Rebecca Rand | Page 8 | MotorSafety.org

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Rebecca Rand is a freelance science and technology writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She drives a 2010 Toyota Yaris.

Nissan recalls nearly 127,000 cars in search of seven faulty tires

March 24, 2021 Rebecca Rand Nissan Recalls

Franklin, TN – March 24, 2021 – Nissan (OTCMKTS:NSANY) is recalling 126,809 cars and trucks to find seven faulty tires that could rupture or break apart. The recall includes the following pickup trucks and light vehicles:

2019 Nissan Altima
2020 Nissan Altima
2021 Nissan Altima
2018 Nissan Titan
2019 Nissan Titan
2020 Nissan Titan
2021 Nissan Titan

The affected component is Continental tire with multiple part numbers, including 40312 EZ41D and 40312 EZ40C.

Recall summary

The seven tires, which are part of an ongoing series of recalls of Continental brand tires, were “cured” for too long during manufacturing.

The curing process is what makes the tires hold their shape when on the road. However, when the process runs for longer than necessary, it makes them more susceptible to breaks or ruptures. As a result, the tires can go flat. Additionally, the tread —the part which touches the road— could separate from the rest of the tire, resulting in the so-called belt separation.

Warning signs

One of the warning signs, as reported in our recent article about a similar Mercedes-Benz recall, is a bulge in the tread area.

If you notice a bulge, do NOT drive on it. Call a tow truck or use your spare tire to drive to your mechanic to have the tire replaced.

Risks

Flat tires and belt separation can cause drivers to lose control and crash, particularly if they happen at high speeds.

What to do if your tires blow out

If your tires blow out while driving, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends the following:

Stay calm and do your best to keep the vehicle balanced.
Do not slam on the brakes or suddenly take your foot off the accelerator. Both of these could cause you to lose control of the car.
Slowly ease off of the gas.
Gently “correct the steering” to regain control of the car.
Once the car is stable, continue to slow down until find a safe place to pull over and call for help.

The repair

Dealers will inspect recalled vehicles’ tires to see if identifying numbers on the side match one of the seven defective tires. If they find one, they will replace it with a new tire. Inspections and replacements will be free and the spare tires should be “readily available.”

Nissan will notify owners about the recall on April 28.

Recent Nissan Altima and Continental tire recalls

2013-2018 Nissan Altimas were recalled in May of last year for an ongoing hood latch problem that has been the subject of three other recalls. According to Nissan, the issue has led to 16 “minor” crashes or injuries.

As for Continental tires, this is the fourth recall over the last couple of months. Earlier this month, General Motors recalled 33,000 vehicles due to this “overcuring” issue.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Nearly 127,000 vehicles are included in this Nissan recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Ford and Mazda begin 2.6 million-vehicle-strong Takata airbag recall

Dearborn, MI and Washington, D.C. – March 23, 2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) and Mazda (OTCMKTS:MZDAY) have begun recalls of 2,608,515 vehicles equipped with potentially dangerous Takata airbags whose inflators could explode, injuring or killing drivers and passengers. This latest Takata airbag recall includes:

2007 – 2011 Ford Ranger pickups
2007 – 2009 Mazda B Series pickups
2006 – 2012 Ford Fusion sedans
2006 – 2012 Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ sedans
2006 – 2011 Mercury Milan sedans
2007 – 2010 Ford Edge SUVs
2007 – 2010 Lincoln MKX luxury SUVs

The vast majority of the recalled vehicles are Fords; the Mazda models in this recall were built by Ford due to a past relationship between the two companies.

Recall summary

This Takata airbag recall is caused by faulty airbag inflators that can degrade over time and rupture when the airbags are deployed, sending shrapnel flying into vehicle occupants. Worldwide, these explosions have killed 27 people and have injured over 400.

The recall follows on the heels of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rejecting the automakers’ petition not to recall these vehicles .

The inflators explode because of repeated exposure to high humidity and “high temperatures” and despite the addition of a desiccant, or a drying agent, that is meant to minimize the risk.

Risks

The risks involved in this recall are similar to those in a recent Volkswagen Takata airbag recall, which we cover in this previous article.

Other Takata airbag recalls

Over 66 million Takata airbags have been recalled in recent years in what amounts to the largest recall in the automotive history up-to-date. Just this year alone, General Motors recalled 6 million vehicles equipped with these potentially lethal airbags.

