September vehicle recalls underscore enduring safety concerns

The mid-September recalls of Mitchum deodorants and Ford Ranger models brought questions of corporate responsibility and consumer trust into sharp focus. By month’s end the stakes had shifted further, as recalls of Chrysler and Audi vehicles highlighted long-standing safety issues still echoing through the automotive sector.

The September recalls – spanning fuel pumps, airbags, brakes and steering systems – provide a revealing snapshot of the vulnerabilities that continue to shape the South African car market. The sheer variety of makes and models recalled, from workhorse bakkies to luxury sedans, shows that no corner of the industry is immune to defects that place lives at risk.

A month defined by critical failures

The month opened with recalls affecting Ford Mustang and Transit Custom vehicles, BMW X3s, Volkswagen Polos and Hino buses, each linked to component failures with potential consequences for occupant safety. These ranged from defective airbag inflators and faulty rear restraints, to compromised steering and braking systems.

Read more: From Rangers to roll-ons — the impact of product recalls

The spotlight sharpened mid-month with Ford’s recall of more than 5,600 Ranger models – Wildtrak, Tremor and Platinum – following reports of brake boost failure. Drivers were warned that increased stopping distances could result from the defect, compounded by warning lights for ABS and stability control.

By the close of September, Chrysler 300C sedans and grey-import Audi A3s joined the list, recalled due to defective Takata airbags. In these cases, the danger was blunt: faulty propellants could cause metal shards to spray through the cabin upon deployment, a hazard regulators worldwide have been battling for more than a decade.

Taken together, September’s recalls painted a picture of systemic fragility – not isolated to a single manufacturer or component, but recurring across brands, vehicle classes and production years.

Even more concerning is that the vehicle recalls listed for September below only apply to South Africa. If you zoom out for a global view, the numbers accelerate significantly. 

British news channel, GB reports that popular manufacturers including BMW, Stellantis (Jeep), Kia, and Polestar have recalled more than 387 000 vehicles in the last week alone. 

Regulation and accountability

South Africa’s recall regime, enforced under the Consumer Protection Act, relies on manufacturers notifying the National Consumer Commission (NCC) when defects arise. “Consumers not responding to product recalls immediately prolongs the risk,” NCC spokesperson Phetho Ntaba warned, stressing the importance of both manufacturer compliance and consumer responsiveness.

Attorney Trudie Broekmann noted that while recalls are mechanisms for correcting safety defects, they are also tests of corporate responsibility. In her view, when safety risks are significant, repair alone may not be sufficient; consumers are entitled to insist on replacement or refund. The reputational cost of repeated recalls, she added, can erode trust as much as any mechanical defect.

More than a compliance exercise

What stands out from September is less the number of vehicles recalled than the nature of the failures: brakes that may not stop, airbags that may kill, fuel systems and steering components that compromise control. These are not minor inconveniences but core safety functions.

The recalls also remind us that hazards span decades – from Chrysler sedans built in the late 2000s to brand-new models fresh off production lines. The persistence of defects across eras highlights weaknesses in both manufacturing oversight and long-term consumer protection, particularly in the case of grey imports where communication with owners is limited.

For consumers, the lesson is sobering: recalls are not abstract notices, but urgent warnings tied directly to safety. For manufacturers, they are not simply regulatory hurdles but opportunities to demonstrate transparency and rebuild trust. And for the NCC, September reinforced the critical role of monitoring, enforcement and consumer education in ensuring that unsafe vehicles are removed from South Africa’s roads.

Conclusion

September 2025 will be remembered not for one recall but for a cascade of them, each underscoring the fragile balance between engineering precision, corporate responsibility and consumer safety. Whether it was a fuel pump, an airbag or a brake booster, the message was the same: safety cannot be assumed.

In the end, recalls are less about defects than about accountability – manufacturers owning up, regulators acting decisively and consumers taking the warnings seriously. September’s recalls made that accountability visible, and the stakes clear. For global manufacturers, the continual recalls mean continual costs – not just the expense of repair, but the persistent threat of huge regulatory fines and eroded export confidence. DM