December 2020 | MotorSafety.org

General Motors vehicles recalled for seat belt issue

December 31, 2020 Ken Boyd Chevrolet Recalls, GM Recalls, GMC Recalls

Warren, MI – December 31, 2020 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has recalled 624,216 vehicles due to a seat belt issue in the front-row center seat. The seat belt may not properly secure the occupant in the seat, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

The recall includes:

2019-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 trucks
2019-2021 GMC Sierra 1500 trucks
2021 Chevrolet Suburban SUVs
2021 Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs
2021 GMC Yukon XL SUVs
2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 trucks
2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 trucks
2020-2021 GMC Sierra 2500 trucks
2020-2021 GMC Sierra 3500 trucks

Recall summary

Seat belt brackets are designed to secure the seat belt to the seat frame. In recalled vehicles, the supplier of the front-row center seat failed to attach the brackets to the frame of the seat correctly.

As a result, the seat belt may be “loose or detached from the seat frame.” Passengers may also hear a rattling sound emanating from the seat.

The issue was first caught by the manufacturer in August 2020. There are no injuries associated with this recall.

Other GM recalls

December saw a GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado recall due to an issue with roof-rail airbags, as well as a massive, six-million car recall due to faulty Takata airbags’ inflators that are prone to hurling “sharp metal fragments” into the car occupants in a crash. The latter includes Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe SUVs. However, the trucks involved in both recalls are older models and not the same ones that are being recalled this time around.

Risks

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among those aged 1-54 in the U.S.” Seat belts can sharply reduce the risk of death or injury in a crash but they must be able to secure each occupant in the vehicle. If not, the passenger or the driver may be injured inside the vehicle or thrown from the vehicle during a crash.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers must inspect the seat belt bracket attachments on both sides of the front-row center seat and will reassemble them as necessary. The repair will be free of charge. General Motors expects to begin the recall on February 1, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 624,000 vehicles are included in this General Motors recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Nissan Titan trucks recalled for risk of fire, stalled engine

December 30, 2020 Ken Boyd Nissan Recalls

Franklin, TN – December 30, 2020 – Nissan Motor Company (NASDAQ:NSANY) has recalled 7,583 Titan pickup trucks due to an exposed engine wire. The wire may cause an electrical short, which could give rise to a fire. It could also result in the car stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.

The recall includes 2020 Nissan Titan and Nissan Titan XD pickup trucks.

Recall summary

The engine wiring harness is a group of wires, connectors and terminals that operate each truck’s electrical system. Due to a supplier error in the assembly process, the wiring harness may include an exposed wire. The issue could cause an electrical short, which could bring about an engine fire or negatively affect engine performance. The latter could result in the car stalling while out on the road, “without the ability to restart.”

Risks

Both an engine fire and a stalled engine could put the car occupants, other motorists and even pedestrians at the risk of getting hit, injured or worse.

For tips on what to do if your car stalls, please see our article about a recent Chrysler recall for a similar issue. For information on steps you need to take in the event of a fire, please refer to our article about a recent BMW recall for contaminated battery, which also created significant fire risk.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will need to inspect the engine harness and determine if there are any exposed engine wires. The engine harness will be replaced free of charge, if necessary. Nissan expects the recall to begin January 27, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 7,500 vehicles are included in this Nissan Titan recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Subaru recalls 2020 Legacy and Outback cars for back-up camera glitch

December 29, 2020 Rebecca Rand Subaru Recalls

Camden, NJ – Mar 20, 2022 – Subaru has remedied issues with 7,217 vehicles including the 2020 Subaru Outback and 2020 Subaru Legacy dealing with a software failure that may cause the rearview camera to shut down. Additionally, none of these models have been categorized as unreachable and only two have been removed from the recall. All these Subaru models with backup camera issues were remedied in three groups during 2021.

