James R. Healey

USAToday

Volkswagen has recalled 2,001 of its redesigned 2015 Golf models in customer hands and told dealers they can't sell another 811 on their lots because loose stabilizer links could affect steering and make the cars more likely to crash.

The high-performance GTI version of the redesigned Golf went on sale Memorial Day. Other versions are due in August, but some already could be at dealerships.

VW says it knows of no accidents or injuries as a result of the problem.

In fact, VW says, dealers probably have fixed the cars on their lots by now, or soon will Owners of recalled models will have the vertical stabilizer bar links replaced. Those connect to the ends of the horizontal stabilizer bar and help attach it to the vehicle.

The recall and "stop-sale" order are ill-timed for a key model that VW already had delayed for the U.S. market.

Golf and its iterations amount to VW's best-selling car worldwide. But it's been only mid-pack among U.S. VWs. The automaker, its sales tumbling fast, is hoping the fully remade Golf line will help boost not only that model but the entire VW brand on U.S. sales charts.

To help the Golf nameplate, VW is moving its SportWagen to the Golf line. It has been called a Jetta model in the U.S., but is sold as a Golf variant in other markets.

VW's fortunes in the U.S. lately have risen and fallen with new models, especially thosen designed for U.S. tastes.

It got a big boost with the 2011 Jetta, targeted specifically for the U.S. market and made in Mexico. Then, it got a second shot in the sales columns with the 2012 Passat, likewise Americanized: Made in Tennessee, enlarged, launched at a price $7,180 less than its predecessor.

But other than tweaks, that's been it. And this year, VW sales are off 13.4% in a U.S. new-vehicle market up 4.3%, according to Autodata.

The U.S. operation has a goal of 800,000 U.S. sales in the near future. Before the void of new models, it was on track, but has fallen off as rivals have introduced new models and it has stood pat with current versions. First half this year, sales of VW brand vehicles in the U.S. are 179,144.

The redone Golf was supposed to be -- might still be -- a remedy to flagging sales.