Recall for Volkswagen Polo

VOLKSWAGEN Australia has been forced to recall a large number of its current-generation Polo hatches, launched in August 2014, to rectify a potentially engine-halting fault.

The recall affects 2708 vehicles, according to Volkswagen. GoAuto estimates it sold 2300 from its launch to the end of 2014, while it has sold 2858 cars so far this year.

The fault is located in the top end of the 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which is supplied in two tunes the 66TSI makes 66kW and 160Nm, while a higher-tuned 81TSI version puts out 81kW and 175Nm.

VW says that a pulley on the camshaft adjuster on the front of the single overhead cam could break, which in turn could affect the roller chain timing belt.

“If the defect occurs, this can lead to oil loss and in the worst case scenario the engine will no longer be timed correctly and valves may contact the pistons,” read a statement on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) website.

“This may pose an accident hazard to the driver or other road users.”

Once pistons and valves do make contact, especially in a modern car, the engine is usually written off as unrepairable.

The statement says that Volkswagen is writing to affected owners, and that customers are able to seek advice from authorised dealers, or by calling its customer care line.

“It’s only the 1.2-litre engine that’s been affected by the campaign, and it’s only a selected range of production,” said Volkswagen Australia’s general manager of communications Karl Gheling.

“The work (to fix it) is a repair job on the engine (rather than a replacement).” It is the first recall for 2015 for Volkswagen, after four in 2014 and six in 2013.