MISA’s comments follow the recall of more than 25,000 vehicles after Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) notified the National Consumer Commission (NCC) about a potential safety defect in certain Volkswagen Polo Vivo models.
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The growing number of vehicle recalls in South Africa is raising concerns about consumer confidence and the reputation of the country’s automotive retail sector, labour organisations warned on Monday.
The Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said the increasing frequency of recalls risks undermining the credibility of vehicle dealerships and sales executives, despite the fact that these frontline workers have no control over vehicle manufacturing processes or component design.
Their concerns follow the recall of more than 25,000 vehicles after Volkswagen Group Africa (VWGA) notified the National Consumer Commission (NCC) about a potential safety defect affecting certain Volkswagen Polo Vivo models.
According to the NCC, the recall applies to 25,729 Polo Vivo vehicles sold nationally between February 2025 and February 2026. The issue relates to a potential defect in the handbrake lever assembly.
The recall adds to a growing list of similar actions in the automotive sector. Last year, VWGA also recalled more than 250 Polo Sedan vehicles after discovering that a driver-side seat belt had been incorrectly fitted.
While MISA acknowledged that recalls are an essential part of protecting motorists, the union said the sharp increase in recall announcements in recent years has had unintended consequences for dealership employees.
MISA spokesperson Martlé Keyter said sales executives and dealership staff often face customer frustration when recalls are announced, even though they play no role in the design, manufacturing or assembly of vehicles.
Keyter said these workers are on the frontline of customer engagement and are often unfairly blamed for problems beyond their control.
“Our members are dedicated professionals who take pride in serving customers. It is unfair that they are often blamed for issues beyond their control,” Keyter said.
“Recalls, though disruptive, are evidence of a proactive industry that values human life above all else.”
Although recalls can be inconvenient for vehicle owners, MISA said they are a crucial component of a global automotive safety culture and should not be viewed as a failure on the part of dealerships or their employees.
The latest recall involves a potential defect related to the handbrake lever in affected Polo Vivo vehicles. According to the NCC, the rivet height on the handbrake lever in certain units may fall outside the required specification.
If the rivet height is incorrect, the handbrake may fail to engage properly or could, in rare cases, disengage unexpectedly. This could pose a safety risk, particularly when a vehicle is parked on an incline.
As a precaution, the consumer watchdog has urged owners of affected vehicles to take additional safety measures until their cars have been inspected and repaired.
Cosatu spokesperson Zanele Sabela said the labour federation was concerned about the scale of the recall, noting that the number of affected vehicles is significantly higher than earlier recalls involving the same model.
“Particularly worrying is the number of vehicles that have been recalled. The 25,729 units are significantly higher than earlier recalls of 253 units in July 2025 and 150 units in June 2025,” she said.
However, Cosatu welcomed the fact that the manufacturer voluntarily reported the defect to the NCC.
“We take comfort in the fact that the manufacturer volunteered the information about the handbrake rivet to the National Consumer Commission, and that the recall was not prompted by an accident that resulted in injuries or worse,” Sabela said.
Meanwhile, NCC acting commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu urged affected motorists to visit an authorised Volkswagen dealership as soon as possible to have their vehicles inspected.
VWGA spokesperson Andile Dlamini said the company had proactively reported the issue and is contacting affected customers directly.
Vehicle owners can also contact Volkswagen’s customer interaction centre or visit their nearest dealership for assistance.
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