Ford recalls Lincoln and Fusion cars with brake issues

Dearborn, MI – March 26, 2023 – Ford (NYSE:F), which owns the Lincoln brand, is recalling 1.28 million vehicles over a problem with the front brake hose. This augments the risk of a crash and injury. 

The following vehicles are affected:

  • 2013 Lincoln MKZ
  • 2014 Lincoln MKZ
  • 2015 Lincoln MKZ
  • 2016 Lincoln MKZ
  • 2017 Lincoln MKZ
  • 2018 Lincoln MKZ
  • 2013 Ford  Fusion
  • 2014 Ford Fusion
  • 2015 Ford Fusion
  • 2016 Ford Fusion
  • 2017 Ford Fusion
  • 2018 Ford Fusion

There was a related recall in 2020 and this recall is likely the result of an ongoing U.S government investigation.

Recall summary

The brake hose is made of rubber and delivers the brake fluid that ensures that the vehicle will slow down or stop safely when the driver steps on the brake pedal. 

In the affected vehicles, the front brake hose may rupture as a result of certain driving conditions like frequent full suspension and steering movement. This could lead to a brake fluid leak that worsens over time.  

Recall risks

A brake fluid leak reduces the responsiveness of the vehicle’s brakes and forces the driver to increase braking effort. This could lead to a higher risk of a crash. 

Warning signs

Drivers may notice that they need to step on the brake pedal harder than usual. The brake fluid warning icon will also light up on the dashboard.

Background of the recall

Ford first noticed the defect in Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles which shared the same brake hose material as the vehicles in question in 2018, eventually leading to a recall of these models in August 2020.

Afterwards, Ford received complaints alleging brake hose failure on vehicles that were not included in that recall. This eventually led to the present announcement.

Coincidentally, the U.S. auto-safety regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has been investigating Ford to see if over 1.7 million of Lincoln and MKZ vehicles needed to be recalled on the back of 50 complaints alleging brake hose rupture.  This recall is likely the result of that investigation. However, for reasons that are unclear, it is not mentioned on the agency’s investigation page, as it is customary in such cases.

Other Ford recalls

In January 2023, Ford recalled 2020–2023 101,001 Lincoln Navigator and Corsair SUVs over a problem with the seat belt warning system, as reported.

In February 2023, Ford also issued a recall for 382,759 vehicles including the 2020–2023 Ford Expedition as well as the Lincoln Corsair Aviator over the rear view camera’s failure to display an image when the transmission is shifted to Reverse. This was the second recall involving the issue.  

There are no other recent Ford Fusion recalls.

The repair

Dealers will replace the front brake hoses with new ones made from stronger material free of charge. Anyone who has paid for their own repairs before the recall was announced will be reimbursed. 

Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by April 28, 2023.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 1.2 million vehicles are affected by this Ford brake hose recall. To see if your vehicle is among them or to check for more Lincoln  recalls, run a Ford or Lincoln recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloFord recalls Lincoln and Fusion cars with brake issues

US government investigates Honda over ‘sticky’ steering

Washington, D.C. – March 25, 2023 – The U.S. government’s auto safety regulator is investigating Honda (NYSE: HMC) vehicles whose steering wheels may become difficult to turn. This reduced the driver’s ability to adequately maneuver at the moment, upping the risk of a crash and injury. 

If the investigation leads to a recall, it could affect an estimated 238,271 vehicles, including the following: 

  • 2022 – 2023 Honda Civic 
  • 2022 Honda Civic Si

Investigation summary  

The regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), opened an investigation on March 17 following 145 complaints about what was described as sticky steering

Based on the complaints, the steering wheel would occasionally become noticeably harder to turn, requiring much more effort from the driver. In most reported cases, this would happen after driving at highway speeds for some time.  

Risks

Steering that suddenly requires more effort to operate than usual could affect the driver’s ability to precisely maneuver the vehicle, which increases the risk of a crash and injury. 

