Mercedes recalls vehicles with outdated software

 

Atlanta – Aug. 31, 2017 – Mercedes Benz USA just recalled more than 12,000 vehicles possibly equipped with defective software, according to Consumer Affairs. The campaign pertains to 2016-2017 Mercedes AMG coupes and 2017 GLE 43 sport utility vehicles with manufacturing dates on or following May 2, 2017.

The Defect

The models named in the recall contain defective engine and transmission control software that could cause a complete engine shutdown. Specifically, the two software platforms interact improperly when drivers reduce to slow speeds by performing consecutive downshifts, Motor 1 reported. In this instance, the warning light illuminates and the vehicle’s engine shuts off. Mercedes has also discovered that the same outcome occurs when drivers start their vehicles in ECO mode.

The defective software increases the likelihood of an accident and therefore poses a serious risk to owners. However, Mercedes has yet to receive reports connecting the defect to any accidents of injuries due to how recently the issue was discovered.

Timeline of Events

The automaker has not released details into the investigation that uncovered the defect.

The Solution

Mercedes has asked dealers to reprogram the software in affected vehicles, free of charge. Owners should expect to receive notification in September. Those in need of more immediate assistance can contact Mercedes Benz USA customer service at (800) 367-6372, or call the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

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BMW recalls vehicles with Takata air bags

Westwood, NJ – August 31, 2017 – BMW of North America has recalled more than 3,400 vehicles possibly equipped with defective Takata air bag inflators, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign, which amends an earlier action initiated in September 2016, includes the following models:

  • 2012-2013 X3 xDrive28i
  • 2012-2013 xDrive35i 

Recall summary

Affected models are believed to include Takata front driver-side air bag assemblies with inflator modules that are incorrectly welded and therefore prone to disconnection in the event of a crash. In such a scenario, metal air bag components could disperse with a high rate of speed throughout the cabin, potentially harming or killing occupants.

Car manufacturers across the globe have been dealing with this particular defect for more than two years, The New York Times reported. Safety officials attribute 17 deaths and hundreds of serious injuries to defective Takata air bags. However, BMW has yet to receive any reports connecting the air bag inflator modules in this latest recall to accidents of injuries.

On Sept. 20, 2016, BMW issued a safety recall with the NHTSA identification code 16V-683. Soon after, the automaker asked Takata to initiate an internal investigation aimed at reviewing air bag module installation records across all production sites. BMW requested this action after reviewing additional field reports and recovered parts. On July 20, 2017, Takata shared the preliminary results of this investigation, which indicated that two more air bag modules produced by the company could potentially harm passengers. Eleven days later, the parts manufacturer recommended that BMW issue a safety recall to correct the potentially defective parts.

BMW analyzed its production logs and pinpointed models containing the air bag inflator modules mentioned in the Takata report. On Aug. 2, 2017, safety officials for the British automaker decided to launch a voluntary recall action. BMW notified dealers of the action Aug. 8.

The repair

The car manufacturer has ordered dealers to replace the front driver-side air bag assemblies in the affected vehicles free of charge, according to NHTSA documents. BMW intends to notify owners via first-class mail on or around Oct. 2.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 3,400 vehicles were originally part of this recall. Since then, the recall population has grown to 6,785. As of April 23, 2019 – the last date information was available – 4,807 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.

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GM recalls SUVs with defective drive shafts

 

Warren, Mich. – Aug. 31, 2017 – General Motors has recalled a number of sport utility vehicles believed to be equipped with defective drive shafts, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2017-2018 GMC Arcadia, 2018 GMC Terrain and 2018 Chevrolet Equinox models. The automaker estimates that 3 percent of the vehicles have problematic drive shafts.

The Defect

Models referenced in the recall could contain front right intermediate drive shaft assemblies prone to fracture and separation. Engineers have traced the issue to the parts manufacturer Nexteer, which failed to use properly calibrated ultrasonic scanning equipment when performing quality checks.

The defect poses a serious safety hazard to occupants, as vehicles with damaged drive shafts may lose power during operation or roll away when stopped without the parking brake engaged. However, GM has yet to receive reports of accidents or injuries connected to the defect.

