mearley

Audi’s May Lose Steering Control

Audi’s May Lose Steering Control

March 25, 2020 Marshall Earley


Laguna Hills, CA – March 25, 2020 – Volkswagen Group of American, Inc. is recalling 2019 Audi Q8 vehicles and 2017-2019 Audi Q7 vehicles.

  • A manufacturing defect in the 2019 Audi Q8 and 2017-2019 Audi Q7 vehicles may cause drivers to lose ability to control steering. 
  • Bolts connecting both the steering gear and the steering shaft may loosen, resulting in a loss of steering control.
  • There have been three reported field incidents surrounding the recall, but no reported injuries. 

The defect

If you have been having trouble using your steering wheel on your Audi vehicles then your car may be under this recall. Vehicle owners experiences remain the same across the board – the steering wheel becomes unresponsive during the vehicle’s operation.

One Audi Q7 owner in Toronto, outlined his experience when his “steering wheel suddenly stiffened and locked.” In March 2018 he wrote, “Sometime about 2 months ago, while driving in local streets, my steering wheel suddenly stiffened and locked.

Let me explain… imagine your car is off and your steering wheel doesn’t move – the “lock” feeling is kind of like that! The “stiffening” feeling is what leads up to that.”

Don’t worry, there have been no injuries associated with this recall – but if not fixed, the problem could be a serious risk to your safety and the safety of other vehicles.

Even if you have not had problems with the steering assembly on your vehicle, it would be better safe than sorry to check the VIN of your vehicle for specific recalls.

Volkswagen aware of the problem

Volkswagen first received reports of certain incidents involving the steering wheels back in February 2019. The steering wheel in the incidents reported to Volkswagen seemed to be overly loose, leaving room for excessive play when the drivers tried to turn the wheel.

Excessive play here means that regularly a slight turn of the wheel to the right would have turned the vehicle slightly to the right, but now a drastic turn of the steering wheel will only slightly turn the vehicle in that direction.

Although this is the first incident that Volkswagen chose to report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it seems that Audi’s have been having a couple of problems before that.

In 2006, a customer in Mexico reported that their Audi A6 had a few malfunctions with the steering wheel’s more technical features. All buttons on the steering wheel, including volume control and the car horn, stopped working entirely.

Ten years later, another customer experienced the same problem, writing in the online forum Audizine, “My steering wheel controls such as the volume control and track change function don’t work.”

2016 seemed to be a year filled with steering wheel issues for Audi Q7 and Q8 models, for multiple other owners wrote to online forums complaining of “hard/stiff steering”.

This correlates more to what March 9, 2020’s recall is referring to – a bolt that was not tightened enough causing the steering to either stiffen up or become too loose. Either way, if your vehicle is affected Volkswagen and Audi will fix your Audi vehicle free of charge.

The best steps forward are to check Motorsafety.org for any other repairs that may be needed on your Audi Q8 and Audi Q7 vehicles. This is not the first recall for this vehicle.

Just last year Audi Q8 vehicles were also recalled due to another problem with suspension and vehicle steering. However, most Audi recalls in the past several years have been unrelated to steering issues.

Kelly Blue Book wrote that most Audis in the recent past have been “recalled for Violations of the EPA Clean Air Act over excessive diesel emissions, while others have been recalled for faulty Takata airbag inflators.”

The solution

Although Audi has issued recalls on previous vehicles they are mostly unrelated to the steering mechanism. If you would like to check the specifics of recalls on your vehicle, use your VIN number and Motorsafety.org will be able to find all recalls relating to your car.

For more information on this or other recalls past or present, visit MotorSafety.org.

—————————————————————————————————————

About MotorSafety.org

MotorSafety.org is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to vehicle safety and assisting consumers with the identification and resolution of vehicle manufacturing recalls and defects. Through education, awareness, government relations, repair facility referrals and strategic partnerships, MotorSafety.org hopes to remove every unsafe vehicle from the road, facilitate its proper repair, and ensure its prompt return to the owner once the vehicle has met the required safety and performance standards. For more information about MotorSafety.org, please email support@motorsafety.org.

