Ford issues second recall of E-Series vans over power steering issue 

Dearborn, MI  – March 11, 2024 – Ford (NYSE:F) is recalling 16,543 vehicles over a problem with the power steering feature, which may up the risk of a crash.

This is the second recall for the issue that comes on the back of hundreds of warranty claims and one accident. Vehicles that were previously repaired “will need a new remedy” performed.

The recall covers the following models: 

  • 2021 – 2022 Ford E-350
  • 2021 – 2022 Ford E-450

Recall summary  

The power steering and brake boost systems in cars are interconnected thanks to a power steering pump which supplies fluid to both systems, enabling their function.

In the affected vehicles, a faulty connection between the power steering pressure line and the brake Hydroboost unit could result in either a “leak or sudden loss of power steering fluid.”        

Recall risks

Insufficient or loss of power steering fluid can make the vehicle much harder to steer and brake during use, compromising drivability and upping the risk of a crash.  

Other Ford recalls

In December 2023, Ford recalled close to 190,000 Mustangs over reduced braking capability, as reported.

In January 2024, Ford issued a recall for Maverick pickups because of faulty turn signals, also as reported.  

Background of the recall 

Ford initially recalled more than 44,000 E-Series vehicles equipped with dual rear wheels in February 2022 due to a power steering fluid leak issue. The company opened an investigation in August 2023 after receiving reports that the problem remained on vehicles that were previously repaired.

Ford has recorded one accident that may be related to the issue and received 628 warranty claims leading up to the recall. No injuries have been reported.

The repair

Dealers will replace the appropriate power steering and brake booster components free of charge. Ford will reimburse owners who paid for their own repairs prior to the recall being issued.

Owners will be notified by March 29, 2024. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 16,000 vehicles are affected by this Ford power steering 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 issues second recall of E-Series vans over power steering issue 

Stellantis recalls Jeep Grand Cherokee, Wrangler over reduced visibility

Auburn Hills, MI  – March 4, 2024 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), which owns the Jeep brand, is recalling 199,143 plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) due to an issue with the windshield defrosting system, which may up the risk of a crash. 

The following models are affected by this recall: 

  • 2022 – 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 
  • 2021 – 2024 Jeep Wrangler

Recall summary  

Jeep PHEVs are controlled by a computer called the hybrid control processor (HCP) that receives inputs such as speed, and uses them to “manage the system energy” and control vehicles’ drivability. 

In the affected vehicles, an HCP software error may cause the windshield defrosting/defogging system to malfunction.   

Recall risks

The defect can reduce visibility when the vehicle is being driven in rain or snow, increasing the risk of a crash and injury. 

Other Stellantis recalls

The 2022–2023 Jeep Wrangler was part of 6,298 vehicles recalled in October 2023, over issues with the rearview camera and reverse lights, as reported.

In December 2023, Stellantis also recalled 32,136 2021–2023 Jeep Wrangler hybrids because of an increased risk of fire.

The repair

Dealers will update the HCP software free of charge. Stellantis will reimburse owners who paid for their own repairs free of charge.

Owners will receive letters with more information on April 5, 2024. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

Almost 200,00 SUVs are affected by this Jeep windshield defroster 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 Grand Cherokee, Wrangler over reduced visibility

GM issues recall for pickups over faulty tailgates

Warren, MI – February 23, 2024 – General Motors (NYSE:GM), which owns the Chevrolet brand, is recalling 323,232 pickups because their tailgates may open while the vehicles are in motion.

The recall comes on the back of multiple complaints and an injury and covers the following models:

  • 2020 – 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  • 2020 – 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
  • 2020 – 2024 Chevrolet Sierra 2500
  • 2020 – 2024 Chevrolet Sierra 3500

Recall summary

In the affected models, water may find its way into these the gate-release tailgate switch, causing a short circuit. 

This may result in the tailgate opening while the vehicle is in Park. If the driver does not latch it before driving off, “cargo in the bed of the truck may exit the vehicle and become a road hazard.”

Recall risks

All risks caused by a defective tailgate lock are explained in this article about a similar Ford recall. 

Background of the recall

The recall comes on the heels of 136 complaints. One minor injury and “three complaints of minor property damage” were identified as well.

