Joe Glaser | MotorSafety.org

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Joe Glaser is a Product Manager with over 15 years experience at the intersection of media, entertainment and software. As consultant for MotorSafety.org, Joe manages the many aspects of running a content organization.

Ford recalls another round of F-150s due to front brake failure

July 6, 2020 Joe Glaser Ford Recalls

Pleasanton, CA – April 14, 2022 – Ford (NYSE:F) has remedied issues with 171,182 2014-2017 Ford F-150 pickup trucks that had brakes failures with the master cylinder causing a fluid leak into the booster. Additionally, 6,496 of these vehicles have been categorized as unreachable and 307 have been removed from the recall. One group of these 2014-2017 Ford F-150 pickup trucks models with leaking brake fluid issues were remedied in 2020 and four more groups were remedied in 2021.

Pleasanton, CA – July 6, 2020 – Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) has announced a recall of certain 2014-2017 Ford F-150 pickup trucks equipped with 3.5-liter Ecoboost engines.

Recall summary

In May 2016, Ford rec alled 225,012 F-150s for leaking brake fluid resulting in front brake failure. On June 8 of this year, after a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation, the company expanded the recall to the 2014-2017 models because of the same issue. In some cases – depending on the model – drivers would hear “an audible chime” or see the “brake warning indicator” come on. In others, however, the brakes would fail without any warning. Losing the front braking power can increase the distance it takes to stop a moving vehicle, which increases the risk of a crash.

A harrowing experience for drivers

There are 286 Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) reports from the NHTSA detailing drivers’ experiences with Ford brake failure. Ford says it knows of seven accidents and two injuries that have resulted from this defect. Dozens more near-misses populate the NHTSA list of complaints linked to F-150s with leaky brake master cylinders.

Many of the incidents began with a driver pressing down on the brake pedal, only to have it go all the way to the floor with no resistance as the car barreled ahead, slowing very little or not at all. “I was convinced someone had tampered with my brakes and they were trying to kill me!” one Ford driver reported.

Another driver’s report states their warning light came on shortly before the brakes failed. The driver told their family to hold on. “As they were screaming in fear I stepped on the emergency [brake] and down-shifted to first,” the driver wrote in their complaint. “We are lucky I knew what to do. Another family may not be so lucky.”

What to do if your brakes fail

According to Ford, in a situation where a leak disables the front wheel brakes, the rear brakes would still function. But losing half a car’s braking power can still feel like the vehicle is out of control.

If a vehicle’s brakes partially fail, drivers should:

Maintain composure and turn on hazard lights.
Attempt to slow down by either shifting to a lower gear (for a manual transmission) or taking the foot off the gas (for an automatic car).
Pump the brakes.
If pumping the brakes does not work, slowly engage the parking (emergency) brake.
Look for a safe place to pull off. This may be an open area to steer into, or an uphill road to turn onto.
As a last resort, if the vehicle will not stop, turn the ignition “OFF”. Do not turn it to “LOCK,” which will lock up the steering wheel.

The repair

Ford owners can take their recalled F-150s to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to replace the brake master cylinder and the brake booster, if needed. According to the NHTSA, repairs due to a recall will come free of charge, if no more than 10 years passed from the vehicle purchase date.

Owners who paid to repair this defect before the recall may be reimbursed, but the deadline for reimbursement is July 17.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Nearly 300,000 cars are included in this Ford F-150 recall. Check your car’s recall status using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Toyota expands Prius recall

June 25, 2020 Joe Glaser Toyota Recalls

Pleasanton, CA – June 25, 2020 – Toyota (NYSE:TM) is recalling more Priuses for an electrical problem that may cause the car to suddenly lose power on the road.

The recall includes:

2013-2015 Toyota Prius
2014-2017 Toyota Prius V

Recall summary

Like with other Prius recalls in 2014 and 2018, the electrical system is at fault. Sometimes, hard acceleration overheats and damages a part called the inverter, which controls power flow in the car. This usually triggers a fail-safe mode – also known as a “limp-home” mode – but this specific defect is causing cars to stall instead.

