Honda Recalls World’s Only Air Bag-Equipped Motorcycle

Honda Recalls World’s Only Air Bag-Equipped Motorcycle

February 6, 2017 admin ,

Torrance, Calif. – Feb. 06, 2017 – Honda is recalling 882 motorcycles equipped with potentially dangerous Takata airbags. The recall affects the Honda Gold Wing motorcycle – the only motorcycle in the world today equipped with an air bag. The recall covers the following models:

  • 2006-2007 Honda GL1800 Gold Wings
  • 2012 Honda GL1800 Gold Wings

Recall Summary

According to documents compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the propellant wafers in some air bag inflators may degrade over time due to excessive heat or humidity. If the air bags are activated, they could do so with excessive force, causing the inflators to rupture and spread shrapnel at the rider. In addition, some defective air bags in automobiles have inflated without warning, causing injury and death. As of this year, 11 deaths and more than 180 injuries have been attributed to faulty Takata air bags around the world.

Due to the impact of climate on the air bags, the recall will focus on specific regional zones:

  • All of the above models sold and registered in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Island.
  • Model year 2006-2009 motorcycles sold and registered in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
  • Model year 2006 – 2008 motorcycles sold and registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Honda previously recalled 2,701 2006 – 2010 Gold Wing motorcycles for a similar air bag issue in June 2016. The effort was also largely focused on areas of the U.S. where high heat and humidity was the norm.

The repair

Honda will notify all motorcycle owners of the recall, and dealers will replace the air bag module, free of charge. The recall will occur in phases, based on risk levels. Those manufactured between 2006 and 2010 will be recalled first, while the rest will be handled next. If customers have already chosen to have a dealer deactivate the air bag while they wait for replacement parts, it is important for them to determine that the module has indeed been completely turned off before getting a replacement. This can be done by disconnecting the negative battery terminal and checking the fuse plate.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 800 vehicles were originally part of this recall. As of April 24, 2018, – the last date for which information was available – 434 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

adminHonda Recalls World’s Only Air Bag-Equipped Motorcycle
Bus Manufacturer Addresses Emergency Brake Problems

Bus Manufacturer Addresses Emergency Brake Problems

February 2, 2017 admin

Middlebury, Ind. – Feb. 02, 2017 – ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, LLC, announced that it would have to recall some of its buses in response to a defect that may lead to sudden, accidental brake engagement.

The Defect

ARBOC will recall model year 2015-2016 ARBOC Spirit of Liberty buses manufactured between Nov. 7, 2014 and July 29, 2016. According to documents compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the parking brake on these vehicles can engage if the doors are opened at any speed. If the door happens to open accidentally, this could cause the bus to suddenly slow down and stop. It is believed that an electrical flaw in the system caused the two functions to connect.

Timeline of Events

  • Oct. 10, 2016 – The manufacturer received a notice that a driver had experienced a sudden parking brake activation when the entry door was opened. This notice was then sent to dealers.
  • Dec. 6, 2016 – A Freightliner repair shop told the manufacturer that a bus had come into the shop after its parking brake failed while driving at highway speeds. The bus had not been fixed yet, and at the time the repair was considered optional. However, the high-speed failure led the manufacturer to consider a full recall.

Resolution

All dealers will notify affected customers, the process of which may take up to two weeks to complete. Once this is done, vehicle owners will be able to bring their buses in to dealers, who will make adjustments to the parking brake. Owners will then be able to file warranty claims with the manufacturer.

adminBus Manufacturer Addresses Emergency Brake Problems
BMW Motorcycles Suffer Loose Bolts

BMW Motorcycles Suffer Loose Bolts

January 31, 2017 admin

Woodcliff Lake, N.J. – Jan. 31, 2017 – BMW has announced that it will recall two motorcycle models due to defects that may result in loose rear suspension bolts. If not addressed, these issues could result in worse handling while on the road.

The Defect

BMW will recall model year 2016-2017 BMW S 1000 RR motorcycles manufactured between June 8, 2016 and Nov. 16, 2016, as well as model year 2017 BMW S 1000 R motorcycles manufactured on Oct. 12, 2016. According to documents compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it appears that one of the bolts connecting the rear suspension deflection levers could become loose during operation. Either the bolts connecting these levers to link struts – or the bolts connecting them to rear wheel swing arms – may have been tightened improperly during the manufacturing process.

