Volkswagen recalls nearly 800,000 cars

Defective brake lights on Golf, GTI, Jetta, New Beetle and R32 are a potential safety hazard and should be replaced.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Around 800,000 Volkswagen vehicles have been recalled Monday because of faulty brake lights, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said .

The 790,000 vehicles include Jettas, New Beetles, Golfs, GTIs and R32s.

The specific years and models affected are 1999-2005 Jetta sedans, 2001-2005 Jetta wagons, 1998-2007 New Beetle, 2003-2007 New Beetle Convertibles, 1999-2006 Golfs and GTIs and the 2004 R32, all in the United States.

The malfunctioning brake lights and brake light switches could fail to come on or remain stuck on.

This recall expands on one announced by Europe's No. 1 carmaker last year, when 362,000 Jettas and New Beetles were recalled due to the same defective part.

Volkswagen said that dealers will immediately be prepared to accept service appointments to perform the repair at no charge, but the notification process isn't scheduled to begin until April.

NHTSA did not say if any injuries had been reported linked to the defective brake lights.

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