Porsche recalls cars due to potential airbag failure

Porsche recalls cars due to potential airbag failure

March 15, 2021 Aleksandra Snesareva

Atlanta, GA – March 15, 2021 – Porsche (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) is recalling 39,547 vehicles due to faulty front seat occupancy sensors, which may fail to detect a front seat passenger. This may result in the airbag failing to activate in the event of a crash,  magnifying the risk of the injury. 

The component in question is a sensor mat with multiple part numbers, including 95B881256L and 95B881256M.

The recall includes the following compact SUVs:

  • 2017 Porsche Macan
  • 2018 Porsche Macan
  • 2017 – 2018 Porsche Macan GTS 
  • 2015 – 2018 Porsche Macan S
  • 2015 – 2018 Porsche Macan Turbo 

Recall summary  

The recall concerns the front seat occupancy sensor mats, which identify when a passenger is sitting in the seat, ultimately determining whether or not the airbag deploys. Because of the degradation of the fabric that composes the mat, the sensor may fail to “see” the passenger. In that case, the airbag will fail to deploy, increasing the risk of injury.

Warning signs

The occupants will be alerted to the faulty sensor by activation of the “airbag warning” or “passenger airbag OFF” lamps.

Other Porsche recalls  

This is at least the second Porsche recall since 2019 concerning software affecting airbag activation. In July 2019, over 7,500 vehicles were recalled for a similar issue.  The recall did not include any of the cars that are part of this recall.  Additionally, in February of last year, the 2017 Porsche Macan and 2017 Porsche Macan S  were among the cars recalled for a possible fuel leak.

Risks 

Airbags’ goal is to cut down on the risk of “upper body injury.” As such, passengers in a crash without an airbag are at a higher risk of injury, especially in a “moderate or severe” crash.

Repair 

The repair is a free replacement on the sensor mat and seat cushion. The recall will begin on May 2, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Approximately 40,000 vehicles are part of this Porsche recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Aleksandra SnesarevaPorsche recalls cars due to potential airbag failure
General Motors recalls over 33,000 cars over risk of flat tires

General Motors recalls over 33,000 cars over risk of flat tires

March 11, 2021 Rebecca Rand , , , ,

Warren, MI – March 11, 2021 – General Motors  (NYSE:GM) has recalled 33,838 vehicles whose tires may rupture out on the road. The recall includes the following models:

  • 2020 Buick Enclave
  • 2020 Cadillac Escalade
  • 2020 Cadillac Escalade ESV
  • 2020 Cadillac XT4
  • 2020 Cadillac XT5
  • 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer
  • 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express
  • 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  • 2020 Chevrolet Suburban
  • 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe
  • 2020 Chevrolet Traverse
  • 2019-2020 GMC Acadia
  • 2018-2021 GMC Savana
  • 2019-2020 GMC Sierra 1500
  • 2020 GMC Yukon
  • 2020 GMC Yukon XL

Recall summary  

Before being placed in service, tires are “cured,” or given final shape, using a mold and a rubber “bladder.” The tires in question were accidentally cured for longer than necessary, making them prone to rupture and failure.

While the tires are being recalled by GM, they are part of a larger problem with Continental brand tires. This recall expands an earlier GM recall in November 2020 and includes more models that may be equipped with defective tires.

In its turn, Mercedes-Benz has also just announced that it would inspect over 2,500 cars due to the same issue. To read about warning signs that may indicate that the tires are defective, please see the recent article we wrote about that recall.

Risks

The defective tires may suddenly go flat. Additionally, the outer tread – which is the part that touches the road –  could separate from the rest of the tire. Both conditions could cause the driver to lose control of the car and crash.

The repair

GM dealers will inspect and, if necessary,  replace vehicles’ tires for free. Notifications with more information will be sent to owners around April 12.

Recent Chevrolet recalls, GMC recalls

GM recalled nearly 6 million vehicles equipped with potentially dangerous Takata airbags in February. The airbags’ inflators may break apart after a crash and kill or injure the occupants of the car with sharp metal fragments.