Timeline of Events

  • Dec. 8, 2016 – An internal quality report from within a motorcycle assembly plant alerted BMW to the possibility that the connector bolts may not have been built properly. BMW then conducted reviews of motorcycle production records and determined the dates on which these bolts may not have been tightened according to their specifications.
  • Dec. 20, 2016 – BMW determined that the problem could result in a safety issue if left undressed. Though no accidents and injuries related to the defect have been reported, the company announced a voluntary recall.

Resolution

Owners of affected motorcycles will be notified beginning in February. Loose bolts will be replaced and tightened according to specifications. This work will be done free of charge.

adminBMW Motorcycles Suffer Loose Bolts
Ford Trucks Risk Fuel Leak

Ford Trucks Risk Fuel Leak

January 30, 2017 Sean Reyes

Recall Masters – January 30, 2017


Ford Trucks Risk Fuel Leak

Ford has announced that it will recall two different types of light trucks due to a fuel systems leak that could result in a fire of not addressed.

The Defect
Ford will recall model year 2017 F-250 and F-350 trucks manufactured between Aug. 10, 2016 and Sept. 17, 2016, according to documents compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Some of these vehicles appear to have been built without a necessary frame reinforcement bracket attached to the front fuel tank strap. Without this component, regular wear and tear to the vehicle will eventually cause the fuel tank strap to separate from the frame, which could cause the tank itself to move and possibly hit the ground. Any resulting damage could lead to a fuel leak and possibly a fire…

Read the entire article on the Recall Masters website

Sean ReyesFord Trucks Risk Fuel Leak
Ford Trucks Risk Fuel Leak

Ford Trucks Risk Fuel Leak

January 30, 2017 admin

Dearborn, Mich. – Jan. 30, 2017 – Ford has announced that it will recall two different types of light trucks due to a fuel systems leak that could result in a fire of not addressed.

The Defect

Ford will recall model year 2017 F-250 and F-350 trucks manufactured between Aug. 10, 2016 and Sept. 17, 2016, according to documents compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Some of these vehicles appear to have been built without a necessary frame reinforcement bracket attached to the front fuel tank strap. Without this component, regular wear and tear to the vehicle will eventually cause the fuel tank strap to separate from the frame, which could cause the tank itself to move and possibly hit the ground. Any resulting damage could lead to a fuel leak and possibly a fire.

Timeline of Events

  • September 2016: A frame supplier notified Ford that a pickup frame had been manufactured without the necessary fuel tank strap reinforcement. Further inspection revealed that out of about 4,000 uninstalled frames, 58 were improperly built. At the time, it was not yet clear if any defective frames had been installed on vehicles and sold.
  • October 2016: Further analysis allowed Ford to pinpoint the dates on which the defective frames were built. The manufacturer confirmed that some had indeed made it onto vehicles that were shipped.
  • December 2016: Ford’s Field Review Committee approved a recall.

Resolution

Ford will notify affected owners by mail and will advise them to bring their vehicles to the nearest Ford or Lincoln dealers for inspection. If the trucks lack reinforcements brackets, replacements will be installed, free of charge.

adminFord Trucks Risk Fuel Leak
Canadian Bus Manufacturer Issues Two Recalls

Canadian Bus Manufacturer Issues Two Recalls

January 24, 2017 admin

Drummondville, Canada – Jan. 24, 2017 – Corp. Micro Bird Inc., a major manufacturer of school buses, has announced the recall of numerous bus models as a result of multiple defects, affecting bus operation and safety.

The Defects

Corp. Micro Bird will be recalling model year 2015-2017 Micro Bird T-Series buses. Two groups will be recalled in response to two separate defects. The first includes buses manufactured between Aug. 24, 2015 and Nov. 30, 2016. The second involves those built on Ford chassis and manufactured between Oct. 1, 2014 and Dec. 15, 2016.

The first group is being recalled as a result of a defective battery-powered wheelchair lift. These lifts contain interlocks that can be deactivated by drivers, allowing the bus to be operated while the lift is down. This may destabilize the buses as they are driven, and may also increase the risk of damage and injury to other nearby vehicles.

The second recall is in response to defective frame extension adaptors. During an accident, force that is applied to seat belts on seats installed just above the frame extension adapters will put pressure on the adapters, causing them to deform. This, in turn, can increase the chance of injury to passengers.

