The COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission (COMESA CCC) has issued a region-wide consumer alert to all member states after the recall of 1,846 Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 vehicles sold in South Africa by Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM), a subsidiary of the Japanese automaker Toyota. The affected vehicles were sold between 8 January 2025 and 16 January 2026.
The recall, announced by the National Consumer Commission (NCC) of South Africa, stems from a transmission issue. According to the NCC, if a solenoid failure occurs under certain driving conditions, the transmission electronic control unit (T-ECU) and the Engine ECU may fail to detect or report the fault. This can lead to the transmission over-revving in certain gears, potentially damaging the system and causing a loss of motive power while driving at higher speeds. In some cases, damage to the transmission housing may result in fluid leakage, which could increase the risk of a crash or fire if an ignition source is present.
COMESA CCC noted that the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 series is imported into multiple Member States and has therefore advised consumers across the region to exercise caution when purchasing these vehicles. Owners are also encouraged to verify whether their vehicles are part of the recalled batch and to follow the recommended steps for redress.
"The commission, pursuant to Regulation 66 of the COMESA Competition and Consumer Protection Regulations 2025, warns the general public in the Common Market of the dangers related to the recalled vehicles. The commission, therefore, advises consumers to take caution when purchasing the recalled vehicles," said COMESA CCC in a statement.
"Further, the commission advises consumers who are driving the affected series to cross-check and confirm whether their vehicles are among the recalled and follow the guidelines to get to the nearest dealership for redress."
The commission is collaborating with Toyota and Member States to ensure that all affected consumers are informed and assisted.
Vehicle owners are advised to take their cars to an authorised Toyota dealership, where the Transmission ECU will be reprogrammed at no cost. The NCC stressed that prompt action is necessary due to the associated safety risks.
Comments
Sign in with Google to comment, reply, and like comments.
Continue with Google