Volkswagen AG recalled nearly 92,000 newer cars in the U.S. for a faulty camshaft lobe that can shear off, reducing engine and braking power.

The German auto maker, separately grappling with an emissions-cheating scandal with diesel-powered cars, ordered dealers to stop selling cars with 2015-2016 model years that feature certain gasoline engines until the company comes up with a fix for them, according to a bulletin to dealers reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

Volkswagen is still trying to determine a cause for the defect and a repair may not be completed until the end of March, according to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The 91,867 models affected include the Jetta, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf/GTI and Golf Sportwagen. Overall, the company through the end of October sold roughly 294,600 vehicles in the U.S., including about 31,000 sport-utility vehicles.

No injuries have been reported, a Volkswagen spokeswoman said in a statement. The company plans to start notifying customers in December, according to a filing with regulators. Cars with similar problems were also recalled in Canada.

Volkswagen previously halted sales of nearly 500,000 newer diesel-powered cars in the U.S. wake of revelations it installed software aimed at cheating on emissions tests. The company withdrew a request for U.S. regulators to certify the newest diesel models after failing to disclose an emissions-control device. No evidence has yet emerged that the device on those vehicles is capable of gaming emissions tests.

Around the world, Volkswagen has said some 11 million vehicles are equipped with emissions-cheating software that will be recalled.

The German auto maker separately on Tuesday said it had understated carbon-dioxide emissions to regulators in 800,000 vehicles.

With the safety recall, Volkswagen first noticed problems with the camshaft lobe in February, then monitored the vehicles and tested parts before deciding in October to conduct a recall, according to a filing with regulators.

The lobe can shear off the camshaft. If this happens, the brake booster can eventually fail to receive needed vacuum supply.

That can result in reduced engine power called "limp mode" that can activate a warning light. The reduced engine power and increased effort needed for braking can increase the risk of a crash.

Write to Mike Spector at mike.spector@wsj.com and Yoko Kubota at yoko.kubota@wsj.com

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