Marshall EarleyAudi’s May Lose Steering Control
Infiniti Rear Seat Belts May Not Lock

Infiniti Rear Seat Belts May Not Lock

March 13, 2020 Marshall Earley


Laguna Hills, CA – March 16, 2020 – Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Infiniti Q60 vehicles that could be installed with a rear seat belt assembly that will not lock properly in the event of a crash. If the rear seat belt mechanism does not properly restraint the occupant, this could lead to a serious risk of injury. 

  • 2020 Infiniti Q60 vehicles rear seat belt assemblies may not lock properly in the event of a crash. 
  • The approximate number of affected Infiniti vehicles is 450, but could be higher as the specifics of the recall are still under investigation. 

There have been no reported cases or injuries reports to Nissan North America, Inc

The Defect

Nissan North America is recalling 2020 Infiniti Q60 vehicles that are equipped with rear seat belt assemblies with a dual-mode locking mechanism that will not properly restrain the vehicle’s occupant during a crash. The original rear seat belt assemblies were supplied by Joyson Safety Symptoms (JSS). During the manufacturing of these rear seat belts with dual locking mechanisms, a specific spring that is installed inside the webbing sensor could be placed incorrectly. If the spring is placed incorrectly in the dual locking mechanism (consisting of the webbing sensor and a G-sensor) then the spring could possibly inhibit other functions of the webbing sensor, causing the locking mechanism to malfunction. Joyson Safety Systems has identified 450 possible rear seat belt assemblies that could have been installed in a number of Infiniti Q60 vehicles.


In September 2019, JSS notified Nissan of the possible malfunction involving the rear seat belt assemblies and the dual-locking mechanism webbing sensor. Nissan did not see probable cause as to alert the public of risk, citing that the webbing sensor was a secondary mechanism to the G-sensor in the dual-locking mechanisms. Nissan conducted an internal report to investigate the compliance with FMVSS and found that the assessed issue brought to their attention by JSS was not of comparable risk to safety. December 2019 through February 2020, Nissan decided to review reports surrounding other Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) decisions to recall their vehicles that were installed with faulty seat belt mechanisms. On February 28, 2020 , JSS alerted Nissan of its decision, after careful monitoring of other OEM defect reports, to submit a formal Defect Information Report. On March 9, 2020 Nissan decided to conduct a voluntary recall of the rear seat belt assemblies with dual-locking mechanisms provided by JSS. Nissan will notify vehicle owners asking them to bring their vehicle into any Nissan or Infiniti dealership for inspection of the rear seat belt dual-locking mechanism. If the assembly needs to be replaced it will be done free of charge. If vehicle owners have any questions they are welcome to call Nissan customer service at 1 (800) 647-7261.

For more information on this or other recalls past or present, visit MotorSafety.org.

Marshall EarleyInfiniti Rear Seat Belts May Not Lock
Jeep Recalls 33,000+ Wranglers and Gladiators Due to Fire Risk

Jeep Recalls 33,000+ Wranglers and Gladiators Due to Fire Risk

March 9, 2020 Marshall Earley

re: NHTSA campaign 20V124000

Laguna Hills, CA – March 3, 2020 – Jeep recalls all 2018 – 2020 manual transmission Wranglers and 2020 manual transmission Gladiators due to a clutch issue.

Gladiator owners may be at particular risk since Jeep has also issued a recall on 2020 models for a rear driveshaft installation error. The clutch recall affects 33,237 vehicles and includes a stop sell order to dealerships, halting sales pending a repair for the issue.

The signs of a failing clutch pressure plate

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles first became aware of a potential safety issue in late 2019. Customer reports indicated early warning signs like extra movement in the clutch pedal and a burning smell. Any change in the feel of the clutch pedal while driving can be an indicator of future trouble.

Driving risks

Too much friction between the pressure plate and the clutch can cause the plate to fracture, potentially releasing hot metal pieces into the engine and undercarriage.

