Another month, another vehicle safety recall. And right now three big names are issuing these important vehicle recalls. Volkswagen Group Africa, Toyota South Africa Motors and Lexus (a division of the Toyota South Africa Motors) have stepped forward through the National Consumer Commission to address potential issues. These aren’t signs of trouble; they’re proof that manufacturers are taking responsibility before problems escalate. In a country where we drive long distances, tackle steep hills, and expect our vehicles to perform in tough conditions, this kind of transparency is aimed at building confidence. As things stand, there are no reported incidents involving the three vehicles mentioned here.
Let’s start with the former people’s champion, the Volkswagen Polo Vivo. Remember, the Vivo is manufactured here at the company’s Plant in Kariega, just outside Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape. This recall hits hard because it affects approximately 25 729 vehicles manufactured and sold between February 2025 and February 2026. The issue is technical but straightforward: the rivet height on the handbrake lever might sit outside the required specification. That sounds small, but the consequences could be serious. Basically the handbrake could fail to engage properly, or – in rare cases – disengage unexpectedly. It’s a genuine safety risk, especially for families and everyday commuters who rely on the Polo Vivo as one of the country’s best-selling Passenger cars, year after year.
Volkswagen is handling it the right way – a free inspection and a free fix at any Volkswagen dealership. Owners just need to book an appointment and the job gets done. In the meantime, park in gear or select “P” on automatics and avoid steep slopes until it’s sorted.
On to Toyota. Toyota has recalled certain Land Cruiser 300 (LC300) models because of an error in the Transmission Electronic Control Unit (T-ECU) programming. This glitch may stop the system from detecting and reporting solenoid failures in the 10-speed automatic transmission. The result? In certain gears the engine could over-rev, you might experience sudden loss of drive power, and – in the worst cases – transmission fluid could leak. That raises the risk of a crash or even fire if an ignition source is present. These are the legends that conquer the bush and tar roads alike, so Toyota is acting fast with free ECU reprogramming and any necessary repairs. If you own an LC300 built in the relevant period, don’t wait – get it checked.
The story is similar for the luxury side of the Toyota family. Lexus is recalling the LX500d in F-Sport and Overtrail variants for the same family of 10-speed automatic transmission faults: a solenoid issue that slips past the T-ECU could cause over-revving, loss of drive power, and those rare but serious fluid leaks that increase crash or fire risk. Only around 110 units are affected in Mzansi, but when you’re behind the wheel of a flagship Lexus priced in the millions of Rands, every safety detail matters. Lexus owners enjoy premium service anyway, so the free fix should be handled with the usual five-star attention. Again, none of the above products have been reportedly involved in incidents or accidents directly attributed to these issues yet.
