The Local & Global Car Defect & Recall Thread

Ford vehicle recalls: all you need to know from Ford’s South African President

Ford South Africa has faced several recalls recently, but the company insists they are less about negative publicity and more about ensuring customer safety and vehicle reliability.

Speaking to Ford South Africa and Africa President Neale Hill, he says that the National Consumer Commission has taken a far more proactive role in publicising vehicle recalls across all manufacturers.

He also admits that Ford’s name will appear in the news again. However, he stresses that this should be viewed as a sign of vigilance rather than failure.

“It’s never ideal to be in the headlines for recalls,” he said, “but they are part of a responsible process. We constantly analyse data from our vehicles worldwide, and if we identify an issue, we would rather get ahead of the curve and ask customers to bring their vehicles in before it becomes a risk.”

Software at the centre of recalls

Modern cars are increasingly defined by their software, and according to Hill, a growing number of recalls involve digital systems, updates, or the verification that updates have been correctly installed.

“As technology advances, more recalls are software-related than hardware-related; sometimes it’s less about replacing parts and more about making sure the right software is in place and functioning correctly.”

How problems are detected

Ford uses a number of ways of monitoring to catch potential issues.

All Ford vehicles sold globally come with embedded modems, providing real-time data that can flag unusual patterns. In addition, the company keeps a close eye on warranty claims and parts replacements.

Because many components and software systems are shared across markets, a problem identified in Europe or Australia can quickly be investigated in South Africa. Once a certain threshold is reached, Ford conducts a deeper analysis, which may result in a recall.

“We track data very carefully,” he said. “If it crosses a point of concern, we escalate the investigation. If necessary, a recall is then triggered.”

 
"Everything Keeps Going WRONG, Toyota"... ;)

Toyota is recalling over 590,000 vehicles and halting EV sales - Electrek​

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On Friday, Toyota issued a voluntary recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) involving roughly 591,000 cars in the US.

The recall affects select Toyota Venza, Crown, Crown Signia, RAV4, GR Corolla, 4Runner, Camry, Grand Highlander, Tacoma, and Highlander models, as well as specific Lexus LS, RX, and TX vehicles.

Toyota said the recall is due to a glitch with the infotainment system. The 12.3″ display screen could fail to turn on after starting the vehicle, or even worse, go blank while driving. Toyota will begin notifying those with impacted vehicles by mid-November 2025.

In a separate notice last week, Toyota issued another major recall, impacting nearly 95,000 electric vehicles. The recall involved certain 2023 to 2025 Toyota bZ4X, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterras.

The bZ4X accounts for the majority of those being recalled, with nearly 41,500, followed by the Solterra at 32,320 and the Lexus RZ with 20,501.

Toyota instructed dealers to halt sales of bZ4X, Lexus RZ, and Subaru Solterra models produced up to mid-June. All of which are based on the same platform. According to the memo, the recall is due to a faulty defroster, which is pretty self-explanatory as to why it poses a safety risk.
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electrek.co

Toyota is recalling over 590,000 vehicles and halting EV sales

Toyota was hit with a major recall on Friday, impacting around 591,000 vehicles in the US. The company is recalling...
electrek.co electrek.co
 
Ford recalls nearly 5 700 more Ranger bakkies

Ford has issued its 3rd safety recall for the Ranger in as many months, with this latest campaign affecting nearly 5 700 examples of the bakkie in Southern Africa…

- Ford announces 3rd recall campaign in 3 months
- Latest action affects nearly 5 700 units of Ranger
- Issue relates to the potential “loss of brake boost”

Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa has announced a fresh safety recall for “certain” versions of the Ranger bakkie from the 2025 and 2026 model years, with nearly 5 700 units affected.

This latest campaign follows an earlier batch of recalls in July 2025 (involving the EcoSport, Puma, Everest and Ranger) and August 2025 (affecting the Ranger, EcoSport, Everest, Mustang and Transit Custom).

The Dearborn-based brand’s local division says it has “identified that in the affected vehicles the customer may feel a change in pedal feel or travel with an increase in pedal efforts needed to brake the vehicle due to a loss of the brake boost feature”.

“The anti-lock brake system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC) and brake warning signals will illuminate, and informational messages will be displayed in the instrument cluster. In addition, an audible alert will sound. Loss of brake boost may cause extended stopping distances, increasing the risk of an accident,” Ford explained in a statement.

In total, 5 676 units of the Ranger are affected. The majority (5 387 units) were sold in South Africa, though Namibia (157 units), Botswana (113 units) and Swaziland (19 units) are also included in the recall.

Ford says it is “contacting affected customers and advising them to contact their preferred dealer to schedule an appointment”. Dealers have been instructed to “inspect the vehicle and carry out the necessary repairs” at no charge to the customer. In this case, the fix appears to take the form of a software update.

 
You picked a fine time to leave me, Loose Wheel?... 🤡😛

More than 100 Mercedes-Benz models recalled by NCC due to safety concerns - EWN​

More than 100 Mercedes-Benz vehicles are being recalled by the National Consumer Commission (NCC) due to safety concerns.

In a statement released on Thursday, the commission says the company has identified two faulty models, namely the 4 EQE-295 and 98 GLC-254.

