Safety alert: VW Polo Vivo handbrake issue prompts recall of 25,729 vehicles

Volkswagen Group Africa (Pty) Ltd (VW) has announced a recall of 25,729 VW Polo Vivo vehicles due to a potential handbrake safety issue, as confirmed by the National Consumer Commission (NCC).

The affected VW Polo Vivos were made available for sale from February 2025 to February 2026, across South Africa. 

The NCC spokesperson, Phetho Ntaba, said VW informed the commission that the rivet height on the handbrake lever fitted to the affected vehicles may be outside the required specification.

“If the rivet height is out of specification, the handbrake may not engage properly or could, in rare cases, disengage unexpectedly. This may pose a safety risk, particularly when the vehicle is parked on an incline,” Ntaba said. 

The VW Group further advised the NCC that owners of the affected vehicles should take the following precautionary measures until the vehicle had been inspected and, where necessary, repaired: 

• Ensure that the vehicle is parked with additional precaution, such as selecting first gear for manual vehicles or “P” for automatic models, as specified in the owner’s manual.
• Do not park the vehicle on any slope (uphill or downhill) until the inspection and any required repairs have been completed.

The NCC is monitoring this recall closely to ensure full compliance with the Consumer Protection Act and to safeguard consumer rights.

The Acting Commissioner for the NCC, Hardin Ratshisusu, has urged owners to come forward for their own safety. 

“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," Ratshisusu said.

THE POST