Ford recalls Mustangs with fly-away roof panels

Dearborn, MI – October 16, 2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) has recalled 13,544 vehicles with a glass roof panel that may fly off the vehicle while driving, potentially injuring other motorists.

The recall affects 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E SUVs.

Recall summary  

Recalled Mustang Mach Es may have a panoramic glass roof panel that is improperly secured to the roof of the car. Internal inspections by Ford revealed that some of the panel’s urethane glue was “inadequate” to hold the glass to the roof, increasing the hazard of glass flying off the vehicle.

The company does not know as of yet why or how this happened; however, with factory records, they were able to determine which Mustang Mach-Es require inspection and repair..

Recall risks

Much like the recent Mercedes-Benz sunroof recall, the flyaway glass panels pose a threat of striking other drivers and becoming a potentially dangerous obstacle in the road. Read more about the risks posed by road debris in this article about Land Rover’s fly-away spoiler recall.

Warning signs

If the Ford Mustang Mach-E has an unsecured glass roof panel, drivers may hear a “wind noise” while driving or notice that water is leaking through the roof. 

The repair

Ford and Lincoln dealers will fix the faulty roofs for free, cleaning the window frame and the glass, and applying additional glue to hold it in place. Ford will send owners notification letters in the mail detailing how and where to get repairs starting October 27.

Recent fly-away roof recalls

Unfortunately, unsecured roof panels are not uncommon. Tesla also recently recalled cars with fly-away roof panels due a problem with the adhesive used to attach the panels.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 13,000 vehicles are included in this Ford Mustang recall. Check for Ford recalls with MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandFord recalls Mustangs with fly-away roof panels

Ford recalls another round of Explorers for toe link suspension issues

Pleasanton, CA – October 16, 2021 – In an expansion of a previous recall, Ford (NYSE:F) has recalled 126,033 more SUVs due to a suspension issue that could cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle. This increases the risk of a crash and injury.

The recall includes 2011-2013 Ford Explorer SUVs and concerns the “left rear knuckle” and the “right rear knuckle” (#DB5Z-5B758-B and #DB5Z-5B759-B).

Recall summary  

The rear toe links hold the car’s back wheels at the correct angle so that the vehicle actually goes in the direction that the driver is steering. The recall centers around a particular joint in the suspension that could become corroded and “seize up”, causing the toe links to snap.

The joint is vulnerable to corrosion from salt, which is used to de-ice roads in cold areas. The recall includes vehicles that were sold in, or at any point, registered in, the following “salt-belt” states: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

If you own a used ca​​r, check this page to make sure you will be alerted if your car is part of this recall.

Recall risks

If the knuckle joint seizes up and breaks the toe link, it will allow the wheel to wiggle around and misdirect the car.  You can read more about the risks in this article about a related 2021 Ford toe link recall. 

While these older cars have not yet caused any accidents or injuries, problems relating to the 2020 recall caused at least 13 accidents and six injuries.  

Background of the recall

On July 8, 2021, Ford recalled over 644,000 2013-2017 Explorers in the United States based on 48 reported toe link fractures, but the company was concerned that pre-2013 cars could pose a problem, too.

These vehicles were built before Ford started routinely installing the faulty knuckle joints in 2013 cars. However, Ford believes around 2,800 older vehicles may have been subesquently repaired using the faulty knuckle joints, which is why the older Explorers are being recalled now. Ford must check over 126,000 cars to identify these 2,800 vehicles and inspect them for damage.

Other toe link recalls

Ford has recalled cars over toe link fractures at least three times in the past five years when prior recall campaigns failed to fix the problem. 

General Motors also recently recalled cars over toe link fractures. The problem is caused by a separate issue, but it also affects cars registered or sold in the United States’ “salt belt.” 