If those pieces hit the gas tank, a sudden fire is possible. Other risks include dropping debris on the road and a sudden loss of power at the wheel, which increases the risk of a crash.

Currently, this defect has resulted in one minor injury and 35 warranty claims related to clutch failure, according to the NHTSA Safety Recall Report. To date, the default has caused no known traffic accidents.

Manufacturer policies to repair recalled vehicles

FCA US has policies in place for car owners that may have paid for repairs out of pocket. Reimbursement is typically available when the vehicle owner submits a copy of the repair receipt for any repairs later subject to a recall.

FCA US has a history of slow repairs and delayed responses to repair reports, but a $105M fine issued in 2015 has sped up the repair cycle.

Scheduling a repair

Any Jeep-certified service center can complete repairs. There is no charge for service on Chrysler recalls. Prevent a Jeep Wrangler fire and find out if your vehicle is part of the recall at MotorSafety.org.

—————————————————————————————————————

About MotorSafety.org

MotorSafety.org is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to vehicle safety and assisting consumers with the identification and resolution of vehicle manufacturing recalls and defects. Through education, awareness, government relations, repair facility referrals and strategic partnerships, MotorSafety.org hopes to remove every unsafe vehicle from the road, facilitate its proper repair, and ensure its prompt return to the owner once the vehicle has met the required safety and performance standards. For more information about MotorSafety.org, please email support@motorsafety.org.

Marshall EarleyJeep Recalls 33,000+ Wranglers and Gladiators Due to Fire Risk
Blower Motor Used to Replace Original in Ford Ranger’s May Short

Blower Motor Used to Replace Original in Ford Ranger’s May Short

March 9, 2020 Marshall Earley

re: NHTSA campaign 20V137000

Laguna Hills, CA – March 9, 2020 – Replacement blower motors installed in 2019 Ford Ranger vehicles may electrically short and increase the risk of vehicle fire.

The potential number of affected vehicles is 5,384.

The Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Ford Ranger vehicles that had been previously replaced with a new blower motor to comply with recall 19V-726. The replacement HVAC (Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning) blower motor may be installed with a faulty clearance area that sits between an electrical terminal and the conductive plate at the base of the motor. If the clearance area is improperly assembled this will result in a electrical short that could cause an internal engine fire. The original dates of replacement in compliance with recall 19V-726 was October 9, 2019 through November 22, 2019 – any 2019 Rangers replacement with HVAC motors during this period are at higher risk for this particular recall.

On October 9, 2019, Field Service Action 19S34 was approved in regards to 2019 Ford Ranger vehicles overheating, melting or smoking due to HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning) blower motors that did not function properly. The Field Service Action revealed to the Ford Action Committee that the recalled blower motors were assembled and stamped with a build date code of June 14, 2019 through September 22, 2019. On October 30, 2019, a Ford dealership received a replacement blower motor with a suspect build date code. This was followed by five other manufacturers and dealerships reporting that they had also received blow motors with suspect build date codes. Ford decided to investigate, and a Tier 2 supplier found that 300 blower motors that were built within the suspect dates were not properly quarantined and shipped to a Tier 1 supplier then distributed among dealers. This information was brought to the Ford Critical Concern Review Group (CCRG) who decided on November 5, 2019 to launch a campaign whose efforts would help to locate all of the distributed blower motors. By February 21, 2020 93 of the suspected 300 blower motors had been located. Ford Motors decided to test approximately 30 of the found 93 blower motors for electrical continuity issues. Of the 30 tests, five blower motors indicated an improper space between one electrical conduit and the electrical conductive base plate installed in the motor. After the results of these tests were finalized Ford decided to issue a field action and part recall for blower motors used to replace previously recalled motors under FSA 19S34. The FSA approval dates of the suspected blower motors installation is between October 9, 2019 through November 22, 2019.

Solution

Any owners whose 2019 Ford Rangers HVAC blower motors were repaired under FSA 19S34 from October 9, 2019 through November 22, 2019 will be notified by mail as soon as possible. Ford will instruct the owners to bring their vehicle into a Ford or Lincoln dealerships to have the HVAC blower motor build date code inspected. If the build date code is within the timeframe that the recalled motors were shipped out then the HVAC motor will be replaced, free of charge. Vehicle owners with further questions should contact Ford Customer Service at 1 (800) 392-3673.

