Major auto recalls in SA: Thousands of Toyota's Hino trucks, brand-new VW Golfs affected
The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has confirmed the recall of thousands of vehicles in South Africa from three leading automakers — Volkswagen, Volvo, and Toyota — due to safety concerns that could pose serious risks to drivers and passengers.
The recall includes Golf 8 TSI, Golf 8 GTI, Volvo XC90 hybrid, and thousands of Hino 500 truck models.
In a statement on Tuesday, the NCC said the concerns stemmed from faulty seatbelts and brakes, as well as issues related to parking brakes.
VW South Africa is recalling 159 units of its high-performance Golf models — the Golf 8 R 2.0 TSI DSG 235kW and Golf 8 GTI 2.0 TSI DSG 180kW — sold between 16 April and 30 June this year due to issues with safety belts in the passenger seat.
The NCC says a sewing process fault meant that the seatbelt could not attach properly, reducing its safety function if the car was in an accident.
Supplied/ Volvo
Volvo Cars SA has recalled 26 of its XC90 hybrid 2025 and 2026 models due to faulty brakes.
The NCC warns that the brake functionality might become disabled temporarily while in braking ('B') mode in plug-in hybrid cars or one-pedal drive in pure electric cars, after coasting downhill for a period.
'This could lead to a collision with potentially serious safety consequences for occupants of the vehicle and others,' the NCC said.
Toyota South Africa is recalling 6 662 Hino 500 SKD trucks and 77 Hino 500 CBU trucks manufactured and sold between May 2017 and December 2024 due to issues with the trucks' brake system. Hino Trucks is a subsidiary of Toyota SA.
According to the NCC, an incorrect cage bolt spanner (which is found in the brake system of trucks) had been fitted to the SKD models, while some CBU trucks had come without it.
While the parking brake would continue to operate during a vehicle failure, it would not be possible to release it, the NCC said.
Acting commissioner of the NCC, Hardin Ratshisusu, said the regulator has noted a rise in vehicle recalls and is engaging automakers to ensure proper remedial action is taken.
'Consumers with affected vehicles are urged to urgently book their vehicles with their nearest approved dealerships for a thorough vehicle check, at no cost,' Ratshisusu said.
Vehicle owners can contact their dealerships or visit the NCC website for more information.
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