The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued urgent recall notices for thousands of vehicles across South Africa, affecting popular models from Ford, Nissan and Citroen manufactured between 2009 and 2025.
The recalls, announced on Tuesday, highlight serious safety defects that could lead to accidents, injuries or even death if left unaddressed.
Ford faces multiple recalls
Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa is dealing with three separate recall campaigns affecting some of its most popular models.
The most widespread recall involves 2021 to 2025 model year Mustang, Everest, Ranger, and Transit Custom vehicles, where faulty infotainment systems may freeze and display black screens. The critical safety concern arises when the rear-view camera becomes frozen, missing, or delayed during reversing manoeuvres, potentially creating false images of the vehicle’s surroundings.
A second Ford recall affects 2019 to 2023 Mustang, Everest, Ranger, and EcoSport models with SYNC system errors. Repeated short ignition cycles can cause system instability, resulting in blank rear-view camera displays or images that remain frozen after reversing has ended.
Perhaps most concerning is the recall of 2025 Ford Ranger Wildtrack vehicles, where transmission defects may cause vehicles to move forward unexpectedly when in reverse or neutral gear. Drivers may also experience complete loss of reverse motion when the gear selector is in reverse position.
Nissan Qashqai battery issues
Nissan has recalled Qashqai models sold between September 2021 and April 2024 due to incorrectly assembled battery harness connections. The loose retaining nuts may cause significant resistance increases under specific driving conditions, potentially leading to dangerous heat buildup in extreme cases.
Life-threatening Citroen airbag defect
The most serious recall involves Citroen C4, DS4, and DS5 vehicles sold between 2009 and 2016. Stellantis South Africa has identified a critical flaw where driver airbag inflators may rupture during deployment, potentially releasing metal fragments into the vehicle cabin.
“This could cause metal fragments to be released into the vehicle cabin, posing a serious risk of injury or even death to the driver and passengers,” the NCC statement warned.
Immediate action required
Vehicle owners are urged to take immediate action by contacting their nearest authorised dealership to arrange recall repairs. All recall work is typically performed free of charge to consumers.
The NCC emphasises that continuing to drive affected vehicles without addressing these defects significantly increases the risk of accidents and injuries.
Vehicle owners can verify if their specific vehicle is affected by contacting their authorised dealership with their vehicle identification number (VIN).
