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Stellantis recalls RAM trucks that may stall

Stellantis recalls RAM trucks that may stall

October 19, 2022 Bojan Popic

Auburn Hills, MI – October 19, 2022 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), which owns the RAM brand, is recalling 4,907 heavy-duty pickup trucks, which could have an electrical short, causing them to stall. This can happen while driving, increasing the risk of crash and injury. 

Vehicles affected by this recall have a 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo-Diesel engine and include: 

  • 2022 RAM 2500
  • 2022 RAM 3500
  • 2022 RAM 4500
  • 2022 RAM 5500

Recall summary  

Engine operation in all modern cars is controlled by a computer call the Engine Control Module (ECM). In affected trucks, a component inside the ECM might have been fitted incorrectly, which may cause it to short circuit. When this happens, the engine will stall. 

The component causing this recall is the ECM, with part number 68569934AA. 

Recall risks

A stalled vehicle can get hit by oncoming traffic, especially if this happens at high speeds. In addition, with the engine not working, the driver will not have power steering and brake booster. All of this increases the risk of a crash and injury. 

Other RAM truck recalls

Apart from these RAM truck recalls, some of these vehicles were recalled in June because of an issue with their rearview cameras. 

In addition, there was a large-scale recall in March 2022 caused by faulty indicator lights. 

Repair

Dealers will replace the ECM on affected vehicles. This repair is free of charge. 

Vehicle owners will be notified on October 15, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This RAM recall is affecting almost 5,000 trucks. To do a RAM recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicStellantis recalls RAM trucks that may stall
KIA recalls SUVs that may stall or burst into flames

KIA recalls SUVs that may stall or burst into flames

October 18, 2022 Bojan Popic

Irvine, CA – October 18, 2022 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) is recalling 19,701 2023 Kia Sportage SUVs with an electrical issue that may cause them to stall or even catch fire. This can happen while driving, increasing the risk of crash and injury. 

Recall summary  

The electrical power for a vehicle while it’s running is generated by an alternator. It is connected to the car’s battery with a wire cable, whose connector is held in place with a nut. On affected SUVs, this nut may not have been tightened up sufficiently during assembly. 

As such, the nut could become loose and cause a loss of electrical conductivity. This cuts the power supply to the vehicle, causing it to stall. In addition, loose electrical contact may create sparks, which can cause a fire inside the engine compartment.  

The component causing this recall is the alternator assembly, with part number 37300-2SGD1. 

Recall risks

A stalled vehicle can get hit by oncoming traffic, especially if this happens at high speeds. In addition, potential hazards caused by a fire while driving range from failure to stop and evacuate the car in time to being a threat to other motorists.

Warning signs 

Poor electrical connection at the alternator’s terminal will trigger the battery warning light on the dashboard. 

Other Kia recalls

There is an urgent Kia Sportage recall issued earlier this month due to the risk of the car tow hitch harness catching fire even if the car is parked. Owners are advised to park their vehicles away from structures. To see the full list of vehicles involved, please visit this page.

In addition to that, there are a number of other Kia fire recalls currently outstanding. See the overview of them here.

Repair

Dealers will check the nut and tighten it as necessary.  This repair is free of charge. 

Kia sent notifications to vehicle owners on September 23, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Kia fire risk issue is affecting almost 20,000 SUVs. To do a Kia recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicKIA recalls SUVs that may stall or burst into flames
Stellantis latest recalls affect over 1.1 million cars

Stellantis latest recalls affect over 1.1 million cars

October 17, 2022 Bojan Popic , , ,

Washington, D.C. – October 17, 2022 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), which owns Chrysler, Dodge, Jee, and RAM brands, has racked up nine recalls in the past six months. In total, more than 1.1 million vehicles have been affected by this. Besides, the recalls, the company is subject to two ongoing investigations by the U.S. government auto safety regulator, which could lead to recalls of additional 1.5 million vehicles.

Read on to see if your vehicle is affected. 

Roll-away SUVs

In March, some Jeep and Dodge SUVs were recalled because they could shift out of Park even when the brake was not applied. This was caused by a faulty ABS unit.  Approximately a quarter of a million vehicles were affected by these Stellantis rollaway issues, including: 

  • 2018 – 2019 Dodge Durango
  • 2018 – 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Trucks with malfunctioning ESC

That same month,  Stellantis also recalled a large batch of RAM trucks and Dodge SUVs over a software issue within the ABS. This might prevent the warning light on the dashboard from illuminating if the car’s electronic stability control (ESC) malfunctions. In total, 370,437 cars had to be recalled because of this, including: 

  • 2019 – 2022 RAM 2500 
  • 2019 – 2022 RAM 3500
  • 2021 – 2022 Dodge Durango 

As of July 25 – the last date for which information is available – roughly half of the vehicles involved still needed to be repaired. To see if your car is affected, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. 