For more information on this or other recalls past or present, visit MotorSafety.org.

—————————————————————————————————————

About MotorSafety.org

MotorSafety.org is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to vehicle safety and assisting consumers with the identification and resolution of vehicle manufacturing recalls and defects. Through education, awareness, government relations, repair facility referrals and strategic partnerships, MotorSafety.org hopes to remove every unsafe vehicle from the road, facilitate its proper repair, and ensure its prompt return to the owner once the vehicle has met the required safety and performance standards. For more information about MotorSafety.org, please email support@motorsafety.org.

Marshall EarleyBlower Motor Used to Replace Original in Ford Ranger’s May Short
Sonata Low Pressure Fuel Pump May Overheat And Crack

Sonata Low Pressure Fuel Pump May Overheat And Crack

February 28, 2020 Marshall Earley

re: NHTSA campaign 20V121000

Laguna Hills, CA – June 30, 2022 – Hyundai has remedied 117,574 2013-2014 Hyundai Sonata that was dealing with fuel leaking issues caused by a crack in the low-pressure fuel hose. Additionally, 8,451 of these Hyundai Sonota models have been identified as unreachable and 22,412 have been retired after the recall. Two groups of these 2013 – 2014 Hyundai sonatas with fuel leak issues were remedied in 2020, four groups were remedied in 2021, and one group during the first quarter of 2022.

Laguna Hills, CA – February 28, 2020 – 2013-2014 Hyundai Sonata low-pressure fuel hose may crack and leak due to high temperatures around the engine. If the low-pressure fuel pump overheats it may crack and leak fuel, increasing the risk of fire and inhibiting the ability to operate the vehicle normally.

The potential number of affected units is 206,896.

The defect

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) has recalled over 200,000 2013-2014 Hyundai Sonatas whose low-pressure fuel pumps may crack and leak fuel when subjected to high temperatures. The low-pressure hose connects the low-pressure fuel pump to the direct injection fuel pump. If the low-pressure hose cracks, fuel may leak from the hose and cause a fire. A slight fuel smell may develop if the fuel hose starts to leak, if vehicle occupants start to smell fuel they are advised to stop operation of the vehicle immediately and have the vehicle inspected.

In November 2016, Hyundai Motor America (HMA) decided to conduct an investigation into previous reports concerning a fuel leak in certain model year 2013 Sonata vehicles. Of the previously recorded incidents, none of them indicated engine fire, smoke, or any time of burning odor. Hyundai decided to issue a Quality Information Report (“QIR”) and open an examination into the potential for the leak to cause an engine compartment fire. From December 2016 to April 2017, Hyundai continued to investigate the previously reported incidents as well as new field reports. The new incidents were similar to previously recorded ones – a fuel leak without any evidence of an engine compartment fire. In May 2017, HMA finalized their investigation and decided that the fuel leak in the low-pressure fuel hose was too small to ignite an engine compartment fire. Formally closing the investigation, HMA decided to continually motor field reports from vehicle owners. In February 2020, HMA received news from Kia Motors America that they were to recall certain vehicles that were made with the same fuel pumps as the previously examined Sonata vehicles. Kia Motors America issued a safety recall in the U.S. on certain vehicles whose low-pressure fuel lead line may creak and leak fuel, increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire. Although HMA received no reports of an engine compartment fire in their vehicles, they decided on February 25, 2020, to issue a formal safety recall on 2013-2014 Sonata vehicles with cracked fuel pumps.

The solution

The current remedy to this recall is under investigation. Most likely it will entail a patch to the crack in the lead to the fuel pump or the installation of a completely new fuel pump, but the information provided by HMA is limited. Once the remedy has been decided upon, it will be performed at no charge. If customers have any further questions they are welcome to contact Hyundai customer service at 1 (800) 633-5151.

