Stellantis recalls vehicles due to risk of limited visibility

Auburn Hills, MI – July 28, 2021  – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) – which makes the Ram and Chrysler brands – has announced a recall for 14,096 vehicles due to the limited visibility from faulty front cameras, which augements the risk of a crash when backing up. The recall includes 2021 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup trucks.

The component in question is a “trailer reverse steering control module,” with a part number of 68423566AE.

Recall summary 

Due to a software error, the rearview camera image in the recalled cars fails to display when backing up.

Risks

A lack of visibility when backing up can increase the risk of an accident, leading to a crash or injury.

Warning signs

The first warning sign is the rear view image not displaying on the software when the vehicle is placed into reverse. The second warning sign is when the Electronic Throttle Control warning indicator illuminates on the instrument panel cluster.

Other Ram recalls

In April 2021, Stellantis Chrysler recalled 19,000 Dodge Ram vehicles over concern the vehicles would catch fire.  For more Chrysler recalls, please check out this page.

At the same time, rearview camera recalls are very common. In May, Daimler recalled more than 340,000 Mercedes-Benz cars because of a similar issue. In March, BMW asked drivers to take in 13,858 cars for repair because of a software glitch that made the cameras prone to malfunctioning when the cars were shifted in reverse.

Repair

Owners are set to be notified via mail starting July 30, 2021. The repair is a software fix that takes about 30 minutes and is provided free of charge.

Is your vehicle part of this recall? 

Over 14,000 vehicles are part of this Chrysler recall and as of July 20, 1,398 of them were already remedied.  To check if your vehicle is part of this Ram 1500 recall, use Motorsafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Mikaela BolkerStellantis recalls vehicles due to risk of limited visibility

Daimler recalls more than 120,000 trucks over risk of stalling

Portland, OR – July 26 , 2021 – Daimler (NASDAQ:DDAIF), which owns Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), is recalling 122,056 heavy-duty trucks with battery cables that could break. This would cause the vehicle to stall, upping the risk of a crash or injury.  This recall includes the following vehicles:

  • 2019 – 2022 Freightliner Cascadia
  • 2021 – 2022 Western Star 49X
  • 2021 Western Star WH126
  • 2020 Western Star WJ121

The affected parts are positive and negative power cables, with part numbers not available.

Recall summary  

The vehicles that are affected by this recall have battery cables that are made from aluminum and brass. In recalled trucks, the battery cable terminal connected to the vehicle frame may break or separate because the the bond between the two materials – that are incompatible – was not properly sealed, allowing debris to get through and damage the cables.

This could result in a loss of electrical power which in turn would cause the engine to stall.

Risks

Unexpected and sudden engine shutdown while driving can lead to potentially dangerous situations, especially when traveling at high-speed or in heavy traffic. Specifically, the truck may be hit from behind by other motorists, increasing the risk of injury for everyone involved.

Other Daimler Trucks recalls

Over 8,000 2020 and 2021 Freightliner Cascadia trucks are subject to a June recall due to possible loss of steering, as reported. These and several other model years were also recently recalled due to an increased fire risk, also as reported.

The repair

To fix the issue, Daimler dealers will check the aluminum battery cables and repair or replace them with conventional copper ones if needed. The repair is free of charge. Notifications will be sent to owners on August 23.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Daimler Trucks recall includes more than 120,000 heavy-duty trucks and several brands. To see if your vehicle is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicDaimler recalls more than 120,000 trucks over risk of stalling

Tesla recalls Model 3 and Model Y over risk of seat belt failure

Palo Alto, CA – July 25, 2021 – Tesla  (NASDAQ:TSLA) is recalling 5,530 cars and SUVs, whose front drive and passenger seat belts could have been fitted incorrectly. During a collision, the seat belts may fail to operate as designed, increasing the risk of an injury. This recall includes the following vehicles: 

  • 2018 Tesla Model 3­­­­
  • 2019 Tesla Model 3
  • 2020 Tesla Model 3
  • 2019 Tesla Model Y
  • 2020 Tesla Model Y
  • 2021 Tesla Model Y

Recall summary  

The shoulder belt portion of the seat belts is attached to the B-pillar – which is the upright frame section between front and rear doors – with several fasteners. In the recalled vehicles, one or both fasteners were “improperly attached” to the B-pillar.