Camden, NJ – December 29, 2020 – Subaru (OTCMKTS: FUJHY) has recalled 7,741 vehicles with a software issue that shuts off the backup camera display. The recall includes the 2020 Subaru Legacy mid-size vehicles and the 2020 Subaru Outback SUVs.

The affected component is the Cockpit Control Module (CCM) with part numbers 86201AN65A and 86271AN60A. The CCM includes the backup camera.

Recall summary

These 2020 Subaru Outback and Legacy vehicles could lose their backup camera displays while in reverse due to a glitch that causes the computer to reboot every three minutes.

The problem originated during a remote software update Subaru streamed to vehicles in August. The installation process timed out and the data that was being transmitted was not transferred to the recalled vehicles. As a result, the CCM may repeatedly reboot, disabling the camera display for six seconds.

Risks

No accidents or injuries relating to this issue have been reported, but, if rear view cameras are not functioning properly, there is a risk that drivers could run over or crash into people and objects behind them.

To read about the Cameron Gulbransen Safety Act, which made backup cameras standard on all vehicles starting in 2018, and back-up crashes statistics, please head to an article about a recent Ford recall due to the same issue.

The repair

Subaru dealers will reprogram vehicles affected by the recall. If a car’s backup camera display is not working, the dealer will replace the CCM with a new one. Owners will be notified by mail starting January 22.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 7,700 vehicles are included in this 2020 Subaru recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Hyundai’s Nexo and Kona cars recalled for faulty brakes

December 28, 2020 Ken Boyd Hyundai Recalls

Fountain Valley, CA – December 28, 2020 – Hyundai Motor Company (NASDAQ:HYMTF) has recalled 8,176 vehicles, due to a sensor signal malfunction that may “significantly” reduce braking power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recall includes 2019-2020 Nexo Fuel Cell sedans and 2019-2021 Kona Electric SUVs.

Recall summary

These vehicles operate with an Integrated Electronic Brake (IEB) system which is designed to automatically reduce the speed of a car when the system determines that the risk of a crash is increasing.

Recalled vehicles’ IEB may receive a faulty “sensor signal,” which may illuminate the malfunction indicator lamp and increase the time it takes the vehicle to slow down after applying brakes.

Hyundai recalled the 2020 Nexo due to a self-parking system issue in April of 2020. Several model years of Hyundai Kona electric vehicles were recalled in 2020 for a battery issue that could lead to a fire.

Risks

If the brakes do not work as designed, the driver may not brake in time to avoid hitting another vehicle, a pedestrian or a stationary object, such as the curb, railing or a tree. A crash may injure the vehicle occupants or passengers in other vehicles.

An owner of a 2019 Nexo logged a complaint of last year that mentioned that the brakes would intermittently fail, causing the braking power to fall dramatically and the car speed to be limited to 13 mph. The failure also seemed to allow the car to “roll backward when the brake is not applied.” The complaint was logged before Hyundai started its investigation.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will need to update the IEB software. The repair is free of charge. Hyundai expects the recall to begin on January 22, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 8,100 vehicles are included in this Hyundai Kona Electric and Nexo recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Honda recalls Accord and Insight cars for potential multi-component malfunction

December 24, 2020 Rebecca Rand Honda Recalls

Torrance, CA – December 24, 2020– Honda (NYSE: HMC) is recalling 737,233 Accord and Insight cars with a programming error that increases the risk of malfunction of various components of the car while driving, upping the risk of a crash and injury. The recall includes:

2018- 2020 Honda Accord sedans
2018-2020 Honda Accord hybrids
2019- 2020 Honda Insight hybrids

Recall summary

Due to a supplier programming mistake, these Honda vehicles may experience a glitch that disrupts communication between the body control module (BCM) and other parts of the car. As reported, the BCM is the “core” of the car that is in charge of many of its operations. For the part numbers involved, please refer to the National Highway Safety (NHTSA) administration documents.

