The Amarok recall affects 239,000 Amarok models globally (12,359 in Germany) built between its launch and June of this year.

VW Commercial Vehicles said that the issue had been identified by its quality assurance team, with the 2.0-litre TDI engine possibly being affected by leaks to the fuel pipe within the engine compartment. In order to avoid any accidental damage to the fuel lines a chafe protector is being fitted at the affected points as part of a global recall programme.

The vehicle owners affected have been informed.

In addition, around 800,000 Tiguan models, built between the beginning of 2008 and the middle of 2011, are being recalled due to a possible issue with one of the vehicle lights failing as well as for a gearbox oil change for vehicles with DQ200 gearboxes.

The carmaker said the fault was again identified by its quality assurance teams, which found that, in isolated cases, a fuse may trip in the Tiguan, thus resulting in the failure of one of the two vehicle light circuits. This in turn causes individual light functions to fail. However, the vehicle’s electric circuitry ensures that some lights remain on all around the vehicle. The driver is immediately informed of this on the instrument cluster.

The firm added that replacing the fuse with one with a tougher surface coating only takes a few minutes, with the relevant vehicle owners to be informed by Volkswagen in due course.

In addition, further quality monitoring in China and South East Asia has found that, in vehicles with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DQ200), electric malfunctions could occur in the gearbox power supply if synthetic gearbox oil is used. This applies in particular if the vehicle is subject to a hot and humid climate, coupled with a high proportion of stop-go driving.

Studies have established that using mineral oil will rectify this problem.

The firm said: ‘To continue to ensure customer satisfaction with DSG, Volkswagen has decided to launch a global voluntary campaign and request all customers with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DQ200) filled with synthetic oil to visit a workshop for an oil exchange.’

The vehicle owners will be informed by Volkswagen in due course.