Risks

The fasteners cannot provide sufficient grip, which may allow the seat belt assembly to move out of its position. If the affected vehicle is involved in a collision, seat belts may not perform as designed, which increases the risk of an injury.  For more information on how seat belts help save lives during a crash, please refer to this article about a GM recall for damaged seat belts.

Warning signs

The driver and front-seat passenger may be alerted to this condition if they are not able to adjust the upper section of the seat belt vertically.

Other Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y recalls

Earlier this month, Tesla recalled close to 6,000 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles because their tires could lose pressure, increasing the risk of a crash. That recall included 2020-2021 Tesla Model Y and 2019-2021 Model 3 cars.

In June, the manufacturer recalled 285,200 Model 3s and Model Ys in China over a cruise control issue, as reported.

The repair

To fix the issue, Tesla dealers will “inspect and repair both fasteners.” The owners were notified of the recall on July 23.

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Tesla recall includes more than 5,500 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. To see if your vehicle is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicTesla recalls Model 3 and Model Y over risk of seat belt failure

Mazda recalls vehicles over dangerous airbag covers

Washington, D.C.  – May 26, 2022 –  Mazda has remedied issues with 7,845 2004-2007 Mazda 3 vehicles dealing with Airbag problems caused by the emblem on them that may shatter during a collision. Additionally, none of these models have been categorized as unreachable and 1,574 has been removed from the recall. Two groups of these Mazda 3 models with airbag issues were remedied during 2021 and one group in 2022.

Washington, D.C.  – July 22, 2021 – Mazda  (OTCMKTS:MZDAY) is recalling 260,915 cars with logos on airbag covers that may shatter during a collision. Flying plastic segments may hit the driver or passengers, which increases the risk of an injury.  This airbag recall includes 2004 – 2007 Mazda3 light vehicles. 

The affected component is the airbag cover, with part numbers BP4K-57K00, BP4S-57K00, and BN8P-57K00.

Recall summary  

Vehicles that are affected by this recall have a plastic logo on the driver’s airbag that contains polyurethane. With time, this material may deteriorate and become brittle as a result of sun exposure. In case of a collision, the logo could shatter in pieces when the airbag deploys. 

Risks

The force generated by the airbag deployment can break the plastic logo and send its fragments throughout the vehicle interior at very high speeds. These flying objects may hit anyone in the car, increasing the risk of serious injury. 

Other Mazda recalls

Earlier this year, Mazda was ordered to recall over 5,000 Mazda B-series pickup trucks because of faulty Takata airbags inflators that are prone to exploding when the airbag is deployed and hurling deadly shrapnel at the car occupants.

In addition, in 2019, several 2016 – 2017 Mazda3 vehicles were recalled because of potentially inoperative front windshield wipers.  Over 150,000 2011 Mazda Mazda3s had to be taken in for repair in 2017 because of seat adjustment issues.

The repair

To fix the issue, Mazda authorized dealers will remove the airbag cover and replace it with an improved one, at no charge to the owner. The logo on the updated cover is made out of a different material that does not contain polyurethane and will not become fragile with time. Notifications will be sent to owners around August 28. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Mazda Airbag Recall includes more than 260,000 Mazda3 vehicles. To see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicMazda recalls vehicles over dangerous airbag covers

US government investigates Dodge and Chrysler vans’ sliding door issues

Washington, D.C. – July  21, 2021 –  The arm of the U.S. government that regulates vehicle safety is conducting an investigation to determine if Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) will need to recall 233,084 2016 Chrysler Town and Country and the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan vans because of faulty sliding doors. The doors may allegedly become stuck, potentially trapping passengers in the vans in the event of an emergency.

Summary  

The vans in question are equipped with power sliding rear doors that open at the push of a button inside the car or on the key fob. However, 426 drivers complained that they could not get the doors to open, even manually. This prompted the regulator – the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – to open an investigation on July 9. 

Consumer complaints

Many of the complaints described “consumers having to remove passengers in the rear of the vehicle through the front doors, the second sliding door (if it was operational), the windows, or the rear hatch of the vehicle.”