Sudden loss of power on the road can cause collisions, which may lead to injury and even death of the driver and other motorists. The recall officially begins on August 10, 2020, but repairs will become available sometime in July.

In the meantime, drivers “should avoid placing a high load on the hybrid system by avoiding [rapidly accelerating from a full stop] when possible.”

Driving risks

Stalling at a stoplight is arguably not as dangerous as losing power on the freeway. Vehicles may not be able to react in time and could ram a stalled car from behind.

In April 2019, Ralph Vartabedian of the LA Times reported on drivers’ terrifying experiences with Prius inverter failure. “A Marina del Rey woman had to cross three lanes of fast-moving traffic on the 91 Freeway,” he wrote. “In another case, a Florida woman was rear-ended. The crash left her with a cracked vertebra and a punctured lung.”

If your car stalls, you should immediately turn on the emergency hazard lights and call 911 and your roadside assistance provider. Do not leave your vehicle if you are driving down a highway with several lanes of traffic.

Another software update

Toyota’s fix for the recall, like in 2018, is a software update. However, last time, dealers continued to see damaged inverters in cars that had received an update.

One of Toyota’s largest Southern California dealers, Roger Hogan reported the original issue to Toyota in 2017 and sued the company over the defect. Hogan believes the software is not the real problem, and that the only genuine fix would be to replace the inverter with a newer model, costing $2,000 per unit, according to Vartabedian’s article.

Toyota has launched a separate program to “repair or replace” damaged inverters for free before an update is performed. However, in order to qualify, the inverter must already be broken.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 266,000 cars are included in this Toyota recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool to check your car for open recalls.

Mazda recalls 12,000 cars due to risk of crash and fire

June 13, 2020 Joe Glaser Mazda Recalls

Pleasanton, CA – June 13, 2020 – Mazda (OTCMKTS:MZDAY) is recalling 12,097 all-wheel drive (AWD) Mazda CX-30 vehicles because a hose in the tank may be disconnected. This is a fire hazard and poses the risk that drivers could stall on the road and get hit. It also increases pollution produced by the car.

The recall affects only Mazda CX-30s that were assembled at a specific factory.

Recall summary

While no accidents have occurred as a result of this recall, one Mazda dealer reported that a car’s fuel was leaking out of the emissions system after the tank had been refilled. Another stalled as it was being delivered to a customer. The cause was the same: the fuel evaporative vent hose was not connected.

The vent hose is part of the Evaporative Emission Control System (EVAP) that is used to stop fuel vapors from being released into the atmosphere. A malfunction within this system means that the vapors can pollute the environment all the time even if the vehicle is idle. Additionally, fuel leaks can increase the risk of fire and engine stall, both of which can injure the driver and other motorists.

Car owners should be notified by August 11 to take the vehicles to check if the hose is disconnected. The repairs will be covered under the new vehicle warranty.

Separately, Mazda CX-30 SUVs and Mazda3 compacts are being recalled to check and “tighten the bolts on the front brakes” to reduce the risk of crash. The infamous Takata airbag recall is also still underway for a variety of models, including 2007-2015 CX-9 and Mazda6 models from 2003 to 2013.

How did this happen?

Unlike some recalls, which stem from design flaws, this one can be traced back to a single factory in Mexico where Mazda fuel tanks were assembled. The plant conducted an investigation and found that a worker did not finish connecting the hoses on the vehicles they worked on. It is unclear whether this one worker is responsible for the defect in all 12,097 vehicles. But all workers received additional training as a result of the failure.

Vehicle fires

The U.S. Fire Administration 2019 Report on Fire in the United States stated that equipment failures accounted for at least 20% of vehicle fires between 2009 and 2017. The number could be higher — in 24% of vehicle fires, the precise cause could not be determined (partly because many fires occur after a collision, and partly because fire has a handy way of destroying the evidence.)

Fuel is extremely flammable, which is why cars are built to keep it contained. Any situation where it is leaking poses a hazard to drivers.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, if a vehicle catches fire, the driver should:

Pull over as quickly as it is safe to do so, to a safe location off the road such as the breakdown lane or rest stop.
Once stopped, TURN OFF the engine.
GET everyone out of the car. Never return to a burning car for anything.
MOVE everyone at least 100 feet from the burning car and well away from traffic.

