Volkswagen has issued an urgent safety recall for hundreds of its luxury hybrid SUVs in Australia, following the discovery of a serious defect that could cause the high-voltage battery to overheat and ignite.
The Safety Defect and Vehicles Affected
The recall impacts 214 Volkswagen Touareg hybrid vehicles from model years 2020 to 2024. The fault lies within the high-voltage battery system, which has the potential to overheat during charging. This overheating presents a significant fire hazard, posing a risk to occupants, other road users, and property.
The warning was formally issued by the Department of Infrastructure after the defect was identified. A spokesperson for the department stated clearly: "If this occurs, it could lead to a vehicle fire. A vehicle fire could increase the risk of injury or death to vehicle occupants, other road users and bystanders, and/or damage to property."
Immediate Steps for Owners
Owners of the affected Touareg models are being urgently advised to book an inspection at an authorised Volkswagen dealership. The remedy involves a free software update designed to rectify the fault.
In the interim, while awaiting their inspection, owners must follow critical safety instructions:
- Avoid charging the battery externally.
- Refrain from using the electric-only driving mode.
- When driving in hybrid mode, the 'battery hold' setting should be selected, with the charge level set to a maximum of 50%.
Volkswagen has confirmed that the vehicles remain safe to drive using petrol mode only, provided the above precautions are followed.
How to Get More Information
Concerned owners seeking further details on this urgent vehicle recall are directed to visit the official Volkswagen website or to contact the dedicated recall hotline on 1800 504 076.
This incident highlights the ongoing importance of robust safety protocols for emerging vehicle technologies, particularly concerning battery overheating risks in electrified models.