SUVs with unsecured child car seats

Certain 2021 – 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L SUVs were recalled in April because of an issue with child-seat anchorage points on second-row seats. As a result, the child seat could be inadequately secured during a collision, increasing the risk of injury. In total, 4,586 were affected. 

As of July 25 – the last date for which information is available – 2,746 vehicles involved still needed to be repaired. To see if your car is affected, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. 

Tire failure risk recall

An issue with the built-in tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) which may keep the system from detecting low tire pressure led to a Stellantis recall that took place in June 2022.

In total, 52,340 cars were affected by this issue, including: 

  • 2022 Chrysler 300
  • 2022 Dodge Challenger
  • 2022 Dodge Charger

Stalling vehicles with diesel engines  

One the heels of the tire pressure recall, over 138,000 Jeep and RAM vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines were recalled over concerns they may stall while driving. The problem was caused by a high-pressure fuel pump, which delivers fuel to the engine.

These Stellantis engine issues affected the following models: 

  • 2014 – 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee 
  • 2014 – 2019 RAM 1500  

Malfunctioning rearview cameras

In June, almost 120,000 RAM pickup trucks were recalled because of a software issue that would prevent the rearview image from being displayed.

The following vehicles were affected: 

  • 2022 RAM 1500 
  • 2022 RAM 2500 
  • 2022 RAM 3500 

More recently, in September, Jeep recalled some of its models over a similar software error. This recall affected 7,895 vehicles, including: 

  • 2020 – 2021 Jeep Wrangler 
  • 2020 – 2021 RAM 1500 
  • 2021 Jeep Gladiator 

Issues with lights 

Two separate light issues led to two Stellantis light recalls that affected over 180,000 cars.

In August, a substantial number of Jeep SUVs were recalled because their tail light side markers were damaged and dimmed. In total, 99,186 vehicles were affected by this recall, including: 

  • 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  • 2021 – 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

Earlier this month, Stellantis recalled more than 80,000 of their 2017 – 2018 Dodge Journey crossover SUVs. These vehicles were equipped with headlights that turned out to be defective and not bright enough. 

Active investigations

Besides the recalls, the U.S government auto safety regulator, the National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA) is conducting two separate investigations concerning Stellantis vehicles. 

In one of them, the regulator is trying to find out if the alleged stalling of Chrysler’s PHEV minivans is caused by a manufacturer error. If this results in a recall, it may affect more than 20,000 of the following vehicles: 

  • 2019 – 2021 Chrysler Pacifica  
  • 2019 – 2020 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

Earlier model-years of the hybrid were recalled in February 2022 over Stellantis fire risk. 

The other investigation is caused by complaints from Jeep SUV owners regarding unintentional handbrake activating. According to their claims, this would happen even while driving, increasing the risk of a crash and injury. The regulator is checking if this may be caused by water leaks, similar to a recall from 2015. This investigation could lead to a recall, potentially affecting an estimated 1.34 million 2014-2020 Jeep Cherokee SUVs. 

Is your vehicle part of a recall?

At this moment, Stellantis recalls have affected roughly 1.1 million cars in the past six months. To do a Stellantis recall check and see if yours is affected by any of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. 

Bojan PopicStellantis latest recalls affect over 1.1 million cars
Is your Tesla subject to recall?

Is your Tesla subject to recall?

October 16, 2022 Bojan Popic

Washington, D.C. – October 16, 2022 – Since the beginning of 2022, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) has had nine recalls, in total affecting a total of 3.8 million vehicles. Besides the recalls, the company is also subject to three ongoing investigations by the U.S. government’s auto safety regulator over several issues, with one concerning Tesla’s collisions with emergency vehicles.

Malfunctioning rearview cameras 

The first Tesla recall came in early January, affecting more than 350,000 2017-2020 Tesla Model 3 cars. This was caused by malfunctioning rearview cameras.  

In-your-face hoods

Also in January, an issue with hoods that may open while driving caused a recall of the 2014-2020 Tesla Model S cars. Almost 120,000 vehicles were affected on this occasion.

