Distributors recall c. 12,000 cars over brake fault

6 June 2002: Around 12,000 cars in this country are involved in the recall of certain Volkswagon cars.

Motor Distributors Limited, the Volkswagen distributors here, have already begun contacting owners of the models concerned in the world-wide recall of certain VW models - Polo and Lupo models supplied in 1998 and 1999.

Owners will soon receive a letter asking them to contact their dealer with a view to having their vehicles inspected and the required replacement part (a vacuum hose) fitted, if required.

All VW dealers have been informed and MDL expect to have the process fully operational within days once they have contacted all owners.

A limited number of Seat Leons sold here have also been recalled in order to check the chip in the ABS. These cars have been identified by their chassis numbers. Not all chips may prove faulty.

The VW parent company has revealed it is recalling 950,000 cars worldwide due to brake problems. In the UK, the Volkswagen Group has been hit by three separate recalls covering windscreen wipers and anti-lock brake systems. There, some 1100 Seat Leons and 2808 Skoda Octavias must be checked for an electrical fault which could cause a fire and lead to the loss of anti-lock braking. These cars are built on the same platform and share the same system.

The manufacturers say there have been no accidents or injuries because the potential fault does not cause the brakes to fail completely.

Volkswagen is also writing to 228 Sharan MPV owners in the UK following problems with the windscreen wiper motor. There have been no reported accidents or injuries arising from the potential fault.

June 2002