Other Honda recalls 

Just recently, in November 2022, Honda recalled a large batch of their Ridgeline pickups over an issue with rearview cameras

As for previous major Honda Civic recalls, the one from April 2021, caused by faulty fuel pumps that may lead to stalling, was the most recent

Is your vehicle part of a recall?

This sticky steering investigation may eventually lead to a Honda recall, possibly affecting nearly a quarter of a million vehicles. In the meantime, to see if your vehicle is under a recall or to do a Honda recall check, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicUS government investigates Honda over ‘sticky’ steering

Subaru recalls Crosstrek Hybrid over loss of power, crash risk

Camden, NJ – March 19, 2023 – Subaru (OTCMKTS:FUJHY) has issued a recall for 8,413 2019–2022 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid SUVs that may stall while driving due to an issue with the cars’ 12-volt battery,  which supplies electricity for a host of cars’ functions. This increases the risk of a crash and injury.

Recall summary

Cars use onboard batteries to supply electricity for the vehicle’s various functions. Subaru’s hybrid powertrain includes a battery pack that powers the electric motor assisting the engine. This battery is charged by a harness terminal that delivers electricity from the onboard voltage converter. 

In the affected vehicles, due to faulty design, this terminal could corrode and eventually break. When this happens, the battery will no longer be charged.

Recall risks

If the battery cannot be recharged, the engine could lose the electric motor assist. This could lead to a stall, upping the risk of a crash.

Warning signs

If the harness breaks, a corresponding light will illuminate on the dashboard.

Other Subaru recalls

In August 2022, Subaru recalled 59,934 2015–2021 WRX sedans over “inoperative” rear lights and reverse camera, which could increase the risk of a crash.  

In December 2022, Subaru issued a recall for 271,694 2019–2022 Subaru Ascent SUVs on account of overheating of the vehicles’ electrical components, leading to an increased risk of fire.        

There have been no other recent Subaru Crosstrek recalls.

The repair

Dealers will replace the defective terminal mounting bracket with a new one. If no corrosion is found on the terminals of an affected vehicle, a protective rubber cap will be installed. Corroded terminals will involve replacing the entire 12-volt wiring harness with a new one.   

All repairs will be free of charge and Subaru will reimburse owners who paid for their own repairs before the recall was announced. Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by April 14, 2023.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 8,000 vehicles are affected by this Subaru battery harness recall. To see if your vehicle is among them, run a Subaru recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloSubaru recalls Crosstrek Hybrid over loss of power, crash risk

Ford recalls Ranger pickups again over non-inflating airbags, injury risk

Dearborn, MI – May 14, 2023 – Ford (NYSE:F) has issued a recall that expands and supersedes the one below after it found more vehicles were affected by this issue than originally thought. If your Ranger already had its airbag replaced, please contact your dealer to see if you need a new remedy or an inspection.

Dearborn, MI – March 18, 2023 – Ford (NYSE:F) is issuing a recall for 98,550 2004–2006 Ranger pickup trucks because the passenger airbags on these vehicles were not installed correctly after a series of previous recalls. This increases the risk of an injury in a crash as the airbag may not inflate.

Recall summary

The front passenger airbag rapidly inflates when a crash is detected, shielding the occupant from directly hitting the dashboard or windshield.   

In the affected vehicles, the airbag inflator – which is what is responsible for the airbag going off – was improperly installed following several Takata airbag recalls.

Recall risks

The airbag may not inflate in a crash, increasing the likelihood of injury.

Background of the recall 

There was a Ford Ranger recall in December 2017 due to the degradation of airbags made by Takata. In 2018, the manufacturer recalled additional vehicles whose inflators were also at risk of rupturing.

By November 2022, Ford initiated an investigation into the repairs following reports that the replacement airbag inflators were improperly installed. This resulted in the present recall.

Other Ford recalls

In November 2022, Ford recalled Bronco SUVs due to the dashboard screen’s failure to display the rearview image whenever the Reverse gear is engaged.