Some of the cars involved in earlier rounds of recalls should NOT be driven at all. See the full list here.

The repair

Ford, Lincoln and Mazda dealers will replace the defective airbags with one that does not contain ammonium nitrate. The dealer will not charge for this service.

It is not clear when the parts will be available.

Ford and Lincoln owners should receive recall notifications with more instructions as early as April 1; Mazda owners can expect theirs to arrive by May 9.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 2.6 million vehicles are included in these Ford and Mazda recalls. To do a Mazda or Ford recall check, enter your VIN into MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Kia recalls Cadenza and Sportage over engine fire risk

March 19, 2021 Rebecca Rand Kia Recalls

Irvine, CA – June 17, 2022 – Kia Motors (KIMTF:OTC US) has remedied 261,537 electrical issues that might cause engine fire in several vehicles including the 2017-2021 Kia Sportage. Additionally, 11,485 of these Kia Sportage and Kia Cadenza models have been deemed unreachable, and 9,550 models have been removed from the recall. In total Kia remedied the engine compartment fire issues in three groups during 2021 and one group during the first quarter of 2022.

Irvine, CA – March 19, 2021 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) has recalled 379,931 cars whose engines may catch fire due to an electrical issue. The recall includes the following mid-size cars and compact SUVs:

2017 Kia Cadenza
2018 Kia Cadenza
2019 Kia Cadenza
2017 Kia Sportage
2018 Kia Sportage
2019 Kia Sportage
2020 Kia Sportage
2021 Kia Sportage

The 2020 Kia Cadenza and 2021 Kia Cadenza are not included in the recall. The affected part is the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), which is part of the anti-lock brakes’ system (ABS). The part numbers are 58920-D9100 and 58920-F6210 for Sportage and Cadenza, respectively.

Recall summary

The recall stems from an electrical issue in the HECU, a component of the anti-lock braking system, which ensures that the car maintains contact with the road and prevents the wheels from locking, as reported.

A short in the wiring of the HECU may spark a fire in the engine compartment. The recall has been issued for cars sold in the United States and South Korea, where Kia is based. Kia said in recall documents that they did not know what was causing the short-circuit in the HECU.

Ongoing fire issues

Shorting in the ABS system seem to be an ongoing issue for this manufacturer.

In the past five years, Kia and its parent company, Hyundai, have recalled over 2.5 million cars due to fire risks arising from ABS problems. Kia is also subject to an ongoing investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) looking into the frequency of vehicle fires in Optima, Sorento, and Soul vehicles.

Warning signs

The driver may be alerted to this issue if he or she notices the illumination of “tire pressure,” ABS or the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) warning lights. The latter is also known as the “check engine” light.

Additionally, the driver may smell “burning [or] melting odor” and see “smoke from [the] engine compartment,” according to the manufacturer.

Safety tips

Kia has advised that owners should park their recalled cars outdoors and away from structures until they have their cars repaired.

Read more about the dangers of vehicle fires and what to do if one occurs in this article about a recent Kia Stinger recall.

The repair

Kia dealers will replace certain fuses in the car’s electronics to prevent the HECU from short-circuiting. Certain vehicles will also receive a software update. Both repairs will be conducted free of charge.

Owner notifications with more detailed instructions will be sent out on April 30.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Nearly 380,000 vehicles are included in this Kia vehicle recall. Want to check for Kia recalls? Use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Volkswagen recalls Atlas SUVs as part of Continental tire recall

March 17, 2021 Rebecca Rand Volkswagen Recalls

Auburn Hills, MI – June 7, 2022 – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) has remedied issues with 2,110 vehicles including the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas that had problems with Continental tires. So far, six of these Volkswagen vehicles have been declared unreachable and 0 has been removed from the recall. Four groups of these 2019 Volkswagen Atlas models were remedied in 2021, and one group was remedied in 2022 due to this issue with Continental tires that can suffer a sudden air loss and rupture.

Auburn Hills, MI – March 17, 2021 – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) has recalled 2,535 SUVs equipped with problematic Continental tires that may break apart or rupture. The recall includes 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Volkswagen 2019 SUVs and concerns 255/50 R20 and 245/60 R18 105 T CrossContact LX Sport tires.

