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UPDATE: Porsche South Africa has announced 4 253 Cayenne models are affected in SA.
Frankfurt, Germany - Embattled German automaker Volkswagen said on Thursday (March 24) it was recalling around 800 000 luxury sport utility vehicles worldwide over a potential footpedal problem.
The group said the recall affected 391 000 vehicles of its Toureg model and more than 400 000 of its Porsche Cayenne model built from 2011 to 2016.
The company said in a statement: "The reason is possible loosening of a retaining ring on the bearing block of the pedal system. The ring will be checked for proper installation at the service shop."
SA affected
Porsche SA says 4 253 local Cayennes are affected. Porsche South Africa said: "The total number of Cayenne models affected in SA is 4 253 units.
"Porsche Cayenne owners need not be concerned as they will be contacted by the relevant dealers and the issue will be fixed free of charge in about 30mins in due course."
Repair 'free-of-charge'
Volkswagen SA issued this statement to Wheels24: "VWSA will contact owners of the 3 350 Touaregs sold locally between 2011 and 2016 for a preventative inspection of their cars at the nearest Volkswagen dealerships. The inspection which will take less than 30 minutes, will look for possible loosening of a retaining ring on the bearing block of the pedal system. The ring will be checked for proper installation."
The company said the problem had been found in internal inspections and had been corrected in vehicles currently in production.
VW said the repair was free-of-charge and could be carried out in less than half an hour.
Porsche, a VW subsidiary, said in a separate statement that the safety recall was for a "precautionary inspection" because a "clip may have become dislodged from the pedal bracket" in the affected Cayenne models.
"This is a purely precautionary measure, as there have been no reports of accidents or injuries as a result of this concern," it said.
The announcement comes two days after VW said it was recalling 177 000 of its new Passat cars in Europe owing to a potential electrical fault.
In February 2016, Volkswagen said it had to recall 680 000 cars in the United States due to possible faulty airbags supplied by Japanese maker Takata.
Other automakers had to take similar action.
VW is currently engulfed in a scandal of global proportions after it was forced to admit it had installed emissions-cheating software in around 11 million diesel engines.
Shares in the firm gave up 2.0% in Frankfurt trading Thursday.