrequency: RareRenault TalismanNoises and play in the 4Control steering rear axleOn the Talisman with 4Control, the fiches-auto.fr page records noises, play and uneven handling sensations from the steering rear axle, plus anti-roll bar links that need replacing. It gives no counts and no official campaign.
  32. 32Low severityRareFrequency: RareVolvo V70 IIIWear of the rear axle wishbone bushes on the Volvo V70gebrauchtwagenberater.de states that on the V70 the rear axle wishbone bushes (Querlenkerlager) cause problems. It is the only source we have found: there is no campaign and no mileage or cost figures.

Problems with the rear axle by make

How much it costs to repair a fault with the rear axle

Sorted from the most expensive repair to the cheapest. Prices in Spain including VAT (parts and labour); what each figure includes is on its page.

How we calculate costs · The most expensive repairs across all engines

Frequently asked questions

Which cars have problems with the rear axle?

Among those we have analysed: DS DS 7 Crossback (recurring rear axle mounting problems across three successive campaigns (2019-2023)), Opel Crossland (risk of cracks in the rear axle crossmember (two campaigns: 2019 and 2022)), Audi A4 B9 (corrosion of the rear multi-link axle eccentric bolts), Audi Q5 II (corrosion of the eccentric bolts on the multi-link rear axle), Citroën C3 Aircross I (cracks in the rear axle crossmember due to insufficient steel hardness (built May-June 2022)), Citroën C4 III (cracks or fractures in the rear axle (built January-February 2023)), Citroën C4 X (rear axle cracks or fracture due to faulty welding (built January and February 2023)) and Ford Ranger (rear axle differential failure under heavy load and loss of traction). In total, 32 cars with documented faults with the rear axle.

How much does it cost to repair a fault with the rear axle?

It depends a lot on the engine or car. At a dealer, from €0 to €0, including VAT, based on the 2 faults with a documented cost. The most expensive is corrosion of the rear multi-link axle eccentric bolts (Audi A4 B9).

What symptoms does a fault with the rear axle cause?

The most frequently cited in the documented faults: knocks or creaks from the suspension over bumps, uneven tyre wear, car pulls to one side or steering wheel is not straight and abnormal vibrations or unstable idle.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. 1.Fiabilité Audi A4 : pannes, rappels et témoignagesfiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  2. 2.Fiabilité Audi Q5 II : pannes, rappels et témoignagesfiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French