By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
13 May 2025- The National Consumer Commission (NCC) said Stellantis South Africa (Pty) Ltd has informed it that they are recalling the Jeep-Wrangler and Jeep-Wrangler Chrysler 300c models due to a defect in the Takata airbag. NCC said, according to the supplier, the passenger airbag inflator may rupture, due to excessive internal pressure, during normal airbag deployment events. The NCC spokesperson, Phetho Ntaba said in the event of an inflator rupture, metal fragments could strike the vehicle occupants, which may result in serious injury or death. Ntaba said these vehicles were made available for sale from 2014 to 2016. Consumers are required to visit the nearest authorised dealership for a repair or replacement of the airbag.
“Stellantis South Africa (Pty) Ltd is recalling the Citroen C4, DS4 and DS5 models distributed from 2009 to 2016. These vehicles are being recalled due to a driver’s and passenger’s airbag inflator that may rupture during the airbag deployment phase.
“The potentially high energetic deployment of the inflator may lead to metal fragments detaching from the bursting inflator, and these parts could fly in the direction of the driver or occupants in the vehicle, capable of causing serious injury or possibly death in a worst-case scenario,” she said.
Ntaba further said Mercedes-Benz AG South Africa has notified the NCC that certain CLA (118 platforms) vehicles, “the length of the brake hoses on the rear axle might not have met the specifications”. She added that the brake hoses of the rear axle might come into contact with surrounding components, chafe over time, and subsequently cause brake fluid to leak.
“This, according to the supplier, will lead to a reduced braking performance in one of the two brake circuits, increasing the risk of an accident caused by the brake fluid loss. Same with the S-Class (model series 223). Mercedes-Benz AG South Africa is recalling these vehicles due to brake hoses on the front axle.
“The brake hoses may gradually start to leak in hot and moist areas after an extended operating period. As a result, the brake fluid could leak out, impairing brake power in one of the two brake circuits, increasing the risk of an accident. The recalled vehicles were produced between 2020 and 2023,” said Ntaba.
She said also Audi South Africa informed the NCC that they were recalling the Audi -Tron GT vehicles. Ntaba said the recall is as a result of a high high-voltage battery.
“This is caused by some individual cell modules of the high-voltage battery that may display technical irregularities. The high-voltage battery may overheat, resulting in an acute fire hazard, with the associated risk of severe fatal injuries to people inside and or outside the vehicle, as well as significant property damage,” according to the supplier.
“A total of 46 affected vehicles were made available nationally. Consumers with affected vehicles should submit their vehicles to any Audi SA-approved Dealer for checking and, if necessary, module replacement. The affected vehicles were produced on 27 October 2021 onwards,” said Ntaba.
Meanwhile, the Volkswagen of South Africa Limited notified the NCC that they were recalling the VW Polo Sedan. According to the supplier, the latch plates for the rear seat belt were produced with insufficient hardness.
Ntaba said, therefore, in the event of powerful deceleration (accident or hard braking), “there may be a reduced retention or protective effect and related increased risk of injury.” She said 905 affected vehicles were made available for sale nationally from 2 April 2025 onwards.
“Affected consumers are urged to contact an approved Volkswagen dealer for a check and, if necessary, replacement of the affected components. Volvo Car South Africa is recalling 27 Volvo (XC90 models years 2020-2022). The recall is as a result of a potential issue with the high-voltage battery. According to the supplier, the issue may lead to overheating of the battery cells when the battery is fully charged, and in a worst-case scenario, the overheating in the high-voltage battery may lead to a thermal event.
“Consumers with affected vehicles are requested to book their vehicles into the nearest approved agents or dealerships for a check and the replacement of defective components where necessary,” said Ntaba.
The Guardian 