VW Amarok latest in string of recalls

Tasleem Gierdien
23 September 2025 | 7:25VW has informed the National Consumer Commission that these vehicles (sold between January and June 2025) are recalled due to the possible loss of the braking assistance system.
CapeTalk and 702's Africa Melane speaks to Mike Mabasa, NAAMSA Chief Executive Officer.
Listen below:
The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has recalled 374 VW Amarok vehicles as notified by Volkswagen of South Africa (Pty) Ltd (VW).
The affected vehicles were made available from 10 January 2025 to 12 June 2025.
VW has informed the NCC that these vehicles are being recalled due to the possible loss of braking assistance that may be caused by the electromechanical brake servo control unit.
According to VW, the braking system remains functional but requires additional effort when applying the brakes. If the issue manifests whilst the vehicle is in motion, the vehicle will require increased braking distance.
Consumers of the affected vehicles are urged to take their vehicles to any VW or Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles approved dealership for assessment, at no cost to the consumer.
Last week, Mercedes-Benz South Africa Limited recalled 102 of its vehicles, while the Jeep Wrangler and Chrysler 300C were recalled days earlier.
Mabasa says recalls are part of the standard operating procedures.
"When we pick up a defect on our vehicles, we, under normal circumstances, would reach out to consumers directly to bring that vehicle back so we can fix whatever defect is on that vehicle... the challenge... once a vehicle changes hands or is sold to someone else, we don't have access to that particular information because there's a new owner..."
- Mike Mabasa, CEO - NAAMSA
"Every vehicle that's been manufactured is manufactured through a batch... the VIN number on every vehicle tells us which batch is a problem so the systems we are using are very sophisticated so some of the recalls we are now pulling are vehicles that were produced not in South Africa... these are vehicles that were produced in the United States, in Germany... those recalls are international and what happens is happening everywhere around the world because that particular batch has a recall."
- Mike Mabasa, CEO - NAAMSA
"There are no fatalities, no accidents, these are precautionary recalls... and in some cases, we actually realise that some of the vehicles' defects are not as severe as we thought they would be. In South Africa, we have not had any incidents of accidents or fatalities as a result of any recalls that have been announced."
- Mike Mabasa, CEO - NAAMSA
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