Timeline of Events

  • Nov. 9, 2016 – Corp. Micro Bird conducted a mandatory test of seats attached to the last rows of the affected buses, located over the frame extensions. During the test, mechanics observed significant damage to the frame extension adapters and the floors of the buses.
  • Nov. 11, 2016 – Corp. Micro Bird received pictures of results of the initial tests. However, they were not clear enough to indicate the specific causes of the damage observed.
  • Nov. 23, 2016 –  Bus chassis were sent to a Corp. Micro Bird facility for further inspection. Mechanics determined that the problem was not due to a defect in the specific vehicle, but rather a component design issue that would have affected all buses manufactured during a specific time frame.
  • Nov. 30, 2016 – Meanwhile, another routine inspection of different buses from the same manufacturer noted that some vehicles could be started even when the power-lift switches were in the off position. This prevented the lift from being operated, so that if it was stored it could not be deployed, and if it had been deployed it could not be retracted, even if the bus was moving. The manufacturer decided that this issue presented a safety ris​k that would have to be addressed by the recall process.
  • Dec. 8, 2016 – Corp. Micro Bird decided that the frame extension adapter issue posed a risk to all vehicles with a similar design, and decided that a safety recall would be the most prudent option.

Resolution

Remedy of the powered wheelchair lift issue will be the responsibility of bus owners. Corp. Micro Bird will send materials and all necessary instructions to each owner. This will be done free of charge. Meanwhile, the recall schedule for the frame extension adapter issue has not yet been determined, nor has the specific remedy. The manufacturer plans to release a recall schedule soon, and owners can contact Corp. Micro Bird for more information.

adminCanadian Bus Manufacturer Issues Two Recalls
Wheel Hubs May Fail On Volvo Trucks

Wheel Hubs May Fail On Volvo Trucks

January 23, 2017 admin

Jan. 10, 2017 – Greensboro, N.C. – Volvo Trucks North America has announced a safety recall of numerous vehicle models due to overloaded wheel hubs that threaten to cause control losses and crashes.

The Defect

Volvo will recall model year 2017 VHD, VNL and VNM buses manufactured between Feb. 19, 2016 and June 21, 2016, according to documents compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The front hubs on these vehicles do not support the gross axle rating of the front axles. The company revealed that hubs rated for 13,200 pounds were used along with axles rated for 14,600 pounds.

The problem is that this defect could cause hubs to fail prematurely due to the weight. If front hubs separate from front axles, drivers could quickly lose control and potentially face injury or death. Volvo views this recall as a proactive measure, as no incidents of hub failure have been reported as yet.

Timeline of Events

  • Sept. 15, 2016 – Volvo noticed that there may have been an error with hub rating identification.
  • Oct. 12, 2016 – The Volvo Product Safety Working Group opened an investigation into the issue.
  • Nov. 21, 2016 – Following this preliminary investigation, the issue was elevated to the Product Safety Committee for further consideration.
  • Dec. 13, 2016 – Volvo determined that the issue was indeed a serious safety defect.
  • Dec. 20, 2016 – Volvo notified the NHTSA of its intention to conduct a safety recall.

Resolution

Volvo will replace the hubs with those that are properly rated for the weight they need to bear. This will be done free of charge. The recall will begin in February 2017.

adminWheel Hubs May Fail On Volvo Trucks
Software Issue Plagues Maserati

Software Issue Plagues Maserati

January 20, 2017 MotorSafety.org

Englewood Cliffs, N.J. – Jan. 20, 2017 – Maserati North America, Inc. has announced that it will recall certain Levante S vehicles due to an engine software issue that could lead to transmission problems or even a sudden shutdown.

The Defect

Maserati will recall model year 2017 Levante S cars manufactured between July 1, 2016 and Dec. 13, 2016, according to documents compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These vehicles all contain software bugs that may cause the transmission to shift to neutral or stop altogether when the car is traveling at 2 miles per hour. This significantly increases the risk of a crash, especially in heavy traffic scenarios.

Timeline of Events

  • Oct. 18, 2016 – Maserati received a complaint from China regarding a sudden, unexplained transmission shift during heavy traffic. Several tests were performed in an effort to replicate and isolate the problem.
  • Nov. 9, 2016 – The company successfully reproduced the issue and conducted follow-up tests to determine that it was indeed a software glitch.
  • Dec. 9, 2016 – A software re-flash solution was developed and tested to ensure that it could resolve the glitch without affecting other aspects of performance, such as emissions numbers.
  • Dec. 14, 2016 – Maserati issued its safety recall.