Recall summary

When tires are manufactured, they have to be “cured” inside a mold to hold their final shape. The tires used on the 2019 and 2018 VW Atlas were accidentally cured for longer than necessary, making them more brittle and susceptible to breakage.

The tires are part of a larger problem with Continental brand tires, which has led to recalls by General Motors and Mercedes Benz in the past month.

Risks

The tire rupture could take place in two possible ways: the tire wall may burst, causing a flat. Alternatively, the tire tread – the part that touches the road – could separate from the rest of the tire. Both could result in the car spinning out of control, raising the risk of an accident.

Although VW recall documents do not specify any warning signs that drivers should look out for, Mercedes Benz’s recall of the same tires on their GLE SUVs says that the following may be signs of trouble:

Visible wear of the tire tread
A bulge in the tire tread area
Excessive vibrations of the car

The repair

Volkswagen will inspect and, if needed, replace vehicles’ tires for free. Owners will be notified with more information about the recall starting on May 4.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 2,500 vehicles are included in this Volkswagen recall. To see if your SUV is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

General Motors recalls over 33,000 cars over risk of flat tires

March 11, 2021 Rebecca Rand Buick Recalls, Cadillac Recalls, Chevrolet Recalls, GM Recalls, GMC Recalls

Warren, MI – March 11, 2021 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has recalled 33,838 vehicles whose tires may rupture out on the road. The recall includes the following models:

2020 Buick Enclave
2020 Cadillac Escalade
2020 Cadillac Escalade ESV
2020 Cadillac XT4
2020 Cadillac XT5
2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer
2018-2021 Chevrolet Express
2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2020 Chevrolet Suburban
2020 Chevrolet Tahoe
2020 Chevrolet Traverse
2019-2020 GMC Acadia
2018-2021 GMC Savana
2019-2020 GMC Sierra 1500
2020 GMC Yukon
2020 GMC Yukon XL

Recall summary

Before being placed in service, tires are “cured,” or given final shape, using a mold and a rubber “bladder.” The tires in question were accidentally cured for longer than necessary, making them prone to rupture and failure.

While the tires are being recalled by GM, they are part of a larger problem with Continental brand tires. This recall expands an earlier GM recall in November 2020 and includes more models that may be equipped with defective tires.

In its turn, Mercedes-Benz has also just announced that it would inspect over 2,500 cars due to the same issue. To read about warning signs that may indicate that the tires are defective, please see the recent article we wrote about that recall.

Risks

The defective tires may suddenly go flat. Additionally, the outer tread – which is the part that touches the road – could separate from the rest of the tire. Both conditions could cause the driver to lose control of the car and crash.

The repair

GM dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace vehicles’ tires for free. Notifications with more information will be sent to owners around April 12.

Recent Chevrolet recalls, GMC recalls

GM recalled nearly 6 million vehicles equipped with potentially dangerous Takata airbags in February. The airbags’ inflators may break apart after a crash and kill or injure the occupants of the car with sharp metal fragments.

The recall spanned several GM brands, including Chevrolet and GMC.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 33,000 vehicles are included in this GM recall. To see if your [type of vehicle] is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

BMW recalls 14,000 cars over sunroof programming mistake

March 8, 2021 Rebecca Rand BMW Recalls

Westwood, NJ – March 8, 2021 – BMW (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) has recalled 14,011 cars whose sunroofs do not adhere to federal safety guidelines about how and when power windows are allowed to close. The recall includes:

2020-2021 BMW 228i coupes
2020-2021 BMW 228i xDrive coupes
2020-2021 BMW M235i xDrive cars

Recall summary

The recall concerns the sunroof, which may continue to close even after the car has been turned off. This breaks a federal safety regulation requiring all power windows, including sunroofs, to be unable to close when the car is off and the front doors have been opened.

In a document submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), BMW said that this recall is caused by window-controlling software intended for European cars “inadvertently” implemented in US cars.

Other BMW xDrive recalls

In February, BMW recalled 901 cars – including 840i xDrive and M850i xDrive – because of a risk that parts of the cars’ braking system may separate if the driver brakes hard. This may result in a loss of anti-lock brakes and “braking assistance,” increasing the risk of a crash.

Risks

If the sunroof continues to close after the ignition is turned off, it may hurt small children and other car occupants.