Previous issues

Stellantis, Dodge and Chrysler’s parent company, has been aware of the issue since 2016, when they issued a bulletin to dealers instructing mechanics to replace sliding door lock actuators on vans whose doors got stuck. The automaker discovered a defect in the lock actuators that would cause the doors to get stuck, sometimes emitting a loud buzzing noise when the car was locked or unlocked.

It is not clear how big the population affected by this issue was or how many cars were actually repaired at the time.

Risks

Many complaints NHTSA received expressed concern that in an emergency or crash, vehicle occupants could become trapped inside the vehicle.  This represents a grave risk in the event of, for example, vehicle fires, where occupants need to leave a vehicle quickly.  If someone is hurt, first responders may also have a hard time getting to the patient quickly if they cannot open doors from the outside.

More dangers

Through the investigation, NHTSA is set to find out how often these rear door failures, confirm the risks that the complaints are referring to and potentially flesh out any additional dangers.

Next steps

The investigation is currently in the “preliminary evaluation” stage, which NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) usually completes within four months. If the evaluation shows a potential safety defect, the office will conduct an engineering analysis to decide whether to initiate a safety recall. That stage usually takes around a year, as reported.

Will your vehicle be part of a recall?

Over 233,000 vans could be implicated in a future Fiat Chrysler recall or Dodge recall. To see if your van is one of them, bookmark MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool and check back for open recalls in the future.

Rebecca RandUS government investigates Dodge and Chrysler vans’ sliding door issues

Mercedes-Benz recalls SUVs for water leak

Jacksonville, FL – July 16, 2021 – Daimler AG (OTCMKTS:DDAIF), the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, has recalled 5,680 SUVs because water may seep into the floor at the front of the car, potentially damaging electronics installed there.  This may lead to a stall, upping the risk of a crash and injury.

The recall affects 2020 Mercedes GLB 250 SUVs.

Recall summary  

The recall concerns a leak between the front wheel wells and the front footwells, where drivers and passengers put their feet. The 2020 GLB 250 4matic SUV’s body may not have been sealed properly during manufacturing, allowing water to leak inside. 

Previous recalls   

This recall expands on a 26-car recall from May  2020 for the same issue. Mercedes received reports in October 2020 that vehicles which had supposedly been “fixed” at the factory were still showing signs of water damage in the front  footwells. Because Mercedes-Benz can no longer be sure that all GLB250s in production were fixed, the automaker will recall the whole lot to make sure every SUV is properly sealed.

Risks

Sensitive electronics installed under vehicle occupants’ feet could be water-damaged by this kind of leak. This damage could cause the car to stall, increasing the risk of a crash. It could also black out the information panel, including important warning lights for the engine and brakes. 

Read more about what to do if your car stalls on the road in this article about a Chrysler truck recall.

Potential fire risk?

While the manufacturer does not say it explicitly, its previous water leak recall also carried a risk of electrical short, which may lead to a fire. For tips on what to do in the event of a car fire, please visit this article.

Warning signs

Mercedes SUV owners should keep an eye out for wet carpets in the front seat and fogged-up windows, which could be a sign that a puddle is forming under their feet.

The repair

Mercedes Benz dealers will check the front footwells for  signs of water and will, if needed, properly seal the front of the car and repair any water-damaged components. This inspection and repair are free. Mercedes will notify owners by mail in early August.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 5,600 vehicles are included in this Mercedes Benz recall. To see if your SUV is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandMercedes-Benz recalls SUVs for water leak

Volvo recalls vehicles due to risk of engine shutoff while driving

Ridgeville, SC – July 15, 2021 – Volvo (OTCMKTS: VLVLY) has announced a recall for 85,550 vehicles because of a faulty fuel pump. The issue can cause the car to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

The component in question is the 15A fuse, with its part number unknown. 

