Major vehicle recalls announced by Volkswagen, Volvo, and Toyota as NCC urges consumer action

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued a serious warning for vehicle owners as three major automotive manufacturers, Volkswagen of South Africa (VWSA), Volvo Cars South Africa, and Toyota South Africa Motors, announce significant recalls affecting thousands of vehicles.

Acting NCC Commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu said the NCC has noted the recent rise of recalls of motor vehicles or related components of such motor vehicles and is engaging affected suppliers for further information to determine the required steps to address this.

"In the meantime, consumers with affected vehicles are urged to urgently book their vehicles with their nearest approved dealerships for a thorough vehicle check, at no cost," he added.

Volkswagen's Golf GTI and R

VWSA is recalling a total of 159 Golf 8 R2.0 TSI 7 speed DSG 235 KW and Golf 8 GTI 2.0 TSI 7 speed DSG 180 KW vehicles sold between 16 April 2025 and 30 June 2025.

The recall is prompted by a potential defect in the front passenger seat belt due to a fault in the sewing process. This defect may mean that the seat belt is not adequately secured to its lower anchoring point, significantly compromising its protective function.

“In the unfortunate event of an accident, this flaw could lead to serious or fatal injuries for those occupying the front passenger seat,” warned the commission. Vehicle owners are urged to act swiftly by booking their cars in for an inspection at authorised dealerships.

Volvo XC90 plug-in hybrid

Meanwhile, Volvo South Africa is recalling twenty-six XC90 plug-in hybrid vehicles from the 2025-2026 model years due to concerns about the braking system. According to Volvo, there is a risk that the braking functionality may be temporarily disabled while utilising ‘B’ mode during plug-in hybrid driving or One Pedal Drive during purely electric use, particularly after coasting downhill for an extended period. This alarming issue presents a potential collision risk, putting drivers and others on the road in danger.

Toyota Hino 500 series

Additionally, Toyota South Africa has alerted the NCC to a recall affecting 6,662 Hino 500 SKD series and 77 Hino 500 CBU series vehicles made available between May 11, 2017, and December 14, 2023, and May 31, 2018, and December 25, 2024, respectively. The recall arises from the supplier providing an incorrect cage bolt spanner for the Hino 500 SKD series vehicles and a total lack of the tool for the Hino 500 CBU series. While the parking brake remains functional, the inability to release it with the proper tool could lead to dangerous situations in the event of a vehicle failure.

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