Tesla recalls vehicles whose airbags may fail to deploy

Austin, TX – April 23, 2022 – Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is recalling 7,289 of 2021-2022 Tesla Model X vehicles whose front airbags may not deploy properly if front windows are rolled down. This reduces the level of protection during a crash, increasing the risk of an injury.  

Recall summary  

Tesla vehicles that are affected by this recall have airbags on their A-pillars whose purpose is to protect occupants in front seats in case of an accident. Due to a design flaw, these airbags may not deploy properly if front windows are lowered when the accident happens

The components in question are front-row curtain airbags, with part numbers 1036759-00-G for the right-hand airbag and 1036756-00-G for the left-hand one. 

Recall risks

In a collision, the passenger front-row curtain airbags may not deploy as intended, which reduces the level of their protection,  increasing the risk of an injury. 

Other Tesla Model X Recalls

Apart from this issue with Tesla Model X airbags, these vehicles may have been a part of some of the previous recalls. This includes issues with the pedestrian warning system and frosted-up windshields

The repair

Dealers will solve this issue on affected vehicles by replacing both left and right front row curtain airbags free of charge. Replacement parts are designed in a way that prevents improper deployment. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent on June 7, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Tesla airbag recall affects more than 7,000 vehicles. To do a Tesla recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicTesla recalls vehicles whose airbags may fail to deploy

Ford recalls trucks and SUVs whose wipers may fail

Dearborn, MI — April 23, 2022 —   Ford (NYSE:F), which also owns the Lincoln brand, is recalling 652,996 trucks and full-size SUVs with windshield wipers that may fail to operate. This reduces drivers’ visibility, increasing the risk of a crash and injury.

A long list of affected vehicles includes: 

  • 2020–2021 Ford Expedition
  • 2020–2021 Ford F-150
  • 2020–2022 Ford F-250 SD
  • 2020–2022 Ford F-350 SD
  • 2020–2022 Ford F-450 SD
  • 2020–2022 Ford F-550 SD
  • 2020–2021 Lincoln Navigator

Recall summary  

Windshields in the recalled vehicles are inoperable because of a faulty windshield arm due to a supplier error.

The components in question are the driver-side windshield wiper arms with part numbers ML34-17527-AB or FL34-17527-AA and passenger-side wiper arms with part numbers ML34-17526-AB or FL34-17526-AB.

Recall risks

If the wipers do not work or become detached, the driver will not be able to clean off dirt or water from the vehicle’s windshield. This reduces visibility and may lead to a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Warning signs

In some cases, windshield wipers will move erratically or slowly before failing.

Other Ford recalls

There was an F-150 recall last month, also due to inoperative windshields, as reported.

Earlier this month, there was a Lincoln Navigator recall due to malfunctioning trailer brakes, also as reported. The recall also included the 2022 F-150 and other F-series trucks, among others.

The repair

Dealers will fix the issue by replacing both wiper arms for free. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent between April 23, 2022  and April 27, 2022.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Ford F-150 windshield wipers recall affects more than 650,000 trucks and SUVs. To do a Ford recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicFord recalls trucks and SUVs whose wipers may fail

Volkswagen recalls SUVs with fly-away spoilers

Auburn Hills, MI – April 16, 2022 – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) is recalling 6,553 SUVs whose tailgate spoilers may separate and fly off the car while driving. This creates a road hazard for other motorists, increasing the risk of injury.  

The recall includes the following cars:

  • 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan
  • 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan
  • 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan
  • 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan
  • 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

Recall summary  

SUVs from this Volkswagen recall have spoilers on their tailgate hatches, held in place with adhesive strips. These external plastic trim pieces improve the appearance of the car by giving them a slicker look, as reported.

On affected vehicles, the adhesive may not be strong enough, causing the spoiler to detach while driving at higher speeds.  

The component in question is the rear hatch spoiler, with part numbers 5NA-071-644–C9A and 5NA-071-644–C9X.

Warning signs   

Drivers may notice that the spoiler is loose or out of place if the adhesive strip starts to let go.  

Recall risks

If the spoiler detaches from the vehicle at speed, it can hit other vehicles or nearby pedestrians as it flies through the air.  Furthermore, this fly-away object may land on the road and become an obstacle for other vehicles, forcing them to avoid it with quick maneuvers. 