Other Chevrolet recalls

In December 2023, GM recalled Chevrolet and Buick cars because the digital instrument cluster would suddenly switch off, leaving drivers without important information while operating the vehicle.  

Last month, GM recalled Bolt electric vehicles over a risk of fire following a crash, as reported.

The repair

Dealers will replace the affected part with one that has improved protection against water. The repairs will be free of charge, and GM will reimburse owners who paid for their own repairs prior to the issuance of the recall.

Owners will receive letters with more information by March 18, 2024. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 323,000 vehicles are affected by this Chevrolet tailgate recall. To do a Chevrolet recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloGM issues recall for pickups over faulty tailgates

Honda recalls 750,000 cars with airbags that may hurt children

Torrance, CA – February 20, 2024 – Honda (NYSE:HMC), which also owns the Acura brand, is recalling 750,114 vehicles due to incorrect airbags deploying in a crash, potentially increasing the risk of injury to certain occupants. The recall comes on the back of several thousand warranty claims and covers some of the following vehicles:

  • 2020–2022 Honda Accord
  • 2020–2021 Honda Accord Hybrid
  • 2020–2022 Honda Civic 
  • 2021 Honda Civic Type R
  • 2020–2021 Honda CR-V
  • 2020–2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid
  • 2020–2022 Honda Odyssey
  • 2020–2022 Honda Pilot
  • 2020–2021 Honda Ridgeline
  • 2020 Acura MDX
  • 2022 Acura MDX
  • 2020 Acura RDX
  • 2022 Acura RDX

Recall summary  

Cars typically have a sensor on the seats that determines the occupant’s weight and prevents the airbags from deploying if the minimum weight requirement is not met, such as in the case of a child or a person weighing less than 108 lbs.

In the affected cars, the front passenger seat weight sensor “may crack and short-circuit,” allowing the airbag to deploy regardless of the occupant weight. The defect is caused by a supplier error.

The full list of the affected models is available here.

Recall risks

All risks caused by defective front passenger airbags are explained in this article about a similar Tesla recall. 

Warning signs

Users may notice the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) warning light activated on the dashboard, with the passenger airbag indicator turned off.  

Background of the recall

Leading up to the recall, the manufacturer received 3,834 warranty claims. No injuries have been reported.

Other Honda recalls

In July 2023, Honda also issued a recall for almost 1.2 million vehicles on account of a rearview camera issue, as reported.  

In December 2023, the manufacturer recalled Acura, Odyssey, Pilot and Ridgeline cars that may stall or catch fire, also as reported.

The repair

Dealers will replace the seat weight sensor on all affected models with a component that uses the original material. The repairs are free of charge, and Honda will reimburse owners who paid for their own repairs prior to the recall..  

Owners will receive letters with more information on March 18, 2024. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 750,000 vehicles are affected by this Honda front passenger airbag recall. To do a Honda recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloHonda recalls 750,000 cars with airbags that may hurt children

GM issues another recall for exploding airbag inflators 

Warren, MI  – February 5, 2024 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) is recalling 20,712 sedans over roof-rail airbag inflators that may rupture upon deployment and injure the car occupants.

This is an expansion of an earlier recall issued by the automaker in September 2023.

The following vehicles are affected by this recall: 

  • 2014 Buick Verano 
  • 2014 Chevrolet Cruze

Recall summary  

Also called side curtain airbags, the roof-rail airbags (RRAB) are mounted on the roof rails above the vehicle’s headliner, which is material that sticks to the car roof on the inside.

In the event of an impact on the vehicle’s roof, the airbags are triggered by inflators welded to the rails.  

In the affected vehicles, a manufacturing defect could introduce contaminants to the airbag inflator chamber. This may cause the metal inflator inside the bag to explode, hurling shrapnel at the occupants or surrounding motorists.

Recall risks

The risks of exploding metal inflators were previously described in articles regarding the eerily similar Takata airbag issue.

Background of the recall

The automaker issued the first recall for this issue in September of last year. In December, it found additional vehicles that had the same defect, prompting the present recall.  No injuries or ruptures have been identified in connection with the current recall.

Other General Motors recalls

In April 2023, GM recalled 40,428 pickups over a problem with the brake system design, which could lead to a higher risk of fire.