In fact, the regulation requiring windows to stop closing when the car is off was put in place in 1970 after “numerous cases” of children who suffered injuries or were choked to death after getting stuck in closing power windows. Many of these cases involved children who were left unattended in cars with the ignition off.

The BMW sunroof, however, does feature an “anti-trap” feature, meaning that it would stop moving if it encountered resistance – such as a person’s limb – while closing.

The repair

BMW dealers will reprogram the sunroof’s electronic coding for free. Notifications with more information about how and when to get this repair will be mailed out to owners starting on April 12.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 14,000 vehicles are included in this BMW recall. To perform a BMW recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Navistar International recalls trucks for possible engine shutdown

February 26, 2021 Rebecca Rand Navistar

Lisle, IL – February 26, 2021 – Navistar has recalled 27,457 International brand trucks that may stall. The recall includes:

2018-2020 International LoneStar trucks
2021 International LoneStar trucks
2017-2021 International LT trucks

Recall summary

The problem originates with a battery cable that may break, causing the truck to lose electrical power and the engine to shut down. This is caused by the cable not being able to withstand the “stresses” placed on it by the trucks’ movement due to a design error, according to the testing conducted by the manufacturer.

Warning signs

In some cases, drivers may be warned of the problem if the engine briefly or intermittently shuts down prior to a complete stall.

Other Navistar recalls

This is the second Navistar recall in February. Earlier in the month, the truck manufacturer recalled over 17,000 medium- and extreme-duty trucks that may move unexpectedly after overpowering the parking brake.

Safety risks

If the truck loses power on the road, it creates a hazard for the driver and other motorists and could lead to a crash.

The repair

Dealers will replace the battery ground cable “with a more flexible” one designed to not to break while the truck is moving. Navistar will send owners recall notifications with more information around April 16.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

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

Volkswagen recalls Audi Q7 whose airbag may injure children

February 25, 2021 Rebecca Rand Volkswagen Recalls

Auburn Hills, MI – August 24, 2022 – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) has remedied issues with 25,509 vehicles including the 2021 Audi Q7 that had problems with front passenger airbags. Additionally, 16 of these Audi vehicles have been declared unreachable and 0 has been removed from the recall. Four groups of these Audi vehicles were remedied in 2021, and one group was remedied in 2022 due to these issues with the front passenger airbags.

Auburn Hills, MI – February 25, 2021 – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) has recalled 26,967 luxury SUVs whose airbags may injure children in the front seat. This VW recall includes 2020 Audi Q7 and 2021 Audi Q7 luxury SUVs.

Recall Summary

Due to a programming error, the front passenger airbag in these Audi Q7 2021 and 2020 cars may deploy too quickly during a crash and injure a child who is in the front seat.

The issue was discovered during testing with a dummy meant to mimic the body of a six-year-old. Airbags hit the dummy’s neck with slightly more force than is allowed by federal safety standards. The impact only occurred in “low-speed front crashes.”

Even though the back seat is the safest place for children in the car, it is still legal in many states for children to ride in the front seat, which is why this test was conducted.

Risks

Airbags deploy in a matter of milliseconds with great force to protect drivers and passengers from impact. But this force can, in some cases, injure children especially if they are too close to the airbag. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends the following to prevent airbag injuries:

Children in rear-facing car seats should not be seated in front of an active air bag.
Children under 13 should be seated in the back seat.
Front-seat passengers should sit as far back from the steering wheel or dashboard as possible.
Always wear a seat belt—airbags are designed to work WITH seat belts, not by themselves.

The repair

To address this Audi recall, dealers will update the airbag computers so that the airbags deploy more safely. This fix will be free. Recall notifications with more details about when and how to get the update will be sent out to owners on April 16.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Nearly 30,000 vehicles are included in this Audi Q7 recall. To see if your SUV is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Ford recalls over 150,000 cars that may have Takata airbags installed

February 19, 2021 Rebecca Rand Ford Recalls, Takata Airbag Recalls

Dearborn, MI – February 19, 2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) is recalling 154,224 vehicles that may have had dangerous Takata airbag inflators installed again after undergoing a recall for this same issue. These inflators are at risk of exploding and hurling shrapnel that could injure or kill vehicle occupants. There are two separate recalls for this issue. The first includes:

