SA car manufacturers have recalled thousands of cars since January over safety concerns, bringing into question the manufacturing standards and testing SA’s consumer protection regime.
In recent months, the National Consumer Commission (NCC) has been inundated with reports from nearly every major carmaker in SA, including Toyota, Volkswagen (VW) and Volvo. The defects range from faulty airbag modules and brake systems to fire-prone batteries — could ripple across regional markets and tarnish SA’s image as a safe manufacturing hub.
“The NCC noted the 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,” acting commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu said.
The latest to join the expanding recall roster are industry majors Toyota and Volkswagen. Toyota on Tuesday recalled nearly 7,000 of its Hino trucks over an incorrect tool needed to release the parking brake in an emergency.
The recall affects 6,662 Hino 500 SKD series vehicles and 77 Hino 500 CBU series. The Japanese major said the Hino 500 SKD series was made available to the market between May 2017 and December 2023, while the Hino 500 CBU series was released between May 2018 and December 2024.
“An incorrect cage bolt spanner was supplied in the Hino 500 SKD vehicles, while the Hino 500 CBU came without the cage bolt spanner,” the commission said. “Though the parking brake will continue to operate during a vehicle failure, it will not be possible to release the parking brake as the tool is incorrect and is not supplied.”
Volkswagen on Tuesday recalled 159 Golf 8 R2.0 TSI 7-speeds and Golf GTI 2.0s it sold between April and June. The vehicles were recalled due to a defect in the front passenger seat belt.
“There is a possibility that the seat belt is not properly attached to the lower anchoring point,” the watchdog said.
“If the lower anchoring point of the belt system is not securely attached, the protective function of the seat belt is significantly reduced. In the event of an accident, this could result in serious or fatal injuries to the occupant in the front passenger seat.”
It is the third time VW recalled vehicles this year, after a recall of 142 Polo vehicles and eight Taigo vehicles earlier in the year over a faulty part in the gas generators of the front passenger airbag module.
Last month it recalled 13 Tiguan Allspace vehicles sold from April 30 2019 to December 30 2019, due to the gas generator for the curtain airbag having been incorrectly produced.
Volvo on Tuesday asked owners to bring in 26 XC90 plug-in hybrid vehicles, model year 2025 and 2026, saying the vehicles’ braking functionality may be temporarily disabled while using “B” mode (in plug-in hybrid cars) or One Pedal Drive (in pure electric cars), “after coasting downhill for a period”.
The commission said this “could lead to a collision with potentially serious safety consequences for occupants of the vehicle and others”.
Tuesday’s recalls follow similar moves by other car manufacturers over the past seven months.
In April, Mercedes-Benz recalled Model GLE (167), which it produced in 2022-25, citing a faulty high-voltage starter-alternator processor load, which may experience sporadic overload and lead to an unexpected loss of propulsion power without warning. A total of 54 affected vehicles were made available in SA, while others were possibly exported to Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland.
Mercedes this year also recalled the S-class (model series 223), saying the brake fluid could leak out, impairing brake power in one of the two brake circuits, increasing the risk of an accident. The recalled vehicles were produced between 2020-23.
In April, Stellantis recalled Chevrolet Cruze, Aveo, Saab, Cadillac and Orlando vehicles. The recall of the Chevrolet, Saab and Cadillac vehicles was due to a faulty driver’s airbag inflator. These vehicles were made available for sale from 2006 and 2008.
The recall of Chevrolet Cruze, Aveo and Orlando vehicles, which were distributed from 2010 to 2013, as well as Chevrolet-Saab and Cadillac vehicles distributed in 2014-18, was because of a driver’s airbag inflator that could rupture during deployment.
In May there were recalls of Chrysler 300c, Citroën C4, DS4 and DS5 models, Mercedes-Benz CLA (118), S-class (model series 223), Audi, VW Polo Sedan and Volvo XC90 models, while Ford recalled the Ford Ranger light commercial vehicle made available for sale last year. The affected vehicles were distributed in SA and exported to Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland.
Audi this year recalled its Audi e-Tron GT vehicles due to a high-voltage battery which could overheat, “resulting in an acute fire hazard, with the associated risk of severe fatal injuries to people inside and/or outside the vehicle, as well as significant property damage”.
A total of 46 affected vehicles, produced from October 2021, were made available nationally.
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