Cars not stopping 

In February, it was discovered that some Tesla cars might come to a rolling stop at a stop sign while on autopilot. This maneuver is not only dangerous but also illegal, so the software on these vehicles was updated to prevent it from happening. More than 50,000 cars mid-size and luxury cars were affected.

The seat belt chime not going off  

That same month, there was a large scale recall caused by the absence of an audible seat belt chime. The problem was rectified by updating software in more than 800,000 cars, including Model 3, Model S, Model Y and Model X.  

Frosted-up windshields

On the heels of the seat belt chime issue the company also issued a recall for over 26,000 cars were recalled because their windshields would not defrost. The issue was once more solved with a software update. 

Failure to warn pedestrians  

The Pedestrian Warning System, or PWS, whose job is to make the car more noticeable to nearby pedestrians, caused two recalls this year. 

First, the Boombox function, which substitutes a traditional horn, was found to interfere with the PWS. This was remedied in February 2022 with a software update that disabled the Boombox while in Drive, Reverse or Neutral. 

But even after that, the issue was still present when the Summon feature was used to maneuver the car, resulting in a second recall in April 2022. More than half a million vehicles were recalled over these Tesla software issues.

Airbags not deploying

A batch of 2021-2022 Tesla Model X vehicles, whose side curtain airbags would fail to deploy in certain cases, was recalled in April 2022. Dealers are set to fix the issue by replacing the affected airbags with updated ones. 

Speedometer and infotainment display woes 

On two separate occasions in May, Tesla recalled some of its vehicles over safety features that were not working properly. 

First, there was an issue with certain 2018–2022 Tesla Model 3 compact sedans, whose speedometers were not showing the unit of speed. These Tesla electrical issues affected approximately 50,000 cars.   

A few days later, a range of models was recalled over an issue with their Infotainment systems, which could stop working. If that were to happen, the driver would not have access to the car’s vital functions.  

Power windows that may injure occupants 

Just recently, in October 2022, Tesla had to recall more than a million of its cars over an issue with power windows. On affected vehicles, which included all popular models, the window would not stop rolling up when it encountered an obstacle. Tesla solved the problem with a software update. 

Investigations

Aside from the recalls, The regulator, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating the manufacturer over three separate issues which may result in additional recalls.

In January 2022, NHTSA opened an investigation into potentially distracting video game features available on all Tesla models made after 2017. 

Just a month later, in February 2022, the regulator started looking into reports of  Tesla cars that would reportedly brake by themselves while on autopilot. The cars involved in this investigation included the 2021-2022 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y. 

Lastly, there is an ongoing investigation over several alarming cases of cars crashing into stationary emergency vehicles while on autopilot. In June 2022, the NHTSA investigators took this to the next level, trying to find out the root of the problem. 

Is your vehicle part of a recall?

Up-to-date, over 3.8 million Tesla vehicles were recalled in 2022 over various Tesla issues. To do a Tesla recall check and see if yours is affected by any of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. 

Bojan PopicIs your Tesla subject to recall?
Can your Kia or Hyundai vehicle catch on fire?

Can your Kia or Hyundai vehicle catch on fire?

October 12, 2022 Bojan Popic ,

Washington, D.C. – October 13, 2022 – The year of the Tiger is proving to be truly “fiery” for both Hyundai (OTCMKTS: HYMTF) and Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF). 

Both manufacturers are subject to an ongoing U.S government investigation that may affect as many as 3 million vehicles due to potential engine failures. In addition, over 1 million of additional makes are subject to unrelated recalls that may also result in a fire. 

Fires greatly increase the possibility of the car occupants – and potentially surrounding motorists  – getting seriously injured. Worse yet, they can occur even when the vehicle is parked or turned off, also upping the risk of property damage.

Read on to see if your vehicle is affected.

The investigation  

In January, the U.S government auto safety regulator, the National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA) opened the investigation over potential “inadequate remedies” that both manufacturers implemented for five fire-related recalls that took place as far back as 2017.

In addition to evaluating whether the remedies resolved the risk of fire, the regulator is also looking into whether vehicles that were not part of these recalls will need to be recalled again.

Some of the vehicles involved include:

  • 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  • 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe
  • 2017 Hyundai Tucson
  • 2013 – 2014 Santa Fe Sport
  • 2011 – 2014 Hyundai Sonata
  • 2011 – 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  • 2016 – 2017 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  • 2015 – 2016 Hyundai Veloster
  • 2012 – 2015 Kia Forte

ABS module fires

In  February,  nearly half a million Hyundai and Kia SUVs had to be recalled due to defective ABS modules, which would overheat and burst into flames.