The NCC has highlighted that the steering wheels of the affected vehicles do not meet the required specifications.

NCC spokesperson Phetho Ntaba is urging all affected consumers to contact their nearest Mercedes-Benz dealership.

“According to Mercedes-Benz, the bolting of the steering coupling might not actually meet the specifications. And it basically means that the mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the steering rack might loosen over time. And of course, when that happens, it might actually lead to a loss of the vehicle's steerability, and of course, increasing the risk of an accident."
Click to expand...

www.ewn.co.za

More than 100 Mercedes-Benz models recalled by NCC due to safety concerns

In a statement released on Thursday, the commission says the company has identified two faulty models, namely the 4 eqe-295 and 98 GLC-254.
www.ewn.co.za
 

NCC issues notice on recall of more than 12,000 BMW vehicles - EWN​

NCC spokesperson Phetho Ntaba said BMW has recalled 12,491 vehicles.

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The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued a notice on the recall of more than 12,000 BMW vehicles. The affected BMWs include specific BMW 3 series, 4 series, 5 series, Z4, X3 and X4 models available in South Africa since 2016.

NCC spokesperson Phetho Ntaba said BMW has recalled 12,491 vehicles. Ntaba said BMW owners should immediately contact their authorised dealerships to check if their vehicle is affected by the recall.

"According to BMW, in the affected vehicles, water can enter the starter motor at certain points and cause corrosion. This may prevent the engine from starting. This can lead to a short circuit and, subsequently, local overheating of the starter. In the worst case, this may result in a vehicle fire, which can occur even when the vehicle is parked."
Click to expand...

www.ewn.co.za

NCC issues notice on recall of more than 12,000 BMW vehicles

NCC spokesperson Phetho Ntaba said BMW has recalled 12,491 vehicles.
www.ewn.co.za
 
BMW issues urgent recall for thousands of vehicles over starter motor concerns

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued a critical notice for consumers regarding a significant recall affecting several BMW models, emphasising safety and vehicle integrity. The BMW Group South Africa has identified a total of 12,491 vehicles, including the 3 Series (G20), 4 Series (G22), 5 Series (G30), Z4 (G29), X3 (G01), and X4 (G02) models, produced from 2016 onwards, as being at risk due to potential issues with the starter motor.

According to BMW, an analysis of product controls and customer complaints revealed a troubling concern that water can access the starter motor in these selected vehicles, resulting in corrosion.

This issue could ultimately prevent the vehicle's engine from starting, raising the alarming possibility of a short circuit that might lead to local overheating of the starter.

In the worst-case scenario, a thermal event could culminate in a vehicle fire, posing a threat even when the car is parked.

To mitigate these risks, BMW has advised owners of the affected models to exercise caution, particularly when driving through water that could submerge the starter motor.

The manufacturer cautions that vehicles kept in such conditions for extended periods may be at higher risk of encountering thermal issues. Should an incident arise, it could potentially cause harm to individuals or property.

In light of these developments, BMW is encouraging all owners of the identified models to visit their nearest authorised dealership to have the starter motor replaced at no cost.

 
Nissan recalls 1,665 Qashqai SUVs in South Africa over fuel pipe risk

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has announced a recall of 1,665 Nissan Qashqai Sport Utility Vehicles sold across the country between May 4 2021, and October 17 2024.

In a statement issued to the media late on Monday, the NCC said Nissan South Africa had identified a potential safety risk in the fuel system. The fuel pipe in affected vehicles may move within its retaining clip, causing wear that could lead to a perforation and possible fuel leak.

"The National Consumer Commission (NCC) informs consumers about the product recall of the Nissan Qashqai Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) as notified by Nissan South Africa (Nissan), affecting one thousand six hundred and sixty-five (1665) vehicles,"the consumer watchdog said.

"Nissan has informed the NCC that during engine operation, there is potential for movement of the fuel pipe within its retaining clip within the engine bay. This movement could lead to wear on the fuel pipe. It is also possible for the wear to generate a perforation condition on the fuel pipe, resulting in a potential fuel leak,"

The commission further called on consumers to "take affected vehicles to the nearest authorised dealership for inspection and necessary repairs, at no cost".

“The success of the recalls depends on the immediate response by owners of these vehicles. The NCC urges consumers to take affected vehicles to the nearest authorised dealership for inspection and necessary repairs, at no cost to the consumer,” Acting Commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu said.

Last month, IOL also reported that the NCC announced that a series of critical vehicle recalls had been issued by car manufacturers, including Ford, BMW, Volkswagen, and Hino for certain models.

 
NCC announces recall of selected Lexus vehicles

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has recently announced a recall of selected Lexus vehicles, following a notification from Lexus SA Motors. Here’s what you need to know:

The NCC is recalling Lexus vehicles due to concerns regarding the HVAC systems. The recall affects a total of 20 vehicles.

Affected Models

The recall specifically involves the RZ450e EX, RZ450e SE, and RZ450e SE CVT models. These vehicles were sold nationwide between 15 November 2023 and 7 July 2025.

HVAC System Issues

The affected vehicles are equipped with Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems that control key functions, including the windshield defroster. Due to a software programming issue in the HVAC control ECU, the system can enter a failsafe mode, suspending heater operation.

 
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