The VW Beetle is one of three models impacted by the stop-sale, along with the Jetta and Passat.

In the wake of the GM ignition switch recall debacle – never mind the $1.2 billion fine levied against Toyota last month – automakers seem to be suffering from the safety defect jitters, racing to react to seemingly every possible problem before anyone has a chance of accusing them of a cover-up.

Less than a day after Toyota announced another recall covering 6.4 million vehicles, VW revealed it was telling dealers to temporarily halt sales of 25,000 of its 2014 Passat, Beetle and Jetta models.

The move covers only those vehicles equipped with the maker’s turbocharged 1.8-liter gas engine and appears to be the result of a faulty seal.

“We have asked our dealers to immediately stop the sale of any affected vehicles,” Volkswagen of America said in a statement. “We will officially notify the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as soon as possible and will be in contact with (affected) customers.”

The problem involves an o-ring seal connecting the cars’ engine to the automatic transmission cooler.  It is apparently prone to leaking which could spill transmission fluid that could, in turn, contact hot engine components and catch fire.  However, VW says it knows of no fires, crashes or injuries resulting from the problem.

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Only vehicles produced since February 1^st are affected, and that means a large percentage are likely still on dealer lots or in transit.

The 1.8-liter engine comes as standard equipment on VW Jetta and Beetle models produced in Mexico. It is an option on the bigger Passat produced at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

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VW is just the latest maker to order a stop-sale due to potential safety problems.  Toyota announced a similar move involving six key models last January due to a “compliance issue” involving the potential flammability of fabrics used on vehicles equipped with front seat heaters.  General Motors late last month followed with a stop-sale of 2013 and 2014 Chevrolet Cruze sedans due to faulty front half-shafts on vehicles equipped with a 1.4-liter turbo engine.

GM has since ordered that model to be recalled, the latest in a wide range of recalls that now covers more than 6 million vehicles overall.

All told, manufacturers have announced recalls covering almost 11 million vehicles so far this year, roughly half the total for all of 2013 – a year that already saw a 20% increase in such safety-related service actions compared to 2012.