These recalls include the following vehicles: 

  • 2016 – 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe 
  • 2017 – 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
  • 2014 – 2015 Hyundai Tucson 
  • 2016 – 2018 Kia K900
  • 2014 – 2016 Kia Sportage
  • 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe XL

Fuel-leaking sedans 

Back in 2020, Hyundai and Kia recalled Sonata and Optima sedans over a fuel leak that could cause a fire. However, it appeared the remedy implemented on this occasion was not sufficient, forcing the manufacturers to recall these vehicles once more in February.

Over 73,000 2013 – 2014 Kia Optima sedans and 215,171 2013 – 2014 Hyundai Sonata sedans were affected.

Hybrids with overheating wiring 

In July 2022, Hyundai had to recall some of its Ioniq hybrids over a risk of a vehicle fire caused by overheating relays underneath the passenger seat. In total, more than 10,000 cars were affected by this Hyundai fire recall.  

The following vehicles were affected:

  • 2017 – 2018 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid
  • 2017 – 2018 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid

Tow harness fire

In August, Hyundai and Kia had an issue with their SUVs potentially bursting into flames because of overheating tow hitch wiring. This caused more than 250,000 cars to be recalled. 

But the number of affected vehicles proved to be higher, resulting in an additional recall earlier in October.  The following vehicles were affected in the second round:

  • 2016 – 2022 Kia Sorento
  • 2021 – 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid
  • 2022 – 2023 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV)
  • 2017 – 2022 Kia Sportage

Is your vehicle part of a recall?

Up to date, Hyundai and Kia fire recalls have affected roughly 4.4 million cars during 2022. To do a Hyundai recall check and see if yours is affected by any of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. You can do the same to carry out a Kia recall check. 

Bojan PopicCan your Kia or Hyundai vehicle catch on fire?
Volkswagen recalls hatchbacks that may overheat and catch fire

Volkswagen recalls hatchbacks that may overheat and catch fire

October 2, 2022 Bojan Popic

Auburn Hills, MI – October 2, 2022 – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) is recalling 8,038 cars that may develop a coolant leak. This could cause the engine to overheat and, in some cases, even lead to a fire. This increases the risk of injury and even death for the car occupants.

Models affected by this recall include: 

  • 2022 –2023 Volkswagen Golf R A8
  • 2022 –2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI

Recall summary  

Coolant, also known as antifreeze, is a liquid which helps regulate the temperature of the engine.

At the same time, the radiator is a “heat exchanger” which disperses the coolant and helps protect the engine from overheating.

In affected cars, the radiator might have been installed incorrectly during assembly and may become loose. If this happens, the coolant hose that connects it to the engine might come in contact with the engine’s auxiliary belt, which rotates at a speed. This may rupture the hose, causing a coolant leak.  

Recall risks

A loss of coolant, when severe enough, will cause the engine to overheat. If the driver ignores the increase in the engine temperature, the vehicle may stall or even catch fire. Read about the risks of an engine fire here.

The coolant is also slippery and when spilled on the road in large quantities, can up the risk of an accident for surrounding motorists.

Warning signs

A red warning light will pop up on the dashboard if the coolant drops below a certain level.  

Other Volkswagen recalls

Earlier this month, Volkswagen recalled Audi vehicles due to fuel spill risk, as reported.

There was a Volkswagen Golf recall in March over loose engine covers which could lead to a fire, also as reported.

Repair

Dealers will check how the radiator is mounted and secure it into place if needed. If the radiator is loose, they will also check the coolant hose and auxiliary belt and replace them if any damage is found. This repair is free of charge. 

Owners will receive letters with more information about the recall on November 18, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 8,000 hot hatches are being recalled over these Volkswagen Golf radiator issues. To do a Volkswagen recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. 

Bojan PopicVolkswagen recalls hatchbacks that may overheat and catch fire
Kia issues second recall for tow hitch harness’ fire

Kia issues second recall for tow hitch harness’ fire

October 1, 2022 Bojan Popic

Irvine, CA – October 1, 2022 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) is recalling 70,887 SUVs that may catch fire while driving or parked. This increases the risk of crash, injury or property damage.

