Volkswagen recalls 253 Polo sedans over seat belt safety issue

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued an alert to consumers regarding the recall of an additional 253 Volkswagen Polo Sedan vehicles sold between 11 August 2022 and the present day.

The announcement comes following a notification from Volkswagen of South Africa (VWSA), which identified critical safety concerns stemming from incorrectly fitted seat belts.

This latest recall adds to an earlier notification made on 17 July 2023, when the NCC advised of a recall affecting 18 Polo sedans, which was attributed to a manufacturing issue involving a mix-up of seat belt webbing.

The recent recall, however, highlights a rear right seat belt fault that necessitates inspection of both rear seat belts to ensure passenger safety.

The primary concern surrounding these defective seat belts is their impaired restraint function during a collision, potentially leading to severe or fatal injuries for the driver and occupants. As vehicle safety standards strictly enforce the importance of functioning seat belts, consumers are being strongly advised to take this recall seriously.

To ensure their vehicles are safe, motorists who own affected models are encouraged to promptly reach out to any VWSA-approved dealership for a thorough check. Should the inspection reveal any faults, the necessary components will be replaced at no cost to the consumer.

The NCC emphasised the critical nature of this recall, urging affected drivers to act with urgency. “The success of these recalls is heavily dependent on the response from motorists,” a spokesperson for the NCC said. “Consumer safety is our priority, and we continue to monitor all ongoing recalls closely.”

As reports of vehicle recalls become increasingly frequent, it underscores the pressing need for manufacturers to uphold safety standards. Volkswagen, renowned for its engineering, is working with authorities to ensure customer safety, but it is imperative that consumers remain vigilant.

Earlier this year, the NCC alerted the public to a series of vehicle recalls in South Africa that may pose serious safety risks for drivers.

Some of the most affected models included the Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300C, Citroen and DS Models, Specific models of Mercedes-Benz, including the CLA (118 platform) and S-Class (model series 223) and the Audi e-Tron GT

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