General Motors adds more cars to Chrevrolet and Buick recall

Warren, MI – September 30, 2021 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has recalled 32,894 cars with rear suspension toe links that may break. The issue may result in the driver losing control of the car.

This is an expansion of a previous recall for the same issue conducted in December 2020 and only includes “sold or registered” in the 23 states that use road salt in the winter, which may corrode the suspension.

The following vehicles are included:

  • 4,473 2013 Buick Lacrosses recalled
  • 492 2013 Buick Regals recalled
  • 27,929 2013 Chevrolet Malibus recalled

The recall affects the “Rear Suspension Toe Link,” part numbers 13219171 and 22924230, built by Shanghai Huizhong Automotive Manufacturing.

Recall summary  

The recall, like its 2020 predecessor, stems from a problem with the car’s rear toe links, a part underneath the car body that holds the rear wheels straight. The supplier applied too much protective coating to the toe links, paradoxically causing the coating to flake off. The protective coating repels debris and prevents corrosion from road salt. Without the coating, the metal toe links may wear down and snap, allowing the rear wheels to wobble left and right.

Background of the recall

The expansion is a result of an internal GM investigation conducted on the heels of a previous recall. 

Recall risks

The rear suspension toe links hold the back wheels straight. A car with a broken toe link becomes difficult to control and may crash.  Read more about the risks of a broken toe link in this article about a Ford toe link recall.

Other GM recalls

GM recently recalled over 7,000 vehicles – whose faulty tires may cause the drivers to lose control of the car. Over 50,000 Chevrolet Bolt cars were recently recalled for the third time since 2016 because of an increased risk of a battery fire, also as reported. There have been no meaningful Chevy Malibu recalls lately, aside from this one.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 32,000 vehicles are part of this Buick and Chevy recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandGeneral Motors adds more cars to Chrevrolet and Buick recall

Stellantis recalls 2020 Jeep Wranglers over risk of fuel leak

Auburn Hills, MI – September 27, 2021 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), which owns Fiat Chrysler, has recalled 14,410 Jeeps that may suffer a fuel leak in the engine compartment due to a fuel supply line issue. The issue may result in a fire, greatly endangering the lives of the car occupants and those around them.

The recall affects  2020 Jeep Wrangler SUVs with 2.0-liter engines.

Recall summary  

The Jeep Wrangler recall was launched over concerns that fuel may leak from a cracked plastic connector on the fuel supply line. The fuel supply line is a long narrow pipe which carries gas to the engine. If gas leaks into the engine compartment, it can cause a fire.

Recall risks

Car fires pose a serious risk not only to vehicle occupants but to people and buildings around them. You can read more about the risks of engine compartment fires and how to address them in this article about a recent Fiat Chrysler recall of RAM trucks.

Warning signs

Drivers and passengers may smell gasoline—the only warning sign before a fire could start.

Background of the recall

The manufacturer discovered the faulty part after investigating two similar vehicle fires in July. As of mid-August, the company had received over 800 warranty claims of Jeep Wrangler issues that  were “potentially related” to this issue. 

Other Wrangler recalls

In February 2021, Stellantis recalled Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators for burnt-out clutch components that may overheat and fracture. 

The repair

Jeep dealers will inspect and replace the fuel supply line on cars affected by the Fiat Chrysler recall. Owners who repaired this problem on their own dime before the recall was announced may be eligible for reimbursement. Stellantis will send owners further instructions on repair and reimbursement in a recall notification letter around October 15, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 14,000 vehicles are included in this Jeep recall. To see if your 2020 Wrangler is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandStellantis recalls 2020 Jeep Wranglers over risk of fuel leak

New Jaguars recalled over unsecured child car seats

Mahwah, NJ – September 26, 2021 – Tata Motors (NYSE:TTM), which owns Jaguar Land Rover, has recalled 9,000 vehicles with faulty seat belts that may not securely hold children’s car seats. The recall includes:

  • 2020 – 2021 Jaguar F- Pace SUVs
  • 2021 – 2022 Jaguar F- Type sports cars
  • 2021 Jaguar XF luxury cars

The faulty component in this recall is the seat belt assembly, with multiple part numbers, including 636655200 and 639430300.  This is the second recall by Tata Motors because of this issue, caused by faulty parts supplied by Swedish-American manufacturer Autoliv.