This recall comes on the heels of another recent Kia recall for the same issue and includes the following models:

  • 2016 – 2022 Kia Sorento
  • 2021 – 2023 Kia Sorento Hybrid
  • 2022 – 2023 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV)
  • 2017 – 2022 Kia Sportage

Recall summary

This recall is very similar to the one from August, which affected certain Kia and Hyundai SUVs. Like in that previous recall, the issue is a defective tow hitch harness module. 

Due to moisture or “foreign material contamination”, the module’s circuit board can experience a short circuit, which can cause overheating or start a fire. Kia has reported at least three vehicle fires and 30 incidences of localized melting as a result of this issue.

The component causing this recall is the tow hitch harness with various part numbers depending on the model, including C6061 ADUS0, C6061 ADUSAQQK and D9061 ADUS6QQK. 

Recall risks

Vehicle fire carries several hazards. You can read more in the above-referenced  article about the earlier Kia and Hyundai fire recall. 

Safety tips

As with the previous recall, Kia advises owners to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until a remedy is available.

Other Kia recalls

Recent Kia Sorento recalls include one in June 2022 over exploding seat belt retractors. This issue has led to a U.S. government investigation that is currently underway.

In addition, some of the earlier Sorento and Sportage model-years are among the 3 million Kia and Hyundai vehicles at the center of another probe due to multiple non-crash related fires, as reported.

Repair

At this time, Kia is working on a solution and will inform vehicle owners when it becomes available. Once this happens, the repair will be free of charge. 

Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent between November 14, 2022, and November 18, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 70,000 SUVs are being recalled over this Kia fire risk. To do a Kia recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. 

Bojan PopicKia issues second recall for tow hitch harness’ fire
Navistar recalls heavy-duty trucks that may stall

Navistar recalls heavy-duty trucks that may stall

September 29, 2022 Bojan Popic

Lisle, IL – September 29, 2022 – Navistar, which owns the International brand, is recalling 6,883 heavy-duty trucks whose engines may shut down. This could cause them to stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash and injury.

This is the third recall for this issue. Trucks affected by this recall include: 

  • 2018 – 2021 Navistar International HV
  • 2018 – 2020 Navistar International HX
  • 2018 – 2019 Navistar International LT
  • 2018 – 2019 Navistar International RH

All affected trucks are equipped with International’s A26 engines.

Recall summary  

Internal combustion engines have many moving parts that work together to generate power output. These include pistons, which move up and down, and connecting rods that attach to them. In the affected vehicles, part of the connecting rod may crack or break apart. If this happens, the engine could shut down with little warning, causing the vehicle to stall. The defect is due to an improperly manufactured part (the connecting rod wrist pin).

The component causing this recall is the connecting rod, with part number 7096533C91. 

Background of the recall

The current recall follows one in May 2020 and another in April 2021 relating to the same issue. Navistar has expanded the scope and introduced a remedy since the initial recall.

Warning signs

The driver might notice a knocking noise or the truck could idle roughly. In addition, the driver may notice an illuminated engine warning light. 

Recall risks

For more on risks of this recall, please see this article about a RAM investigation.

Other Navistar recalls

Earlier this year, in June, Navistar recalled more than 5,000 of their buses because of steering wheels that could detach. 

In February 2021, Navistar recalled over 27,000 International trucks whose engines could shut down unexpectedly. 

Repair

Dealers will install new knock detection software, which should warn the driver before the engine connecting rod fails. A red warning light on the dashboard will alert drivers to the need to stop as soon as possible. Engines with suspect connecting rods will be repaired. Both the software update and the repair will be performed free of charge. 

Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent on November 14, 2022.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 5,000 trucks are being recalled because of this Navistar connecting rod wrist pin problem. To do a Navistar recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicNavistar recalls heavy-duty trucks that may stall
US government investigates Kia and Hyundai over stalling vehicles

US government investigates Kia and Hyundai over stalling vehicles

September 28, 2022 Bojan Popic ,

Washington, D.C. – September 28, 2022 – The U.S. government’s auto safety regulator is investigating Hyundai (NASDAQ:HYMTF) and sister company Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) over an allegation some of their cars can develop a severe and sudden engine oil leak. This can cause the engine to seize and stall the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash and injury. 

If the investigation leads to a recall, it could affect an estimated 5.2 million vehicles.