In December 2023, GM also recalled 60,154 crossover SUVs spanning the Buick and Chevrolet lines due to the digital instrument cluster switching off while the vehicles were in use.  

The repair

Dealers will replace the RRAB modules in the affected units free of charge, reimbursing owners who paid for their own repairs before the recall notice was issued. 

Owners will receive letters with more information by February 5, 2024. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 20,000 sedans are affected by this GM roof-rail airbag recall. To do a GM recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloGM issues another recall for exploding airbag inflators 

Toyota recalls close to million cars over airbag defect

Plano, TX  – January 22, 2024 – Toyota (NYSE:TM), which also owns the Lexus brand,  is recalling 999,901 vehicles over a problem with a passenger airbag that could prevent it from being deployed in the event of a collision. This ups the risk of an injury.

The recall comes on the heels of over 1,000 warranty claims and includes some of the following vehicles:

  • 2020 – 2021 Toyota Avalon 
  • 2020 – 2021 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
  • 2020 – 2022 Toyota Camry
  • 2020 – 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  • 2020 – 2021 Toyota Corolla
  • 2020 – 2022 Toyota Highlander
  • 2020 – 2022 Lexus ES Hybrid
  • 2020 – 2021 Lexus RX Hybrid

Recall summary  

The airbags in Toyota and Lexus vehicles use the so-called Occupant Classification System (OCS), which is an array of sensors designed to classify the weight of the front seat passenger. The OCS information determines whether the airbag should be deployed.

In the affected vehicles, the circuit board where the OCS sits was cracked during production. This may result in the short circuit and prevent the deployment of the front passenger airbag.

The full list of the affected vehicles is available here.

Recall risks

All risks caused by non-inflating airbags are explained in this article about a similar recall by Ford.   

Warning signs

In the event of the airbag failure, the driver should see the “the SRS warning lamp” and “Passenger Airbag OFF” lamp illuminate, among other warnings.

Background of the recall

The recall is a result of 1,194 warranty claims and 27 field reports. It is not clear if any injuries or crashes have been reported because of the defect.

Other Toyota recalls

In August 2023, Toyota and Lexus hybrid SUVs were recalled over the risk of fire from damage caused by “supplier issues.” 

In November 2023, Toyota recalled over three quarters of a million of SUVs over the risk of the front bumpers falling off “during normal operation.”

The repair

Dealers will replace the OCS sensors in the affected units free of charge. Owners will receive letters with more information by February 18, 2024.

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

Almost 1 million vehicles are affected by this Toyota front passenger airbag recall. To do a Toyota recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloToyota recalls close to million cars over airbag defect

Ford recalls Maverick pickups over faulty turn signal warning 

Dearborn, MI  – January 12, 2024 – Ford (NYSE:F) has issued a recall for 189,814 2022-2024 Maverick pickups for their failure to warn drivers when the vehicles’ turn signal lamps stop working. This ups the risk of a crash and injury.

Recall summary  

The Ford Maverick rear lights use two turn signal bulbs on each side. A computer called the Body Control Module (BCM) controls these bulbs, such that when a turn signal bulb on one side is not working, the second bulb will flash more quickly, accompanied by a dashboard warning to alert the driver of the first bulb’s failure.  

In the affected vehicles, the BCM’s software is unable to detect when a bulb failure occurs. As a result, the other working bulb will continue to flash at the normal rate.

Recall risks

Other road users may also not be alerted when the vehicle makes a turn or lane change, augmenting the risk of a crash and injury.   

Other Ford recalls

In June 2023, Ford recalled more than 175,000 2021–2023 Bronco SUVs over unusable front seat belt latches, as reported.

In September 2023, Ford recalled over 8,000 2023 Edge SUVs because of excessively bright headlights that could blind oncoming drivers at night, also as reported.

The repair

Dealers will fix the issue by reconfiguring the BCM in the affected vehicles free of charge. Ford will reimburse owners who paid for their own repairs before the recall announcement.

Owners will receive letters with more information by January 5, 2024. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

Almost 190,000 vehicles are affected by this Ford turn signal 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 Maverick pickups over faulty turn signal warning 

Lamborghini recalls Huracan sports cars over wrong headlamp software 

Bologna, Italy  – January 22, 2024 –  Lamborghini (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) has announced a recall for 7,805 2015-2024 Huracan sports cars over a problem with headlamp adjustment, which could increase the risk of a crash when driving at night. 

