Kia recalls Sorento SUVs over detaching airbag warning labels  

Irvine, CA  – August 27, 2023 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) has issued a recall for 50,517 2023 Sorento midsize crossover SUVs, as the airbag warning labels can detach. This increases the risk of occupant injury in the event of a crash.   

Recall summary  

Vehicles are required by law to carry airbag warning labels on the driver and front passenger sun visors. In the affected vehicles, the labels were applied improperly, causing them to peel away under normal use.

Recall risks

The driver “may not be warned of the risks of airbag deployment, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.”

Other Kia recalls

In November 2022, there was a recall that included earlier model-year Kia Sorento vehicles due to the risk of stall while driving.

Separately, millions of Kia and Hyundai are subject to recalls – as well as a U.S. government investigation – due to non-crash related fires.

Just earlier this month, Kia issued a recall for 40,000 vehicles including the 2023 Soul, 2023 Sportage and 2023–2024 Seltos due to that risk, as reported.

The repair

Dealers will inspect the driver and front passenger sun visors on the affected vehicles, replacing them as necessary free of charge.

Owners should be notified by October 10, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 50,000 vehicles are affected by this Kia airbag warning label recall. To do a Kia recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloKia recalls Sorento SUVs over detaching airbag warning labels  

Nissan recalls Kicks and Versa cars for the second time due to steering problem 

Franklin, TN  – August 26, 2023 – Nissan (OTCMKTS:NSANY) has announced a recall for 11,824 vehicles due to a problem with the power steering feature, which ups the risk of a crash. 

This recall includes vehicles that were part of a previous recall conducted last year. At the time, these vehicles were judged not to need the replacement of the faulty part.

The affected vehicles include:

  • 2021 Nissan Kicks 
  • 2021 Nissan Versa 

Recall summary  

The affected vehicles have an unstable electrical connection within the sensor that “measures the force the driver applies to the steering wheel during turns.” This can result in the power steering feature being disabled.

Recall risks

All the risks are described in the previous article about the issue.

Warning signs

Drivers may see the power steering warning light come on on the dashboard before the car switches into the “manual steering mode.”

Background of the recall

Nissan previously recalled the 2021 Kicks and Versa models in September 2022. Dealers inspected the cars and replaced the steering sensor assembly on some cars to address the issue.

Earlier this year, the supplier behind the faulty part informed that there were additional cars that needed the assembly replaced based on their own investigation.

Other Nissan recalls

In December 2022, Nissan issued a recall for 125,215 2017 Rogue SUVs due to the risk of fire, as reported.

In May 2023, Nissan recalled 12,400 SUVs marketed under the Infiniti brand due to driver seats possibly detaching from the vehicle’s frame, also as reported.

The repair

Dealers will replace the steering columns as necessary. The repair will be conducted free of charge. 

Owners will be notified by September 8, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 11,000 vehicles are affected by this Nissan power steering recall. To do a Nissan recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloNissan recalls Kicks and Versa cars for the second time due to steering problem 

Stellantis recalls Jeep SUVs due to faulty airbags

Auburn Hills, MI  – August 20, 2023 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) which owns the Jeep brand, is recalling 44,708 SUVs due to a problem with the side airbags. This increases the potential of injury in a collision. 

The following vehicles are affected by this recall: 

  • 2022 – 2023 Jeep Wagoneer 
  • 2022 – 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer

Recall summary  

The side curtain airbags are located inside the vehicle’s B-pillar, which sits in between their first and second doors.

In the affected vehicles, the B-pillar trim is ill-fitting. This could prevent the side curtain airbag from deploying properly in the event of a crash.

Recall risks

An airbag that does not deploy will not be able to protect occupants in the event of a crash, upping the risk of injury. 

Other Jeep recalls

In April 2023, Stellantis recalled 45,711 vehicles including the 2021-2023 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Wrangler, over a problem with the high-pressure fuel pump which could cause the vehicle to stall, as reported.

In July 2023, the 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee was included in a Stellantis recall over an issue which could affect the vehicle’s stability, also as reported.

The repair

Dealers will reseat or replace the B-pillar trim on all affected vehicles free of charge. Stellantis will reimburse vehicle owners who paid for their own repairs before the recall was issued.  