Other Volkswagen recalls

Owners should be aware of a recent recall that could affect some of these 2021–2022 Volkswagen Tiguans. The cause is the rear suspension that may break and lead to a crash

The repair

As there is no reliable way to inspect if spoilers are attached adequately, dealers will replace them on all affected vehicles free of charge. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent on June 3, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Volkswagen Tiguan recall affects more than 5,000 vehicles. To do a Tiguan spoiler check and see if your SUV is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicVolkswagen recalls SUVs with fly-away spoilers

Hyundai recalls vehicles with pretensioners that may explode

Fountain Valley, CA – April 15, 2022 – Hyundai (NASDAQ:HYMTF) is recalling 6,240 vehicles with front seat pretensioners – which are supposed to protect the car occupants in the event of a crash – that can explode while deploying. The metal shrapnel may injure the car occupants.

 The recall includes the following models: 

  • 2020 Hyundai Accent 
  • 2021 – 2022 Hyundai Elantra 

Recall summary  

Pretensioners are part of seat belt retractors whose job is to tighten the seat belt to protect the occupant’s torso during the crash. To do that, they use “expanding gas to…retract a seat belt buckle during the first moment of an accident.”

In affected vehicles, front-seat passenger and driver pretensioner housing may shatter during activation, flinging metal shrapnel at the people inside the car.

The components in question are seat belt pretensioners, with part numbers 88810-AA500 or 88820-AA500 for the right-hand side and 88810-J0600 for the left-hand one. 

Recall risks

These flying fragments may hit one or more occupants and injure them. 

Other Hyundai recalls

There are several previous Hyundai Elantra recalls that owners should be aware of. The most recent one, from January this year, is caused by improperly fitted windshields being the most recent.

In addition, there is a Hyundai Accent recall from August 2021 because of faulty trunk latches. That recall also included Sonata and Azera vehicles.

The repair

Dealers will rectify the problem by replacing seat belt pretensioners on all affected vehicles. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent on May 31, 2022.  All repairs will be free of charge.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Hyundai seat belt recall affects more than 6,000 vehicles. To do a Hyundai recall check and see if your SUV is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicHyundai recalls vehicles with pretensioners that may explode

Stellantis recalls Jeep Grand Cherokee L SUVs with unsecured child car seats

Auburn Hills, MI – April 8, 2022 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), which owns the Jeep brand, is recalling 4,586 2021–2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L SUVs whose second-row seats may fail to hold the child seat securely during a collision, increasing the risk of an injury. 

Recall summary  

These SUVs have rear seats with anchorage points for a child seat tether welded onto the back of their frames. Due to a supplier error, one or more welds in the recalled vehicles may be missing. This may cause the tether anchorage to snap off if the load is high enough

The components in question are frames for the rear seat back, with part numbers 68545265AA or 68545267AA for the left-hand side and 68545266AA for the right-hand one.

Recall risks

The child seat may become loose in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of an injury. 

Other Jeep and Chrysler recalls

Apart from this one, there are several previous Jeep Grand Cherokee recalls owners should be aware of. In December 2021, the 2021 model-year was among the 36,929 cars recalled due to faulty headlights. A month prior, close to 100,000  cars – including the 2021 model-year – were recalled because their airbags may fail to deploy, as reported.

The last Jeep frame recall took place in September 2018 when over 18,000 Jeep Wrangler SUVs were recalled due to improperly welded suspension brackets that could have snapped, causing steering issues.

The repair

Dealers will inspect the rear seat assemblies and replace the frame if needed free of charge. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent on May 13, 2022.

Safety tips

Even though the manufacturer does not explicitly state it, parents should be able to use the seat belt retractors to secure the child seat while the issue is being fixed.  For more information on different ways to secure the seat, please see the “Recall summary” section of this Volvo recall article.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Jeep child seat recall affects almost 5,000 vehicles. To do a Stellantis recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicStellantis recalls Jeep Grand Cherokee L SUVs with unsecured child car seats

Daimler recalls new Mercedes-Benz cars with faulty cruise control

Jacksonville, FL – April 7, 2022 – Daimler (OTCMKTS:DMLRY), which owns the Mercedes-Benz brand, has recalled 8,396 of new cars whose faulty cruise control that may increase the risk of a crash.

