Ford Recalling Late-Model Ranger Pickups over Air Bag Issue

Dearborn, MI – Dec. 29, 2017 – The Ford Motor Company recently announced a recall of more than 300,000 of its Ranger light pickup trucks over concerns that passenger air bags could have degraded over the years since they were produced, according to a defect filing made with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall includes 2004-2006 Ford ranger pickups.

Recall Summary

These air bags were made by a company called Takata, and used a chemical called PSAN as an inflator accelerant in the event of a crash. However, exposure to extreme conditions could have led that gas to degrade the air bags’ structural integrity over time. This is the third recall of affected vehicles, the first of which brought owners a temporary solution for the issue and the second broadened the scope of the initial action.

Ford is unsure how many of the hundreds of thousands of vehicles in the recall are affected by this issue. All these Ranger pickups were produced from March 24, 2003 to May 4, 2006. Mazda is currently undergoing a recall for late-model light trucks over the same issue as well.

Due to the potentially corrosive properties of the ammonium nitrate gas PSAN in conditions with extreme temperature, humidity and so on, the inflators for passenger frontal air bags in the affected Ford Rangers could rupture in the event of a crash that leads to deployment of those air bags.

As a consequence, metal fragments could launch into the passenger compartment at potentially high speeds, greatly increasing the risk of injury or even death.

Ford previously issued a recall for these vehicles in 2016, and this action is intended to provide a final fix for the problem. The issue was first noted in May 2015, when Takata submitted a noticed to the NHTSA about the air bag inflator issue, which prompted Ford to examine the potential effects on its own vehicles.

On May 26, 2015, Ford’s Field Review Committee completed its investigation of the issue and approved the recall action.

The recall filing for the final remedy to the air bag problem was issued Dec. 11, 2017.

The repair

Owners will be notified by mail about the recall and will be instructed to take their late-model Rangers to a local Ford or Lincoln dealership where the frontal air bag inflators will be replaced free of charge. However, the automaker is not including reimbursement plans as part of this recall because it would have been covered by the original warranty.

Dealers were notified of the recall Dec. 12, 2017, and owners were slated to receive notifications by mail in phases between Dec. 26, 2017, and March 31, 2018. The first phase of notifications was only slated to last from Dec. 26 to Dec. 31.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 300,000 vehicles were originally part of this Ford Ranger recall. As of April 9, 2021 – the last date information was available – 164,779 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

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Hyundai Santa Fes Recalled for Common Side Air Bag Issue

 

Fountain Valley, Calif. – Dec. 28, 2017 – Hyundai Motor America recently issued a recall order for more than 1,200 of its Santa Fe light sport utility vehicles from the 2018 model year, citing issues with a side curtain air bag inflator diffuser, according to a defect filing made with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The issue specifically relates to the shape of the metal top-hat diffusers, which were not manufactured to specification. As such, in the event of a crash in which the side curtain air bags – on either side of the vehicles in the recall – deploy, the diffuser could detach from the inflator component.

Of the 1,201 vehicles in the recall, only 1 percent are believed to have this defect, and all affected Santa Fes were manufactured between Sept. 5 and Nov. 30, 2017 at plants operated by Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama and Kia Motor Manufacturing Georgia.

This defect is also the subject of recalls for both Kia and Ford, with both including far more vehicles than Hyundai’s.

The Defect

Specifically, this is caused by the fact that the top-hat diffusers were not manufactured with the correct dimensions.

In certain situations in which the side curtain air bags are deployed, there is a possibility that the diffusers could detach from the air bag inflator, bringing with it two potential problems. First, the air bags might not inflate properly, and second, the metal diffuser could become a projectile launched into the vehicle. Both increase the risk of occupant injury.

To this point, Hyundai is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the top-hat diffuser issue.

Timeline of Events

The potential issue was first spotted by the company that supplied the side curtain air bag inflator component on Nov. 18, 2017, and at that point it began production of the inflator components using properly sized top-hat diffusers.