Disrupted communication between the BCM and other components may cause various warning lights to come on and several “electrical components” to malfunction. Some of the examples of what can happen are listed below:

Rearview camera won’t work
Windshield wipers and defrosters fail to function
Car lights and turn signals won’t turn on
Trunk won’t open
Cruise control and lane keep assist lights will flash

Software issues

Software issues have prompted more than one Honda recall in 2020. In July, for example, the Japanese manufacturer recalled Odyssey minivans, Passport and Pilot SUVs because of “a programming glitch” that caused cars’ instruments panels to suddenly power off, “depriving drivers of vital information,” such as the speed of the vehicle.

Risks

Malfunction of various components of the car can seriously increase the risk of a crash, especially while driving. Warning lights that come without reason can distract the driver and cause him to take actions that may also augment the risk of a crash or injury for the car occupants, as well as other motorists and pedestrians.

The repair

The recall is scheduled to begin on January 18, 2021. The repair will be a software update but it is not clear when it is going to be available.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 730,000 vehicles are included in this Honda recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Honda recalls 210,000 cars over risk drive shaft will snap

December 23, 2020 Rebecca Rand Honda Recalls

December 7th, 2021 Update – Honda (NYSE: HMC) has remedied 87771 vehicles including the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid that suffered from drive shaft issues. 588 were deemed unreachable while another 28531 were removed from the Honda drive shaft recall. The recall was performed in three groups in January 2021 through February 2021. A similar problem with the driveshaft occurred in 2017 on Honda Civic Sedans vehicles produced between August and September 2017.

Torrance, CA – December 23, 2020 – Honda (NYSE: HMC) is recalling 210,000 vehicles in the so-called “salt belt” whose drive shafts – which transfers power to the wheels – may become corroded and break. This could cause the vehicle to stall or roll away when parked. The recall includes:

2013 – 2015 Acura ILX cars
2013 Acura ILX hybrids
2012 Honda Civic hybrids
2007 – 2008 Honda Fits

Recall summary

This recall is one of two Honda has issued for vehicles sold or registered in the 22 states that use salt to de-ice roads in the winter. Salt can be very corrosive to the underside of vehicles.

The recalled vehicles’ drive shafts are supposed to have a protective coating, but due to a manufacturing error, the paint on the driveshaft may peel and chip over time and potentially cause corrosion, due to exposed bare metal . Left unprotected, road salt can eat away at the driveshaft and cause it to break. As a result, and similar to the 2020 Ford Explorer, the vehicle may stall or roll away when parked..

Other ‘salty’ recalls

Salt was also the culprit of a recent Ford recall of its 2013-2017 Explorer SUVs. In that case, the substance corroded the bottom of the vehicles and caused their toe links – which form part of them and ensure that the cars go in the right direction – to snap. In May of last year, Mazda also pulled close to 50,000 cars off the market to replace faulty parts that could result in a loss of power steering. The recall also came about because of corrosion caused by road salt.

Safety risks

Stalling, especially on the freeway, can increase the risk of a rear-end crash. Vehicles with a broken driveshaft could also roll away if parked on a slope without engaging the emergency brake.

As of November 24, 2020, 152 owners have sent Honda warranty claims relating to this issue. Honda has received 10 additional reports of drive shaft breakage, but none describe any accidents or injuries.

Repair

Repair parts are not yet available for all the recalled vehicles. Owners will have to wait until February 1 to find out more about how to get this defect fixed. When a repair does become available, it will be performed by a Honda dealer for free. Honda will reimburse owners who have already repaired corroded drive shafts.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 200,000 cars are included in this Honda recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool to check your car for open recalls.