 Some of the potentially affected vehicles include: 

  • 2010 – 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
  • 2013 – 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
  • 2006 – 2019 Hyundai Sonata
  • 2011 – 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  • 2016 – 2019 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid
  • 2010 – 2015 Hyundai Tucson
  • 2018 – 2019 Hyundai Tucson
  • 2010 – 2013 Kia Forte
  • 2010 – 2013 Kia Forte Koup
  • 2005 – 2020 Kia Optima
  • 2007 – 2010 Kia Rondo
  • 2011 – 2020 Kia Sorento
  • 2011 – 2021 Kia Sportage
  • 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe XL
  • 2015 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell

All these vehicles have 1.6L T-GDI Gamma, 2.4L Theta II GDI, 2.4L GDI Theta II, Kappa or 3.8L GDI Lambda-II engines.

Risks

A sudden stall can dramatically increase the risk of a crash. In addition, the unexpected loss of oil can result in “catastrophic engine damage.” Indeed, several owners had to have their engines replaced as a result of this issue.

Investigation summary  

The regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), opened an investigation on September 12,  2022, following a petition submitted by the “majority of the nation’s automotive repair and preventative maintenance professionals” claiming ‘unprecedented’ oil leaks that would happen without any prior warnings. 

The issue appears to be caused by oil “drain pan assembly failures” that are alleged to be caused in part by “flimsy” materials used in pan construction. In addition to that, the pans appear to have a design defect which makes the oil leak more likely to occur.

What is flimsy?

The oil drain pan – or a sump – is a metal pan that holds oil that is required to lubricate the engine. The sump has a hole whose only purpose is to allow the engine oil to drain during replacement. The hole is sealed off by a plug, which is a bolt that screws into the hole to close it.

Based on the allegations, the oil drain plug can loosen up while driving at highway speeds. This could create a substantial oil leak, which may cause the engine to seize, stalling the vehicle.

Where is the design defect?

The gasket is a piece of rubber or plastic that sits on top of the oil filter and “seals the area between the oil pan and the engine block” to prevent leaks.

When the oil is changed out, the gasket needs to be changed as well to avoid “double-gasketing”, which may result in a leak by pushing the oil out to the top.

In the affected vehicles, the oil pan and the gasket are both painted black, making it easy for the person changing the oil to miss the extra gasket. This can also result in the oil leaking out of the engine, resulting in a stall.

Complaints

There have been multiple customer complaints going back to as far back as 2017. In several cases, dealers refused to cover the cost of the repair, attributing the plug issue to the owner accidentally not tightening it properly during the last oil change or “teenagers… loosening oil plugs as a prank.” 

Other Hyundai and Kia recalls

Owners of Hyundai and Kia vehicles should be aware of the ongoing engine and fire-related issues, as described in one of the Hyundai Santa Fe recalls. 

In addition, oil starvation and subsequent engine failure caused one of the previous Kia Forte recalls dating to April 2021.  

Is your vehicle part of a recall?

This investigation may eventually lead to a Hyundai engine recall, possibly affecting over 5 million vehicles. To do a Hyundai or Kia recall check and see if your car might be a part of it, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicUS government investigates Kia and Hyundai over stalling vehicles
Daimler recalls vehicles with fly-away trim bars

 Daimler recalls vehicles with fly-away trim bars

September 24, 2022 Bojan Popic

Jacksonville, FL – September 24, 2022 – Daimler (NASDAQ:DDAIF), which owns the Mercedes-Benz brand, is recalling 161,000 vehicles whose window trim bars may detach while driving. This may create a road hazard, augmenting the risk of a crash or injury. 

Vehicles affected by this recall include: 

  • 2020 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 
  • 2021 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53
  • 2020 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE450
  • 2020 – 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE580
  • 2020 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS450
  • 2020 – 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS580
  • 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63S
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE400E
  • 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLS63
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS600

Recall summary  

Trims are plastic adornments whose purpose is to give a car a slicker look.

In the affected vehicles, both left and right window trim bars were fitted incorrectly as a result of a supplier error. As a result, they may detach from the vehicle while driving.

Recall risks

For more on the risks of this recall, please see this article about a Volkswagen recall due to a similar issue.

Other Mercedes-Benz recalls

In July, there was a Mercedes-Benz Maybach recall due to faulty rearview cameras, as reported.

In May, there was a Mercedes-Benz AMG recall due to the risk of fire, also as reported.

Both recalls included other vehicles.

Repair

Dealers will inspect the window trim bars and modify how they are fitted, if necessary. This repair is free of charge. 

The notifications to vehicle owners will be sent on November 11, 2022.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 150,000 vehicles are being recalled because of these Mercedes-Benz trim issues. To do a Mercedes-Benz recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. 

Bojan Popic Daimler recalls vehicles with fly-away trim bars

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