On Nov. 27, 2017, the supplier then notified both Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama and Kia Motor Manufacturing Georgia of the potential defect with the inflator diffuser.

Both had received shipments of potentially affected components, and matched lot codes to vehicle production records to identify and hold back any of the affected vehicles still on site. Further, that information was used to identify affected Santa Fes that were already in dealer inventories or had been sold.

Then, on Dec. 5, Hyundai completed a review of the information and decided to initiate a recall of the affected vehicles.

The Solution

Hyundai will notify owners about the risk related to the recall and ask them to bring the SUVs to local Hyundai dealers, where both the driver and passenger side curtain air bags will be inspected and – if necessary – replaced free of charge. Owners who already incurred any repair costs as a result of this top-hat diffuser issue will also be reimbursed by the automaker.

The company informed dealers of the recall on Dec. 20, 2017, and plans to notify owners on or around Feb. 9, 2018.

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Ford Recalling 2018 Escapes Over Side Airbag Diffuser Issue

 

Dearborn, Michigan – Dec. 28, 2017 – The Ford Motor Company recently issued a recall of more than 10,000 of its Escape light sport utility vehicles from the 2018 model year, citing concerns over side curtain air bag inflator diffusers, according to a defect report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Specifically, the issue relates to vehicles that have side curtain air bags installed on either the driver or passenger side, which contain top-hat diffusers on their inflators. In the affected vehicles, these diffusers “do not have the expected part geometry,” and may detach during a crash in which the side curtain air bags deploy.

This is a similar issue to one seen in recent Kia and Hyundai model year 2018 recalls as well.

Of the 10,157 Escape SUVs in the recall, only 1 percent are expected to come with this defect. All were produced between Nov. 13-29, 2017, but not in VIN order.

The Defect

The air bag inflator diffusers being an unexpected shape – and therefore not fitting properly with the inflator – may cause the air bags may not inflate properly in the event of a crash in which they are deployed, and could even launch the diffuser as a projectile into the vehicle itself, both of which increase the risk of injury.

The supplier of the part was the first to identify the issue during a testing period, and informed Ford of the potential problem as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, there is no way for drivers to know whether this defect impacts their vehicles before they take the Escapes in for repairs.

Timeline of Events

On Nov. 16, 2017, the supplier was performing lot acceptance testing on the diffuser parts when it noted a potential issue, and determined that the improper metal forming of a sub-supplier’s top-hat diffuser could lead to the problems related to the recall. Additional testing turned up more lots of inflators that may have had the diffuser defect.

The supplier notified Ford of the potential issue Nov. 28, and the automaker’s Field Review Committee assessed the situation and approved the recall Dec. 11.

To this point, Ford is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the defect.

The Solution

Ford will ask owners of the potentially affected vehicles by mail to take their Escapes to local Ford or Lincoln dealers, where the side curtain airbags on both the driver and passenger sides will be inspected for the defect. If they’re discovered, the components will be replaced at no charge.

The recall will not include a reimbursement plan because all such repairs would be covered under the original warranty.

Ford notified dealers of the recall Dec. 19, and will begin notifying owners Jan. 29, 2018 by mail. That notification period will likely end by Feb. 2, 2018.

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Toyota Recalling Nearly 40,000 Prius Hybrids [Video]

Hello and welcome back to the recall blog.

Toyota is recalling almost 40,000 of its popular plug-in Prius Hybrids from model years 2012 to 2015 due to a design issue.

The defect in question stems from the potential for the car’s hybrid battery, to overheat if placed under significant stress.

This might include driving with heavy loads or up steep hills for a long time.

If this happens, warning lights could turn on in the instrument panel, or in more severe conditions, the car may experience loss of power or total shutdown of the hybrid system.

Owners of affected vehicles will be notified of the recall in mid-January, and can bring them to local Toyota dealers to replace old fuses with new and improved products.

