Ford recalls 182,000 2019 Ram 1500 trucks
January 25, 2019
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Fiat Chrysler recalls 182,000 2019 Ram 1500 trucks
January 25, 2019
RAM Recalls
January 25, 2019 – Auburn Hills, Mich. – Fiat Chrysler (FCA) has recalled approximately 182,000 Ram 1500 trucks from the 2019 model year. The problem is due to potential faults in the power steering system, as FCA announced in a bulletin picked up by outlets such as Car Complaints and CBS. Many of the trucks are still on dealers’ lots, limiting the scope of the action.
The large-scale recall involves vehicles that have been produced in recent months. The potential problems won’t completely eliminate a driver’s ability to direct an affected truck, but steering will become much harder, potentially raising the risk of a collision. The recall is one of two issued by Fiat-Chrysler so far this year.
The Defect
In impacted Ram 1500 vehicles, fasteners within the battery circuit may have been secured incorrectly. When the connection loosens, power steering becomes inconsistent and the truck may have problems in over- or under-steer conditions. Due to the danger of driving with compromised steering, the 182,000 vehicles that may have the defect are all included in the recall.
Timeline of Events
The entire recall has occurred on a highly compressed timeline. All the vehicles involved were produced Oct. 25, 2018 or later, according to FCA. The defect was discovered by internal testers rather than inspectors with a regulatory agency. Fortunately, there have been no accidents or injuries reported due to the problem thus far.
Since all the vehicles included in the recall are so new, FCA explained that nearly one-third of the over 182,000 trucks affected have not left dealership lots yet and can simply be repaired before sale. The start date of the recall period has not yet been announced, but it will most likely come within 60 days of its announcement on Jan. 25, 2019.
The Solution
Drivers with one of the over 100,000 affected Ram 1500 trucks should bring their vehicles in to Ram dealerships once the official recall period begins to have the battery fasteners repaired. The process will be provided by the dealerships, with Ram paying the bill. FCA’s phone number for owners of affected vehicles is 800-853-1403 and the automaker is readily available to answer further questions from drivers.
Ford Recalls Nearly 2,700 2019 Lincoln Vehicles for ADAS Issues
January 25, 2019
Lincoln Recalls
Laguna Hills, Calif. – January 25, 2018 – Ford Motor Company is recalling close to 2,700 2019 Lincoln Nautilus luxury SUVs due to issues with advance driver assist systems that govern the vehicles’ steering control technology. The 2019 Nautilus has been presented by Ford as a refreshed version of the MKX SUV, with a choice between a 2.7-liter V6 turbo or a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine. The 2019 model also replaced the six-speed automatic transmission with an eight-speed one, turning the vehicle into a more powerful choice for drivers.
The Defect
According to CNET, the problem is related to software responsible for regulating the vehicle’s advanced driver assist systems. The vehicle may not detect if the driver is touching the steering wheel during time periods when the lane-centering system is activated. If there is a need for the driver to return their hands to the wheel, the system may fail to notify the driver to do so, which could increase the risk of a crash.
Timeline of Events
All the recalled vehicles were built at Ford’s Oakville Assembly Plant between Sept. 5 and Nov. 19, 2018. Most of the vehicles affected are located in the U.S., though a few hundred are in Canada. Ford is thus far unaware of any accidents or injuries related to this defect.
This is the second recall to affect the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus. According to Consumer Reports, last December Ford recalled certain 2019 Nautilus vehicles that were not equipped with Adaptive Front Steering due to a plastic cover on the driver frontal air bag module which had the potential to detach during air bag deployment.
The Solution
Fixing the problem will not require any replacement hardware. Owners will be notified and instructed to take their vehicle to an approved dealer, where technicians will reflash the software in the power steering control module. This will reset the ADAS system to provide the correct level of hands-off detection when in use. Owners may contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov. The reference number for this recall is 19S02.
Fiat Chrysler recalls 182,000 2019 Ram 1500 trucks
January 25, 2019
RAM Recalls
January 25, 2019 – Auburn Hills, Mich. – Fiat Chrysler (FCA) has recalled approximately 182,000 Ram 1500 trucks from the 2019 model year. The problem is due to potential faults in the power steering system, as FCA announced in a bulletin picked up by outlets such as Car Complaints and CBS. Many of the trucks are still on dealers’ lots, limiting the scope of the action.