The repair

Ford dealers will inspect recalled cars to see if they contain a faulty knuckle joint. If they find one, they will check its tightness and replace it if necessary. The inspection and replacement will be performed for free. Notification letters with more details will be sent to owners starting November 1. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 300,000 vehicles are part of this 2011 – 2013 Ford Explorer recall. Check for Ford recalls using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandFord recalls another round of Explorers for toe link suspension issues

Hyundai issues fifth recall over fire risk

Fountain Valley, CA – January 31, 2022 – The U.S. government auto safety regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration  (NHTSA),  is currently conducting an investigation to see if the remedy offered in this recall was adequate. Please bookmark this page and come back for any updates. You can find more information about why this is happening here or use our free vehicle lookup tool to see if your car is part of a recall.

Fountain Valley, CA – October 15, 2021 – Hyundai (OTCMKTS:HYMTF) has announced its fifth recall this year due to the risk of fire. This recall includes 95,515 cars and is caused by “premature wear” of engine components.

Affected vehicles include: 

  • 2017 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  • 2017 Hyundai Tucson

Recall summary  

Connection rods are engine components which help reduce friction between moving parts in the engine. In affected vehicles, these bearings may suffer from “premature wear,” which may cause the engine to stall while driving. In addition, the connection rod can snap and pierce the engine, which results in oil leaks that may cause fire. 

All vehicles that are part of this Hyundai recall have a 2.0-liter “Nu” GDI engine made in their plant in Ulsan, South Korea, between May 12, 2016 and December 27, 2017. 

Warning signs

Warning signs include a metallic knocking sound and “hesitation” when accelerating. These may be accompanied by illuminated “oil pressure” and “check engine” warning lights on the dashboard, as well as “burning smell, oil leak or smoke.”

To prevent any further damage, the driver should stop the vehicle at the first safe spot and turn off the engine.

Recall risks

Stalling can lead to dangerous situations, especially if it happens in high-speed or dense traffic. A fire inside the engine compartment that occurs while driving has a wide range of potential hazards. Besides the risk of collision, stopping and leaving the vehicle in time may not be possible, which could result in injury or death. There is also a risk of property damage, as the burning vehicle may damage surrounding structures and vehicles.

For tips on what to do in the event of a fire, please refer to the following page.

Other Hyundai recalls

This recall is the newest addition to a long list of fire-related recalls that have been affecting Hyundai and Kia vehicles and is a result of an ongoing investigation into “non-collision” fires by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Among recent recalls is a Hyundai Sonata recall that happened in December  and was caused by connection rod bearings issues nearly identical to this one. In January, there was another Hyundai Tucson recall concerning fire risk, although that one was caused by a leaking ABS module. 

The repair

Dealers will address this problem by inspecting the engine for signs of rod bearing damage and replacing the whole engine if needed. In addition, they will update the control software with one that would detect if engines start producing any unusual vibrations. Notifications about the repair will be  sent to vehicle owners on November 12, 2021.  

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Hyundai recall includes more than 95,000 vehicles. To check for this and other recalls, use  MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicHyundai issues fifth recall over fire risk

Ford recalls vehicles with faulty rearview cameras

Dearborn, MI – October 10, 2021 – Ford (NYSE: F) – that owns the Lincoln brand – is recalling 228,297 vehicles whose infotainment system may fail to display the image from the rearview camera. This increases the risk of a crash and injury. Affected vehicles include: 

  • 2020 Ford Explorer
  • 2021 Ford Explorer
  • 2020 Lincoln Aviator 
  • 2021 Lincoln Aviator 
  • 2020 Lincoln Corsair 
  • 2021 Lincoln Corsair 

Recall summary  

Cars that are part of this Ford recall have a SYNC infotainment system that shows a 360° image around the vehicle.  The rearview camera may occasionally fail to display the image, limiting drivers’ visibility while backing up the vehicle

Recall risks

Limited visibility while backing up the vehicle increases the risk of a crash, which can lead to property damage or injury to people behind the car, especially small children.  The risk is even greater when the driver relies solely on the rearview camera when going in reverse. Read more about the history of rearview cameras in our recent article about a similar Stellantis recall.

Other Ford recalls

A wide range of Ford and Lincoln models is having various problems with rearview cameras and other software glitches for some time now. This even caused the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to open an investigation into how the manufacturer handled a recent recall related to the matter.