Thanks for watching, and be sure to check back again for more recall information.

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Kia Recalling Sorentos over Air Bag Inflators

Irvine, Calif. – Dec. 27, 2017 – Kia Motors America recently announced a recall of more than 2,000 of its Sorento light sport utility vehicles from the 2018 model year, stemming from concerns related to assembly of their side curtain air bags, according to a defect filing made with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

Specifically, the vehicles have side curtain air bags for both the driver and passenger sides with diffusers that can detach from the inflators during the air bag deployment process, potentially launching them inside the vehicle at high velocities and increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

All of the vehicles in the recall are expected to contain this production defect, and were manufactured from Sept. 5 to Nov. 29, 2017, but were not produced in VIN order.

This same issue has also led to recalls for both Hyundai and Ford within the past month.

The Defect

All inflators in the Sorentos’ side curtain air bags come with a top hat diffuser, but in some of these vehicles – i.e. those in the recall – the manufacturing process saw the company install improperly formed diffusers. As such, when a crash that would deploy the side curtain airbags takes place, the diffuser can detach from the inflator and enter the occupant compartment, increasing risk of injury.

Unfortunately for owners, there is no way for them to determine whether this risk will apply to their vehicles unless they receive the recall notices.

Timeline of Events

On Nov. 18, a supplier of the diffusers identified and contained the potentially defective diffusers and began using only correct parts in side curtain airbag assemblies going forward.

Nine days later, on Nov. 27, the supplier informed Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia of the potential issue with the improperly formed diffusers. The following day, KMMG stopped release of 2018 Sorentos that had potentially been equipped with the side curtain airbag assemblies with defective diffusers and notified Kia Motors Corporation of the issue.

Then on Dec. 1, Kia Motors made the decision to recall the 2,000-plus affected vehicles, despite the fact that there were no reported accidents or injuries for the affected vehicles.

The Solution

All owners of the affected vehicles received notification of the recall via the mail, with instructions to bring their Sorentos to a local Kia dealer. There, the dealers will replace both the driver and passenger side curtain airbags with new and improved models that have proper diffusers. These repairs will be made free of charge, and Kia will also reimburse any drivers who incurred out-of-pocket repair costs for this issue previous to the recall being announced.

Dealers first learned of the recall on Dec. 11, while owners of the affected vehicles got their notifications on Dec. 13.

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Audi Recalling A6 and A7 Vehicles Over Fuel Line Issues

 

Auburn Hills, Michigan – Dec. 26, 2017 – Volkswagen Group of America recently announced that it would recall nearly 49,000 Audi A6 and A7 executive cars from model years 2012 to 2014, over concerns about the potential for a leaking fuel line, according to a defect report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The issue stems from a compression point in the design of the fuel line that was supposed to facilitate installation. However, that part of the fuel line may weaken over time due to issues in the manufacturing process, potentially leading to a leak.

The vehicles in question were produced from March 28, 2011, to Sept. 13, 2013, and 100 percent of the A6s and A7s in the recall are affected by the issue.

The Defect

The defect was first noticed as far back as the middle of 2013, but various intermediate fixes were apparently not effective in fully reducing the risk of a fuel line leak. In fact, various attempted fixes may have exacerbated the problem in certain situations. The fuel line was manufactured by a parts supplier based in Denmark, but many of the fixes were made by Audi on the basis of software updates to the vehicles’ internal gearbox computer.

Leaking fuel could lead to a fire or explosion if in the presence of an ignition source. Drivers or vehicle occupants may be able to spot this issue by noticing a gasoline smell, or puddles under their vehicles.

Timeline of Events

In 2013, Audi began receiving reports of A6 and A7 vehicles that had the 3.0TFSI engine installed, prompting an investigation by the company. In June 2014, with reports of leaking fuel lines increasing, the company’s Product Safety Committee received more information on the issue and made the decision to update the gearboxes’ software, with an eye toward reducing vibration and strain on the fuel lines. Monitoring of the issue continued even after this point.

