VW recalled 291 South African Amaroks over curtain airbags that may not deploy

South Africa’s National Consumer Commission issued a safety recall for 291 Volkswagen Amarok vehicles sold nationwide between 2 June and 15 September 2026, after the supplier flagged that in a front or side impact the curtain airbag may not fully deploy because it comes into contact with a component inside the vehicle.

The NCC’s statement warned that sharp-edged plastic parts of the guide element could also come loose or remain in the head or neck contact area, increasing injury risk in an accident, and that the defect could reduce the protection offered to the driver and front passenger. Owners were urged to take their vehicles to any approved Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles dealer for replacement of the affected components at no cost.

The commission announced the recall publicly on 5 October 2026 through a media statement and social post, naming Volkswagen Group Africa as the recalling party and giving the sale window so owners could identify affected vehicles. No injuries were reported in the notice.

291 vehicles recalled for free component replacement; protection for driver and front passenger reduced until fixed, with fragment injury risk.

A supplier-caused interference left curtain airbags at risk of not deploying in exactly the impacts they exist for.

Sharp-edged guide-element parts could separate and add laceration risk near occupants’ heads.

The defect sat inside a narrow build window, so the recall could be traced to just 291 vehicles rather than a broader fleet.

A safety defect caught by the supplier still becomes a regulator-run recall: the brand on the tailgate answers for its parts, country by country.

The NCC published the recall on 5 October 2026 and directed owners to approved VW Commercial Vehicles dealers for free replacement of the affected components, with a contact address for questions. The notice reported no injuries to date; the recall covers only the June-to-September 2026 sale window it specified.