Timeline of Events

On July 20, 2017, engineers at the GM assembly facility in San Luis Petosi, Mexico, came across a newly manufactured GMC Terrain sport utility vehicle with a separated right intermediate drive shaft. Quality assurance reviewed the part and confirmed, via Nexteer records, that it had passed end-of-line inspection before being shipped to the assembly site. From July 21-27, engineers at the plant discovered three additional fractured drive shafts, all of which had also passed the final quality check at Nexteer. On July 28, officials at the San Luis Petosi plant filed a report via GM’s “Speak Up for Safety” program.

Nexteer analyzed its records and discovered that drive shaft assemblies produced between June 13 and July 21 were scanned with improperly calibrated ultrasonic scanning equipment. The parts provider confirmed that drive shafts from this batch had been shipped to four separate GM plants, including the San Luis Petosi facility. GM then initiated quarantine programs at these sites. On Aug. 1, Nexteer delivered properly calibrated ultrasonic scanners to the GM assembly facilities, where all vehicle drive shafts were scanned.

GM opened an investigation into the matter Aug. 4., and concluded the inquiry Aug. 14. On Aug. 15, the GM Safety Field Action Decision Authority called for a voluntary safety recall. The car manufacturer notified dealers Aug. 22.

The Solution

GM has asked dealers to replace the front right intermediate drive shafts in affected vehicles free of charge, according to a document submitted to the NHTSA. The company has yet to release a timetable for notifying owners. However, those in need of immediate assistance can call Chevrolet and GMC customer service representatives at (800) 222-1020 and (800) 462-8782. They can also call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

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Volkswagen recalls vehicles with defective fuel pumps

Recall Masters -August 29, 2017

Volkswagen recalls vehicles with defective fuel pumps

The Volkswagen Group of America has recalled more than 280,000 vehicles believed to be equipped with defective fuel pumps, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2009-2016 CC and 2006-2010 Passat sedans, as well as 2006-2010 Passat wagons. The German automaker is unsure what percentage of the total population of vehicles named in the recall contain the problematic feature.

The Defect
The models named in the campaign could include defective fuel pump control modules prone to inducing fuel pump failure and ultimately stalling. The damaged fixtures could also lead to pump overuse, which can drain vehicles’ batteries and thus inhibit operation. The fuel pump control modules in these recalled models generate too much heat. This, combined with faulty electronic components and mechanical stress, results in the aforementioned outcomes, which pose serious danger to drivers and passengers. However, Volkswagen has yet to receive any reports detailing accidents or injuries stemming from the defective fuel control modules…

Read the entire article on the Recall Masters website

Sean ReyesVolkswagen recalls vehicles with defective fuel pumps

Volkswagen recalls vehicles with defective fuel pumps

 

Auburn Hills, Mich. – Aug. 29, 2017 – The Volkswagen Group of America has recalled more than 280,000 vehicles believed to be equipped with defective fuel pumps, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2009-2016 CC and 2006-2010 Passat sedans, as well as 2006-2010 Passat wagons. The German automaker is unsure what percentage of the total population of vehicles named in the recall contain the problematic feature.

The Defect

The models named in the campaign could include defective fuel pump control modules prone to inducing fuel pump failure and ultimately stalling. The damaged fixtures could also lead to pump overuse, which can drain vehicles’ batteries and thus inhibit operation. The fuel pump control modules in these recalled models generate too much heat. This, combined with faulty electronic components and mechanical stress, results in the aforementioned outcomes, which pose serious danger to drivers and passengers. However, Volkswagen has yet to receive any reports detailing accidents or injuries stemming from the defective fuel control modules.

Timeline of Events

The Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile Company, based in China, submitted an inquiry to Volkswagen detailing instances of fuel pump failure in CC and Passat models in April 2016. The automaker immediately coordinated an internal investigation with external parts supplier Kendrion Kuhnke Automotive GmbH, which provided the fuel pump assemblies in these vehicles. The two organizations asked DPAC to supply parts from affected vehicles for analysis. These items arrived in Wolfsburg, Germany, in October of that year. Engineers went to work analyzing the parts.

In January 2017, engineering personnel presented their findings to the Volkswagen Product Safety Committee. The group reviewed the data but requested that engineering teams perform further tests to find a definitive root cause. More than eight months later, these technical experts submitted the results of their second analysis, which concluded that the fuel pump control modules in the vehicles were to blame.

On Aug. 10, the Volkswagen PSC ordered a voluntary safety recall.