For more information on this or other recalls past or present, visit MotorSafety.org.

—————————————————————————————————————

About MotorSafety.org

MotorSafety.org is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to vehicle safety and assisting consumers with the identification and resolution of vehicle manufacturing recalls and defects. Through education, awareness, government relations, repair facility referrals and strategic partnerships, MotorSafety.org hopes to remove every unsafe vehicle from the road, facilitate its proper repair, and ensure its prompt return to the owner once the vehicle has met the required safety and performance standards. For more information about MotorSafety.org, please email support@motorsafety.org.

Marshall EarleySonata Low Pressure Fuel Pump May Overheat And Crack
Daytime Running Lights in Certain Ford Trucks Are Not Dimming Properly

Daytime Running Lights in Certain Ford Trucks Are Not Dimming Properly

February 21, 2020 Marshall Earley

re: NHTSA campaign 20V097000

Laguna Hills, CA – Jul 20, 2022 – Ford (NYSE:F) has remedied issues with 109.567 2018-2020 Ford F150 trucks that were dealing with headlight dimming problems. Additionally, 912 of these Ford F150 trucks were categorized as unreachable and 6 were removed from the recall. Four groups of these 2018-2020 Ford F150 trucks were remedied in 2020 and two groups was remedied in 2022 for these daytime running light dimming issues. 

Laguna Hills, CA – Feb 6, 2020 – Certain Ford Trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps may not dim properly which could result in impaired visibility to other drivers. 

The total number of affected vehicles is 166,196.

The Defect

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling 2018-2020 F-150 trucks installed with LED headlamps capable of Autolamp functions that do not properly dim. Owners of affected trucks installed with the recalled Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) could possibly impair the vision of other drivers if not aware of the defect. The Daytime Running Lamps were noticed to not properly dim to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) has been switched from the default setting (Autolamps) to the setting “Headlamps On”. 

Attention was brought to the possible recall by a customer’s observation. In October 2019, the owner of a Ford F-150 truck observed that certain DRL capabilities were exhibited unexpectedly (not properly turning on/off or dimming). Ford’s Critical Concerns Review Group (CCRG) decided to consult the vehicle owner’s claims for an overview of possible product malfunction. CCRG observed that the assembly of 2018-2020 F-150 headlamps created the possibility of DRL not properly dimming and therefore not being in compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.” The headlamps, when the Master Lighting Switch was rotated from “Autolamp” to “headlamps on”, would cause the LED lamps to remain at full brightness even though they should have automatically dimmed. On February 14, 2020, Ford’s Field Review Committee decided to approve field action to bring awareness to the issue. Ford has released a statement claiming no reports or knowledge of injury relating to this issue.

The solution

Affected vehicle owners will receive a notification letter from Ford on March 9, 2020, outlining the details of how to fix their vehicle’s issue. Owners will be asked to bring their vehicle to any official Ford or Lincoln dealership to have the Body Control Module (BCM) configuration updated so as to ensure the issue will cease. All owners will be reimbursed for this repair. Ford welcomes any affected owners with further questions to call Ford Customer Service at 1 (800) 392-3673.

For more information on this or other recalls past or present, visit MotorSafety.org.

—————————————————————————————————————

About MotorSafety.org

MotorSafety.org is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to vehicle safety and assisting consumers with the identification and resolution of vehicle manufacturing recalls and defects. Through education, awareness, government relations, repair facility referrals and strategic partnerships, MotorSafety.org hopes to remove every unsafe vehicle from the road, facilitate its proper repair, and ensure its prompt return to the owner once the vehicle has met the required safety and performance standards. For more information about MotorSafety.org, please email support@motorsafety.org.

Marshall EarleyDaytime Running Lights in Certain Ford Trucks Are Not Dimming Properly
BMW X6 Rear Spoiler Could Detach

BMW X6 Rear Spoiler Could Detach

February 19, 2020 Marshall Earley

Laguna Hills, CA – February 6, 2020 – Rear spoilers on certain 2020 BMW vehicles may detach while in operation, creating a road hazard and increased risk of crash.