Is your vehicle affected by this recall?

Over 12,000 cars are included with this recall. Own a Mazda? Check for open recalls on your car using MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

Chrysler recalls 67,248 Jeep Cherokees over risk of stalling and rollaway

June 12, 2020 Joe Glaser Jeep Recalls

Pleasanton, CA – June 30, 2022 –Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (NYSE:FCAU) has remedied issues with 49,392 2014-2017 Jeep Cherokees that were dealing with parking problems caused by the transfer unit input splines breaking. Additionally, 1,266 of these models have been categorized as unreachable and 1,456 have been removed from the recall. Two groups of these 2014-2017 Jeep Cherokees with park brake issues were remedied in 2020, four groups were remedied in 2021, and one group during the first quarter of 2022.

Pleasanton, CA – June 12, 2020 –Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (NYSE:FCAU) recalled 67,248 Jeep Cherokees over a defective part that can cause the SUV to stall or lose its park function without a warning. Sudden stalls can lead to a collision, and losing park function means that a car parked on a slope could roll away, posing a risk to surrounding people and vehicles.

The recall includes 2014-2017 Jeep Cherokees with two specific four-wheel-drive systems called Jeep Active Drive II and Active Drive Lock.

Recall summary

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) started looking into the issue back in February based on the reports that Jeep Cherokees were stalling and losing their “park” function. The culprit turned out to be the Power Transfer Unit (PTU), which is a part of a car that transfers power from the engine and transmission to the wheels. As a result of a design flaw, a part of the PTU that has “teeth” may wear off, which may result “in a loss of engagement” with another part of the PTU. Because of that, Drive and Park may no longer function. The former leads to stalls, while the latter means that a parked vehicle will not stay put on a slope (unless its parking brake is engaged) posing a rollaway risk.

Newer Cherokees, which have stronger “teeth” on their PTU gears, are not part of the recall.

The risks

Anton Yelchin attends the 'Cymbeline' Photocall during the 71st Venice Film Festival on September 3, 2014 in Venice, Italy. — Actor Anton Yelchin was killed in “freak accident” on June 18th, 2016 when his Jeep Grand Cherokee rolled back and pinned him against a brick wall.

So far, there has been only one accident related to this recall. But, stalling while driving can be dangerous and cause collisions, as faster-moving vehicles may hit the car from behind. And rollaways are extremely hazardous. In 2016, Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin, for example, was killed when his 2015 Grand Cherokee rolled backward down his driveway and crushed him.

The fix

The repair offered by FCA is a software update that will prevent stalls and rollaways, and it should be available by September, according to an FCA’s recall center customer service representative. The company will reimburse owners who have already paid for a repair.

Is your vehicle affected by this recall?

Over 67,000 cars are part of this Chrysler recall. Check to see if your car is one of them at MotorSafety.org, where you can search for open recalls on your vehicle.

Another Honda fuel pump recall announced for popular Honda and Acura models

June 6, 2020 Joe Glaser Acura Recalls, Honda Recalls

Laguna Hills – June 6, 2020 – In the latest in a litany of 2020 Honda recalls, the automaker has recalled thousands of vehicles over a potentially-faulty fuel pump that could cause the cars to stall. But unlike the last recall, which only affected models with a certain V6 engine, this recall affects all the following models, regardless of engine:

2018-19 Acura NSX
2019 Acura RDX
2019 Acura RLX
2019 Acura RLX Hybrid
2018-19 Honda Accord
2018-19 Honda Civic
2019 Honda Fit
2018-19 Honda HR-V
2019-20 Honda Insight

Honda says 136,057 vehicles in America are affected; worldwide, over 1.4 million vehicles are hit by this recall. Honda will notify owners of the affected cars of the recall by the end of July, but owners can find out if their car is affected right now.

Fuel pump failure

A manufacturing defect could cause the fuel pump in the affected models to suddenly stop working, depriving the engine of fuel, and causing it to stall. This stall could happen at any speed, and entirely without warning.