Recall summary  

The problem stems from a faulty seat belt mechanism. There are two ways to secure a child car seat in a vehicle, and one is to utilize the seat belt, using retractors, which are parts used to hold it in place.

The retractor that secures a child seat is called the automatic locking retractor (ALR). It locks once “the continuous motion of spooling the belt out is stopped.”

Due to a supplier manufacturing issue, the ALR may deactivate and allow the seat belt to become loose, potentially allowing the child seat to move around.

Recall risks

According to research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car seats reduce deaths by 71% for infants under one year old, and by 54% for kids between one and four. In 2017 alone, car seats saved an estimated 312 lives among children under the age of five. 

If car seats are not tightly secured, they will not offer this level of protection. The defective Jaguar seat belt poses “an increased risk of injury in a crash” to a child in a car seat, according to the recall document.

Safety tips

Jaguar Land Rover has not yet released any instructions for owners on how to protect child passengers from this defect. The supplier did say the defect does not affect child car seats secured using anchors and tethers (e.g., “LATCH system”) on the seat. Find out which car seats use anchors and tethers in this article.

Warning signs 

Jaguar Land Rover also did not detail any warning signs that indicate a faulty seat belt. However, documents for an identical recall by Mercedes-Benz have reported an “audible clicking noise” drivers may hear when the seat belt is locked. If the clicking noise stops before the seat belt is fully retracted, the seat belt may be faulty.

The repair

Affected seat belts will be replaced free of charge by Jaguar dealers. Owners should receive letters with more information on October 22, 2201

Other Jaguar recalls

Earlier this month, Tata recalled 28,000 Land Rover SUVs affected by the same issue. Over 7,000 Land Rover Defenders were recalled in the same month because of  incorrect child restraint information in the owner’s manual, as reported. In March, there was also a Jaguar recall for defective high beams involving over 26,000 vehicles. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

A total of 9,000 vehicles are included in this Jaguar recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandNew Jaguars recalled over unsecured child car seats

Ford recalls Bronco Sport, Escape and Corsair cars that may stall

Dearborn, MI – September 25, 2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) has issued a recall for 13,334 cars from its 2021 and 2022 line-up to fix an engine stalling issue. Stalling on the road can result in a crash, increasing the risk of an injury for both the occupants of the car in question and nearby drivers.

The affected models include the following SUVs and light vehicles:

  • 2021 – 2022 Ford Bronco Sport
  • 2021 Ford Escape
  • 2021 Lincoln Corsair

The component in question is the “fuel delivery module” with part numbers LX61-9H307-TC/BC and LX61-9H307-BC/YB.

Recall summary

The affected vehicles are fitted with a faulty fuel delivery module, which is the part that pumps fuel from the fuel tank to the engine. Owing to a manufacturing error, the wall of the fuel tube inside the module may be too thin which can cause the module to leak inside the fuel tank. This can result in a drop in fuel pressure to the engine, causing it to stall. It can also prevent the engine from starting in the first place. 

Recall risks

If the engine loses power while driving, it can increase the risk of another vehicle crashing into the stalled car, resulting in an injury. 

Other Ford recalls

Ford Explorer recalls include four recalls over the past five years for multiple model-years because of faulty suspension which can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Loss of control – albeit because of a different issue – is behind another recent Ford recall that, in addition to Ford Explorers,  includes Taurus sedans and Edge SUVs.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was recalled in August for improper deployment of side airbags and in December of last year for a  potential loss of power.

The repair

Lincoln and Ford dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. 

