The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has confirmed that BMW South Africa and Stellantis South Africa, the distributor of Opel vehicles, have issued recalls affecting several models over serious safety concerns involving seat belts and airbags.
The NCC, which oversees consumer protection in South Africa, says it received official recall notifications from both manufacturers under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), which requires companies to inform authorities when a product defect could pose a risk to consumers.
BMW recall: seat belt defect in new models
BMW is recalling 75 vehicles across its 1 Series (F20), 2 Series (F74), X1 (U11) and X2 (U10) models sold in 2025. The manufacturer discovered that one of the seat belts may have been improperly manufactured, creating a risk that it may fail to lock properly in the event of sudden braking, sharp turning or a rollover accident.
Such a failure could prevent the belt from restraining passengers, potentially resulting in serious injury.
The company has urged consumers to verify if their vehicles are affected by visiting its technical campaign portal at www.bmw.co.za or by contacting an authorised dealership. Affected owners will have the faulty seat belts replaced free of charge.
This recall follows a series of safety campaigns globally in recent years as automakers strengthen compliance with international safety standards and local regulations enforced by the NCC and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS).
Opel recall: airbag inflator risk in older models
In a separate notice, Stellantis South Africa announced a recall of Opel Astra (J) and Astra (H) models manufactured between 2004 and 2015. The recall relates to a driver’s airbag inflator that may rupture during deployment, potentially sending metal fragments flying toward the driver and passengers.
This issue resembles earlier global airbag safety crises, such as the Takata airbag scandal, which led to one of the world’s largest automotive recalls. The NCC warns that the inflator problem in the affected Opel models could cause serious injury or even death in extreme cases.
Consumers are urged to take their vehicles to an authorised Opel dealership as soon as possible for inspection and free repair or replacement of the defective component.
NCC urges swift action
Acting Commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu said the Commission takes these recalls seriously, noting that both seat belts and airbags are safety-critical components.
“Consumers are therefore urged to immediately contact their dealerships for the affected vehicles to be assessed, without delay,” said Ratshisusu.
He added that the NCC continues to work with car manufacturers and distributors to ensure that safety recalls are handled transparently and that consumers are adequately informed of potential risks.
The Commission also encouraged vehicle owners to regularly check manufacturers’ recall portals or the NCC website for updates on affected models.
