VW recalls thousands of Polo Vivo vehicles in SA

Nearly 26 000 Volkswagen Polo Vivo vehicles have been recalled nationwide due to a potential handbrake defect, the National Consumer Commission (NCC) has announced. The recall affects 25 729 vehicles sold in South Africa between February 2025 and February 2026 by Volkswagen Group Africa. According to the NCC, the issue relates to the height of a rivet used in the handbrake lever assembly, which may fall outside the required specification.

“VW has informed the NCC that the rivet height on the handbrake lever fitted to the affected vehicles may be outside the required specification,” the commission said in a statement. If the rivet height does not meet specifications, the handbrake may fail to engage properly or, in rare cases, could disengage unexpectedly. The commission warned that this could pose a safety risk, particularly if the vehicle is parked on an incline.

Volkswagen has advised owners of affected vehicles to take precautionary measures until their cars are inspected and repaired. Drivers are encouraged to ensure that vehicles are parked with additional safeguards in place, including selecting first gear in manual vehicles or placing automatic vehicles in “P”, as outlined in the owner’s manual. Owners are also advised to avoid parking on slopes until the issue has been addressed. Acting NCC commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu urged motorists to take their vehicles to authorised dealerships for inspection as soon as possible.