522 vehicles recalled over safety fears

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has alerted consumers to a series of vehicle recalls affecting certain Ford Ranger, Ford Puma and Hino 700 models sold in South Africa.

In a statement, the NCC said the recalls were issued by Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa and Toyota South Africa Motors, with several defects identified that could pose safety risks to drivers and passengers.

FORD RANGER RECALL

The recall affects 438 Ford Ranger XLT and Wildtrak vehicles from the 2025 model year, sold nationally between February 18 and March 18, 2025.

“The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve in some of the affected vehicles may fail, which may result in a loss of engine power,” the NCC said.

The commission warned that the issue is most likely to occur at lower speeds and may be accompanied by warning signs such as a check engine light, weak acceleration, engine vibration or failure to start.

“A loss of engine power while driving may increase the risk of an accident,” it said.

FORD PUMA RECALL

A further 26 Ford Puma vehicles, from the 2023 to 2024 model years, have also been recalled.

The vehicles were sold nationally between 28 April 2022 and 25 September 2023.

The NCC said these vehicles were previously subject to a recall, but the corrective software, Restraint Control Module (RCM), may not have been properly installed.

“If this is not corrected, in the event of an accident, the performance of the vehicle’s restraint system could potentially be reduced, thereby increasing the risk of injury to occupants,” the commission said.

HINO 700 RECALL

Meanwhile, Toyota South Africa Motors has recalled 58 Hino 700 series trucks sold between February 4 and November 9, 2025.

According to Toyota, a defect in the fuel pump housing, which occurred during production, could lead to cracks forming under repeated high load.

“This may result in a fuel leak,” the commission said, warning that the issue could pose a safety hazard.

WHAT CONSUMERS SHOULD DO

The NCC has urged all owners of affected vehicles to take them to the nearest authorised dealership for inspection and repairs.

“The necessary repair work will be carried out at no cost to the consumer,” the commission said.

Consumers with queries can contact the NCC via email at ProductRecall@thencc.org.za.

OTHER RECALLS

The latest recalls come shortly after Ford announced a separate recall of 582 Transit and Transit/Tourneo Custom vehicles due to a potential battery fault that could produce hazardous gas inside the cabin.

The recall affects vehicles from the 2022 to 2026 model years, sold in South Africa between 2021 and 2025.

According to the commission, the fault may cause an acidic smell, similar to rotten eggs, inside the vehicle cabin.

“A hissing sound or visible gas venting from the battery may also occur, and in some cases, the seat area may feel unusually warm,” it said.

Consumers who own affected vehicles have been urged to take them to the nearest authorised dealership. –The Witness