Owners will be notified between October 4 and October 8, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

To see if your vehicle is a part of this Ford Escape, Lincoln Corsair, and Ford Bronco recall, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Vishal VenugopalFord recalls Bronco Sport, Escape and Corsair cars that may stall

Volkswagen recalls over 45,000 vehicles with risk of injury to children

Auburn Hills, MI – September 24, 2021 – Volkswagen  (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) – which owns the Audi brand – has recalled 45,496 cars to rectify a problem with the child restraint system related to faulty seat belts. The issue can increase the risk of injury to a child in an accident.

The rather long list of affected models includes nearly every offering in the company’s 2021 Audi portfolio, and the VW ID.4. Here are some of the models affected:

  • 2021 Audi A4
  • 2021 Audi A5
  • 2021 Audi A5 Cabriolet
  • 2021 Audi A6
  • 2021 Audi A6 allroad
  • 2021 Audi SQ7
  • 2021 Audi SQ8
  • 2021 Volkswagen ID.4

You can see the full list here

Recall summary

There are two ways to secure a child seat:

The recalled vehicles have been fitted with faulty ALRs that may allow the seat belts to come loose after they are locked which would result in the child seat moving around.

Recall risks

If the child seat is not secured properly, the child can get injured if there is an accident or even a hard stop.

There is no risk if the LATCH system is used to secure the seat instead.

Warning signs

Parents may realize that the ALR is not working if the clicking noise made when it is activated stops before the seat belt is fully retracted.

Background of the recall

As reported, this is part of an ongoing series of recalls brought upon by faulty seat belts supplied by Swedish-American supplier Autoliv. The affected component is the “seat belt assembly” of the middle-rear seat with multiple part numbers, including 4M0857807AV04 and 4M8857807AV04. You can read more about a BMW recall caused by the same issue here.

Other Volkswagen and Audi recalls

There was an Audi Q5 recall in May of this year Volkswagen recalled 40,993 vehicles over a suspension issue. Some of the company’s high performance models like the 2021 Audi RS6 Avant, and the RS Q8 were also recalled. 

A quick VW recall check on our site will also bring up results of one for the 2021 VW ID.4, where multiple units were recalled for misadjusted headlights.

The repair

Dealers will change the affected seat belt assembly and, if required, the seat belt, free of charge.

Owners will be notified on October 1, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 45,000 Audi cars are affected by this recall. To find out if your vehicle is a part of this Audi recall, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Vishal VenugopalVolkswagen recalls over 45,000 vehicles with risk of injury to children

Multiple Land Rover SUVs recalled over unsecured child seats

Mahwah, NJ – September 23, 2021 – Tata Motoros (NYSE:TTM) – which owns Jaguar Land Rover – has issued a recall for 28,000 Land Rover SUVs over a faulty seat belt locking system that may not securely hold a child car seat. This may increase the risk that a child is injured in the event of an accident.

The list of vehicles includes multiple newer models:

  • 2021 Range Rover
  • 2022 Range Rover Sport
  • 2020-2021 Land Rover Range Rover Velar
  • 2020-2022 Land Rover Defender
  • 2020-2022 Land Rover Discovery
  • 2020-2021 Land Rover Discovery Sport

The affected component is the “seat belt” with multiple part numbers, including 624451800 and

Recall summary

Retractors, as reported, hold seat belts in place in two different ways. There is a retractor that locks in the seat belt if there is a crash and one that does that as soon as the seat belt is buckled. The latter, called the automatic locking retractor (ALR), is at the center of this recall, because it may deactivate and cause the seat belt to come loose.

Background of the recall

The issue is a result of faulty parts provided by Swedish-American supplier Autoliv, as reported.  A total of 266,772 seat belts have been affected and multiple manufacturers, including Daimler, Ford and BMW have been affected. You can read more about this recall in this article.

Recall risks

If the ALR does not function properly, the seat belt may come loose and cause the child seat to move around. This can result in injury to the child in the restraint seat in the event of a crash. 

The risk is eliminated if instead of using the seat belts, parents use the so-called lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH) system.

Other Land Rover and Range Rover recalls

Another related Jaguar Land Rover recall recently had incorrect child restraint information in the owner’s manual. Back in March 2021, Land Rover issued a recall for multiple newer model year vehicles for defective high beams, which included the 2020 Land Rover Discovery and 2020 Range Rover Velar.