The recall spanned several GM brands, including Chevrolet and GMC. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 33,000 vehicles are included in this GM recall. To see if your [type of vehicle] is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandGeneral Motors recalls over 33,000 cars over risk of flat tires
Mercedes-Benz recalls vehicles due to defective tires

Mercedes-Benz recalls vehicles due to defective tires

March 10, 2021 Ken Boyd

Jacksonville, FL – March 10, 2021 – Daimler AG – known as Mercedes-Benz – (NASDAQ:DDAIF) is recalling 2,529 vehicles because of defective tires. The defect may cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. The recall includes 2018 Mercedes GLE350 luxury cars, 2018 GLE43 AMG crossovers and 2018 GLE400 vehicles that operate with tires made by auto parts manufacturer Continental.

Recall summary  

This recall is caused by defective tires that were reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) by Continental in February.  Due to a “process deviation,” the sidewall of the tire may break, causing a “sudden air loss” in the tire. The break may also cause the tire tread – which is the part that comes in contact with the road– to separate from the tire. This is very dangerous as it may result in the driver losing control of the car, especially when moving at a high speed.

Warning signs

Drivers may notice visible tread wear on the tire, a bulge in the tread area or experience excessive vibrations in the vehicle.

Risks 

If the driver loses control, the vehicle may crash into other vehicles, into an object or hit a pedestrian. The occupants of vehicles and pedestrians may be injured. The risks increase if the tire failure occurs at high speeds.

Other Mercedes recalls

The 2018 GLE 350 luxury car has had recalls for wheels, brakes and other issues. For example, the model was recently amongst 1.4 million Mercedes-Benz cars recalled because it may potentially lead first responders to the wrong place when the car occupants need assistance after a crash. The issue was caused by a “disruption in the car’s power supply,” as reported. 

Older GLE 350 model years were recently part of a recall involving over 40,000 luxury SUVs due to faulty stability control software. A software error may result in these vehicles jerking to a side while trying to avoid a crash,  ironically increasing the possibility of a collision.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will inspect the tires and replace them as needed. The repair is free of charge. The recall is slated to begin April 27, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 2,500 vehicles are included in this Mercedes-Benz recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Ken BoydMercedes-Benz recalls vehicles due to defective tires
BMW recalls X models, Alpina for faulty rearview cameras

BMW recalls X models, Alpina for faulty rearview cameras

March 9, 2021 Ken Boyd

Westwood, NJ – March 9, 2021 – BMW (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) is recalling 13,858 vehicles, due to an issue with the rearview camera. The recall includes the following models:

  • BMW X models, including BMW X3 2021 and 2019-2021 BMW X3 sDrive30i crossovers
  • BMW Alpina, including 2019-2021 BMW Alpina B7 xDrive sports car

For a complete list of models and model years included, please refer to this page.

Recall summary  

Rearview cameras became required on all new cars in 2007. Due to a software bug, when these recalled cars are shifted into reverse, the drivers may not see the entire rearview image or the screen may fail to illuminate altogether.  

Risks 

A malfunctioning rearview camera may result in a crash, as the driver may fail to notice a person or an object behind them. This issue may cause injury or even death.

The cars in question, however, are equipped with a Park Distance Control (PDC) system, which alerts drivers to objects behind the vehicle, reducing the risk.

To read more about why rearview cameras were made standard, please visit our recent article about a Ford recall for a similar issue.

BMW xDrive recalls

BMW has just recalled over 14,000 cars – including 228i xDrive coupes and M235i xDrive high-performance cars – over a faulty sunroof that is prone to continuing to close after the car is turned off. This may result in an injury to a small child or a person inside the car.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and perform a free update, if necessary.  The recall is expected to begin April 12, 2021. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 13,800 vehicles are included in this BMW recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Ken BoydBMW recalls X models, Alpina for faulty rearview cameras
BMW recalls 14,000 cars over sunroof programming mistake

BMW recalls 14,000 cars over sunroof programming mistake

March 8, 2021 Rebecca Rand

Westwood, NJ – March 8, 2021 – BMW (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) has recalled 14,011 cars whose sunroofs do not adhere to federal safety guidelines about how and when power windows are allowed to close. The recall includes:

  • 2020-2021 BMW 228i coupes
  • 2020-2021 BMW 228i xDrive coupes
  • 2020-2021 BMW M235i xDrive cars

Recall summary  

The recall concerns the sunroof, which may continue to close even after the car has been turned off. This breaks a federal safety regulation requiring all power windows, including sunroofs, to be unable to close when the car is off and the front doors have been opened.