There were several other Ford Explorer recalls recently as well. In September, for example, over 640,000 2013 – 2017 Ford Explorers were recalled for the fourth time since 2016 due to possible steering loss caused by faulty suspension.

There is also a recent Lincoln Aviator recall, which deals with a wiring issue that could cause electrical fire.

The repair

Ford and Lincoln authorized dealers will fix the problem by updating the software that controls the image processing module (IPMB). Notifications about the repair were sent to vehicle owners from October 7, 2021. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This recall includes more than 220,000 Ford and Lincoln vehicles. To check for this and other recalls, use  MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicFord recalls vehicles with faulty rearview cameras

Stellantis recalls Jeep Grand Cherokees over faulty rearview cameras

Auburn Hills, MI  – October 10, 2021 – Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), which owns the Jeep brand, is recalling 56,180 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L SUVs with rearview cameras that may fail to display the image. This may result in a crash while reversing, increasing the risk of an injury. 

The faulty component is the radio assembly, with part numbers 68426026AD and 68426027AD. 

Recall summary

Vehicles that are affected by this Jeep recall have an infotainment system, whose central display reproduces images from the rearview camera. Due to a radio software error, this system may malfunction while shutting itself down. Consequently, there will be no image from the rearview camera when the driver starts the vehicle.  

Recall risks

A driver who is reversing a vehicle with a malfunctioning rearview camera may fail to notice a person or an object behind them. This increases the risk of a crash or injury and may even cause accidents with tragic outcomes. Because of this, rearview cameras have been  mandatory on all vehicles since May 2018

Other Jeep and Chrysler recalls

At this time, this is the only Jeep Grand Cherokee recall that is affecting this 2021 model. Last year, however, there was a similar Chrysler recall concerning Dodge Charger Pursuit with rearview cameras that may fail to display an image. 

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will install an updated version of the software that controls radio operation. Notifications about the repair will be sent to vehicle owners around November 10, 2021. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Jeep recall includes more than 50,000 vehicles. To do a Jeep recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicStellantis recalls Jeep Grand Cherokees over faulty rearview cameras

Porsche recalls Cayman and Boxster cars over loss of control

Atlanta, GA – October 9, 2021 – Porsche, a subsidiary of Volkswagen  (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) has recalled 4,934 luxury cars with faulty transmission and suspension that can cause drivers to lose control. This increases the risk of a crash and injuries.

The recall includes the following models:

  • 2013 – 2015 Porsche Boxster
  • 2013 – 2014 Porsche Boxster S
  • 2015 Porsche Boxster GTS
  • 2014 – 2015 Porsche Cayman
  • 2014 – 2015 Porsche Cayman S
  • 2015 Porsche Cayman GTS

Recall summary  

The recalled vehicles have a problem with side sections of the rear axle carrier (sometimes called “the differential.”) The differential is how the rear axle – which is responsible for transmitting the power from the vehicle to the wheels – connects to the body of the car. The differential is part of both suspension and transmission as transmission drives the rear axles through the differential which is mounted on rear suspension.

The carriers in question may be weak due to a manufacturing mistake—the metal casing contains more strontium than it is supposed to. Strontium is an element sometimes added to these aluminum car parts to make them stronger. In this case, too much of this additive  has weakened the axle carrier, which could crack or break.

Recall risks

If the rear axle carrier fractures, the driver could lose control of the vehicle and crash. You can read more about axle issues in this article about a recent Ford axle recall.

Warning signs

A rattling noise at the rear of the car could indicate a problem in advance. However, this warning sign “is not ensured” to always happen before a fracture. 

The repair

The problem is not with the whole rear-axle carrier—just the side sections of it. Porsche will replace these side parts for free. Owner notifications with more information about this repair will be sent to owners on November 1.

Other Porsche recalls

There was a Porsche Cayman recall in 2019 because of the risk of a fuel leak in a crash.  The  recall also included Boxster vehicles. A much smalle​​r and a more recent recall included 2021 Porsche Cayman GT4, Cayman GTS 4.0, 718 Spyder, and Boxster GTS 4.0 vehicles because of the risk of engine damage, a stall or a fire.

 Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Nearly 5,000 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 Cayman and Boxster cars over loss of control

Daimler recalls vehicles over risk of steering loss

Portland, OR – October 8, 2021  – Daimler (NASDAQ:DDAIF), which owns Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), is recalling 105,183 heavy-duty trucks with steering linkage that may come apart while driving. If this happens, the vehicle will suffer from a complete loss of steering, which increases the risk of a crash and injury.  This recall includes the following vehicles:

  • 2019 Freightliner Cascadia
  • 2020 Freightliner Cascadia
  • 2021 Freightliner Cascadia

Recall summary  

On these heavy-duty trucks, the steering assembly is connected to the front wheels with a pair of drag links. These are metal bars with a ball joint at each end that move the wheel left or right as you steer them. 

The cause of this deficiency involves the ball joint on the drag link, which may not be sufficiently tightened down.  As a result, it may become loose over time and completely detach from the steering arm

Warning signs

In its initial phases, a loose drag link may cause the vehicle steering to become loose or “off-center.” Additional warning signs may include vibrations at certain speeds and knocking sounds when turning. 

Recall risks

A reduction in steering capabilities makes the vehicle less stable or completely unresponsive, dramatically increasing  the chance of a crash or injury. This risk is as severe to the driver and its passengers as it is to other motorists and pedestrians.

Other Freightliner recalls

Daimler’s Freightliner Cascadia series trucks continue to be plagued by a cascade of several recent recalls. Deficiencies range from stalling due to faulty battery cables, to risk of fire from improperly mounted headlights, and most recently, loose steering tie rods – all within the last year.  Owners should be aware that these are separate recalls and the root of the problem is not identical. 

The repair

Daimler dealers will solve this problem by inspecting the ball joint and testing if it is tightened to a correct torque. In addition, they will replace the joint if necessary. Notifications about the repair will be sent to vehicle owners on October 31, 2021.  

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Freightliner Cascadia recall includes more than 100,000 heavy-duty trucks. To check for this and other Daimler recalls, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicDaimler recalls vehicles over risk of steering loss

Toyota Tundra recalled over fire-prone headlights

Plano, TX – October 8, 2021 – Toyota (NYSE:TM) has issued a recall for 158,489 Tundra pickup trucks over a concern that the headlights may catch fire. The affected models include 2018-2021 Tundra trucks equipped with halogen headlights.

The affected component is the “Engine Room Main Wire Harness,” with multiple part numbers, including  82111-0CQ50-A and  82111-0CQ60-A.

Recall summary

The problem is caused by faulty wiring that causes both the low and high beam lights to illuminate simultaneously when the high beams are switched on, which could result in overheating and cause a fire.

Recall risks

If the headlight connector overheats and is destroyed, it will render the headlight inoperable. If the connector stays intact, it will continue to overheat and increase the risk of a fire that may spread throughout the vehicle. For tips on what to do in the event of a fire, please see this article on a recent Volkswagen recall.

Background of recall

Leading up to the recall, Toyota received 18 field reports, including six alleging “a flame in the headlight assembly.”  It also received 47  warranty claims related to the condition, including three alleging a fire.

Other Toyota recalls

The last Toyota Tundra recall was in July 2020 for faulty turn signals and hazard lights.

A recent Toyota recall included the 2019-2020 Yaris over a concern that the car may stall owing to a faulty fuel pump.  There was a 2019 Toyota Tundra recall for over 3,500 cars for load capacity labels that could become illegible. The recall also included Yaris, Highlander and Land Cruiser vehicles.

The repair

Owners will be notified between October 4 and November 1, 2021.

The wiring assembly and the headlight connectors on the affected vehicles will be inspected and replaced free of cost. Owners who have paid to have their Toyota Tundra headlights fixed will be offered a reimbursement

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

More than 150,000 trucks are part of this recall. To do a Toyota recall check,  use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Vishal VenugopalToyota Tundra recalled over fire-prone headlights

Over 19,000 Volvos recalled over unsecured child seat concern

Ridgeville, SC – October 2, 2021 – Volvo (OTCMKTS: VLVLY) has issued a recall for 19,149 vehicles with a faulty passenger seat belt retractor that may not secure a child car seat correctly. This raises the risk of an injury to the child in an accident.