The total number of affected vehicles is 166,196.

The defect

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling 2020 X6 sDrive 40i, X6 xDrive 40i, and X6 xDrive 50i vehicles whose rear spoilers may detach during operation and create higher risks of vehicle crashes.

On January, 15, 2020 a loose rear spoiler was noticed during BMW X6 vehicle assembly. BMW contacted the supplier of the spoilers and performed a visual examination on the remaining vehicles in assembly.

The examination revealed that many of the spoilers placed on the vehicle were not applied with uniform adhesive.

Records provided by the spoiler supplier revealed that there was a period in the production process where the application of the adhesive to the spoiler deviated from the normal specified process.

Continued testing on February 2, revealed that the rear spoiler could detach from the vehicles at high speeds. By February 12, 2020, BMW decided to release a safety recall for the certain X6 vehicle models.

The solution

All BMW X6 vehicle owners will be notified by First Class mail beginning April 13, 2020. To perform the proper remedy affected vehicle owners must bring their vehicle into any authorized BMW center where they can assess the spoiler and replace it with adequate adhesive if necessary.

This repair will be free of charge.

For more information on this or other recalls past or present, visit MotorSafety.org.

—————————————————————————————————————

About MotorSafety.org

MotorSafety.org is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to vehicle safety and assisting consumers with the identification and resolution of vehicle manufacturing recalls and defects. Through education, awareness, government relations, repair facility referrals and strategic partnerships, MotorSafety.org hopes to remove every unsafe vehicle from the road, facilitate its proper repair, and ensure its prompt return to the owner once the vehicle has met the required safety and performance standards. For more information about MotorSafety.org, please email support@motorsafety.org.

Marshall EarleyBMW X6 Rear Spoiler Could Detach
Third Brake Light on M6 Gran Coupe Could Detach

Third Brake Light on M6 Gran Coupe Could Detach

February 19, 2020 Marshall Earley

re: NHTSA campaign 20V094000

Laguna Hills, CA – February 6, 2020 –  BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is issuing a recall citing third brake lights that could loosen and detach from certain 2014 – 2019 M6 Gran Coupe vehicles.

If a third brake light detaches from the vehicle, it would not provide adequate exterior lighting to surrounding traffic, ultimately resulting in a higher risk of crash.

The potential number of affected vehicles is 2,728.

The defect

In certain BMW 2014 – 2019 M6 Gran Coupe vehicles the third brake light could loosen and detach from the vehicle. The first incidents cited of loose third brake lamp assemblies came in July, 2019.

BMW decided to issue an engineering review and field data analysis in August, suggesting the possible cause could be local weather due to the close proximity and dates of each of the incidents.

Since the M6 Gran Coupe was no longer in production, a specific review of the production process could not be performed, but the problem was expected to lie in the unique carbon fiber roof, a specific feature of the M6 Gran Coupe.

The months of September through November were spent assembling parts and vehicles for testing. Once the parts were assembled multiple tests were performed which consisted of long term environmental exposure to the carbon roof to determine its interaction with the third brake lamp.

In December, the tests were deemed inconclusive and environmental ware on the brake lamp fasteners and carbon roof were ruled out.

In January 2020, an additional series of tests were performed to determine the effect of loose and missing fasteners on the attachment of the third brake lamp.

By late January, BMW noted that prior to the official testing of the M6 Gran Coupe, fasteners for the third brake lamp were already loose. On January 31, tests concluded that the separation of the third brake lamp from the vehicle was due to missing or loose fasteners not environmental conditions.

On February 12, 2020 BMW decided to release an official recall, citing the test results.

The solution

All 2014 – 2019 M6 Gran Coupe vehicle owners will receive a letter in April from BMW of North America, LLC citing the official recall. Vehicle users may still operate the vehicle if the third brake light becomes detached but are strongly advised not to.

Instead, BMW asks that all affected vehicle owners schedule an appointment at any authorized BMW center to perform the proper repair, free of charge. The repair of the detached brake light, new fasteners will be installed to secure the brake lamp into place.

