VW has notified the National Consumer Commission (NCC) of a recall affecting the Polo Sedan in South Africa.
The new recall applies to models that were made available from 11 August 2022 to date, concerning a manufacturing fault that may present a serious risk to the safety of occupants.
According to Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA), it issued a recall for 253 Polo Sedans units after it was discovered that a critical safety flaw stemming from incorrectly fitted seat belts.
This is actually the second time in less than a week that VW has contacted the NCC about the Polo Sedan, as it issued a recall on Thursday last week for another 18 units.
The 18 units were identified with a manufacturing issue involving a mix-up with the cars’ seat belt webbing, comprising their funtionality.
This means that a total of 271 Polo Sedans have been recalled in South Africa in the past week.
Regarding the more recent of the two announcements, VW said that there is a specific fault with the rear right seat belt, and that both rear seat belts (left and right) are now subject to an inspection.
The NCC warned that the faulty seat belts may significantly reduce their ability to restrain passengers in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of severe or even fatal injuries.
Since this is an issue that compromises the safety of the car, South African vehicle safety standards strongly advise owners to take their car for an inspection.
“Consumers are advised to contact any VWSA-approved dealership to have the affected components checked and, if necessary, replaced,” said NCC spokesperson Phetho Ntaba.
“These recalls are safety critical; therefore, it is imperative for the consumers to respond with urgency.”
Importantly, motorists will not be charged for the inspection, and the necessary components will be replaced at the manufacturer’s cost.
The NCC stressed that affected customers should act as quickly as possible to minimize the danger the defect poses to them and other road users.
“The success of these recalls is dependent on the response by the motorists of these affected vehicles,” it said.
VW’s fifth recall this year
The Polo Sedan is the fourth vehicle to be recalled by VW in the last two months.
On 13 June 2025, the carmaker informed the NCC that it was calling back the Polo hatchback and the Taigo crossover regarding another safety flaw.
The recall affected models purchased between 2022 and 2024, concerning a fault in the front passenger airbag.
According to VW, 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.
“Furthermore, the gas generator housing may burst, or components of the gas generator housing may come loose and cause serious or deadly injuries to vehicle occupants,” said the NCC.
The defect applies to 142 Polo and 8 Taigo models.
On 10 July 2025, the automaker issued a separate recall for the Golf, including the TSI, GTI, and R variants.
This affected 159 models of the latest-generation Golf, where it was discovered that the front passenger seat belt was not properly secured to its lower anchoring point due to an error in the sewing process.
It’s also worth noting that this is not the first time the Polo Sedan has been recalled this year, as the vehicle was called out for a different fault back in May.
The manufacturer noted that models sold between April and May 2025 – approximately 905 units – had a faulty latch plate for the rear seat belts, which were produced with insufficient hardness.
Therefore, in the event of an accident or hard braking, there “may be a reduced retention or protective effect and related increased risk of injury,” according to the manufacturer.
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