The large-scale recall involves vehicles that have been produced in recent months. The potential problems won’t completely eliminate a driver’s ability to direct an affected truck, but steering will become much harder, potentially raising the risk of a collision. The recall is one of two issued by Fiat-Chrysler so far this year.
The Defect
In impacted Ram 1500 vehicles, fasteners within the battery circuit may have been secured incorrectly. When the connection loosens, power steering becomes inconsistent and the truck may have problems in over- or under-steer conditions. Due to the danger of driving with compromised steering, the 182,000 vehicles that may have the defect are all included in the recall.
Timeline of Events
The entire recall has occurred on a highly compressed timeline. All the vehicles involved were produced Oct. 25, 2018 or later, according to FCA. The defect was discovered by internal testers rather than inspectors with a regulatory agency. Fortunately, there have been no accidents or injuries reported due to the problem thus far.
Since all the vehicles included in the recall are so new, FCA explained that nearly one-third of the over 182,000 trucks affected have not left dealership lots yet and can simply be repaired before sale. The start date of the recall period has not yet been announced, but it will most likely come within 60 days of its announcement on Jan. 25, 2019.
The Solution
Drivers with one of the over 100,000 affected Ram 1500 trucks should bring their vehicles in to Ram dealerships once the official recall period begins to have the battery fasteners repaired. The process will be provided by the dealerships, with Ram paying the bill. FCA’s phone number for owners of affected vehicles is 800-853-1403 and the automaker is readily available to answer further questions from drivers.
Ford recalls 2,200 SUVs with defective adaptive steering
January 16, 2019
Ford Recalls
Infiniti recall update: Some cars with defect not included
January 15, 2019
Infiniti Recalls, Nissan Recalls
Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 15, 2019 – Infiniti’s recall of its EX35 sedan affected 200,000 vehicles that may have a faulty passenger-side air bag sensor.
According to a recent NBC report, this action did not target every car with the defect, despite its relatively large scale. Owners of vehicles from models outside the year range covered by the recall may find the same issue in their vehicles, but with those cars not covered by the complimentary replacement offer, the drivers have to pay out of pocket to safeguard their air bags.
Looking back at the initial National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall of Infiniti vehicles, reported back in 2008 by U.S. News & World Report, the cars that did receive official notices for faulty passenger-side air bag sensors were:
2007 – 2008
- Infiniti G35
- Infiniti G37
- Infiniti EX35
- Nissan Altima
- Nissan 350Z
- Nissan Rogue
- Nissan Murano.
The vehicle still on the road that may contain the same part is a later model, the 2009 Infiniti G35. In total, more than 200,000 cars and sport utility vehicles were involved across the Infiniti and Nissan nameplates.
The Defect
The cars in question use an occupant classification system to determine whether to deploy an air bag on the passenger side in the case of a collision. The sensor involved in the recall is the part that tells a vehicle if there is someone in the right-side seat. When the component is defective, the air bag system may overlook the presence of a passenger, with the circuit becoming interrupted. In such a case, the airbag may fail to deploy and the occupants of the car would not be adequately protected.
U.S. News noted at the time of the initial recall that many automakers had problems with passenger-side sensors in 2008. BMW and Hyundai recalled an combined 600,000 for similar issues. The newspaper recommended that even cars that haven’t officially been recalled should likely receive inspections. This proved to be relevant, as a similar defect appeared more than 10 years later.
NBC explained the 2009 Infiniti found to have the defect was purchased new, and is now out of warranty. Several owners of vehicles made by Nissan and Infiniti have complained of similar defects to the NHTSA but been unable to receive free-of-charge service because their cars were produced after the 2007-2008 window included in the recall. A Center of Auto Safety representative replied that making complaints is important, as it helps set the recall process in motion.
Timeline of Events
All the cars involved in the recall come from the 2007 and 2008 model years, and they received an “urgent recall alert” in October 2008. The timeline becomes more complicated, however, when considering the possibility that the defect may occur on vehicles that haven’t yet received an official recall notice, more than 10 years after the fact. NBC published its report about this potential scenario in January 2019.
The Solution
Fixing the sensor problem involves using a detector to determine whether the part is defective, then replacing the entire seat cushion if there is a problem with the component. NBC reported that this process, when carried out on a car not covered by the recall, could cost over $4,000. Infiniti did offer to take on the majority of the cost in the case covered by the news organization, bringing the bill to $1,000. For recalled vehicles, the dealer does not charge to make the change.