In a document submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), BMW said that this recall is caused by window-controlling software intended for European cars  “inadvertently” implemented in US cars.

Other BMW xDrive recalls

In February, BMW recalled 901 cars – including 840i xDrive and M850i xDrive – because of a risk that parts of the cars’ braking system may separate if the driver brakes hard. This may result in a loss of anti-lock brakes and “braking assistance,” increasing the risk of a crash.

Risks

If the sunroof continues to close after the ignition is turned off, it may hurt small children and other car occupants.

In fact, the regulation requiring windows to stop closing when the car is off was put in place in 1970 after “numerous cases” of children who suffered injuries or were choked to death after getting stuck in closing power windows. Many of these cases involved children who were left unattended in cars with the ignition off. 

The BMW sunroof, however, does feature an “anti-trap” feature, meaning that it would stop moving if it encountered resistance – such as a person’s limb – while closing.

The repair

BMW dealers will reprogram the sunroof’s electronic coding for free. Notifications with more information about how and when to get this repair will be mailed out to owners starting on April 12.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 14,000 vehicles are included in this BMW recall. To perform a BMW recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandBMW recalls 14,000 cars over sunroof programming mistake
Ford recalls F-350 trucks for incorrect tire and payload information

Ford recalls F-350 trucks for incorrect tire and payload information

March 5, 2021 Ken Boyd

Dearborn, MI – April 14, 2022 – Ford (NYSE:F) has remedied issues with 2,489 2020 Ford F350 Super Duty vehicles with incorrect Tire and Loading labels. Additionally, 205 of these vehicles were categorized as unreachable and 0 were removed from the recall. All these incorrectly labeled 2020 Ford F350 Super Duty were remedied in one group during 2021.

Dearborn, MI – March 5, 2021 – Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) has recalled 9,979 Ford F350 trucks, due to incorrect information on labels in the vehicles, which may increase the risk of a crash. The recall includes 2020 Ford F350 Super Duty trucks.

Recall summary  

In recalled vehicles, the following information may be incorrect:

  • Tire and Loading Information (TREAD) Label: The Ford F350 payload capacity is the maximum amount of weight the driver can safely add to the truck as cargo. The payload capacity value may be overstated.
  • Accessory Reserve Capacity (ARC) values: This value estimates the total weight of accessories and equipment that can be added to the truck. The value on the Safety Certification label may be overstated.
  • Truck Camper Loading documentation: This data explains how a camper can be added to the truck, including the maximum weight allowed. The weight values may be overstated.

Other Ford recalls

These same trucks – as well as the Ford F250 Super Duty 2020 model – are among the vehicles subject to a recall for a poorly attached windshield, as reported. The issue makes the windshield more likely to crack or break altogether, exposing the car occupants to road debris and broken glass. 

At the same time, 2019 F-250 and F-350 were among Ford recalls in 2020 because of faulty front axles, as reported. The axles – that transmit the power from the body of the car to its wheels – were built using “non-conforming” parts, as reported.

Risks 

If the driver loads the vehicle based on the incorrect Ford F350 payload value on the TREAD label, the truck’s suspension will be overloaded and the vehicle will require increased stopping distance. 

When tires are loaded above rated capacity, they are more likely to wear unevenly. Finally, if the camper is overloaded, driving the truck may be unsafe.