In January 2023, Ford issued a recall for Lincoln Navigator and Lincoln Corsair SUVs due to a defective chime that drivers may not hear when being prompted to wear their seat belts.   

The repair

Dealers will reinstall the front passenger airbag inflator free of charge. Ford will reimburse owners who paid for their own repairs before the recall was officially announced. 

Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by March 31, 2023.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 98,000 vehicles are affected by this Ford airbag inflator recall. To see if your vehicle is among them, run a Ford recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloFord recalls Ranger pickups again over non-inflating airbags, injury risk

Rivian recalls pickups and SUVs whose airbags may fail to deploy

Plymouth, MI – March 12, 2023 – Rivian (NYSE:RIVN) is issuing a recall for 12,716 2022 R1T pickup trucks and 2022 R1S SUVs over a problem with the front passenger seat belt. This could lead to the airbag not deploying when a crash occurs, increasing the risk of injury. 

Recall summary

A car’s seat belt mechanism includes the automatic locking retractor (ALR). This is a device that causes the extra seat belt webbing to retract back into the housing once the seat belt is fastened, ensuring a snug fit of the seat belt for the occupant.

On the affected vehicles, the ALR was installed with a faulty sensor due to “out of tolerance” parts provided by Swedish-American auto parts manufacturer Autoliv. The sensor could report the ALR as being in the “ON” position when it is actually in the “OFF” position.  

Recall risks

A faulty ALR on the front passenger seat could prevent the front passenger airbag from deploying in the event of an accident, upping the risk of injury.  

Warning signs 

In some instances, the “Passenger Airbag Off” sign will turn on on the vehicle’s dashboard.

Other Rivian recalls

In October 2022, Rivian recalled the 2022 R1T, 2022 R1S and 2022 EDV vehicles over faulty steering, as reported. There are no other Rivian R1S recalls at this time.       

The repair

Dealers will inspect and replace the front passenger seat belt system free of charge. The company will reimburse customers who paid for their own repairs before the recall announcement was made.  

Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by April 8, 2023.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 12,000 vehicles are affected by this Rivian airbag recall. To see if your vehicle is among them, run a Rivian recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloRivian recalls pickups and SUVs whose airbags may fail to deploy

Stellantis recalls Dodge Durango SUVs whose spoilers may detach

Auburn Hills, MI – March 11, 2023 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), which owns the Dodge brand, is recalling 139,019 2021-2023 Dodge Durango SUVs because their rear spoilers may detach. This ups the risk of a crash and injury. 

This recall is an expansion of a previous one conducted for the same issue in October 2021.

Recall summary  

A spoiler is a piece of plastic trim that sits on the top of the liftgate, which is an attachment that is used to load and unload cargo. The spoilers in the listed vehicles were fitted incorrectly, causing them to come in contact with the roof edge when the liftgate is opened. This may lead to the spoiler becoming loose and subsequently separating from the vehicle.

Recall risks

As described in a similar Volkswagen recall from April 2022, a spoiler that detaches from the vehicle at speed can hit other vehicles or nearby pedestrians as it flies through the air.  

Warning signs

The driver or occupants may hear rattling if the spoiler becomes loose. 

Background of the recall 

Close to 5,000 2021 Durango SUV were recalled for the same issue in October 2021. It is not clear how the manufacturer became aware of the fact that more cars needed to be recalled.

Other Dodge recalls

Some of these vehicles may have been affected by one of the latest Dodge Durango recalls, which happened in December 2022 due to the the risk of vehicles stalling.

Other recent Stellantis recalls include one caused by a risk of tire failure and defective fuel pumps that may cause the vehicles to stall. Both occurred in November of last year.

The repair

Dealers will inspect the spoilers on affected vehicles and replace them if necessary. The repair is free of charge.