2004-2011 Ford Ranger trucks
2005-2014 Ford Mustang sports cars
2008-2012 Ford Fusion sedans
2009-2011 Mercury Milan sedans
2010-2012 Lincoln MKZ luxury sedans
2007-2010 Ford Edge SUVs
2007-2010 Lincoln MKX luxury SUVs
2006 Ford GT sports cars

The second recall includes:

2004-2006 Ford Ranger trucks

Recall summary

Ford dealers may have accidentally installed airbags containing these potentially lethal inflators during repairs for collision or theft damage after a recall related to this same issue was completed. It is not clear which particular Takata recall the company is referring to since many of these models were subjects to different recalls, albeit for the same issue.

These airbags were supposed to have been purged from Ford’s stock of replacement parts once new, safe ones became available. However, instead of that, they may have been put in 1,117 vehicles that comprise the first group. In the case of the second group, only 45 of over 150,000 cars contain the inflators but it is not clear which ones. Therefore, at the behest of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Ford is issuing a recall to address the issue.

Risks

Worldwide, Takata airbag inflators have killed at least 27 people, including two that ruptured and killed people riding in 2006 Ford Rangers.

A Ford spokesperson told Consumer Reports that none of the Ford Rangers in this recall are on the “Do not Drive” list of cars considered to be exceptionally high-risk. However, certain Ford Rangers are indeed on that list. You can check to see if your car is one of them here.

You can read more about the problems with Takata inflators in this article about GM’s recent Takata airbag recall.

The repair

Ford dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace vehicles airbag inflators for free. Recall notifications go out the week of March 8, and will include more information about when and how to seek repairs.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 154,000 vehicles are included in this Ford recall. As of April 29, 2021, – the last date information was available – 5,693 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

Note: July 17, 2021

We have noticed a large number of readers are interested in this recall. For that reason, we have updated the number of cars that have been replaced to reflect the most up-to-date information.

Mercedes-Benz recalls 1.4 million vehicles that may call emergency services to wrong place

February 18, 2021 Rebecca Rand Mercedes-Benz Recalls

Jacksonville, FL – February 18, 2021 – Daimler AG (OTCMKTS:DDAIF) – which owns the Mercedes-Benz brand – has recalled 1,376,603 vehicles that may call emergency services to the wrong location if the vehicle crashes. The recall spans 83 models of 2016-2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class and G-Class vehicles. It includes some of the following:

2016-2018 Mercedes-Benz CLA class 250
2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz A220
2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG A35
2017-2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43
2017-2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63
2020-2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA35
2017-2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA45

You can see the complete list of vehicles here.

A separate recall has been issued for the same problem in Mercedes-Benz vans in the following models:

2016 Mercedes-Benz Metris
2017 Mercedes-Benz Metris
2018 Mercedes-Benz Metris
2019 Mercedes-Benz Metris
2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris
2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 1500
2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500
2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500
2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500

Recall summary

The recall concerns the vehicles’ emergency call system, or “eCall,” which activates after a crash. The system, which can trigger automatically in a crash or at the push of a button, shares the car’s GPS location information with emergency services so that they know where to send help. If the car’s power supply is disrupted during a crash, the recalled vehicles may send the wrong location to emergency services.

Risks

Sending the wrong information to emergency services will delay help to crash victims, who, according to the Part 573 safety recall report Mercedes submitted to the government, would have no idea that first responders were dispatched somewhere else. This can increase the risk of injury or death.

The repair

Owners will receive a free software update from Mercedes-Benz. “Mercedes Me” subscribers will receive the update remotely. Customers without this subscription will be notified by mail that an update will be streamed to their car remotely unless they wish to opt out. In that case, a Mercedes-Benz dealer can install the update in-person.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over a million vehicles are included in this Mercedes-Benz recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Recall summary

Warning signs

Risks

What to do if your tires blow out

The repair

Recent Nissan Altima and Continental tire recalls

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Risks

Other Takata airbag recalls

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Ongoing fire issues

Warning signs

Safety tips

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Risks

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Risks

The repair

Recent Chevrolet recalls, GMC recalls

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Other BMW xDrive recalls

Risks

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Warning signs

Other Navistar recalls

Safety risks

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall Summary

Risks

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Risks

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Recall summary

Risks

The repair

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

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