Nissan recalls vehicles with missing labels
- 2016-2018 Nissan Titan pickup trucks produced between April 14, 2016, and Feb. 27, 2018.
- 2016 Nissan Titan XD diesel pickup trucks produced between Nov. 18, 2015, and Sept. 17, 2016.
- 2018 Nissan Titan XD diesel pickup trucks produced between Dec. 7, 2017, and Feb. 13, 2018.
GM Recalls Vehicles with Defective Seat Belts
Warren, Mich. – April 30, 2018 – General Motors has recalled more than 8,700 vehicles potentially equipped with defective seat belt assemblies, according to documentation submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
The campaign affects 2018 Buick Regal sedans produced between June 9, 2017, and February 22, 2018. GM suspects that 1 percent of the recalled models actually contain the defective parts.
The defect
Affected vehicles contain rear outboard seats with improperly routed seat belts. Consequently, these safety features may not adequately restrain occupants in the event of an accident, leaving them open to injury.
However, the automaker has yet to receive reports connecting the defective components to any accidents or injuries.
Timeline of events
On January 16, 2018, engineers at the Opel Russelsheim assembly plant in Russelsheim, Germany discovered a 2018 Buick Regal sedan with improperly routed seat belts while conducting post-production testing.
The personnel who identified the defect notified their superiors January 22, 2018, through the Speak Up for Safety program. The GM Safety and Compliance Categorization Team reviewed the matter February 15, 2018, and launched a field monitoring initiative.
Seven days later, GM implemented new production methods at the Opel Russelsheim facility to ensure assembly teams properly routed rear seat belts.
GM engineers at the Milford Proving Ground in Milford, Michigan uncovered another vehicle with the rear seat belt routing issue March 1, 2018. They too filed a SUFS report.
One week later, GM connected with technical stakeholders for Opel, one of its European subsidiaries, and discussed the misrouted seat belts it engineers had found in multiple 2018 Buick Regal sedans.
Opel dealt with the same problem earlier in the year and had issued a voluntary recall to address it. This meeting prompted GM to initiate an internal investigation, which led the GM Safety Field Action Decision Authority to call for an official recall on April 5, 2018.
GM notified dealers of the forthcoming action April 12, 2018.
The solution
The automaker has directed dealers to correct the routing of the outboard rear seat belt assemblies installed in affected vehicles free of charge, according to an NHTSA recall acknowledgement document. GM intends to notify owners June 5, 2018.
Check your car’s recall status using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.
Mercedes-Benz recalls vehicles with defective front seatbacks
- 2017-2018 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG 4Matic coupes and cabriolets.
- 2017-2018 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG coupes, S coupes, cabriolets and S cabriolets.
- 2017-2018 Mercedes-Benz C300 coupes, 4Matic coupes, cabriolets and 4Matic cabriolets.
- 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 coupes.
Chrysler recalls vehicles with defective body supports
The Defect
Timeline of Events
The Solution
Toyota recalls vehicles with defective brake components
- 2017 Lexus RX350 sport utility vehicles produced between Oct. 2, 2017, and Oct. 18, 2017.
- 2018 Toyota Camry sedans produced between Oct. 5, 2017, and Nov. 3, 2017.
- 2018 Toyota Highlander sport utility vehicles produced between Oct. 4, 2017, and Nov. 3, 2017.
- 2018 Toyota Sienna minivans produced between Oct. 6, 2017, and Oct. 23, 2017.
- 2017 Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks produced between Oct. 5, 2017, and Nov. 3, 2017.
The Defect
Timeline of Events
The Solution
Honda recalls vehicles with defective seat features
Torrance, Calif. – April 19, 2018 – American Honda Motor Company has recalled more than 5,800 vehicles potentially equipped with defective seat features, according to documentation submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects multiple models across two brands, including:
- 2018 Acura MDX sport utility vehicles produced Jan. 10, 2018.
- 2018 Honda Pilot sport utility vehicles produced between Jan. 2, 2018, and Jan. 20, 2018.
- 2018 Honda Ridgeline pickup trucks produced between Jan. 12, 2018, and Jan. 19, 2018.
The Japanese automaker is unsure exactly how many of the vehicles referenced in the action contain the defective parts.
The defect
Affected vehicles driver and front passenger with improperly machined rivets connecting the seat slide rails to the seat feet. These fixtures could brake in the event of an accident, allowing the front driver and passenger seats to separate from the vehicle floor.
The defective rivets not only pose a serious safety hazard to occupants but also violate Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 207 and 210. The former requires vehicle manufacturers to install secure seating systems, while the latter mandates the use of fixed restraint assemblies.
Honda has not received reports connecting the defective rivet to any injuries. However, the connectors were involved in one accident.
Timeline of events
A tier-one vendor contacted the car company Jan. 11, 2018, after learning of an accident, during which the rivets holding the front seat side rails in place in a Honda vehicle, failed. The automaker launched an internal investigation in response.
Engineering personnel concluded this inquiry Feb. 6, 2018, finding that AKKO Fastener, the supplier responsible for producing the rivets used within Honda front seat assemblies, had improperly machined the connective fixtures.
Specifically, AKKO had deployed out-of-specification production tools, used too much material, and relied upon deficient quality controls. Honda then embarked on an administrative review to understand the breadth of the impact of the production error.
On Feb. 21, 2018, AKKO completed an internal investigation into the mis-machined rivets, while Honda and its other suppliers launched new downstream inquires.
The automaker reviewed the matter in its entirety March 29, 2018, and determined that a voluntary safety recall was required. Honda notified dealers of the forthcoming action April 6, 2018.
The solution
Honda has directed dealers to replace the driver seat frame assemblies in affected Acura MDX SUVs and swap out both the driver and passenger seat assemblies in recalled Honda Pilot SUVs and Ridgeline pickup trucks, according to an NHTSA recall acknowledgement document. Dealership technicians are to make these repairs free of charge.
The automotive company intends to notify owners via first-class mail May 18, 2018.
Check your car’s recall status using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.