From March 2015 to April 2017, more information came in that some Audi vehicles were still suffering the same type of damage even after getting the gearbox software update. Once again, the Product Safety Committee received the latest data on the investigation and conducted more field analysis.

In October 2017, the company’s laboratory analyzed 11 fuel lines, none of which showed any damage, but later that month and into November, more incidents were reported.

Then on Nov. 29, the Product Safety Committee completed further analysis and determined it was time to recall the vehicles in question.

The Solution

Audi drivers whose vehicles are affected by the recall will be able to take them to their local Audi dealerships or other locations for free repairs. The company will also offer reimbursement to owners who already paid to have these issues fixed.

The replacement fuel lines have a redesigned fuel hose that shrinks during installation instead of being compressed.

Both dealers and owners will be formally informed of the recall on Feb. 5, 2018.

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Kia Recalling Fortes For Brake Pad Stopper Issue

 

Irvine, California – Dec. 22, 2017 – Kia Motors America recently announced that it would need to recall more than 134,000 of its Forte sedans and Forte Koups from model years 2012 to 2014, due to concerns about brake pedal stopper pads, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Specifically, the stopper pads – which are installed between the switch that lights up a vehicle’s brake lights and the brake pedal arm itself – can deteriorate over time and potentially lead to a greater risk for crash and injury. That’s because the brake lights may get stuck in the on position, among other potentially serious issues.

Of all the vehicles in the recall, which were produced from May 2, 2012, to Feb. 28, 2014, only about 1 percent of them are expected to have this issue. The affected cars were determined through a review of vehicle production records.

The Defect

The brake pad stoppers that can deteriorate in these cases may not only lead to brake lights becoming stuck on – potentially increasing the risk of crash for trailing traffic specifically – but can also result in the dashboard traction control warning lamp lighting up unexpectedly. Furthermore, the problem may allow drivers to move the shift level without actually pressing down on the brake pedal, or even activate the vehicle’s brake pedal override feature.

The only way drivers may be able to determine if this issue has affected their vehicles during operation is if the traction control warning lamp comes on.

Timeline of Events

From July to October, 2017, Kia began to receive warranty claim data about the brake pedal stopper pads on various Fortes, and noted that the rate of such filings was increasing over time. From Nov. 3 to 16, the company contacted its supplier to investigate the issue, and during that time the supplier identified a change to its polymer mix cycle times for those stoppers made on Feb. 28, 2014. That investigation found that pads with shorter cycle times would likely have less durability.

As such, on Nov. 24, Kia decided to issue the safety recall based on 183 warranty claims and two complaints from owners of their brake lights staying on even after they took pressure off the brakes in their vehicles from the 2014 model year. However, no accidents or injuries were reported during this time.

The Solution

Drivers will be able to bring affected vehicles to their local Kia dealers, where improved replacement brake pedal stopper pads will be installed free of charge. Kia will also reimburse owners for expenses they incurred stemming from this issue prior to the recall.

The company will notify dealerships of the recall on Jan. 24, 2018, and owners will receive notifications six days later.

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Mercedes-Benz recalls vehicles for power steering problem [Video]

Hello and welcome to another vehicle recall update.

Mercedes-Benz USA recently issued a recall for 72 vehicles from the 2017 model year, including E 300 sedans, S 65 AMG coupes, and Maybach S 600s.

All vehicles in the recall were produced between July 29, 2016 and February 14, 2017.

They all have defects related to brackets on the power steering columns, which could break due to vibration and temperature fluctuation.

If that happens, the power steering assist could become disabled during operation, potentially increasing the risk of a crash.

Mercedes-Benz is asking drivers with affected vehicles to return the vehicles to their dealers for complementary repairs. Owners will be notified of the recall in January 2018.

Thanks for watching, and be sure to check back again for more recall news.