Resolution

Maserati made the software available to fix this bug in December 2016. Customers were notified by letter and advised to contact their local dealers to set up appointments for repairs. The new software upload is expected to take approximately one hour to complete.

MotorSafety.orgSoftware Issue Plagues Maserati
Honda, Ford, Announce Additional Takata-Related Recalls

Honda, Ford, Announce Additional Takata-Related Recalls

January 19, 2017 admin , ,

Washington, D.C. — January 19, 2016 — Of all the automakers that have been affected by the Takata air bag defects and subsequent nationwide recalls, Honda appears to have been hit the hardest.

Across the U.S., 11 fatalities and more than 100 injuries have been attributed to Takata’s defective air bag inflators, according to NBC News. These air bags can inflate with too much force, rupturing a metal canister and launching shrapnel at drivers and occupants. Honda has said that among those incidents, 10 of the deaths occurred in Honda vehicles between 2009 and 2016.

Honda announces additional recalls over air bag defects

This week, Honda announced that it will be recalling additional vehicles as a result of defective Takata air bag launchers –  and not a small number, either. The International Business Times reported that the company will add 772,000 Honda and Acura vehicles to recalls in the U.S, making a total of over 1.2 million vehicles.

These will include the following specific models:

  • 2005-2006 Acura MDX
  • 2005-2012 Acura RL
  • 2008-2012 Honda Accord
  • 2006-2011 Honda Civic
  • 2007-2012 Honda Fit
  • 2010-2012 Honda Insight
  • 2009-2012 Acura TSX
  • 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon
  • 2010-2012 Acura ZDX
  • 2010-2012 Acura ZDX
  • 2005-2011 Honda CR-V
  • 2005-2011 Honda Element
  • 2012 Honda FCX Clarity
  • 2005-2012 Honda Pilot
  • 2006-2012 Honda Ridgeline

The specific problem in these vehicles appears to be the front passenger seat air bag inflators. Honda said in a press release that a specific number of inflators – known as “Alpha” inflators – have alarmingly high failure rates and will be the focus of the recall.

All told, Reuters reports that Honda has recalled 11.4 million U.S. registered vehicles as a result of this defect.

Ford expands Takata recall

Honda may be the most exposed automaker to the Takata defects, but it isn’t the only company that has boosted its recall numbers of late. This week, Ford announced that it would recall 816,000 vehicles for similar air bag issues.

Of the recalls, about 600,000 were located in the U.S., while the remaining models were located in Canada. All were built in North America. Autoblog reports that the following models will be affected:

  • 2005-09 and 2012 Ford Mustang
  • 2005-06 Ford GT
  • 2006-09 and 2012 Ford Fusion
  • 2007-09 Ford Ranger
  • 2007-09 Ford Edge
  • 2006-09 and 2012 Lincoln Zephyr and Lincoln MKZ
  • 2007-09 Lincoln MKX
  • 2006-09 Mercury Milan

Ford has not identified any injuries or deaths that occurred in its vehicles as a result of the defects. It has now recalled about 1.3 million vehicles in the U.S., according to Reuters.

Government settlement will move forward

Earlier this month, there were hints that Takata would agree to settle with the U.S. government over the air bag defects. Now, Reuters has reported that this will indeed happen.

The company has made an agreement with the U.S. Justice Department to pay a $1 billion settlement. This will reportedly be split into multiple parts. About $850 million will be directed toward automakers that were forced to conduct massive recalls. Another $125 million will be directed toward victim compensation. Finally, the last $25 million will take the form of a criminal fine.

In addition, Takata will be monitored by an independent third party going forward to ensure the problems that led to the defects are addressed.

Reuters added that Takata may also plead guilty to wire fraud charges, or to providing false test data to U.S. regulators. This is based on information from another settlement in 2015, in which Takata admitted to providing both automakers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with incomplete or inaccurate data for several years.

Is your vehicle part of these recalls?

Around 1.8 million vehicles were originally part of these recalls. As of April 9, 2021 – the last date information was available – 1,411,939 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

Note: June 24, 2021

We have noticed a large number of readers are interested in this recall. For that reason, we have added the last section where drivers can check if their vehicle is part of this recall and included the recall completion rate. The article has also been updated to reflect the latest editorial standards.

adminHonda, Ford, Announce Additional Takata-Related Recalls
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