Nissan recalls cars with defective seats [Video]

Welcome to another vehicle recall update video.

Nissan North American recently recalled 210 Nissan Rogues from model year 2016 due to non-conforming seat frames that may be improperly welded.

{marker:fullscreenjump-photo} The recalled vehicles were affected by a manufacturing issue that could lead to increased risk of injury in a crash. This issue was discovered by a supplier investigation when front passenger seats would not properly lock into place.

{marker:fullscreenjump-photo} Nissan has asked all owners of affected vehicles to take the SUVs to a dealer, where the seats’ back assemblies will be replaced free of charge. Owners are expected to begin receiving recall notifications as of January eighth, two thousand eighteen.

Be sure to check back soon for more information on other breaking vehicle recall news.

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Volkswagen Recalls Atlases Over Potential Fuel Tank Leaks

 

Auburn Hills, Michigan – Dec. 20, 2017 – Volkswagen Group of America recently issued a recall for 58 of its Atlas sport utility vehicles from the 2018 model year, citing concerns over fuel tanks and potential leakages, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Specifically, the fuel tanks installed in the recalled vehicles did not have a thick enough wall to meet specifications, due to a problem during a supplier’s production process. This issue may result in fuel leaking from the tank and, if near an ignition source, could result in fire.

In all, 50 percent of the vehicles in the recall are expected to have experienced this problem. The vehicles in question were produced between May 16, 2017, and June 10, 2017.

The Defect

Due to a production problem with the supplier YAPP, fuel tanks built within a short period of time may not have the proper wall thickness in certain areas, with these thin spots stemming from “undetected material starvation during the manufacturing process.” The problem was spotted and corrected in short order on the manufacturer’s end, but not noticed by a Volkswagen dealer until several months later.

The best way for owners to determine if their vehicle is affected by this issue is if they smell gasoline while in or around their vehicles, or if they notice fuel puddles under their vehicles.

Timeline of Events

On Sept. 15, 2017, Volkswagen opened an investigation into the issue after receiving a claim from a dealer about the potential defect. On Sept. 28, a test of the affected fuel tanks’ wall thickness was proposed as a temporary solution, and on Oct. 5, the company began weighing both the tanks and the waste flash together to determine the total amount of material that had been present during the manufacturing process.

A little more than two months after the investigation began, on Nov. 22, Volkswagen’s Product Safety Committee received more information from its investigators and determined to issue the recall based on the findings.

The Solution

All vehicles affected by the recall are still within the automaker’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty, and owners will therefore be able to have the defect fixed free of charge at a dealership. When the Atlases are taken in for service, dealers will simply replace the affected fuel tanks.

Both dealers and Atlas owners are expected to be contacted about the recall on or about Dec. 29, 2017.

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Toyota 4Runners Recalled Due to Grill Overlay Issue

 

Deerfield Beach, Florida – Dec. 19, 2017 – Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC, recently issued a recall for 431 Toyota 4Runner sport utility vehicles from model years 2015 to 2018, citing concerns over the front grille of the vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall revolves around billet grille overlay kits sold by Southeast Toyota Distributors with U-nuts that can fracture, potentially leading the overlay to detach from the grille itself and potentially lead to a road hazard for following traffic. That, in turn, can increase the risk of crashes and injuries.

In all, 100 percent of the recalled vehicles are expected to have this issue, one from the 2015 model year, five from 2016, and the rest from either 2017 or 2018. These vehicles were produced from Dec. 5, 2014, to Oct. 26, 2017.

The Defect

Southeast Toyota Distributors began receiving accessory billet grille overlays in October 2014, but in mid-July 2017 those kits began coming with revised U-nuts treated with phosphate. Soon after, the organization began receiving reports from technicians about fractures, as well as two field reports in which the U-nuts fractured. However, only the newer U-nuts have reportedly fractured.

Timeline of Events

In November 2017, reports of these issues started to come into Southeast Toyota Dealers, leading to the company contacting the grille overlay supplier, T-Rex Truck Products in Corona, California. However, neither company could replicate the conditions that led to the phosphate-treated U-nuts fracturing, even when applying torque above and beyond normal conditions. Despite that, SET has issued a recall for all vehicles with the grille overlay made since the revised U-nut was added to the kit.

Beginning Nov. 20, the parts supplier is issuing new hardware for the grille overlay kits.

The Solution

SET is currently working with IHS Automotive to get as much current contact information for owners of the 4Runners in the recall, and will mail recall notification letters on or around Jan. 26, 2018. Dealers were already notified in late November.

Owners who take the vehicles into local dealerships will have the U-nuts replaced with upgraded hardware free of charge.