A lengthy list of affected models includes:  

  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS53
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG E63S
  • 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG EQS
  • 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT43
  • 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT53
  • 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT63 S
  • 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG SL55
  • 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG SL63
  • 2022 Mercedes-Benz C300
  • 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS450
  • 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS450
  • 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS580
  • 2022 Mercedes-Benz S500
  • 2021 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz S580
  • 2021 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53
  • 2021 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz E350
  • 2021 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz E450

Recall summary  

The recalled vehicles are equipped with a cruise control system – called DISTRONIC – that assists the driver with braking, speed and keeping adequate distance between the car in question and other vehicles.

The feature still requires the driver to keep his or her hands on the wheel, which is monitored by a series of sensors.

In affected vehicles, the sensors may be programmed incorrectly. This means that the car will continue driving using DISTRONIC even if the driver’s hands are not on the steering wheel.

It also means that in the event that the driver loses consciousness, the vehicle would not stop driving or call 911.

Recall risks

The defect increases the risk of a crash and injury for the occupants of the car, as well as other motorists and pedestrians.

Other Mercedes-Benz recalls

Some cars from this list may have been affected by a recent recall due to inoperable rear lights. Some of the same model-years may also be subject to a November recall due to the risk of stall, as reported.

The repair

Dealers are going to rectify this problem by installing updated DISTRONIC software, which will ensure proper hand detection control operation. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent on May 20, 2022. All repairs and updates will be done free of charge.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Mercedes-Benz recall affects more than 8,000 vehicles. To do a Mercedes-Benz recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicDaimler recalls new Mercedes-Benz cars with faulty cruise control

Ford recalls vehicle over trailer brakes issues

Dearborn, MI – April 5, 2022 – Ford (NYSE:F) has recalled 391,836 trucks and SUVs over malfunctioning trailer brakes. This may increase the stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash and injury.

Vehicles affected by this recall include:  

  • 2021 – 2022 Ford F-150
  • 2022 Ford Expedition
  • 2022 Ford F-250 SD
  • 2022 Ford F-350 SD
  • 2022 Ford F-450 SD
  • 2022 Ford F-550 SD
  • 2022 Ford Maverick
  • 2022 Lincoln Navigator

Recall summary  

All vehicles from this list have a control module that activates the brakes on the trailer when one is attached. Because of a software error, trailer brakes may fail to engage when the driver intends for them to be applied.

The component in question is the software for “Integrated Trailer Relay Module,” with part numbers NZ6T-19J297-AB for the Maverick and  MU5T-19J297-DG for the rest of the affected vehicles. 

Recall risks

Inoperable trailer brakes may increase stopping distance, especially when the trailer is loaded. This could result in a crash, increasing the risk of an injury. There are no warning signs that would alert the driver to the possibility of a malfunction.

Other Ford recalls

Last month, there was an F-150 recall caused by faulty windshield wipers, as reported.

At this time, there are no other Lincoln Navigator recalls that affect the 2022 model-year. However, the 2016-2017 model-years were recently recalled due to decreased brake performance because of a brake fluid leak.

The repair

To fix this issue, dealers will reprogram the trailer brake control module with an updated software version free of charge. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent between April 18, 2022 and April 22, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Ford truck recall affects more than 350,000 vehicles. To do a Ford recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicFord recalls vehicle over trailer brakes issues

Volkswagen recalls SUVs over risk of steering loss

Auburn Hills, FL – April 1, 2022 – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) has recalled 10,119 compact and subcompact SUVs, whose rear suspensions may break. This may reduce steering control, increasing the risk of a crash and injury.

Vehicles affected by this recall include:  

  • 2021 – 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan
  • 2022 Volkswagen Taos

Recall summary  

This Volkswagen recall concerns the suspension knuckle at the rear underside of the car, which holds the rear wheels straight. As a result of a manufacturing error, this metal linkage may corrode and subsequently snap under load.  If that happens, it would significantly offset the wheel alignment, affecting the driver’s ability to steer. 