The Solution

Volkswagen will order dealers to replace the fuel pumps in affected models free of charge, according to documents submitted to the NHTSA. However, the vehicle manufacturer has yet to find suitable replacement parts that do not succumb to thermal influence or mechanical stress during operation. As a result, Volkswagen has not released an exact date for notifying owners. That said, the car maker will reach out to customer via first-class mail Oct. 13. Those in need of more immediate assistance can contact Volkswagen customer service personnel at (800) 893-5298, using the internal recall code 20AE. Owners can also call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

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BMW recalls motorcycles with blocked reflectors [Video]

Hello, and welcome to another vehicle recall update.

B-M-W of North America has recalled nearly thirty thousand motorcycles with luggage mounts that, when fitted with aluminum travel cases, block rear reflectors. The campaign affects four different models. The automaker suspects one hundred percent of the vehicles named in the recall are equipped with the defective mounts.

The motorcycles referenced in the recall feature luggage mounts that suspend luggage in a way that blocks rear reflectors from view. This violates Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and creates a serious safety risk.

B-M-W has directed dealers to install new reflectors, free of charge. The company plans to contact owners September twenty-first, two-thousand and seventeen.

Stay tuned for more vehicle recall breaking news.

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Chrysler recalls Jeeps with noncompliant software [Video]

Hello, and welcome to another vehicle recall update.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has recalled more than three thousand sport utility vehicles suspected to contain instrument control panel software that violates Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The campaign affects two-thousand-seventeen Jeep Renegade models. F-C-A suspects 100 percent of the vehicles named in the recall contain the defective software.

The models named in the campaign are equipped with I-P-C software that causes malfunction indicators to illuminate when no mechanical problems are present. This violates F-M-V-S-S standard 101, which stipulates that warning lights should only shine when actual engine issues occur.

F-C-A has directed dealers to update the software in all affected Jeep Renegades, free of charge. The car company plans to contact owners on or about September sixteenth, two-thousand and seventeen.

Stay tuned for more breaking news on vehicle recalls!

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Hino recalls industrial vehicles with defective door bolts

 

Novi, Mich. – Aug. 28, 2017 – Hino Motor Sales USA, a subsidiary of the Toyota Motor Corporation, has recalled dozes of industrial vehicles possibly equipped with improperly installed door bolts, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2018 NE8J, NJ8J and NV8J models. The automotive company believes 99 percent of the vehicles involved in the recall contain the defective parts.

The Defect

The models named in this latest campaign could be equipped with doors that feature upper hinges with loose bolts. This can cause the doors to function improperly and, in some cases, completely detach, creating a serious safety hazard for drivers and passengers. However, Hino has yet to receive any reports connecting the doors to accidents or injuries.

Timeline of Events

On June 13, 2017, the U.S. Hino assembly plant received prefabricated vehicle cabs from a supplier in Japan. Engineers immediately noticed structural issues with the doors on these fixtures and identified the root cause: misaligned door hinges.  Roughly one month later, the vehicle manufacturer began an internal repair initiative aimed at the hinges on assembled vehicles. This process involved installing shoulder-less bolts, repositioning cab doors by hand and tightening the bolts with the appropriate amount of torque. On July 19, the company adopted an alternative workflow due to high repair backlog, moving to an assembly-line based process that included the installation of shoulder-less hinges, along with a manual door adjustment – using a wedge – and bolt tightening. This last step was carried out with the wedge in place to ensure door fit, according to internal documentation filed with the NHTSA.

On July 28, quality assurance personnel performed spot checks on vehicles with reinstalled doors and discovered assembly errors. Specifically, assembly and repair teams at the Hino production facility had failed to apply enough to torque when installing the hinge bolts, leaving them loose. Shipments were immediately halted. Over the next two days, engineers at the site repaired the vehicles with the amended door hinges by removing the hinges. On July 31, the Hino QA division elected to launch an official safety recall to address the issue.

The vehicle manufacturer has introduced new production processes designed to prevent additional errors.

The Solution

Hino has ordered dealers to tighten the door bolts on affected vehicles, free of charge. The automaker has not yet announced when it will contact owners, according to documents submitted to the NHTSA. Owners in need of more immediate assistance can contact Hino customer service at (248) 699-9300 or connect with the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

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Chrysler recalls Jeeps with defective software

 

Auburn Hills, Mich. – Aug. 25, 2017 – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles recalled more than 3,000 sport utility vehicles possibly equipped with defective instrument control panel software, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2017 Jeep Renegade SUVs manufactured between June 1, 2017 and July 20, 2017. FCA estimates that 100 percent of the models referenced in the recall contain the defective equipment.