Owners will be notified on April 14, 2023. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Nearly 140,000 SUVs are affected by this Stellantis spoiler issue. To do a Chrysler recall check or a Dodge recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool

Bojan PopicStellantis recalls Dodge Durango SUVs whose spoilers may detach

Jaguar Land Rover recalls SUVs over oil leak, risk of fire

Mahwah, NJ – March 5, 2023 – Tata Motors (NYSE:TTM), which owns Jaguar Land Rover, is issuing a recall for 6,644 vehicles on account of oil potentially leaking into the engine’s air intake system, leading to an increased risk of fire.

The recall covers the following models: 

  • 2023 Land Rover Defender
  • 2023 Land Rover Discovery
  • 2023 Range Rover
  • 2023 Range Rover Sport
  • 2023 Range Rover Velar          

Recall summary

The cam carrier is part of the engine assembly that supports the camshaft and lubricates it by using oil. Camshaft is a device that controls how much fuel is injected into the engine and how much exhaust is expelled. 

Due to a supplier error, the channel inside the cam carrier of the affected cars may be too small for oil to pass through, potentially leading to a blockage. This could lead the oil to either enter the engine air intake or leak outside the vehicle.   

Recall risks

If oil leaks into the engine, it could cause a fire, which greatly augments the risk of bodily injury and property damage.

Other Jaguar Land Rover recalls

In April 2022, Tata Motors recalled 14,812 vehicles including the 2016–2017 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport over faulty seat belts.

Another Range Rover recall occurred in August 2022, when 4,927 SUVs were recalled also due to seat belts that may fail to protect occupants in the event of a crash, as reported.

In the same month, the automaker recalled 5,297 Jaguar F-PACE SUVs as part of Jaguar recalls on account of incorrect tail lights that were installed, also as reported.

The repair

Dealers will replace the incorrectly made cam carriers with the correct ones free of charge. 

Owners of affected vehicles will receive letters with more information by March 31, 2023.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 6,000 vehicles are affected by this Jaguar Land Rover oil leak recall. To see if your vehicle is among them, or to check for more recalls, run a Jaguar Land Rover recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloJaguar Land Rover recalls SUVs over oil leak, risk of fire

Nissan recalls SUVs, trucks over detaching airbag cover emblems

Franklin, TN – March 4, 2023 – Nissan (OTCMKTS:NSANY) has issued a recall for 404,690 vehicles because of the driver’s side airbag cover emblems that may detach when the airbag deploys. This increases the risk of an injury.  

The recall covers the following models: 

  • 2008 – 2011 Nissan Armada
  • 2008 – 2011 Nissan Frontier
  • 2008 – 2011 Nissan Pathfinder
  • 2008 – 2009 Nissan Quest
  • 2008 – 2011 Nissan Titan
  • 2008 – 2011 Nissan Xterra        

Recall summary

The driver’s side airbag is secured by a cover with the manufacturer’s emblem affixed on top. 

On the affected vehicles, the adhesive holding the emblem in place may be weaker than standard due to a supplier error. This can result in the emblem becoming loose when the driver airbag deploys upon impact.   

The supplier behind the recall is the Swedish-American manufacturer Autoliv which was recently at the center of a sweeping recall for unsecured child seats, as reported.

Recall risks

The loosened emblem could act as a projectile and hit the driver or the passengers upon deployment of the airbag. This presents an increased risk of injury.   

Other Nissan recalls

In August 2022, there was a Nissan Pathfinder recall due to a problem with the rearview camera. The recall also included other vehicles, as reported.

In November 2022, Nissan recalled 203,223 pickup trucks including the 2020–2023 Titan and 2020–2023 Frontier due to the risk of a rollaway, as reported.

In December 2022, Nissan recalled 125,215 2017 Nissan Rogue SUVs over a corrosion problem with the wiring system, which increases the risk of fire.

The repair

Nissan is currently working on the remedy for the issue. 

Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by April 10, 2023.  All repairs will be free of charge.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 400,000 vehicles are affected by this Nissan airbag recall. To see if your vehicle is among them, or to check for more recalls, run a Nissan recall check using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloNissan recalls SUVs, trucks over detaching airbag cover emblems