The recall is similar to another one conducted last year for the virtually same issue.

Recall summary  

Outside of the U.S, the lighting system on these cars is equipped with software that allows users to adjust the horizontal position of the headlamp for left-hand driving. 

Due to a manufacturer error, the affected vehicles sold in the U.S. had this feature installed. This may lead to the headlamps being “improperly adjusted.”   

Recall risks

The risks of improperly adjusted headlamps are explained in this article about a similar recall by Subaru.

Background of the recall

Lamborghini previously recalled 4,796 Huracans in February 2022 over a similar issue, caused by a missing cap that allowed users to adjust the headlight beam beyond the allowed settings. 

Other Lamborghini recalls

There are no other major Lamborghini recalls for the affected vehicles at this time.

The repair

Dealers will update the vehicle software to disable horizontal headlamp adjustment free of charge.

Owners will receive letters with more information  by February 1, 2024. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

Almost 8,000 cars are affected by this Lamborghini headlamp recall. To do a Lamborghini recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloLamborghini recalls Huracan sports cars over wrong headlamp software 

Ford recalls Mustangs due to reduced braking performance

Dearborn, MI  – December 4, 2023 – Ford (NYSE:F) is recalling 187,922 2020-2023 Mustang vehicles, as they may fail to warn the driver when the brake fluid level is low. This could impact braking performance and augment the risk of a crash.

Recall summary  

A computer called the Body Control Module (BCM) is normally hardwired to the brake fluid sensor and illuminates the “red brake warning indicator” when the fluid is getting low.

In the affected vehicles, the BCM is incorrectly linked to a different communications network, which may result in the BCM not activating the indicator when the fluid is running out.

Recall risks

Failure to top up braking fluid may lead to “softer” brakes and longer stopping distances, which augment the risk of a crash.

In more severe cases, the loss can result in inoperative brakes, as reported.

Other Ford recalls

In July 2023, Ford issued a recall for 14,452 Fusion plug-in hybrid vehicles due to a battery problem that can increase the likelihood of engine stalls or fire.  

In August 2023, Ford recalled a number of models including the Escape and the F-Series pickup due to faulty instrument panels.  

The repair

Dealers will fix the issue by reconfiguring the BCM on the affected vehicles free of charge. The automaker will reimburse the customers who paid for their repairs prior to the recall being issued.

Owners will receive letters with more information by December 8, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

Over 180,000 vehicles are affected by this Ford brake fluid 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 Mustangs due to reduced braking performance

Stellantis recalls new Jeep Wagoneer SUVs over ‘defective’ seat belts  

Auburn Hills, MI  – November 7, 2023 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), which owns the Jeep brand, is recalling 97,066 vehicles over a problem with the third-row seat belt buckles. This increases the risk of a crash and injury. 

The supplier behind the recall is also the culprit of multiple other recalls related to seat belts.

The following vehicles are affected: 

  • 2022 – 2024 Jeep Grand Wagoneer 
  • 2022 – 2024 Jeep Wagoneer

Recall summary  

In the affected models, the buckle for the third-row seat belts may be damaged or otherwise inaccessible. This means that third-row occupants may be unable to use the seat belts.    

Recall risks

Failure to use the seat belt while the vehicle is in motion ups the risk of injury to occupants in the event of a crash. 

Background of the recall

The supplier behind this recall is a Swedish-American parts manufacturer Autoliv, which was also recently implicated in a series of recalls related to faulty child seat locking mechanism, as reported.

It was also behind a recent Rivian recall caused by a faulty passenger seat belt that could prevent the airbag from being deployed.

Other Stellantis recalls

In August 2023, Jeep also recalled Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models over a problem with the side curtain airbags, which could fail to deploy in the event of a crash.   

In October 2023, Jeep issued a recall for the Gladiator and Wrangler models because of issues with the reverse camera and reverse lights.  

The repair

Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt buckle on the affected models, where necessary. Stellantis will reimburse owners who paid for their own repairs prior to the recall.

Owners should be notified by December 15, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 97,000 SUVs are affected by this Jeep seat belt buckle 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 new Jeep Wagoneer SUVs over ‘defective’ seat belts