The Defect

The vehicles involved in the campaign could be equipped with ICP software that causes warning lights to illuminate even when no engine problems are present. A newly installed integrated circuit chip system is believed to be the root cause of the error, which renders the affected models noncompliant under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 101. The rule states that indicator signals “must not emit light except when identifying the malfunction or vehicle condition [they are] designed to indicate,” according to the NHTSA.

The defective ICP software creates a serious safety hazard, as drivers could be unaware of actual mechanical issues or other problems that may lead to breakdowns or accidents. However, FCA has yet to receive any reports connecting the problematic software with accidents or injuries.

Timeline of Events

On July 19, 2017, engineers at FCA pinpointed an ICP software error during production and immediately opened an investigation, as they believed the flaw put the affected vehicles in violation of FMVSS 101. Two days later, officials from the FCA Vehicle Safety and Regulatory Compliance examined evidence of the software error – video footage, in this case – and compared the issue to the functional requirements set out in the FMVSS. The internal group then connected with individuals from FCA Italy and expressed to them the opinion that the software did indeed pose a serious safety hazard and was in violation of FMVSS 101.

On July 26, FCA chose to conduct an official safety recall. The automaker notified dealers Aug. 2.

The Solution

The car company has directed dealers to update the ICP software in affected vehicles free of charge, according to a recall acknowledgement filed with the NHTSA. FCA is intends to notify owners via first-class mail on or about Sept. 16, 2017. Those in need of more immediate assistance can contact FCA customer service at (800) 853-1403 or call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

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Chrysler recalls sports cars with defective oil cooler lines

 

Auburn Hills, Mich. – Aug. 24, 2017 – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has recalled more than 1,200 sports cars with defective oil cooler lines, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2017 Dodge Charger and Challenger sports cars equipped with eight-cylinder Hellcat performance engines. FCA suspects 10 percent of the total number of vehicles referenced in the recall contain the defective parts.

The Defect

The models involved in this recall are equipped with engines whose engine oil cooler lines are not properly joined. Specifically, on the section of the EOC lines where chlorinated polyethylene hose meets aluminum tubing, the joints are not suitably crimped. This can lead to line separation and engine oil spillage, resulting in engine seizure and the risk of fire. Additionally, drivers may lose visibility due to oil spray covering the windshield. All of these outcomes pose serious safety hazards to drivers and increase the risk of an accident. However, FCA has not received any reports connecting the defect to any accidents or injuries thus far.

Timeline of Events

On May 13, 2017, engineers at the FCA assembly plant in Ontario, Canada, initiated a product recall after receiving three warranty claims mentioning EOC line separation, according to a chronology document submitted to the NHTSA. The FCA Vehicle Safety and Regulatory Compliance division immediately launched an investigation to better understand the consequences of the issue. On May 15, the parts supplier, Hutchings Automotive Products, performed production tests to determine if increasing the adhesive temperature during assembly would improve the structural integrity of the EOC line connections. These trials failed. Fifteen days later, FCA tested EOC line joints from aftermarket Mopar stock. These fixtures showed no signs of failure.

Over the week of June 12, FCA conducted more in-house tests to pinpoint the root cause of the EOC line separation. More than two weeks later, dealers in the U.S. market inspected approximately 50 vehicles to determine if they were equipped with the defective parts and needed repair.

On July 12, Hutchinson sent FCA results from an internal evaluation of the EOC hose material. The parts provider concluded that the material used to make the defective lines was out of specification. Two days later, FCA US Master Black Belt performed a parallel materials test and determined with 95 percent certainty that Hutchinson engineers were correct in their examination of the hose material.

With this information in hand, the FCA Vehicle Regulations Committee called for an official voluntary safety recall Aug. 1. As of that date, the car manufacturer had received a total of eight customer assistance and information requests, zero vehicle owner’s questionnaires and zero field reports related to the defective EOC line.

The Solution

FCA will direct dealers to replace the EOC lines in affected vehicles free of charge, according to a recall acknowledgment document sent to the NHTSA. The automaker plans to notify both owners and dealers on or around Sept. 22. However, owners in need of more immediate assistance can contact Chrysler customer service personnel at (800) 853-1403 or call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

Sean ReyesChrysler recalls sports cars with defective oil cooler lines