Owners will be notified by September 22, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 44,000 SUVs are affected by this Jeep B-pillar recall. To do a Jeep recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool

Joseph EstabilloStellantis recalls Jeep SUVs due to faulty airbags

Ford recalls F-150s whose parking brakes may activate on their own   

Dearborn, MI – August 19, 2023 – Ford (NYSE:F) is recalling 870,701 2021-2023 Ford F-150 pickup trucks with a single exhaust system over unexpected parking brake activation. This may lead to a crash, upping the risk of an injury.  

The recall comes on the back of almost 1,000 warranty claims and field reports.

Recall summary  

All listed vehicles are equipped with an electric parking brake, which is activated at the push of a button, while the mechanical work is performed by an electric motor. 

In the affected trucks, the wiring that connects to the said motor may rub against the rear axle, which is a shaft that delivers power to the car’s wheels, propelling the car forward.

Over time, this may damage the wires and cause a short circuit, which would result in the inadvertent application of the parking brake.

Recall risks

Unexpected parking brake activation while driving may block the rear wheels and destabilize the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash and injury. 

Warning signs 

If the parking brake is activated, there will be a corresponding warning light and message on the dashboard. 

Background of the recall

The recall comes on the heels of 918 warranty claims and three field reports alleging unexpected application. No injuries or crashes have been reported.

Other Ford recalls

Earlier this month, Ford recalled close to 40,000 super-duty pickup trucks and SUVs because of faulty instrument panels, as reported.

Separately, some of the F-150s involved in the current recalle may have been affected by a recall from November 2022 caused by windshield wiper issues

The repair

Dealers will replace the wiring harness with an upgraded one if it is damaged. If it is not, dealers will use protective wrap to prevent damage. All repairs will be free of charge.

Owners should be notified between September 11, 2023 and September 15, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Ford parking brake recall affects more than 850,000 trucks. To do a Ford recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicFord recalls F-150s whose parking brakes may activate on their own   

Ford recalls SUVs, pickup trucks with faulty instrument panels  

Dearborn, MI  – August 13, 2023 – Ford (NYSE:F) is recalling 38,695 vehicles with instrument panels that could fail to light up. This ups the risk of an accident and injury for the car occupants and other motorists.

The following vehicles are affected by this recall: 

  • 2023 Ford Escape 
  • 2023 Ford F-250 SD
  • 2023 Ford F-350 SD
  • 2023 Ford F-450 SD
  • 2023 Ford F-550 SD

Recall summary  

The dashboard instrument panel shows relevant information such as vehicle speed, fuel level and engine temperature, as well as warning or error messages. This function is made possible by joints soldered together inside the panel.    

In the affected vehicles, an improper soldered joint may prevent the instrument panel from lighting up.

Recall risks

Users will not be able to read the vehicle’s speed and other safety-related information, upping the risk of a crash. 

Other Ford recalls

Ford is currently being investigated by the U.S. government over allegations that doors on its 2020-2021 Ford Escape vehicles may open while driving, upping the risk of a crash. The investigation could lead to a recall of roughly 350,000 SUVs.

Separately, the manufacturer has just issued its fifth recall for Ford Transit vans because of the same issue, as reported.

The repair

Dealers will replace the instrument panels free of charge. Ford will reimburse owners for repairs done before the recall announcement was made.

Owners will be notified between August, 14, 2023 and August 18, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 38,000 vehicles are affected by this Ford instrument panel recall. To do a Ford recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloFord recalls SUVs, pickup trucks with faulty instrument panels  

Kia recalls 40,000 SUVs over fire risk  

Irvine, CA – August 12, 2023 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) is recalling 39,765 SUVs because they may catch fire while driving or parked. This ups the risk of a crash, injury and property damage. 

This is the latest in an ongoing string of Kia and Hyundai fire-related recalls. The affected vehicles include:

  • 2023 Kia Soul
  • 2023 Kia Sportage
  • 2023 – 2024 Kia Seltos

Recall summary  

The vehicles above are equipped with the Idle, Stop and Go (ISG) system which includes an oil pump and a circuit board and shuts down the engine when the car is stationary “to maximize fuel efficiency.” While the engine is off, the oil pump ensures that transmission, brakes and power steering can remain operational.

In the affected vehicles, the circuit board may develop a short, consequently overheating and potentially leading to a vehicle fire.

Recall risks

You can find out all about the risks posed by vehicle fires in this article about another Kia fire recall.

Warning signs 

The defect could trigger multiple warning lights, including those regarding electric power steering, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Smart Cruise Control (SCC), Auto Hold, Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA) and Lane Keeping Assist (LKA). Other than that, the IGS may fail to operate, sending the vehicle into a limp-home mode, which may be hard to turn off. Lastly, the driver could also notice smoke coming from the engine bay. 

