Just discovered this in the news this morning, the recall is published on the Australian Govt product recall site below. I've no idea if this affects only certain Australian delivered models, or if it's worldwide, however the relevant VIN's for this country are listed on the site. My VIN doesn't appear, so maybe only certain manufacturing runs were affected.

 

"Due to a manufacturing issue, the heat shield between the brake master cylinder and the exhaust may have been incorrectly fitted. As a result, a connection to the brake fluid reservoir could melt. If this occurs, brake fluid may leak and cause a reduction in braking performance and/or if brake fluid leaks on to a hot exhaust there is a risk of a vehicle fire."

 

https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/recalls/rec-005899

It appears to be cars delivered with the 2.0 TSI EA888 Gen3 engine. In addition to the Octavia and Superb, 26 examples of the Cupra Leon and Formentor were affected too: https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/cupra-formentor-and-leon-recalled

 

The Cupra numbers lead me to believe that it's limited to the Cupra/Formentor VZ and not the base trim Cupra Leon/Formentor V and Octavia Limited Edition which use the lesser tuned EA888 - but that's a guess.

 

Unlike Europe, Volkswagen Group Australia chose to deliver us with the EA888 Gen3 engine rather than the EA888 Gen4 EVO engine due to concerns about the high sulphur content in our fuel. It has the potential to damage the petrol particulate filters on the Gen4 engine.

However, the Australian government has since agreed to implement tighter rules on the sulphur content in our fuel with effect from December, 2025. That means Euro6D engines can be offered in our market more readily.

 

So in summary, it is likely an Australia/New Zealand specific issue*. It doesn't affect your style because you've got the 1.4 TSI.

 

*or any markets that use the old  2.0 TSI Gen3 EA888 instead of the Gen4 Evo.

 

 

3 hours ago, aaaaplay said:

It appears to be cars delivered with the 2.0 TSI EA888 Gen3 engine. In addition to the Octavia and Superb, 26 examples of the Cupra Leon and Formentor were affected too: https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/cupra-formentor-and-leon-recalled

 

The Cupra numbers lead me to believe that it's limited to the Cupra/Formentor VZ and not the base trim Cupra Leon/Formentor V and Octavia Limited Edition which use the lesser tuned EA888 - but that's a guess.

 

Unlike Europe, Volkswagen Group Australia chose to deliver us with the EA888 Gen3 engine rather than the EA888 Gen4 EVO engine due to concerns about the high sulphur content in our fuel. It has the potential to damage the petrol particulate filters on the Gen4 engine.

However, the Australian government has since agreed to implement tighter rules on the sulphur content in our fuel with effect from December, 2025. That means Euro6D engines can be offered in our market more readily.

 

So in summary, it is likely an Australia/New Zealand specific issue*. It doesn't affect your style because you've got the 1.4 TSI.

 

*or any markets that use the old  2.0 TSI Gen3 EA888 instead of the Gen4 Evo.

 

 

I've been reading more in the past day or so and I think your assumptions based on the Formentor and Leon are fair. The key thing is to establish whether or not your VIN is listed, mine isn't so unless Skoda AU were to contact me that's the end of it.

In one of the Facebook groups I saw the following post from an owner who has already had their car assessed:

 

Quote

My car is one of the ones affected. They've put in a temporary measure and have ordered a heatmat (apparently mine was completely missing). I have no idea where the brake cylinder is, nor where they added the temporary fix, but happy to post pics if anyone is able to direct me to where the cylinder is.

Feel free to ask any other questions. They tell me it's nothing to worry about, but it will be a problem with extended use. My car is a 2021 Octavia RS with with 13,000km).

 

It's shocking to think the whole heatmat was missing. 

I believe this is the same for UK cars which have been under a (DVSA) government recall.

 

 

29 minutes ago, TheWanderer said:

I believe this is the same for UK cars which have been under a (DVSA) government recall.

 

 

It certainly looks like it. The lack of detail in the Aust Govt recall notice created the initial confusion. Had it identified the affected vehicles as DSG variants, it would have immediately narrowed the field. Instead it simply referred to '20-24 Octavia and Superb', even stating Variant Applicability as 'All variants within this model'. That triggered a painstaking trawl through the randomly organised list of VIN's before learning that it doesn't apply to non-DSG's.

I knew mine would be affected as I always have an auto now.

 

I haven't driven a manual boxed car for 20+ years, last time I tried to drive my mums VW Polo which is manual I nearly put it into the garden wall.

For those that want a bit more - this is just from what ive seen, read and my opinion (also another car to add to to the list is the arteon which many owners on the facebook group are saying has this issue)

 

The master cylinder is the exact same as one for a manual car, the only difference is the clutch fluid output for the reservoir is heat crimped shut - not an issue, it was even how it was done on my 1999 VW Polo.

The proximity of the exhaust to the crimped connection is causing it to melt and open up and drop all the brake fluid. 

The fix is a heat reflecting mat between the exhaust and the reservoir.

 

In terms of failure, if the brake fluid warning comes on, stop immediately and check. You hopefully and shouldn't loose full brake control as the system still has fluid and will allow you to stop normally.

 

How something like this made it through quality control and their testing I have no idea!

15 minutes ago, TheWanderer said:

I knew mine would be affected as I always have an auto now.

 

I haven't driven a manual boxed car for 20+ years, last time I tried to drive my mums VW Polo which is manual I nearly put it into the garden wall.

I haven't driven manual for about that long either! The non RS models here (like mine) have the 8sp auto torque converter trans, so they're all automatic, but not all are DSG.

Last slush boxed car I had was an awful Kia Sportage 10 year or so ago, it was bloody awful. A 2.0ltr diesel with a £160 pcm (=£215 pcm 2024) diesel habit. It handled OK, but it was riddled with problems.

 

In the end I got rid after a year and got another RS. That mistake cost me £6k, never again because of Kia's lousy customer service attitude.

@SouthernComfort I have asked this before.  The reason being to clarify.  Is your engine a 1.4 TSI with an 8 speed Torque converter automatic?   Which other global regions other than Europe / EU can get because the World Wide Harmonised cheating of emissions testing is just for Europe not the actual whole world.   Meaning you can get the good engine and not the lottery of a DQ200 DSG.    Simply clever stuff.    Reliable is available, just not suitable for the WLTP. Kidology. 

2 hours ago, Rooted said:

@SouthernComfort I have asked this before.  The reason being to clarify.  Is your engine a 1.4 TSI with an 8 speed Torque converter automatic?   Which other global regions other than Europe / EU can get because the World Wide Harmonised cheating of emissions testing is just for Europe not the actual whole world.   Meaning you can get the good engine and not the lottery of a DQ200 DSG.    Simply clever stuff.    Reliable is available, just not suitable for the WLTP. Kidology. 

Yes, 1.4TSI 8sp. Without wishing to offend DSG owners, and having had the 7cog DSG in my previous Golf, I find the 8sp TC just a nicer box to live with. It seems smoother and more responsive, and in hilly country it comes into its own by better knowing which gear to be in. Just my view.

RS has the DSG of course, as did the now discontinued (from '24) Limited Edition (AFAIK). All other Octavia variants have the 8sp, all petrol, no electric or phev.

Edited 24 February, 20242 yr by SouthernComfort
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