Sierra and Silverado trucks recalled for airbag inflator issue

December 22, 2020 Ken Boyd Chevrolet Recalls, GM Recalls, GMC Recalls

Warren, MI – December 22, 2020 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has recalled 9,279 vehicles that operate with roof-rail airbags. The airbags connect to the inflation system using an end cap and the cap may malfunction. The recall includes:

2015 GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 trucks
2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 trucks
2016 GMC Sierra 1500 trucks
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 trucks

Recall summary

The vehicles in this recall are equipped with roof-rail airbags (RRAB). These airbags deploy from near the roof and downward, to protect occupants from a side-impact crash.

Each RRAB operates with an inflator, which inflates the airbag with compressed gas during a crash. An end cap keeps the compressed gas in the airbag.
A supplier’s manufacturing error caused moisture to corrode inside the inflator vessel near the end cap.
In the recalled cars, the inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, and compressed gas may propel the end cap into the passenger compartment. The end cap may injure occupants or distract the driver and cause a crash.

GM is aware of two cases of end caps detaching. No injuries have been reported.

Note that this recall is different from the massive recalls for defective Takata airbags in 2015 or the recent recall of Nissan Sentras, also related to airbags.

GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado vehicles have had other recall notices in recent years. Recalls have been made for ignition locks, brakes, seats and for seat belt issues.

Risks

A detached end cap may fly forcefully into the vehicle and hit an occupant, causing an injury. The end cap detachment may also distract the driver.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will inspect each RRAB and replace modules that appear to be dangerous. The repair is free of charge. General Motors expects the recall to begin on January 10, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 9,200 vehicles are included in this Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Volkswagen recalls Audi Sportbacks for faulty wiring

December 21, 2020 Rebecca Rand Audi Recalls, Volkswagen Recalls

Auburn Hills, MI – December 21, 2020– Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) has recalled 5,426 Audi Sportbacks whose wiring may become damaged in a crash, preventing the doors from being opened from the outside. Hazard lights may also fail, increasing the risk of an injury and death to the occupants of the vehicle.

The recall includes:

2020-2021 Audi A5 Sportbacks
2021 Audi RS5 Sportbacks
2020-2021 Audi S5 Sportbacks

Recall summary

The recall concerns the wires in the rear of the car that control the rear lights and supply power to parts of the car. Due to a supplier error, these wires were not built with scuff protection and may become damaged in the event of a crash.

Safety concerns

The damage – that could occur during a rear crash at 50 miles per hour – could affect the vehicle’s power supply, making it impossible to turn on the hazard lights or open the car doors from the outside. Both of these problems increase the risk of injury in the case of a crash. Hazard lights serve to warn approaching drivers of a stopped or a slowed car, preventing rear-end crashes.

Inability to open doors from the outside may result in the death or injury of the driver and passengers, especially if they are incapacitated and the car is burning.

The repair

Audi will notify owners of the recall by Jan 22, 2021. As a free fix for this Audi Volkswagen problem, dealers will apply adhesive tape to protect the wires. This repair is not yet available.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 5,000 vehicles are included in this Volkswagen recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Nissan recalls nearly 4,000 Sentras equipped with Takata airbags

December 18, 2020 Rebecca Rand Nissan Recalls, Takata Airbag Recalls

November 18, 2021 UPDATE – Nissan (OTCMKTS: NSANY) has remedied Nissan Sentra airbag issues in 691 models including the 2003 Nissan Sentra with no models being deemed unreachable or being removed from the recall.

Franklin, TN – October 28, 2021 – Nissan (OTCMKTS: NSANY) has recalled 3,930 Sentra compact cars built with Takata airbag inflators that could explode and injure or kill the occupants of the vehicle with “sharp metal fragments.” This acted as another installment of recalls following the 2020 Nissan and Infiniti recall of malfunctioning airbags. So far the infamous recall – that has encompassed multiple manufacturers including and is the largest one in history – has seen 27 fatalities and at least 250 injuries.

This latest round includes 2002-2006 Nissan Sentra cars and concerns the front passenger airbag (part #985614Z60A).

Recall summary

This recall serves to correct a prior Nissan recall of Takata airbags conducted in 2015.