Stalling can cause a loss of control

Like other defects that could cause a car to stall at highway speed, a faulty fuel pump poses a grave safety risk: not only is it possible you won’t be able to accelerate, you could also lose power steering, power brakes, and other systems that make your car much easier to drive than it otherwise would be. If your fuel pump fails, you will not be able to restart the car.

The safest thing to do is turn on your flashers and try to get out of the road. If traffic conditions do not permit you to do this, stay in your lane – you don’t want to block two lanes at once. Call 911 and stay in your car until help arrives, because your car isn’t going anywhere without a tow.

While Honda and Acura recall reports show no known accidents because of this defect, the possibility of a crash remains.

Honda recall history

While this is the first 2020 Honda recalls for the affected cars, other recalls have revealed other Honda safety issues. Earlier in 2020, fuel pumps in other cars were recalled, while in 2019, over 100,000 2019 Honda CR-V’s were recalled for potentially-dangerous air bags.

Get it fixed for free

Once parts become available, Honda will repair all the affected vehicles for free at any certified Honda or Acura service center. Owners of these vehicles are encouraged to proactively look up their VIN to find out if their vehicle is part of this recall.

Faulty Suspension Issue Prompts Toyota To Recall 2018-2019 RAV4 Vehicles

June 3, 2020 Joe Glaser Toyota Recalls

Laguna Hills, CA – March 20, 2022 –Toyota has remedied issues with 8,715 2018-2019 RAV4 models which were dealing with Front Lower Suspension Arms problems that may separate from the front wheel assembly. Additionally, 171 of these 2018-2019 Toyota RAV4 models have been categorized as unreachable and 13 have been removed from the recall. Two groups of these RAV4 vehicles were remedied in 2020 and Three others were remedied in 2021 due to these Lower Suspension Problems.

Laguna Hills, CA – Jun 03, 2020 –Toyota recalls 2018-2019 RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles because of cracks in the lower suspension arms. The cracks could result in the separation of the suspension arm from the front wheel assembly, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

Hazards Created by the Faulty Suspension

If there is a crack in the suspension arm, it could eventually cause the suspension arm to break from the front wheel assembly. Depending upon the depth of the crack on the front lower arm and the vehicle’s driving patterns, the driver could potentially lose control of the vehicle when driving at high speeds.

Crashes that occur when drivers are traveling at high speeds are more serious and usually result in more severe injuries if not death. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding was a factor in 9378 traffic-related deaths in 2018.

Upon discovering the problem with the cracks developing in some of the steel slabs, Toyota decided to conduct a voluntary recall of the vehicles for safety. Toyota’s records reveal that as of May 14, 2020, there are no known reported incidents related to the faulty RAV4 suspension issue, and no warranty claims have been filed.

Number of Vehicles Affected

Because only vehicles assembled with a specific slab of steel material from a specific supplier under certain production conditions contain the defect, Toyota does not know the actual number of the defected vehicles that exist.

Therefore, the 2020 Toyota recalls are based on the production records of the vehicles that could potentially be affected, which is a little more than 9,500 vehicles. The manufacture dates for the RAV4 vehicles are between September 25, 2019, and October 25, 2019. For the 2020 Toyota recalls, at least 1,000 of those RAV4 vehicles were distributed to Puerto Rico.

Toyota made a point to note that the RAV4 recalls do not apply to other Toyota or Lexus vehicles sold in the United States.

Other Toyota RAV4 Safety Issues

In 2019, the 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid sport utility vehicles were included in a recall for potentially defective brakes. More recently, owners should be reminded of the 2020 Toyota recalls relating to the fuel-tank issue.

Toyota is not the only manufacturer that seems to have problems with their suspension assemblies. Similar to the issue with the Toyota RAV4, Volkswagen recalled more that 7000 SUVs with defective suspension assemblies in 2018.

Toyota Not Yet Ready to Repair

Although a remedy is not yet available, Toyota estimates that RAV4 vehicle owners will be able to take their vehicle to any certified Toyota dealership to have the front lower suspension arms replaced as early as July 2020. To get the process started and locate a dealership near you, start by looking up your vehicle with the MotorSafety Vehicle Lookup Tool.