Fiat Chrysler Adds 1.4 Million Vehicles to Takata Airbag Recall
January 11, 2019
Fiat Chrysler Recalls
Fiat Chrysler Adds 1.4 Million Vehicles to Takata Airbag Recall
This latest announcement from FCA covers passenger-side front airbag inflators, and is part of the effort by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and automakers to space out the replacement of Takata airbag inflators based on the risk to drivers and passengers.
The goal has been to get replacement inflators to vehicle owners in the highest-risk regions first, and then to the rest of the country later as the supply of replacement inflators grows. The last wave of recalls is scheduled for early in 2020…Read more on ConsumerReports.org
Ford recalls vehicles with defective engine components
January 10, 2019
Ford Recalls
Dearborn, Mich. – Jan. 10, 2019 – Ford Motor Company has recalled approximately 874,000 vehicles potentially equipped with defective engine components, according to a company press release. The campaign affects multiple models, including:
- 2015-2019 Ford F-150 pickup trucks assembled between March 18, 2014, and Nov. 17, 2018, at manufacturing sites in Kansas City and Dearborn, Missouri.
- 2017-2019 Ford Super Duty pickup trucks assembled between Oct. 8, 2014, and Nov. 17, 2018, at manufacturing sites in Avon Lake, Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky.
More than 410,000 of the recalled vehicles were sold in U.S. dealerships, while the remainder wound up in the Canadian market.
The Defect
The vehicles involved in the action may contain AV outlet-compatible engine block heaters vulnerable to water intrusion. In the event that liquid enters these components, the cables and associated splice connectors within could corrode over time, increasing the likelihood of shorting. Should this occur, the engine block heater may falter or create an electrical current capable of tripping household breakers and ground-fault-circuit-interrupter outlets. That said, the defect does not pose a threat to occupants.
Ford has received just one report detailing an instance of property damage linked to the defective component thus far.
Timeline of Events
The automaker has yet to release information on the investigation that yielded the recall.
The Solution
Ford has directed dealers to inspect and, if necessary, replace the defective engine block heaters installed in recalled vehicles free of charge. However, the company has yet to release an owner notification timeline. Those in need of immediate assistance prior to the start of the campaign can contact Ford customer service personnel by calling (800) 392-3673. Owners can also reach out to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration by calling the Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.
Ford recalls vehicles with defective engine components
January 10, 2019
Ford Recalls
Dearborn, Mich. – Jan. 10, 2019 – Ford Motor Company has recalled approximately 874,000 vehicles potentially equipped with defective engine components, according to a company press release. The campaign affects multiple models, including:
- 2015-2019 Ford F-150 pickup trucks assembled between March 18, 2014, and Nov. 17, 2018, at manufacturing sites in Kansas City and Dearborn, Missouri.
- 2017-2019 Ford Super Duty pickup trucks assembled between Oct. 8, 2014, and Nov. 17, 2018, at manufacturing sites in Avon Lake, Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky.
More than 410,000 of the recalled vehicles were sold in U.S. dealerships, while the remainder wound up in the Canadian market.
The Defect
The vehicles involved in the action may contain AV outlet-compatible engine block heaters vulnerable to water intrusion. In the event that liquid enters these components, the cables and associated splice connectors within could corrode over time, increasing the likelihood of shorting. Should this occur, the engine block heater may falter or create an electrical current capable of tripping household breakers and ground-fault-circuit-interrupter outlets. That said, the defect does not pose a threat to occupants.
Ford has received just one report detailing an instance of property damage linked to the defective component thus far.
Timeline of Events
The automaker has yet to release information on the investigation that yielded the recall.
The Solution
Ford has directed dealers to inspect and, if necessary, replace the defective engine block heaters installed in recalled vehicles free of charge. However, the company has yet to release an owner notification timeline. Those in need of immediate assistance prior to the start of the campaign can contact Ford customer service personnel by calling (800) 392-3673. Owners can also reach out to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration by calling the Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.
Toyota, Lexus, Scion Recall 1.3 Million Vehicles for Takata Airbags
January 10, 2019
Lexus Recalls, Scion Recalls, Takata Airbag Recalls, Toyota Recalls
This latest announcement from Toyota covers passenger-side front airbag inflators, and is part of the effort by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and automakers to space out the replacement of Takata airbag inflators based on the risk to drivers and passengers.
The goal has been to get replacement inflators to vehicle owners in the highest-risk regions first, and then to the rest of the country later, as the supply of replacement inflators grew. The last wave of recalls is scheduled for early in 2020…Read more on ConsumerReports.org