The repair

Potentially affected owners will be notified and asked to take their cars to the nearest Land Rover dealership. If the vehicle has a seat belt with a part number that is under recall, it will be replaced, free of charge. 

Customers will be notified on October 22, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

To find out if your vehicle is a part of this Land Rover recall, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Vishal VenugopalMultiple Land Rover SUVs recalled over unsecured child seats

Volkswagen recalls Taos SUVs over risk of stalling

Auburn Hills, MI – March 3, 2022  – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) has remedied issues with 4,304 2022 Volkswagen Taos dealing with Engine Control Unit (ECU) problems. So far none of these 2022 VW Taos vehicles have been declared unreachable or removed from the recall. In total Volkswagen remedied the issues with the Engine Control Unit software in one group all during 2021.

Auburn Hills, MI – September 22, 2021  – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) has recalled 5,087 vehicles that may stall, increasing the risk of an injury or a crash. This recall is limited to 2022 VW Taos “equipped with all-wheel drive.” 

The Volkswagen Engine Control Unit (ECU ) – which controls engine operations –   is the cause of the recall. In 2017, the Audi brand, which is part of the Volkswagen group, also recalled several 2017-2018 Audi A3 vehicles due to software problems in the ECU.

Recall summary  

VW Taos vehicles involved in the recall run ECU software that controls the engine cooling system. 

For reasons that are not currently known, the ECU may cause the engine to shut off when coming to a stop. The ECUs that may exhibit such behavior have part numbers  05E.906.013.C and 05E.906.013.F. 

Recall risks

Although the driver should be able to restart the vehicle immediately after stalling, situations like this are still potentially dangerous to both its occupants and other motorists, especially if they happen in high-speed or dense traffic conditions. For tips on what to do in the event of an engine stall, please see our coverage of a similar Ford recall.

Other VW recalls

The same 2022 Volkswagen Taos vehicles may also be affected by a separate VW recall due to a risk of an engine fire.

In September, older Audi vehicles were recalled because of potentially deadly Takata airbags which may explode and flung sharp metal fragments at the car occupants.

The repair

To resolve the issue, dealers will update the ECU with a software version that is not prone to such issues.  Notifications about the repair will be sent to vehicle owners on October 5, 2021.  

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This VW recall includes more than 11,000 vehicles. To check for this and other VW recalls, use  MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicVolkswagen recalls Taos SUVs over risk of stalling

Volkswagen recalls vehicles over risk of engine fire

Auburn Hills, MI – September 19, 2021  – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) is recalling 16,737 vehicles that can stall or catch fire, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. This recall affects 2022 VW Taos

Recall summary  

The engine in these Volkswagen Taos cars receives fuel through a series of hoses that are joined together with quick connectors. Due to a manufacturing issue, the connection in the recalled vehicles may not be tight enough, allowing the connector to slip from the fuel line.  This may cause a fuel leak that may result in the vehicle stalling and also bring about a fire as fuel drips on the hot engine components.

The components in question here are the fuel line with part number 5Q0-200-059-KE and the quick connector with part number 05E-133-723-BE) that were manufactured by Volkswagen de Mexico.

Risks

A fire increases the risk of an accident, as flames and smoke may distract drivers and cause them to panic. Another associated risk is stalling while driving on a highway or the inability to stop and leave the vehicle in time, which may lead to an injury.   For tips on what to do in the event of a fire, please see our recent coverage of a BMW recall.

Warning signs

A fuel leak could result in a strong gasoline, smoke and melting odor inside the car. In addition, the malfunction indicator light (MIL) may come on on the dashboard. 

Other VW recalls

Some of these 2022 Volkswagen Taos were recently recalled because of a software bug, which may cause the engine to stall. Meanwhile, defective fuel components manufactured in Volkswagen de Mexico continue to plague the manufacturer, such as last year’s 2020 Volkswagen Jetta recall for loose engine Fuel Rail bolts

The repair

VW authorized dealers will inspect how the fuel line is connected and replace the fuel line and quick connector if needed. Notifications about the repair will be sent to vehicle owners on October 19, 2021.  

