The number of vehicles to be recalled, including 20,800 cars in Germany, is equal to about half of last year's 132,900 sales of box-type Caddy models worldwide, according to company data.

The recall affects cars built between May 2012 and January 2013, the spokesman said, confirming a report by regional daily Stuttgarter Nachrichten.

VW has received complaints from customers but has no knowledge of accidents caused by the problem, he said.

(Reporting by Andreas Cremer; editing by Adrian Croft)