This repair will take approximately one hour to complete. Owners wishing to have their vehicle serviced are advised to wait until they receive the official letter from BMW, so as to ensure the necessary tools, parts and procedures are available. In the meantime owners are free to schedule an appointment at any authorized BMW center.

You can check your car’s recall status using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

—————————————————————————————————————

About MotorSafety.org

MotorSafety.org is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to vehicle safety and assisting consumers with the identification and resolution of vehicle manufacturing recalls and defects. Through education, awareness, government relations, repair facility referrals and strategic partnerships, MotorSafety.org hopes to remove every unsafe vehicle from the road, facilitate its proper repair, and ensure its prompt return to the owner once the vehicle has met the required safety and performance standards. For more information about MotorSafety.org, please email support@motorsafety.org.

Marshall EarleyThird Brake Light on M6 Gran Coupe Could Detach
Chrysler: Leaking Transmission Fluid Poses Fire Risk in Recalled RAM Trucks

Chrysler: Leaking Transmission Fluid Poses Fire Risk in Recalled RAM Trucks

February 6, 2020 Marshall Earley

re: NHTSA campaign 20V043000

Laguna Hills, CA – February 6, 2020 – Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 – 2020 Ram 2500 and 3500 Pickup vehicles equipped with six-speed automatic (68RFE) transmissions.

This recall involves power train components. These vehicles are equipped with six-speed automatic (68RFE) transmissions that are susceptible to wear and tear from thermal loading. Heat can cause transmission fluid to leak from the dipstick tube.

The potential number of units affected is estimated at 84,202.

The defect

The affected vehicles are equipped with defective transmission assemblies that are prone to being damaged due to thermal stressors. Chrysler has not specified what specific aspect of the transmission or vehicle itself makes this possible.

A build-up of heat and pressure inside of the transmission can cause transmission fluid to be expelled from the dipstick tube.

Transmission fluid is flammable, and this loose liquid can come in contact with other ignition sources, such as the turbocharger, and start a fire in the engine compartment.

The possibility of fire increases the risk of injury and death on part of the operators and also can result in costly damage to the vehicle’s internals. In addition, sufficient amounts of transmission fluid can damage mechanical or electronic components even if no fire is started.

This defect is known to have resulted in engine compartment fires several times, and one minor injury was recorded, according to Chrysler. No warranty claims have been made in relation to this issue.

Timeline of events

On December 4, 2019, Chrysler’s US Vehicle Safety and Regulatory Compliance (VSRC) group opened an investigation following reports of 2019 RAM 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks suffering from engine compartment fires.

Believing a defective part was responsible, VRSC analyzed fire patterns, damaged components, witness statements and other aspects of each event in order to determine trends related to these incidents.

Chrysler engineering soon conducted their own tests to duplicate the issue as it was reported in the field, and on January 9, 2020, engineers believed they had found the root cause of the issue: the transmission in these vehicles was being overloaded due to temperature and pressure changes.

Upon receiving these test results, Chrysler manufacturing plants conducted a review of records to determine the size of the recall population. It was determined that only the transmissions in 2019 RAM 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks were susceptible to leaking.

With the risk confirmed and the size of the recall population determined, Chrysler began planning a process for the voluntary recall and replacement of parts, and on January 24, 2020, they submitted a notice of recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

On February 3, 2020, this notice of recall became public.

The solution

Chrysler will notify owners of 2019 RAM 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks of the recall and the danger associated with leaking transmission lines.

The company will soon ship out replacement parts to authorized dealers and train them in the remedy process, which involves reprogramming the powertrain control system.

Once the remedy process is available, dealers will replace the transmission valve body separator plates and reprogram the control module, free of charge.

This is a voluntary recall, however, owners of the affected units are advised to exercise caution when operating their vehicles. The recall is expected to begin on March 14, 2020. This date is subject to change.

For more information on this or other recalls past or present, visit MotorSafety.org.