The faulty component is the rear suspension knuckle, with part numbers 5QN 505 435A/436A for Tiguan and 5QM 505 435C/436C for Taos. 

Recall risks

A broken rear suspension knuckle affects the car’s behavior on the road and may result in a loss of steering. This increases the risk of a crash and injury for its occupants, other motorists and nearby pedestrians. 

Other Volkswagen recalls

Some of these vehicles may be affected by a Volkswagen Taos recall from September 2021 caused by the risk of stalling. The same month, over 16,000 of 2022 Taos vehicles were recalled due to the risk of fire.

The last major Volkswagen Tiguan recall took place in November 2020, when over 32,000 Tiguan, Jetta, Atlas and Arteon vehicles were recalled due to non-functional backup cameras.

The repair

Dealers will check both rear knuckles and replace them if needed. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent on May 20, 2022. All repairs will be free of charge.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Volkswagen recall affects more than 10,000 SUVs. To do a Volkswagen recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicVolkswagen recalls SUVs over risk of steering loss

Volkswagen is recalling hatchbacks over fire risk

Auburn Hills, FL – March 31, 2022 – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY), has recalled 4,269 cars because the engine cover may become loose. This can cause a fire inside the engine bay, increasing the risk of a crash and injury. Vehicles that are a part of this recall include:  

  • 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI
  • 2022 Volkswagen Golf R

Recall summary  

Both these vehicles have a plastic cover design cover over their engines, whose purpose is to improve the engine compartment appearance and reduce noise. During harsh accelerations and similar high-speed maneuvers, this cover might become loose and come in contact with hot engine components

The component that is causing the recall is the Engine design cover with part number 06Q-103-925-K. 

Recall risks

The engine cover can melt if it comes in contact with hot engine components. This can cause a fire inside the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a crash and injury

Warning signs

With the hood up, drivers could notice the engine cover is out of its position. Additionally, the smell of burning plastic may be present if the cover touches hot components. 

Other Volkswagen Golf recalls

This is the only recall that is affecting these particular vehicles. Still, owners should keep an eye on airbag issues as these already caused several recalls

The repair

Volkswagen is designing an upgraded engine cover. To prevent any hazardous situations in the meanwhile, dealers will remove the current covers from affected vehicles. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent on May 13, 2022.

Once the new engine cover is available, owners will be called back into the service to have them fitted to their vehicles.  All repairs will be free of charge.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Volkswagen Golf engine cover recall affects more than 4,000 vehicles. To do a Volkswagen recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicVolkswagen is recalling hatchbacks over fire risk

Daimler recalls Mercedes-Benz cars with inoperable rear lights

Jacksonville, FL – March 31, 2022 – Daimler (OTCMKTS:DMLRY), which owns the Mercedes-Benz brand, has recalled 9,156 cars whose rear turn signals and lights may stop working. This defect augments the risk of a crash and injury. Vehicles that are a part of this recall include:  

  • 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450
  • 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz S500
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz S580

Recall summary  

All Mercedes-Benz cars use Signal Acquisition and Actuation Modules, which are usually referred to as SAM modules, whose role is to  control and operate various equipment. On affected vehicles, these electronic control modules have not been programmed correctly. As a result, rear turn signals, reverse and hazard lights may stop working.

Recall risks

With rear turn signal lights being inoperable, other motorists may not be aware of the driver’s intentions. This can lead to a crash, which increases the risk of an injury. The same could happen with malfunctioning hazard lights, as these are used when the vehicle stops at the side of the road. 

Warning signs

The driver might notice several corresponding warning messages on the dashboard.

Other Mercedes-Benz recalls

Some of the Mercedes-Benz S580 cars may have also been affected by a recall in November 2021. This was also caused by faulty software issues, which could result in an engine stall. In January, over 38,000 sedans and SUVs were recalled due to a loss of steering, as reported.

The repair

Dealers will rectify this problem by reprogramming the SAM module and installing an updated software version to it. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent on May 13, 2022. All repairs will be free of charge.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Mercedes-Benz software recall affects almost 10,000 vehicles. To do a Mercedes-Benz recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicDaimler recalls Mercedes-Benz cars with inoperable rear lights