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Hyundai Elantras recalled due to brake pedal issue

 

Fountain Valley, California – Dec. 21, 2017 – Hyundai Motor America recently announced a recall of 320,000 of its popular Elantras from the 2013 and 2014 model years, due to issues with the brake pedal stopper pad, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The brake pedal stopper pad rests between the stop lamp switch (which tells the car to engage the brake lights) and the arm of the brake pedal itself, but in the affected vehicles, the stopper pad may deteriorate over time, potentially leading brake lights to be stuck in an “on” position without the driver knowing about it, as well as other potential issues that could increase the risk of crash or injury.

Of the 320,000 Elantras in the recall – including the Elantra Sedan, Elantra Coupe and Elantra GT cars – only 1 percent of them are expected to carry this defect. All were produced from May 1, 2012, to Feb. 28, 2014.

The Defect

Specifically, the affected brake pads have “insufficient polymer content” that causes them to break down over time. In addition to brake lights staying on even after the pedal has been released, other issues stemming from the defect include the traction control warning light in the dashboard remaining on, the ability to move the shift lever without pressing on the brake pedal, or the vehicle’s engine management system activating the brake pedal override.

The two signs of the issue drivers would likely be able to identify are the vehicle’s brake lights and the traction control warning lights in the dashboard remaining on.

So far, Hyundai has not seen any incidents related to the defect that led to accidents or injuries.

Timeline of Events

On July 25, 2016, Hyundai decided to begin an initial recall on brake pedal stopper pads in certain Hyundai Elantra Sedans from the 2013 model year, but also continued analysis going forward. Then, in the second quarter of 2017, such incidents began to rise for Elantras not in the original recall, especially in Elantra Coupes and GTs.

Consequently, Hyundai Motor America started to collect more brake pedal stopper pads from vehicles involved in field incidents and sent them back to Hyundai Motor Company in Korea to be analyzed. HMC identified the issue for all Elantras affected in the recall, stemming from a change in the brake pedal stopper pad’s polymer mix cycle time.

As such, on Nov. 21, HMA issued the full recall.

The Solution

Owners of affected Elantras will be asked to bring their vehicles to a local Hyundai dealership, where the brake pedal stopper pads will be replaced free of charge with those that had additional polymer mix cycle time. Owners who previously paid for such repairs out of their own pockets will be reimbursed.

Dealers will receive formal recall notifications starting Feb. 8, 2018, the same day as owners begin receiving them. However, owner notification is expected to be completed Feb. 22, 2018.

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Mitsubishi issues recall on i-MiEV subcompacts

 

Cypress, California – Dec. 21, 2017 – Mitsubishi Motors North America recently issued a recall for a relatively small number of its i-MiEV subcompact cars from the 2016 and 2017 model years, citing issues with air bag inflators, according to a letter filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Specifically, the defect in these vehicles relates to certain air bag inflators that are part of passenger front air bag modules, which may suffer inflator rupture in the event of a crash, caused by “propellant degradation” as a result of long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.

The recall affects just 144 vehicles from the model years above.

The Defect

When the 2016 and 2017 i-MiEV vehicles in the recall are exposed to high humidity for long periods of time, the propellant in the air bag module will degrade and cause a failure of the inflator.

If this happens, metal fragments may launch from the air bag compartment in the event of a crash, and potentially cause serious injury or even death to vehicle passengers.

Timeline of Events

Recall notices began being issued Dec. 15, 2017, to both owners and dealers, one week after the manufacturer filed its initial report on the issue. Repairs related to the recall were expected to begin that same day.

The Solution

Owners of affected vehicles are asked to bring their affected i-MiEVs to a local dealership, where repairs will be conducted free of charge to replace the passenger side frontal air bag inflator.

Owners are encouraged to contact Mitsubishi’s customer service line at 1-888-648-7820 if they have any questions about the issue or the recall itself. They can also contact the NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

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