—————————————————————————————————————

About MotorSafety.org

MotorSafety.org is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to vehicle safety and assisting consumers with the identification and resolution of vehicle manufacturing recalls and defects. Through education, awareness, government relations, repair facility referrals and strategic partnerships, MotorSafety.org hopes to remove every unsafe vehicle from the road, facilitate its proper repair, and ensure its prompt return to the owner once the vehicle has met the required safety and performance standards. For more information about MotorSafety.org, please email support@motorsafety.org.

Marshall EarleyChrysler: Leaking Transmission Fluid Poses Fire Risk in Recalled RAM Trucks
Mazda Daytime Running Headlights May Not Turn On

Mazda Daytime Running Headlights May Not Turn On

February 6, 2020 Marshall Earley

Re: NHTSA Campaign 20V063000

Laguna Hills, CA – Feb 6, 2020 – Mazda North American Operations is recalling certain 2016 CX-5 vehicles due to the failure of Daytime Running Lights (DRL) to properly turn on. If the DRL fails to turn on, the exterior visibility of the vehicle may be reduced to other motorists and could result in a crash.

The estimated total of affected vehicles is 36,761.

The Defect

Over 30,000 2016 Mazda CX-5 vehicles are under official recall citing the failure of many Daytime Running Lights (DRL) to turn on while the vehicle is in use. Mazda’s LED DRL are installed to ensure an increased visibility of the vehicle’s exterior during the daytime. If the DRL fails to turn on, the vehicles exterior may be reduced to other motorists and could result in a possible crash or injury. 

The affected LED headlight units were first documented in March 2015 when certain headlight units, installed for vehicles in the Japan market, did not properly illuminated during the testing process. This issue was due to increased damage to the LED circuit by residual static electricity sustained during certain parts of the manufacturing process. Mazda ensured that the issue did not frequently occur but continued to monitor for field occurrences and installed the LED circuit with static electricity resistance properties. Although the improved LED headlight was installed on the vehicles manufactured in Japan, U.S. CX-5 models were not installed with the new headlight. By April 2015, Mazda received reports of U.S. CX-5 models experiencing similar issues as those vehicles which were manufactured in Japan. After an investigation of returned parts in July, 2015, Mazda found similar breaking in the LED circuit as those found in the previous manufacturing process. New LED low sulfur black gasket replaced the previous LED connector sealing gasket, improving a simple aesthetic issue in the headlight locale. In March 2016, Mazda received evidence of two field reports of headlight malfunction outside of Japan. The affected vehicles were manufactured before the LED circuit improvement made during the manufacturing process in March 2015. In September, 2018, Mazda continued to experience similar failures on improved parts and decided to investigate other possible causes of headlight malfunction. In January, 2019, after an extensive investigation, Mazda found the issue to be damage to the LED circuit caused by silver sulfide. The close proximity of the LED circuit to a gray type sealing gasket (a high sulfur gasket attached to the DRL connector) could transfer sulfur to the LED circuit, resulting in malfunction of the DRL. January, 2020, Mazda decided to introduce an official recall to certain MY2016 CX-5 vehicles following pressure from field action in the Japan market.

Solution

Mazda will notify owners on  March 6, 2020 of their vehicle’s official recall. Authorized Mazda dealerships will inspect the LED circuit headlights and, if necessary, replace the gasket or headlight assembly, free of charge. Affected vehicle owners may contact Mazda customer service with the recall number 4320A at 1-800-222-5500 for more information.

For more information on this or other recalls past or present, visit MotorSafety.org.

—————————————————————————————————————

About MotorSafety.org

MotorSafety.org is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to vehicle safety and assisting consumers with the identification and resolution of vehicle manufacturing recalls and defects. Through education, awareness, government relations, repair facility referrals and strategic partnerships, MotorSafety.org hopes to remove every unsafe vehicle from the road, facilitate its proper repair, and ensure its prompt return to the owner once the vehicle has met the required safety and performance standards. For more information about MotorSafety.org, please email support@motorsafety.org.

Marshall EarleyMazda Daytime Running Headlights May Not Turn On
Recall Lookup
Enter your vehicle(s) below to check the current recall status.

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories