Stellantis recalls Ram trucks that may catch fire

Stellantis recalls Ram trucks that may catch fire

April 8, 2021 Bojan Popic , ,

Auburn Hills, MI – April 26, 2022  – Chrysler has remedied issues with 12,919 vehicles including the 2021 RAM 2500 that was dealing with electrical issues caused by a short on a relay. Additionally, 193 of these models have been categorized as unreachable and 24 have been removed from the recall. All these 2021 Ram 2500 models with these electrical issues were remedied in three groups during 2021.

Auburn Hills, MI – April 8, 2021 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), which owns the Dodge brand, is recalling 19,214 vehicles with a faulty relay, or a switch, inside the engine compartment that may cause fire. This recall includes the following Ram pickup trucks :

  • 2021 Ram 2500
  • 2021 Ram 3500 
  • 2021 Ram 4500 
  • 2021 Ram 5500

Recall summary  

The recalled cars are equipped with Cummings 6.7L diesel engines that have an electric heater that warms up the air coming into the engine and helps it reach running temperatures faster. The operation of this heater is controlled by a so-called solid state relay, which is an electric switch that turns electrical power on and off. This switch may be defective and can short circuit, which may lead to fire in the engine compartment.  This may occur regardless of whether the ignition is on or off.

The defect is caused by a supplier error.

Risks

A fire can be a serious safety concern if it happens while driving. Potential hazards range from failure to stop and evacuate the vehicle in time to increased risks of collision. In addition, a burning vehicle on the road is a threat to other drivers and their passengers. 

Safety tips

Chrysler does not explicitly say this, but in the case of other recent recalls because of an increased fire risk, manufacturers like Hyundai have recommended to park recalled vehicles outside and away from structures, such as houses and garages.

For tips on what to do if your vehicle catches fire, please read this article about a Hyundai recall.

Other Chrysler recalls

In November, over 19,000 Ram 1500 and Ram 2500 pickup trucks were part of a recall due to the driver-side mirror issue, where the mirror glass detached from the backing plate and no longer showed a reflection of what was behind.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will install a protective barrier around the relay. If it short-circuits, the barrier will act as a thermoresistant capsule, which will contain the spread of heat and prevent the fire. The repairs are free of charge. The recall begins on April 30.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Ram recall includes over 19,000 pickups. To see if your Ram is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicStellantis recalls Ram trucks that may catch fire
General Motors recalls over 94,000 SUVs for damaged seat belts

General Motors recalls over 94,000 SUVs for damaged seat belts

April 7, 2021 Aleksandra Snesareva , , ,

Warren, MI – April 7, 2021 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has recalled 94,641 vehicles whose seat belts may become damaged or trapped, increasing the risk of injury. The recall includes the following SUVs:

  • 2021 Cadillac Escalade
  • 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV
  • 2021 Chevrolet Suburban
  • 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe
  • 2021 GMC Yukon
  • 2021 GMC Yukon XL

Recall summary

The third-row seat and third-row seat belts in these vehicles may have been installed incorrectly. Therefore, they may become “entrapped” or damaged, making them difficult to use or latch. 

Risks

In the event of a crash, the seatbelt might break, amplifying the risk of injury. As stated in this  article about  a recent General Motors recall, seat belts saved about 15,000 lives in 2017 alone.  

Other General Motors recalls

In December 2020 General Motors recalled over 600,000 vehicles, including the 2021 Yukon XL, due to the seat belts being “loose or detached from the seat frame.” In 2021, Chevrolet Tahoe was part of a 33,000-strong  recall due to defective Continental tires.

Repair

GM dealers will inspect and replace damaged seat belts for free. Owners will be contacted about this recall on May 3.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Approximately 95,000 vehicles are part of this General Motors recall. To perform a General Motors recall check, use Motor Safety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Aleksandra SnesarevaGeneral Motors recalls over 94,000 SUVs for damaged seat belts
Honda recalls over 600,000 cars that may stall

Honda recalls over 600,000 cars that may stall

April 6, 2021 Rebecca Rand ,

Torrance, CA – April 6, 2021 – Honda (NYSE:HMC) has expanded a previous recall to include 628,124 of additional vehicles with faulty fuel pumps that may cause the car to stall. The pumps are manufactured by Denso, (OTCMKTS:DNZOY) – an auto parts maker that forms part of the Toyota Group – that is behind this and other recalls by major car manufacturers starting last summer.

 This recall includes:

  • 2019 Acura ILX 
  • 2019 – 2020 Acura MDX
  • 2019 – 2020 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid
  • 2019 – 2020 Acura RDX
  • 2019 – 2020 Acura TLX
  • 2019 – 2020 Honda Accord
  • 2019 Honda Accord Hybrid
  • 2019 – 2020 Honda Civic
  • 2019 – 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback
  • 2019 Honda Civic Type-R
  • 2018 – 2019 Honda CR-V
  • 2019 Honda Fit
  • 2019 Honda HR-V 
  • 2019 – 2020 Honda Insight
  • 2019 Honda Odyssey
  • 2019 Honda Passport 
  • 2019 Honda Pilot
  • 2019 Honda Ridgeline

Recall summary  

The Denso fuel pumps at the center of the recall have a small plastic component, called an impeller, that sucks gas from a car’s fuel tank to pump it into the engine. Some of the impellers were manufactured in a way that can cause the plastic to weaken and become misshapen, causing the whole fuel pump to malfunction. Without a pump moving fuel into the engine, the car might not start or could stall while driving.

Background of the recall

The original Honda recall was announced in May of last year and included some of the model and model years listed above. Overall, Denso had manufactured over two million defective pumps which has caused Toyota. Honda and Subaru to recall their cars starting last summer.

Warning signs

The driver may be alerted to the fuel pump malfunction if he or she notices that the malfunction indicator light (MIL) or the master warning indicator come on. Additionally, the engine may run “rough” when the car is started or idled. This means that you may hear weird noises or feel the car vibrate or shake. Take the car in for repair as soon as you notice these signs to keep the situation from getting worse.

Risks

You can read more about the risks posed by these faulty fuel pumps in our article about Toyota’s Denso fuel pump recall.

The repair

Honda and Acura dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly for free. Notifications with more information about when and how to seek repairs will be sent to owners starting on May 18.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 628,000 vehicles are included in this Honda and Acura recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandHonda recalls over 600,000 cars that may stall
Volkswagen recalls over 153,000 Audis due to airbag malfunction

Volkswagen recalls over 153,000 Audis due to airbag malfunction

April 2, 2021 Rebecca Rand ,

Auburn Hills, MI – April 2, 2021 – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY), which owns the Audi brand, has recalled 153,152 Audi A3-generation cars whose passenger-side airbags may deactivate while someone is sitting in that seat, increasing that passenger’s risk of injury in a crash. The recall includes the following convertibles, sedans and crossover SUVs:

  • 2015 – 2020 Audi A3 
  • 2016 – 2018 Audi A3 e-tron
  • 2017 – 2020 Audi RS3 
  • 2015 – 2019 Audi A3 Cabriolet
  • 2015 – 2020 Audi S3 

The component in question is the “repair kit for passenger seat occupant detection,” part number 8V0898522.

Recall summary  

This recall addresses an ongoing problem with the Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS), which senses when there is a passenger sitting in the front seat. The PODS is supposed to deactivate the passenger airbag when the seat is empty, but in the case of recalled cars, the airbag “turns off” even when the seat is occupied, increasing the risk of an injury to the passenger in a crash.

The deactivation may occur sporadically and “for a limited amount of time.”

Previous recall

A previous recall for this issue was conducted in 2019 but failed to fix the issue as the manufacturer kept receiving reports that some repaired PODS have continued to malfunction. 

Recent customer complaints about this issue highlighted that this was a “known problem” for “many Audi models, not just A3 and S3” and that, in addition to the airbag issue, some of these models also experienced a seat belt malfunction. The seat belt warning kept going off even though there was no one in the seat.

Risks

Data shows that airbags reduce crash fatalities by 11%, but they can only protect people if they actually deploy. Deactivated airbags cannot protect passengers in a crash. 

Safety tips

Vehicle occupants need to pay attention to the airbag indicator light, which will illuminate if the airbag system has been deactivated. Along with the light, the occupants should also hear a chime and see an error message in the instrument panel. If the warnings come on:

  • Have the front passenger sit elsewhere in the car.
  • Do NOT use the front passenger seat going forward.
  • Take the car to the nearest dealership as soon as possible.

The repair

Audi is still investigating the problem and has not determined what the repair will be.  Owners will receive letters in the mail with more information about the recall on May 21.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 153,000 vehicles are included in this Audi recall. To see if your Audi is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandVolkswagen recalls over 153,000 Audis due to airbag malfunction
Nissan recalls Murano SUVs for loss of steering, falling off wheels

Nissan recalls Murano SUVs for loss of steering, falling off wheels

April 1, 2021 Suhas Ramachandra

Dearborn, MI – April 1, 2021 – Nissan (OTCMKTS:NSANY) is recalling 15,223 vehicles whose defective suspension may cause the driver to lose control of the car. It may also result in the front wheels of the vehicle falling off.

The recall includes  Nissan Murano 2020 crossover SUVs.

The affected parts are the right hand transverse and the left hand transverse links, with part numbers 54500-5AA0C and 54501-5AA0C, respectively.

Recall summary 

Transverse links  – also known as control arms – are part of the car’s suspension that keeps the wheels of the car in line with its body.  They are connected to the rest of suspension by ball joints. Because of a manufacturing error, these Murano 2020’s links are defective.

As a result, they can get disconnected from the ball joint. This may result in the driver losing ability to steer and getting into an accident. In some cases, it may even result in the front wheels falling off.

Safety risks

Losing control of the car while driving and having the front wheels fall off may result in an accident that may turn fatal not only for the occupants of the car but also pedestrians and other motorists.

Warning signs

Nissan indicates that there are no warning signs. However, at least in some cases, the driver may be able to determine that there is a problem with the links if you notice the following signs:

  • Tires wear unevenly.
  • “When driving over bumps,” the steering vibrates or you can hear a “banging noise.”

Other Nissan recalls

In 2017, Mazda had recalled RX-8 sports cars also because of pertaining to defective ball joints. Read more on the same here.

More recently, Nissan recalled 127,000  2018-2021 Nissan Titan and 2019-2021 Nissan Altima in search of seven defective tires linked to the Continental tire recall.

The 2020 Murano has previously not been the subject of any recalls.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will inspect and potentially replace the links. They will also carry out a vehicle alignment procedure if the links are found to be defective. The Nissan recall begins on April 21.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 15,000 vehicles are a part of this recall. To  perform a Nissan recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Suhas RamachandraNissan recalls Murano SUVs for loss of steering, falling off wheels
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