Watch Your Step! Chrysler Recalls RAM 2500 Pickups Over Failing Bed Step

May 15, 2020 Joe Glaser RAM Recalls

December 16, 2021 Update – Chrysler has remedied issues with 27,657 models including the 2019 and 2020 Ram 2500 pickup trucks and the Ram 3500 pickup trucks dealing with bed step failures. Additionally, 462 of these models have been categorized as unreachable and 134 have been removed from the recall. Two groups of Ram pickup truck models were remedied in 2020 and three were remedied in 2021 for bed steps that may cause failures when used with heavy loads.

Despite being a minor, non-mechanical problem compared to other stalling issues experienced by the Chrysler RAM 2500 and RAM 3500 pickup trucks, these truck owners should remove the platform step because it can fail unexpectedly during use.

Laguna Hills, CA – May 15, 2020 – Chrysler recalled a total of 37,580 2019 and 2020 Ram 2500 pickup trucks and Ram 3500 pickup trucks that have had issues with the bed step accessory. During heavy loading, the bed step can break leading to user injury.

Dangers of a Faulty Bed Step

Having a bed step is a convenient feature that makes it easier for the user to climb into the bed of the truck.

In Ram trucks, if too much pressure is applied to the bed step, such as when a user steps up while carrying a heavy item, it can cause the support brace holding the step in place to break. As of March 30, 2020, owners have filed a total of 27 warranty claims. While there are no reported injuries from the faulty steps, the risk of an eventual fall and injury is imminent without the recall in place.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), over nine million people went to the emergency room for treatment of an injury related to a fall in 2016. While the NSC considers a fall to be a preventable injury, it is largely unavoidable when it comes to faulty equipment.

Is Your Vehicle Affected?

Based on the production records, the recall consists of 25,822 Ram 2500 pickups. The manufacture dates of all the pickup trucks are between October 18, 2018, and March 1, 2020. The recall also includes 11,758 Ram 3500 pickup trucks manufactured between January 8, 2019, and March 1, 2020.

Replacement Bed Steps Are Currently Unavailable

Thus far, no repair for the bed step assembly is available. A letter sent to dealers by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) instructs them to remove the bed step assembly on all unsold vehicles. Chrysler will notify dealers when a new deployable bed step becomes available. At that time, the dealers will be able to contact the vehicle owners to bring their trucks in for the installation of a new bed step at no cost.

RAM 2500 safety issues

The owners of the Ram recall should be also aware of two previous Ram recalls. In March 2020, Chrysler recalled over 87,000 trucks because of a potential fire hazard caused by leaking transmission fluid on these RAM pickups.

The same trucks are also among 318,537 recalled vehicles because of a rear-view camera display image that remains on longer than ten seconds. The lingering display image in several models of Jeep SUVs could distract the driver and possibly contribute to a vehicular accident.

Scheduling a Repair

To locate a dealership near you to remove the bed step and avoid the danger of this faulty equipment, visit Motorsafety.org.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 27,000 vehicles are included in this Chrysler recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Chrysler Recalls Jeep, Ram, Dodge Vehicles to Fix Distracting Rear-View Camera

May 13, 2020 Joe Glaser Chrysler Recalls, Dodge Recalls, Jeep Recalls, RAM Recalls

Laguna Hills, CA – May 12, 2020 – Chrysler (NASDAQ: FCA) announced the recall of several models of Jeep SUVs, Ram pickup trucks, Dodge SUVs and Chrysler minivans equipped with 8.4” or 12” radio displays.

The recall includes the following models:

2020 Jeep Gladiator
2020 Jeep Cherokee
2019-2020 Ram 1500 Pickup
2019-2020 Ram 2500 Pickup
2019-2020 Ram 3500 Pickup
2019-2020 Chrysler Pacifica
2019-2020 Dodge Durango
2019-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2019-2020 Jeep Wrangler
2019-2020 Jeep Renegade
2019 Dodge Challenger

Recall Summary

Because of a software error, the rear-view camera image remains displayed after the vehicle shifts out of reverse, which could distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash.

In addition to the safety issue related to distracted driving, Chrysler initiated the recall to ensure vehicles meet federal standards that require rearview cameras to turn off within 10 seconds after shifting out of reverse.

