Skoda and Cupra, owned by the Volkswagen Group, have issued separate recalls with Australia’s Department of Infrastructure and Transport due to a potential safety issue.
Specifically, there’s a concern that the heat shield between the brake master cylinder and exhaust manifold may not be correctly fitted, potentially leading to melting and leakage of brake fluid, which could affect braking performance and pose a fire risk.
Affected vehicles include 3,801 Skoda vehicles, comprising the 2020 to 2024 Superb and 2020 to 2024 Octavia models, as well as 26 Cupra vehicles, including the 2020 to 2022 Formentor and 2020 to 2022 Leon models. Neither brand is available in the United States.
Skoda, established in 1859, began producing cars in 1925, while Cupra became a standalone brand in 2018, with the Volkswagen Group becoming SEAT’s largest shareholder in 1986.
The Cupra Leon is the sportier version of the SEAT Leon, sharing similarities with the Volkswagen Golf and featuring a 2.0-liter turbo engine and Haldex-type AWD. Cupra’s first standalone model is the Formentor, positioned between the Leon hatchback and wagon and available with Audi Sport’s 2.5-liter turbo inline-five engine.
Skoda offers the Octavia and Superb in both five-door liftback and wagon variants, with the Superb akin to the B9 Passat and the Octavia closer to the Golf Mk8.
In Australia, the 2024 Octavia starts at $41,890 AUD ($27,450 USD), while the Superb Sportline 206 TSI, equipped with AWD, is priced at $65,590 AUD ($42,990 USD).
The Cupra Leon V starts at $51,990 AUD ($34,075 USD), and the Formentor V starts at $64,990 AUD ($42,600 USD). Cupra aims for full electrification by 2030, while Skoda aims for over 70% of electric vehicle sales in Europe by 2030.