The recall includes:

  • 2021 Volvo V60CC
  • 2021 Volvo V90
  • 2021 Volvo V90CC
  • 2021 Volvo XC40
  • 2021 Volvo XC40 pure electric
  • 2021 Volvo XC90
  • 2021 – 2022 Volvo XC60
  • 2021 – 2022 Volvo S60
  • 2021 – 2022 Volvo V60

This is part of an ongoing recall with multiple manufacturers affected due to faulty parts supplied by Swedish-American manufacturer Autoliv.

Recall summary

Mechanisms called retractors hold seat belts in place. There are two kinds of retractors: Emergency Locking Retractors (ELR) that will allow for the seatbelt to extend with movement freely, but lock in place in the event of sudden deceleration, like if there is a crash; and Automatic Locking Retractors (ALR), which lock in place once it is withdrawn – it only gets tighter and does not extend further – making them a good fit for securing a child seat.

Due to faulty parts provided by Autoliv, the ALR function may deactivate and cause the child seat to come loose and move around.

Recall risks

As reported, child seats reduce deaths by 71% for infants under 1 year old and 54% for kids between 1 and 4 years. If a child seat is not secured correctly, it can seriously increase the risk of injury. 

Safety tips

To reduce the risk, parents should use the lower anchors and tethers for children system (LATCH) instead of seat belts while the issue is being fixed, as reported.

Warning signs 

Owners 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 mentioned, this is part of an ongoing series of recalls brought upon by faulty seat belts supplied by Swedish-American supplier Autoliv. Other manufacturers that have been affected include Volkswagen, JaguarLand Rover and Stellantis, among others.

Other Volvo recalls

A Volvo recall from earlier this year for defective airbags also included some models part of this recall, like the Volvo V60, V90, XC60, and XC90.

The repair

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

Owners will be notified on October 31, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

To find out if your vehicle is affected by this Volvo seat belt recall, check MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Vishal VenugopalOver 19,000 Volvos recalled over unsecured child seat concern

Ford tells owners not to drive F-150 trucks with faulty seat belts

Dearborn, MI – October 2,  2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) recalled F-150 trucks that have been equipped with incorrectly routed seat belts, which may increase the risk of an injury in a crash.  The recall includes 16,430 ​​2021 F-150 Super Cab pickup trucks.

Ford is advising drivers to perform a “preliminary self-inspection” on the vehicles and to NOT drive the car or use the front passenger seat if the respective seat belts are found to be improperly routed. Instructions on how to perform the inspection were set to be provided in the mail this week. 

The affected component is the “Front Outboard Seat Belt Assembly” with part numbers ML3B-18612D64-ADW and ML3B-18612D65-ADW.

Recall summary

Affected vehicles are equipped with front seat belts that have not been routed properly.  The faulty seat belt assemblies have only made their way onto the Super Cab body style – F-150 models with the Regular Cab and Crew Cab body styles have not been affected. As a result, models like the 2021 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Cab are not a part of this recall.

Recall risks

The improperly routed seat belt may not do an adequate job at restraining the occupant in the event of an accident. This can result in serious injury or even death. 

Other Ford F-series recalls

Last month, Ford advised F-series owners not to drive their cars over a concern that the vehicle’s wheels may fall off. A quick Ford recall check on our website will also bring up results on an investigation conducted by an auto-safety regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over how the company handled a recall of over 600,000 vehicles to address issues with the rearview camera.

The repair

Owners should have received instructions on how to perform a self-assessment of their F-150’s seat belts in mail. The self-assessment will help them decide on whether their driver or passenger seat belt is faulty. If the driver seat belt is faulty, drivers should have the car towed for inspection where it will be replaced. For more information, please see the recall notice. All repairs are free.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

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

Vishal VenugopalFord tells owners not to drive F-150 trucks with faulty seat belts