During that recall, dealers misidentified the types of airbag inflators on some of the recalled vehicles. As a result, these dangerous airbags were not removed.

According to recall documents, such an error resulted in an injury in 2018, when a misidentified airbag’s inflator exploded, prompting an investigation by the automaker.

Continuing history of recalls

Automakers have been issuing ever-expanding recalls of Takata airbags for seven years, with 100 million inflators recalled worldwide. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has overseen the removal of approximately 63 million Takata airbag inflators in the US, including a recently ordered recall of 5.9 million General Motors vehicles equipped with them.

Repair

Nissan dealers will inspect and replace the airbag, if necessary, with one manufactured by a different supplier. Owners will be notified by mail starting Jan 5, 2021, but parts are already available. Nissan is recommending that owners do not allow passengers to sit in the front passenger seat until the car has been serviced.

If you are uncomfortable driving your recalled Sentra, Nissan will pay to have the vehicle towed to the dealer. Customers may request this by calling Consumer Affairs at 1 (888) 737-9511.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Nearly 4,000 vehicles are included in this Nissan Takata Airbag recall. As of April 9 – the last date for which information was available – only 357 airbags had been replaced. To see if your airbag still needs to be replaced, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle recall lookup tool.

Note: June 8, 2021

We have noticed a large number of readers are interested in this recall. For that reason, we have updated the completion rate of this recall in the last paragraph to reflect the most up-to-date information.

Ford Explorers, Edges, and Tauruses recalled for bracket failure issue

December 17, 2020 Ken Boyd Ford Recalls

Dearborn, MI – December 17, 2020 – Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) has recalled 15,587 vehicles with 2.0L or 2.3L engines and front wheel drive. A support bracket – which connects the engine to the front drive axle – may fail, and the driver may lose control of the vehicle. The recall includes:

2014-2016 Ford Explorer SUVs
2014-2015 Ford Taurus sedans
2014-2016 Ford Edge SUVs

However, a Ford press release from November 13 mentions that the 2016 Taurus is also part of the recall and that only 2014 Edge SUVs are included. The reason for the discrepancy is not clear.

Recall summary

Due to a design error, the bracket may not withstand the vehicle’s normal vibration. This could cause the bracket to crack. Because the bracket connects the engine to the front axle – which transmits the power from the vehicle to its wheels – this defect can cause a loss of “motive power” or “park function.”

Other Ford Explorer, Edge and Taurus recalls

There are several Ford Explorer recalls outstanding. In November, 2013-2017 Explorers were recalled for the third time due to a faulty suspension, as reported. 2020 Explorer SUVs and Edge SUVs were also recalled in September due to rearview cameras that may display a “distorted or blank” image, also as reported.

2015-2018 Ford Edge cars were recalled for leaking brake fluid in August, while Ford Taurus sedans were subject to a recall in February due to toe link problems.

Risks

Drivers in the recalled cars face a number of risks:

If the vehicle does not stay in park, the unexpected movement may cause a rollaway incident or an accident. The vehicle may roll into a person, another vehicle or a traffic lane.
A loss of power may prevent a driver from accelerating to merge into traffic and cause an accident.
Damage to other component parts may also cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle and lead to an accident.

If the link shaft brackets cracks, drivers may notice “grinding, banging or clicking noise from the driveline” while driving, according to NHTSA.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will need to replace the link shaft bracket. The repair is free of charge, but the parts are not currently available. Ford sent owners an interim notification which explained the recall on November 30, 2020. Each owner will receive a second notification when parts are available for the repair.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 15,500 vehicles are included in this Ford recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Recall summary

Other GM recalls

Risks

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Risks

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Risks

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Risks

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Software issues

Risks

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Other ‘salty’ recalls

Safety risks

Repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Risks

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Safety concerns

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Continuing history of recalls

Repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Other Ford Explorer, Edge and Taurus recalls

Risks

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories