VW Polo Vivo recalled in South Africa
The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has warned motorists in South Africa that nearly 26,000 units of one of the country’s most popular cars, the VW Polo Vivo, have been recalled.
The Commission noted that the recall of the hatchback is due to a potential safety issue with the handbrake.
In a statement released on 5 March, the NCC said the recall affects 25,729 vehicles sold nationally between February 2025 and February 2026 by Volkswagen Group Africa.
“The National Consumer Commission (NCC) informs consumers about the recall of VW Polo Vivo vehicles, as notified by Volkswagen Group Africa (VW). This recall affects 25,729 (twenty-five thousand seven hundred and twenty-nine) vehicles,” the regulator said.
According to the commission, the issue relates to the height of a rivet used in the handbrake lever assembly.
If the rivet does not meet the required specifications, it may prevent the handbrake from properly engaging or, in rare instances, cause it to disengage unexpectedly.
“VW has informed the NCC that the rivet height on the handbrake lever fitted to the affected vehicles may be outside the required specification,” it said.
“If the rivet height is out of specification, the handbrake may not engage properly or could, in rare cases, disengage unexpectedly.”
This defect could create a safety hazard, particularly if the vehicle is parked on a slope. “This may pose a safety risk, particularly when the vehicle is parked on an incline,” the NCC added.
Until the affected vehicles have been inspected and repaired where necessary, Volkswagen has advised owners to take precautionary measures to avoid potential incidents.
VW has recommended that drivers ensure their cars are parked with additional safeguards in place.
This includes selecting first gear in manual vehicles or placing automatic vehicles in “P”, in line with the instructions in the owner’s manual.
Owners are also advised not to park their vehicles on slopes, whether uphill or downhill, until the issue has been addressed.
The NCC said it is closely monitoring the recall to ensure that the process complies with consumer protection laws.
“The NCC is monitoring this recall closely to ensure full compliance with the Consumer Protection Act, to safeguard consumer rights,” the regulator said.
Acting Commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu urged motorists who may be affected to act quickly and have their vehicles inspected at authorised dealerships.
“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 Polo Vivo remains one of South Africa’s best-selling cars in 026, ranking fourth with 2,026 vehicles sold in February.
The popularity of the Polo range extends beyond the new car market. According to the 2025 Industry Report from AutoTrader, the Volkswagen Polo and Polo Vivo were among the most sought-after used cars in South Africa last year.
The Polo recorded 15,893 used sales in 2025, while the Polo Vivo followed closely with 15,488 transactions, highlighting the enduring demand for the model across both new and second-hand markets.
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