The recall includes the following vehicles:

  • 2019 Volvo S60
  • 2020 Volvo S60
  • 2019 Volvo S90
  • 2020 Volvo S90
  • 2019 Volvo S90L
  • 2020 Volvo S90L
  • 2019 Volvo V60
  • 2020 Volvo V60
  • 2019 Volvo V60CC
  • 2020 Volvo V60CC
  • 2019 Volvo V90
  • 2020 Volvo V90
  • 2019 Volvo V90CC
  • 2020 Volvo V90CC
  • 2019 Volvo XC60
  • 2020 Volvo XC60
  • 2019 Volvo XC90
  • 2020 Volvo XC90

Recall summary 

The fuse to the recalled cars’ fuel pump may blow during “pre-run” actions like “unlocking the vehicle, opening the door, or pushing on the brake pedal.”  A blown fuse will cause the fuel pump to fail, cutting off the fuel supply to the engine and causing the car to lose power while in motion.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) that are part of this recall will not lose power until the battery is depleted.

 Risks

Stalling while driving is very dangerous and can result in the driver being rear-ended by vehicles moving at a high speed.  Additionally, the driver may become stranded in a hard-to-access area. For additional risks, please refer to a recent article on a Ford recall due to the same issue.

Warning signs

The driver may be warned that the fuse is blown if the engine does not start or a warning message is displayed in the infotainment panel

Other Volvo recalls

In August 2020, the Volvo 2018 – 2020 XC60 was part of an 87,226 vehicle-wide recall for loose windshield wipers. In March 2020, several of these same models including 2019 & 2020 S60, V60, V60CC, S90L, V90CC, XC60 and XC90 were part of a large vehicle recall for a software issue, causing the automatic emergency brake System to fail.

Repair

The repair that replaces the 15A fuse with a 20A fuse is free of charge. Owners will be notified if their Volvo needs a replacement on August 1, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of this recall? 

Approximately 85,550 vehicles are part of this Volvo fuel pump recall. To do a Volvo recall check, use Motorsafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Mikaela BolkerVolvo recalls vehicles due to risk of engine shutoff while driving

Daimler recalls Freightliner Cascadia trucks over risk of fire

Portland, OR – February 21, 2022 – Daimler (NASDAQ:DDAIF) has remedied 40,686 2017-2022 Freightliner Cascadia vehicles due to an issue where a dislodged headlight may cause a fire. Additionally, Daimler has deemed 0 vehicles unreachable and 28 vehicles including the 2022 Freightliner Cascadia being removed from the dislodged headlight recall. All these models were remedied by Daimler during the third and last quarter of 2021.

Portland, OR – July 14, 2021 – Daimler (NASDAQ:DDAIF), which owns Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), is recalling 72,508 heavy-duty trucks in which a headlight may dislodge from its position. This can melt surrounding components, which increases the risk of fire.  

This recall includes the following:

  • 2017 Freightliner Cascadia
  • 2018 Freightliner Cascadia
  • 2019 Freightliner Cascadia
  • 2020 Freightliner Cascadia
  • 2021 Freightliner Cascadia
  • 2022 Freightliner Cascadia

The trucks in question are equipped with halogen headlights and use Sylvania H11 Long life 55w bulbs. 

Recall summary  

On vehicles that are part of this recall, a headlight bulb that was incorrectly fitted during replacement may dislodge. This allows it to come in contact with surrounding headlight components, which could melt as a result of excessive heat.  

Risks

When the hot headlight bulb comes in contact with surrounding plastic components, it may melt them. Besides causing permanent damage to the affected component, this also increases the risk of fire. For tips on what do if your vehicle catches fire, please visit the following article.

Reduction in visibility is another potential risk, as the beam of light created by a dislodged bulb will be pointing in the wrong direction. 

Warning signs

Owners can conduct a visual check by looking through the headlamp lense to see how the bulb is positioned inside it. An improperly fitted one will be positioned at an awkward angle and may even flicker during its operation.

Other Daimler Trucks recalls

The manufacturer recently recalled Daimler Freightliner Cascadia trucks over a risk of tie rod detaching, caused by defective clamp nuts. 

The repair

To fix the issue on vehicles made before December 2019, dealers will put a grommet,  a fastening inside the headlight.  The repair is free of charge. Notifications will be sent to owners on July 12.

