Volkswagen Group Africa has initiated a recall of 25,729 Polo Vivo vehicles sold in South Africa between February 2025 and February 2026, following reports of a potential safety defect, the National Consumer Commission (NCC) announced Thursday.
According to the NCC, a rivet on the handbrake lever in the affected vehicles may fall outside the required height specification. “If the rivet height is out of specification, the handbrake may not engage properly or, in rare instances, could disengage unexpectedly,” the commission said. This defect poses a heightened safety risk, particularly when vehicles are parked on inclines.
Volkswagen has advised owners to take immediate precautionary measures, such as engaging first gear for manual models or selecting “P” for automatics, and avoiding parking on slopes until the issue is rectified.
Acting NCC Commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu urged owners to take their vehicles to authorised Volkswagen dealerships for inspection. “Given the high potential risks of the defect, inspections and any necessary repairs will be carried out at no cost to owners,” he said. The NCC confirmed it will continue to monitor the recall to ensure compliance with South Africa’s Consumer Protection Act and safeguard consumer rights.