VW is looking for these 374 Amarok bakkies in South Africa

Volkswagen South Africa has informed the National Consumer Commission (NCC) of a recall affecting the Amarok bakkie.

The carmaker’s local division discovered an issue with Amarok models sold between 10 January and 12 June 2025 that compromises the function and safety of the braking system.

A total of 374 units have been identified with this issue, and owners are advised to urgently contact their preferred dealership to address the problem.

“VW has informed the NCC that these vehicles are being recalled due to the possible loss of braking assistance that may be caused by the electromechanical brake servo control unit,” said Phetho Ntaba, spokesperson for the NCC.

“According to VW, the braking system remains functional but requires additional effort when applying the brakes.

“If the issue manifests whilst the vehicle is in motion, the vehicle will require increased braking distance.”

Affected customers are advised to contact an approved VW or VW Commercial Vehicles dealership to schedule an inspection.

The dealer will then inspect the vehicle and make the necessary repairs, free of charge.

The consumer commission stressed that it is important to address these sorts of issues as quickly as possible, as mechanical faults can put other road users at risk, too.

“The NCC reminds consumers that product recalls are vital to ensure the safety of products in the marketplace, and prompt action is essential. The NNC is monitoring this recall in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act.”

It’s worth noting that the Ford Ranger, which is built in the same factory as the VW Amarok, was also recently recalled due to a fault in its braking system.

Not the first recall this year

VW has issued multiple recalls this year for various models, including the Polo, Polo Sedan, Taigo, and Golf.

On 13 June 2025, the German automaker informed the NCC of a recall for the Polo hatchback and Tiago crossover over a fault in the front passenger airbag.

It warned that there was a flaw in the gas generators of the front passenger airbag module, preventing it from properly deploying in an accident.

This meant the gas generator may fail to correctly inflate the airbag in a crash, resulting in a reduced protective effect and an increased risk of injury to the front passenger.

The defect applied to 142 Polo and 8 Tiago units.

On 10 July, VW announced a separate recall for the latest eight-generation Golf, including the high-performance GTI and R variants.

A total of 159 units were discovered to have a problem with the front passenger seat belt, which was not properly secured to the lower anchor point due to an error in the sewing process.

Two weeks later, the manufacturer issued another recall for the Polo Sedan, which also had an problem with incorrectly fitted seatbelts.

This applied to 271 models, which were made available from 11 August 2022 to date.