Recall wrap: Fire risk for almost 6000 Volkswagens

Volkswagen Australia has recalled almost 6000 passenger vehicles this week due to concerns that late-model versions of the VW Golf, Passat and Arteon could catch fire.

A manufacturing issue has led to a product safety recall for 5997 vehicles in total, with Volkswagen saying the heat shield between the brake master cylinder and exhaust may have been incorrectly fitted.

“As a result, a connection to the brake fluid reservoir could melt. If occurs, brake fluid may leak on to a hot exhaust, which could lead to a vehicle fire,” says the German car-maker in its official recall notice published on the Vehicle Recalls website.

Of the three models affected – Golf, Passat, and Arteon – all were manufactured between 2019 and 2023 and you can click here to see if your vehicle is involved.

Affected owners can contact their local Volkswagen dealership to schedule an appointment to have the vehicle inspected and rectified, free of charge.

Audi e-tron GT

Another Volkswagen Group brand has also been hit with a recall this week, with 222 examples of the Audi e-tron GT electric fastback – all built between 2022-2023.

According to the recall notice, a manufacturing issue could reduce the seal of the high-voltage battery housing over time, allowing moisture to enter.

This could potentially result in an electrical short circuit, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire, says Audi.

Affected owners (click here to see if you’re one of them) will be contacted by Audi to organise a free inspection and repair.

Kia Carnival

The popular Kia Carnival people-mover is also being called back to the workshop, but only those built in 2023 and fitted with the 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel (CRDi) engine.

According to Kia, the 627 examples involved in the recall could be fitted with an incorrectly manufactured engine wiring harness.

It says a poor connection may occur at the crankshaft position sensor, which may lead to a loss of motive power and/or engine stalling.

You can check if your Carnival via this VIN list at the federal government’s Vehicle Recalls website.

Volvo XC40

Finally this week, a total of 2513 versions of the current Volvo XC40 small SUV have also been recalled, due to a software issue that could cause an indicator to fail.

All 2023-built variants of the XC40 are involved and in its recall notice Volvo says “the left turn indicator may not illuminate as intended. If this occurs a warning will appear in the instrument cluster to alert the driver that the indicator is not operational. The left indicator functionality can be reset by switching the indicator off and on again”.

The Swedish car-maker says all vehicles involved (check if your vehicle is affected via the full VIN list here) are required to undergo an over-the-air software update, which owners can download to their vehicle themselves.

If they are unable to update their car remotely, they should contact their local Volvo dealer. Volvo says vehicles running software version 2.13.3 or later will already have the applicable software installed, in which case there’s no need to do anything.