Safety tips 

Kia advises owners to “park their vehicles outdoors and away from other vehicles or structures until the recall repair has been performed.”

Here are also the things you should do if the car does catch on fire.

Other Kia recalls

Apart from this issue, some of these vehicles may have been affected by a power brake assistance recall that happened in July 2023

Moreover, Kia and its sister company Hyundai are being investigated by the U.S government on the back of multiple and continuous fire-related recalls. The last recall in the series occurred in August of last year and affected over 280,000 of Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade cars, also as reported.

The repair

Dealers will replace the electric oil pump and the circuit board free of charge. 

Owners should be notified on September 28, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

Almost 40,000 vehicles are affected by this Kia fire recall. To do a Kia recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicKia recalls 40,000 SUVs over fire risk  

Ford issues fifth recall for vehicles with faulty doors

Dearborn, MI – August 6, 2023 – Ford (NYSE:F) is recalling 112,225 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vans because their doors may open while driving, upping the risk of an injury.  

This is at least the fifth Ford recall due to this issue. Vehicles that were previously repaired might need a new remedy.

Recall summary  

Due to a supplier error, a spring inside the vans’ locking mechanism may be “susceptible to cracking and failure over time.” As a result, the doors may not close securely and could open while the vehicle is in motion.  

The component causing this recall is the core driver latch, with part numbers DT1A-V21813-B for the driver’s side and DT1A-V21812-A or DT1A-V21812-B for the passenger door. 

Recall risks

You can find out all about the associated risks in this article about a similar Volkswagen recall.

Background of the recall

The part behind the recall has been implicated in at least five other Ford recalls and several U.S. government investigations, according to the information provided by the manufacturer to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is the government body in charge of regulating traffic safety. The most recent one occurred in June 2020 and replaced three of the previous recalls conducted for the same issue because of an inadequate remedy.

It is not clear if any of the previously repaired vans are once again included in the current recall, which comes on the back of multiple warranty claims.

Warning signs 

The door with a broken latch mechanism will be difficult to close and will likely rebound when the driver slams it shut. Incorrectly latched doors could also generate excessive “wind noise,” trigger a ”Door Ajar” warning or turn on the interior dome light.  

Other Ford recalls

Ford is currently subject to a separate government investigation involving faulty doors on its Ford Escape SUVs. The investigation could result in a recall of 350,000 of these vehicles, as reported.

Over 14,000 Ford Fusion hybrids were recalled in July 2023 because they could stall or catch fire.

The repair

Dealers will replace the door latches on the affected vehicles with upgraded ones free of charge. 

Owners should be notified between August 28, 2023  and September 1, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Ford door latch recall affects more than 100,000 vans. To do a Ford recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicFord issues fifth recall for vehicles with faulty doors

Toyota recalls hybrid SUVs over fire risk   

Plano, TX – August 5, 2023 – Toyota (NYSE:TM), which also owns the Lexus brand, has recalled 43,442 SUVs because their charging system may short circuit and overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.  

The following vehicles are affected by this recall: 

  • 2021 – 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime 
  • 2022 Lexus NX450H+ 

Recall summary  

Plug-in hybrids have two electrical systems – a high-current one to drive the wheels and a 12-volt system to power other components, such as lights or power windows. In between, there is a converter, which negotiates this voltage difference and ensures the 12-volt battery is being recharged.  

In affected vehicles, the converter may develop an electrical short due to damage “during production by the supplier.” This may cause it to overheat, augmenting the risk of fire. 

Recall risks

You can find out all about fire-related risks in this Hyundai recall from July 2022

Other Toyota recalls

Some of these SUVs may have been affected by a Toyota recall caused by a potential loss of stability, which took place in May 2022, as reported

More recently, in October 2022, more than 83,000 Lexus SUVs and Toyota trucks were recalled because their parking brakes would stop working, also as reported.

The repair

Dealers will replace the faulty converters with improved ones free of charge. 

In the meantime, Toyota advises owners “not to charge their vehicles when the ambient air temperature is below or expected to drop below 41 degrees Fahrenheit”. 

Owners should be notified between August 7, 2023, and September 10, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 40,000 SUVs are affected by this Toyota hybrid fire recall. To do a Toyota recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicToyota recalls hybrid SUVs over fire risk