The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued a recall for the VW Polo Vivo in South Africa.
The recall applies to nearly 26,000 units and concerns a potential safety issue with the vehicle’s handbrake.
Volkswagen Group Africa informed the NCC that it is recalling 25,729 Polo Vivo units sold nationally between February 2025 and February 2026.
According to the commission, the issue concerns the height of a rivet used in the handbrake level assembly.
If the rivet does not meet the required specifications, it may prevent the handbrake from engaging correctly.
In rare cases, it may also cause the handbrake to disengage without warning.
“VW has informed the NCC that the rivet height on the handbrake lever fitted to the affected vehicles may be outside the required specification,” said the NCC.
“If the rivet height is out of specification, the handbrake may not engage properly or could, in rare cases, disengage unexpectedly.”
The NCC warned that this defect can pose a danger to owners and other road users.
“This may pose a safety risk, particularly when the vehicle is parked on an incline.”
Volkswagen has urged the affected Polo Vivo owners to take precautionary measures to avoid potential incidents until the issue has been resolved.
It recommended that drivers ensure their cars are parked with additional safeguards in place in the event the handbrake fails.
This includes selecting first gear in manual vehicles, or placing the automatic versions in “P,” as laid out in the owner’s instruction manual.
Owners are also advised not to park their cars on slopes, either uphill or downhill, until the issue has been addressed.
The regulator said it is tracking the recall to ensure that the process abides by the nation’s consumer protection laws.
“The NCC is monitoring this recall closely to ensure full compliance with the Consumer Protection Act, to safeguard consumer rights,” it said.
Acting Commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu said that motorists affected by the recall should not put off an inspection and take their cars in at the earliest opportunity.
“Given the high potential risks of the defect, owners of affected vehicles are urged to immediately get their vehicles to any authorised VW dealership for inspection.
“Any inspection and associated repairs will be done at no cost to the vehicle owners,” he said.
The VW Polo Vivo is one of the most popular vehicles in the country, often placing in the top three monthly best-sellers list alongside the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger bakkies.
Another recall for VW
This is the fourth recall issued by Volkswagen Group Africa between 2025 and 2026.
In May last year, the German carmaker issued a recall for the Polo Sedan over a faulty latch plate for the rear seatbelts, which were produced with insufficient hardness.
This issue applied to 905 examples of the sedan.
One month later, in June, VW recalled the Polo hatchback and its crossover counterpart, the Taigo, over a flaw it had identified with the gas generators in the front passenger airbag module, preventing it from properly deploying in an accident.
The recall applies to 142 Polo and Taigo units sold nationally between 2022 and 2024.
In September, the company issued another recall, this time for the Amarok bakkie, which had an issue with its braking system.
“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,” it said in a statement last year.
This applied to 374 Amarok units sold between January and June 2025.
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