The remedy will be available as early as May 22, 2020. The manufacturer will cover the cost to repair vehicles, which consists of a software update that could take up to a half day to repair at a certified service center.

Driving Risks

The rear-view camera potentially leads to a crash because once the driver shifts into drive, the vehicle is in forward motion while the navigation system displays an image in backward motion. If this were to happen while the driver pulls into traffic or an area with pedestrians, the risks of a crash increase.

The Threat Of Distracted Driving

According to the CDC, distracted drivers pose a serious problem that results in thousands of deaths each year. Several campaigns exist to bring more awareness to the problem, as well as April being designated as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

In both 2016 and 2017, over 3,000 people lost their lives in a motor vehicle crash involving distracted drivers.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – April 2019

In 2017, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) classified 9% of traffic facilities as distraction-affected crashes, which means the driver was distracted at the time of the crash. In both 2016 and 2017, over 3,000 people lost their lives in a motor vehicle crash involving distracted drivers.

Other Recent Recalls

Earlier this year, some 2018-2020 Jeep Wranglers and 2020 Jeep Gladiators were the subjects of a recall involving the manual transmission. The recall affected almost 30,000 Jeep Wranglers and over 3,400 Jeep Gladiators. In addition to the manual transmission recall, Jeep also recalled over 33,000 Jeep Gladiators because of a clutch defect.

Is Your Vehicle Affected By This Recall?

Over 318,000 cars are included with this Chrysler recall. To find out if your vehicle is one of them, visit MotorSafety.org, where you can search for open recalls on your vehicle, set up an appointment for any needed repairs, and sign up for automatic alerts so you know when your vehicle might be not safe to drive.

Chrysler Recalls Jeep Compass and Ram Vehicles for Wiper Malfunction

May 1, 2020 Joe Glaser Jeep Recalls, RAM Recalls

Laguna Hills, CA – May 1, 2020 – A nut that does not fit properly is causing some wiper blades to loosen and not work properly on potentially hundreds of thousands of Jeep Compass and Ram 1500 pickups. The fix is fast, simple, and free, NHTSA recall information says.

Jeep Compass SUVs manufactured from May 12, 2019, through March 3, 2020.
Ram 1500 and Ram 1500 Classic pickups built from April 28, 2019, through March 3, 2020.

A nut that does not fit properly might cause wiper blades to loosen and not work properly, which could impair driver vision. 425,588 vehicles recalled, including 316,626 Ram 1500 pickups and 108,962 Jeep Compass SUVs.

No matter how well you plan ahead, something incredibly simple can trigger big problems. That is why Fiat-Chrysler is recalling hundreds of thousands of pickups and SUVs due to an incorrect nut that enables wiper blades to loosen. If you drive a Jeep Compass SUV, Ram 1500, or Ram 1500 Classic that was built in the past two years, Fiat Chrysler recalls say you might have a pending problem with your windshield wiper blades. No accidents or injuries are know to exist due to the problem, Fiat-Chrysler says.

Why Loose Wiper Blades Are a Problem

When a wiper blade becomes loose, it does not provide the proper tension to work properly. Instead of cleanly wiping the windshield clean and providing clear vision, the wiper blades just smear fluid on the windshield and obscures vision. The lights of an oncoming vehicle could blind a driver, too. Jeep Compass recalls cite the same problem affecting Jeep Compass SUVs built in 2019 and 2020 that Ram cites for its pickups built during the same timeframe.

Incredibly Fast and Simple Fix

When it comes to the world of vehicle safety recalls, the fix could not be quicker or simpler. The solution is to tighten the nut just a quarter of a turn. That means you can get your wiper blades fixed quickly and ensure clear vision on rainy or snowy drives. They might even install new wiper blades.

Recent Jeep SUV, Ram Truck Recalls for Fire Risks

Jeep currently is recalling more than 33,000 Wranglers and Gladiators with manual transmissions due to a fire risk. The Jeeps built in 2018 through 2020 have clutch plates that might fail and leak fluid that might cause a fire. Ram recalls in 2019 targeted 498 heavy-duty Ram trucks for fire risk. The recall says the trucks have faulty fuel lines that might develop cracks and leak fuel. The leaking fuel might catch fire if it comes into contact with the exhaust manifold.