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This VW recall includes more than 16,000 vehicles. To check for this and other VW recalls, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicVolkswagen recalls vehicles over risk of engine fire

Ford recalls Explorers for fourth time due to steering loss

Dearborn, MI  – September 18, 2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) has recalled 644,055 cars in 23 states because of faulty suspension. This issue may reduce steering control and result in a crash and an injury. This is an expansion of three previous recalls conducted by the manufacturer and also affects some cars that have previously been repaired.

Vehicles that are part of this recall include:

  • 2013 Ford Explorer
  • 2014 Ford Explorer
  • 2015 Ford Explorer
  • 2016 Ford Explorer
  • 2017 Ford Explorer

Recall summary  

One of the components of suspension in the recalled vehicles setup is a toe link, which holds the back wheel at the correct angle. The link can fracture due to multi-year exposure to road salt which these states regularly use on the roads to de-ice them.

Faulty toe links are part of the “rear suspension knuckle assembly” with part numbers DB5Z-5B759-B for the left and DB5Z-5B758-B for the right

Risks

A broken rear suspension toe link will affect how the vehicle behaves on the road and may result in a “loss of steering control.” This increases the risk of a crash and injury to its occupants, other motorists and nearby pedestrians. 

Other Ford Explorer recalls

This recall is a continuation of an ongoing series of rear suspension recalls that affect several models in Ford’s lineup. 

Other similar 2013 Ford Explorer recalls include one from 2017, which addresses a wheel hub bearing issue that may cause the wheel to fall off. 

The repair

Dealers will inspect the ball joints on both the right and left toe links. If worn or have seized, the dealer will replace the affected toe link with an updated version. Owners were set to receive a notification as early as August 23, 2021.

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Ford Explorer rear toe link recall includes more than 600,000 vehicles. To check if yours is part of this recall, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicFord recalls Explorers for fourth time due to steering loss

Toyota recalls Yaris cars for risk of stalling

Plano, TX – September 18, 2021 – Toyota (NYSE:TM) is recalling 31,307 cars with defective fuel pumps built by Denso (OTCMKTS:DNZOY), which is partially owned by Toyota. This issue may cause cars to stall, increasing the risk of a crash. The faulty pumps have been subject to ongoing recalls that has affected millions of cars. The latest installment includes:

  • 2019 Toyota Yaris
  • 2020 Toyota Yaris

Recall summary  

The recall centers around the car’s fuel pump, which moves gas from the tank to the engine, as reported. The defective Denso fuel pumps use a plastic disk called an impeller to move gas to the pump from the tank. These impellers can weaken and deform as they soak in fuel, which may cause the pump to fail.

Risks

Vehicles with broken fuel pumps are starved of gasoline and will stall. Stalling while driving may result in the car getting hit from behind, injuring the drivers and the passengers of both vehicles.  

Warning signs

Drivers should keep an eye on the check engine light, and know that “rough running” or failure to start are signs that something may be wrong with the fuel pump.

Safety tips

If your car stalls out on the road:

  • Turn on your hazard lights.
  • Shift into neutral and steer your car to the shoulder. 
  • Call for help.
  • Stay in the car. The shoulder can be dangerous for pedestrians.

Other Toyota recalls

​​The 2020 Toyota Yaris has not been subject to any other recalls, while the 2019 model-year was recalled for incorrect and faulty labels in May and June 2019, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records. 

This is at least a third recall for Toyota caused by the faulty Denso pumps. Close to five million Toyota vehicles have been affected so far. Subaru and Honda have also been forced to recall cars made with these pumps, as reported.

The repair

Toyota dealers will replace the defective fuel pump with a new one. Owners who repaired their fuel pumps before receiving the recall notification may be eligible for reimbursement.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 31,000 cars are part of this Denso fuel pump Toyota recall. Check for Toyota recalls with MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandToyota recalls Yaris cars for risk of stalling