Volvo’s EX30 electric SUV on the road, a compact EV now under recall scrutiny as owners are advised to limit charging levels. | Source: Top Gear
A fault in the high-voltage battery system has triggered a safety recall for 372 Volvo EX30 electric vehicles sold in South Africa. The issue affects certain 2024–2026 EX30 Single Motor Extended Range and Twin Motor Performance models and can occur when the battery is charged to very high levels. In rare cases, this could cause overheating.
The National Consumer Commission formally announced the recall, with Volvo Car South Africa confirming that all affected vehicles were sold in Gauteng from late December 2025. As a temporary safety measure, Volvo has told owners to limit charging to 70% until a permanent fix is ready. The company has also asked customers to contact authorised dealers for inspections and repairs, which will be carried out at no cost.
What To Do When Your Car Is Recalled In Nigeria or Across Africa
Car recalls are routine in Europe and the United States. When a fault is found, owners are notified, repairs are carried out, and manufacturers cover the cost. That process is clear and expected. In Nigeria, that clarity is often missing, which is why recent recall news on X sparked a familiar question: if you buy a car locally or import one, who fixes it—and who pays? Here’s the short, clear answer from 234Drive.
If a car brand has an authorised dealership in Nigeria, you can take your vehicle there for a recall repair free of charge. It does not matter where you bought the car, and it does not matter if it was imported as tokunbo (foreign used car). Once your VIN confirms the car is affected, the manufacturer—not the owner—covers the repair.
This has already happened in practice. During the global Takata airbag crisis, Honda replaced faulty airbags in Nigeria at no cost. Many of the affected cars were used imports, yet repairs were still handled locally, even though those vehicles were mostly never sold new in the country.
The deciding factor is dealer presence. For BMW owners, Coscharis BMW is the official representative. If BMW announces a recall, Coscharis can inspect and fix affected cars once owners confirm eligibility using their VIN and book an appointment.
The situation changes when there is no authorised dealer. For brands like Tesla in Nigeria, a recall usually means sending the car back to the country where it was purchased, with shipping and logistics costs typically covered by the owner.
That’s the key difference. Brands with authorised dealerships in Nigeria—such as Toyota, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Ford, Kia, Hyundai, Jaguar, Land Rover, BYD, Changan, and Geely—can handle recalls locally through their official networks.