Each of these issues increases the risk of an accident.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will replace the TREAD and Safety Certification labels, as well as the Truck Camper Loading document, as needed.  The repair is free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 22, 2021. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 9,900 vehicles are included in this Ford recall 2020. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Ken BoydFord recalls F-350 trucks for incorrect tire and payload information
Mercedes-Benz recalls luxury SUVs due to faulty stability control software

Mercedes-Benz recalls luxury SUVs due to faulty stability control software

March 3, 2021 Aleksandra Snesareva

Jacksonville, FL – March 3, 2021 – Daimler AG (OTCMKTS:DDAIF) – known as Mercedes-Benz – has recalled 41,838 luxury SUVs due to a possibility that these vehicles may unexpectedly jerk to one side during quick movements, increasing the risk of a crash. The problem is caused by an issue with the cars’ electronic stability control software, which helps drivers maintain control of the vehicle.

The recall includes 2020 and 2021 Mercedes GLE-  and GLS-class cars, including the following models:

  • 2020-2021 Mercedes GLE350 
  • 2020-2021 Mercedes GLE450 
  • 2020 Mercedes GLE580 
  • 2020 Mercedes GLE450 
  • 2020 Mercedes GLS580 

Recall summary

These vehicles operate with an Electronic Stability Control system (ESP), which “ensures that the car moves in the direction it wants to go”, as reported. Due to a software error, if the driver needs to quickly change direction – when trying, for example, to avoid a crash –  the ESP may jolt the vehicle to the side. This makes the crash more likely to occur.

Other Mercedes recalls

This is the second Mercedes-Benz recall since last year concerning the ESP software. In July, over 5,000 high-performance AMG vehicles were recalled for a similar issue.

In February, 2020 Mercedes GLE 450 SUVs were among cars recalled for a backup light issue. The light would stay on continuously, even after the drivers shifted out of reverse. In December 2019, a single 2020 Mercedes Benz GLE450 4matic vehicle needed to be taken in for repair for insufficient padding on some of the headrests.

Risks

Getting pulled to a side can result in a crash which may hurt the occupants of the car, other drivers and pedestrians. Due to the nature of the defect, the driver will not be alerted to the problem in advance.

Repair

Dealers will perform a free software update on the ESP to fix the issue.  The recall will start on April 13.

Is your car part of this recall?

Over 40,000 vehicles are part of this Mercedes-Benz recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Aleksandra SnesarevaMercedes-Benz recalls luxury SUVs due to faulty stability control software
Ford recalls 79,017 vehicles due to faulty windshields

Ford recalls 79,017 vehicles due to faulty windshields

March 1, 2021 Suhas Ramachandra

Dearborn, MI – March 1, 2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) has announced a recall of 79,017 Ford F-series trucks with faulty windshields, which may fail to adequately protect the car occupants or injure them during a crash.

The recall includes:

  • 2021 Ford F 150 vehicles 
  • 2020-2021 Ford super-duty vehicles 

Recall summary

The front windshields of the affected vehicles are not glued well to the vehicle body structure.  This violates the federal safety standards, which state that a windshield should be strongly bonded to the body of the car.

The bonding defect is caused by a supplier using a “non-conforming” batch of paint.

Warning signs

The driver may be alerted to a loose windshield if he or she hears “wind noise” or notices a water leak.

Safety risks

A loose windshield is more likely to crack or even separate from the car, especially in the case of an accident. This may result in the car occupants getting injured by broken glass or being exposed to road debris and other objects hitting their face and body at a high speed.

To learn more about the dangers of road debris, please see our recent article about a Land Rover recall for fly-away spoilers.

Other Ford recalls

2020 F 150 trucks were among Ford vehicles recalled last fall for faulty rearview cameras that distorted the image for the driver, resulting in a higher risk of a crash. Over 400 F150 2020 were also recalled in April for a risk of fire.

Repair

To fix the issue, dealers will detach the windshield and reinstall it. The repair is free of charge.  Repair notifications will be sent out to the owners starting on April 6.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 79,000 vehicles are included in this Ford F-series recall. To see if your vehicle is one of them, bookmark MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool and visit the website when more details become available.

Suhas RamachandraFord recalls 79,017 vehicles due to faulty windshields
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