The National Consumer Commission (NCC) issued a formal statement that Volkswagen was recalling 142 Polos and just 8 Taigo models under their TAKATA recalling campaign as these units had developed some faults in the hands of consumers.
Polos are usually reliable and hardly ever need heavy fixing; however, like all things, they also have areas where they fall short, and these issues can range from minor electrical glitches to more significant problems like head gasket failure.
It is important to note that being aware of these potential issues can help owners proactively address them. The Taigo also has little to no problems; however, there are some common issues listed by owners and reviewers, including problems with the airbag system, central locking, and turbochargers. Additionally, some owners have reported issues with the infotainment system, warning lights, and adaptive cruise control.
So why the recall? The Volkswagen Group South Africa’s current recall of Polo and Taigo vehicles is due to faulty passenger airbag gas generators, which pose a risk of reduced protection or explosive rupture, creating a serious safety concern. The gas is primarily there to deploy the airbags in the event of an accident, just in time to absorb shock and prevent injury for the driver and all occupants; however, if this gas is below its preferred operating level, it would fail to do its job.
The recalled units went on sale in the year 2022 between December 20th and December 29th, but worry not, as all the owners of these units had already been contacted and advised to turn off the front passenger airbags and refrain from using the seat in order to avoid any problems. Since then, all of the affected units have been referred to their local approved dealership to have the vehicles properly assessed, and if necessary, all required parts will be replaced in an effort to ensure that the driver is safe from the safety airbags, ironically.