Search Recent Ram 1500 and Jeep Recalls

You can learn more about recalls for Jeep and Ram trucks at motorsafety.org and use the free vehicle recall search tool that lets you input your VIN and find out if any recalls affect your vehicle. Get peace of mind knowing whether or not these dangers exist. If they do, you can get a fix done quickly and at no cost to you.

Subaru recall targets faulty fuel pumps due to crash risk

April 30, 2020 Joe Glaser Subaru Recalls

Laguna Hills, CA – April 30, 2020 – An issue with a low-pressure fuel pump is causing some Subaru Outback, Ascent, Impreza, and Legacy models to stall and not restart or run roughly. That might lead to an accident, Subaru recalls say.

Deformed Impeller Prompts Recall

2019 Subaru Ascent, Impreza, Legacy, and Outback cars and SUVs
Low pressure fuel pump might stop working.
188,207 vehicles in the U.S. are recalled

A bad impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump could become deformed over time, the NHTSA recall notice says. The deformation could cause the impeller to jam inside the low-pressure fuel pump and disable it. If that happens, the “check engine” warning light or the “malfunction indicator” light on the dash might signal a problem. The Subaru also might run roughly if it does not stall. Restarts might become impossible, which increases the risk of a crash, Subaru of America says.

Subaru Specifies Recalled Models

The fuel pump recall does not apply to every car listed above. Subaru says it only applies to the following models when respective owners confirm it in advance. Doing so requires using the “Vehicle Coverage Inquiry” link at Subarunet.com. The number of Subaru recalls in the U.S. and their respective build dates are:

40,950 Ascent SUVs built from June 26, 2018, through Jan. 18, 2019
40,797 Impreza cars built from June 18, 2018, through Feb. 25, 2019
20,198 Subaru Legacy cars built from June 29, 2018, through Feb. 19, 2019
86,278 Subaru Outback cars built from June 29, 2018, through Feb. 19, 2019

Subaru says a limited supply of replacement fuel pumps will arrive soon to support the recall. Additional models are recalled in Canada, which pushes the total number recalled to more than 200,000 in North America.

New Fuel Pump Fixes the Problem

Subaru says the replacement fuel pumps will arrive soon in limited quantities. Once the replacement parts start arriving, Subaru will replace the faulty fuel pump with a new one after respective owners confirm the service online. It expects to start replacing the faulty Subaru fuel pumps on June 5. The matter has not caused any reported accidents or injuries, Subaru says.

Does This Recall Affect You?

To determine whether the Subaru fuel pump problem affects your vehicle, it is not enough to just know the make, model and year. The way to be completely sure is to look up your vehicle ID number (VIN) on our free lookup tool, and if there are any open recalls on your vehicle you will be able to connect with dealers who can repair the problem at no cost to you.

Recall summary

A harrowing experience for drivers

What to do if your brakes fail

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Driving risks

Another software update

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

How did this happen?

Vehicle fires

Is your vehicle affected by this recall?

Recall summary

The risks

The fix

Is your vehicle affected by this recall?

Fuel pump failure

Stalling can cause a loss of control

Honda recall history

Get it fixed for free

Hazards Created by the Faulty Suspension

Number of Vehicles Affected

Other Toyota RAV4 Safety Issues

Toyota Not Yet Ready to Repair

Dangers of a Faulty Bed Step

Is Your Vehicle Affected?

Replacement Bed Steps Are Currently Unavailable

RAM 2500 safety issues

Scheduling a Repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall Summary

Driving Risks

The Threat Of Distracted Driving

Other Recent Recalls

Is Your Vehicle Affected By This Recall?

Why Loose Wiper Blades Are a Problem

Incredibly Fast and Simple Fix

Recent Jeep SUV, Ram Truck Recalls for Fire Risks

Search Recent Ram 1500 and Jeep Recalls

Deformed Impeller Prompts Recall

Subaru Specifies Recalled Models

New Fuel Pump Fixes the Problem

More Stalling Problems for Subaru

Does This Recall Affect You?

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