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Freightliner Cascadia headlights’ recall includes more than 70,000 heavy-duty trucks and spans over several brands. To see if your vehicle is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicDaimler recalls Freightliner Cascadia trucks over risk of fire

General Motors recalls vehicles over collapsing emergency jacks

Warren, MI – July 9, 2021 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has recalled 135,400 vehicles with potentially defective emergency jacks, which may fracture and collapse under load. This increases the risk of injury for people that are near or under the vehicle. This GM recall includes:

  • 2020 Buick Encore GX 
  • 2021 Buick Encore GX 
  • 2022 Buick Encore GX 
  • 2021 – 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer 

The affected component is “jack assembly,” with multiple part numbers, including 42743996 and 42743997.

Recall summary  

The emergency jack is a tool that is used when changing a punctured tire on the side of the road.  After placing it under the appropriate jacking point, the driver uses a lever on the jack to prop up the vehicle.

On affected vehicles, if the driver positions the jack incorrectly, it may collapse while lifting the vehicle

Warning signs

According to the manufacturer, defective jacks may collapse only ‘if not positioned as directed in the vehicle owner’s manual’. This scenario is, however, likely to happen when the driver is performing a roadside repair, since these are usually less-than-ideal working conditions.  

Safety tips

Roadside repairs are dangerous and should be avoided. Always call a tow truck or try to get to an empty parking lot or somewhere where you are not on the side of the road, if possible.

If you are driving and see a tow truck – or other emergency vehicles – please slow down and move over to the right. Over 30 first responders have been killed just this year due to distracted driving.

Risks

The plastic jack may not be sturdy enough if positioned incorrectly and collapse under unforeseen loads. This may result in injury to people that are close by or under the vehicle.  

Other General Motors recalls

Different model years of Buick Encore were recalled in November of last year because of a potential fluid leak.  Both Buick Encore GX and Chevrolet Trailblazer were part of a separate recall in September of the same year because of potential loss of electronic brake assist. The 2021 Buick Encore has not been subject to any recalls.

The repair

To fix the issue, General Motors dealers will replace the plastic emergency jack with a more robust, metal jack. The repair is free of charge. Notifications will be sent to owners around July 26.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

These Buick recalls and Chevrolet recalls include more than 135,000 SUVs. To see if your vehicle is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicGeneral Motors recalls vehicles over collapsing emergency jacks

Porsche recalls over 10,000 Taycans following government investigation

Atlanta, GA – July 8, 2021 – Porsche (OTCMKTS:POAH) has recalled 10,373 luxury electric cars that may stall due to a software issue. The recall comes on the heels of a recent investigation by an auto safety regulator and includes the following models:

  • 2020 – 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo
  • 2020 – 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S
  • 2020 – 2021 Porsche Taycan 4S
  • 2021 Porsche Taycan
  • 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo
  • 2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo
  • 2021 Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo
  • 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo

The affected part is “power electronics.” There is no part number available.

Recall summary  

The axles of a car are responsible for transferring  the power from the car to the wheels, which is what moves the car forward, as reported.

In  the recalled Taycans, software designed to monitor communication between two computers on the front and rear axles may incorrectly sense a problem and trigger a shutdown of the car’s powertrain, causing the car to stall.

Investigation

Porsche discovered the issue while it was reviewing complaints brought forward by an investigation, conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about stalls in Taycan vehicles. The administration’s investigation focused on potential issues with the electric cars’ batteries, which are not mentioned in the recall documents.

It is not clear whether Porsche believes all the stalls in Taycans under investigation were caused by this software issue, instead of the battery issue proposed by NHTSA.

Warning signs

If the software error occurs, a warning message will appear on the car’s display, notifying the driver of a “motor control error” and instructing him or her  to stop the car in a safe place. Once the car is stopped, Porsche says, the vehicle can be restarted by pressing the on-off button. 

Read more about what to do if your car stalls in this article about a recent Chrysler recall.

Risks

According to Porsche’s own evaluation, stalls “can increase [the] risk of a crash in certain traffic situations.” Indeed, stalls put a car at risk of being hit by faster-moving traffic behind it.

The repair

Porsche dealers will update the problem software for free. Owners will be notified about the recall by August 27.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 10,000 electric vehicles are included in this Porsche recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandPorsche recalls over 10,000 Taycans following government investigation