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Jeep Compasses recalled over instrument panel lighting

 

Auburn Hills, Michigan – Dec. 15, 2017 – Chrysler recently issued a recall of nearly 26,000 Jeep Compass sport utility vehicles from the 2017 and 2018 model years over concerns related to the photo sensor calibrations that may lead to the instrument panel not lighting up during day-to-night transitions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Federal vehicle safety standards require that backlighting for dashboard panels come with at least two brightness settings, but this issue means some Compasses may not meet that standard. Moreover, the dimmer settings on the dashboard panel will not be able to manually override the setting, putting the vehicles out of compliance with federal standards.

In all, about 10 percent of the Compasses in the recall – all produced between July 29 and Sept. 11, 2017 – are expected to carry this defect.

The Defect

Specifically, an investigation found two engineering changes made to the light sensors’ calibrations affected its ability to allow the dashboard panel lighting to transition properly from day mode to night mode. That means that when drivers are operating the vehicle late in the afternoon or before dawn, the dashboard panels might not dim properly as natural light fades.

That issue, in turn, may lead to reduced driver visibility and a higher risk of crash or injury.

Chrysler was able to identify many of the vehicles affected by the issue using part traceability.

Timeline of Events

In mid-October 2017, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration informally asked Chrysler to investigate a complaint about an inability to dim a Compass’s instrument panel cluster. Five days later, the company’s Vehicle Safety and Regulatory Compliance organization started that investigation after reviewing a number of similar complaints and records, and in doing so identified the engineering changes that affected the dimmer.

The same day, Chrysler and the supplier of the parts in question reviewed the light sensor performance to determine just how widespread the issue might have been, then began a thorough search of part numbers and vehicle ID numbers to determine the plants from which these problems may have arisen.

By Oct. 31, Chrysler and the supplier reviewed a sample field return of the panel cluster, and on Nov. 31, Chrysler’s Vehicle Regulations Committee determined it would initiate a recall.

The Solution

Chrysler plans to reimburse owners for any costs they incur – or have already incurred – repairing the issues in the recall, and asks Compass owners send the original receipt or other proof of payment to confirm the cost.

On Nov. 21, Chrysler announced it would notify both dealers and owners of the recall on Jan. 10, 2018.

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Chrysler recalling nearly 27,000 Jeep Compasses

 

Auburn Hills, Michigan – Dec. 14, 2017 – Fiat Chrysler USA recently announced the recall of 26,971 Jeep Compasses from the 2018 model year, over concerns that there may be loose inflator mounting nuts in the passenger airbag module assembly.

Specifically, it is believed that a small number of the 2018 Compasses were manufactured outside of specification, with some vehicles having a box of inflator mounting nuts kept above the module assembly area before the airbag inflator was installed. In those instances, nuts could be resting within the airbag assembly and, in case of a crash and airbag deployment, those nuts could become projectiles and significantly increasing the potential for injury.

It’s expected that this defect impacts only about 1 percent of the vehicles in the recall, and all of them were produced between Sept. 4 and Nov. 19, 2017.

The Defect

The issue was first noticed when Chrysler’s Supplier Quality Engineering organization noted a rattle inside the instrument panel of one of the vehicles that would later be recalled. That prompted an investigation, which determined that with the box resting above the assembly area, it was possible for loose nuts to fall into module assembly due to its having multiple openings.

In the event of a crash in which the airbags deploy, it’s possible that these nuts would be launched at high velocity toward an occupant, even through the cushion of the airbag itself.

Timeline of Events

Chrysler’s SQE reported the initial concern about the rattling in the instrument panel on in early November, prompting an investigation from the company’s Vehicle Safety and Regulatory Compliance organization. Once the cause of the potential issue was determined within the manufacturing process, it was discovered that five airbag module assemblies – all produced between Oct. 20 and Nov. 2, 2017 – were found to have loose mounting nuts inside. Of those five, two of the assemblies had the nuts outside the fabric of the airbag itself.

Then, on Nov. 17, the company determined it would conduct a recall of the affected vehicles.

The Solution

Chrysler is conducting a voluntary recall to replace all the airbag module assemblies for the vehicles in the recall, and will reimburse drivers for any repair costs they incur getting the airbag problem remedied. It asks that any proof of payment, such as the receipt for the transaction, be forwarded to the company.

The automaker announced in late November that it would notify both dealers and vehicle owners of the recall on Jan. 10, 2018.

adminChrysler recalling nearly 27,000 Jeep Compasses

Ford issues massive F-150, Explorer recall

 

Dearborn, Michigan – Dec. 13, 2017 – The Ford Motor Company recently issued a recall for more than 177,000 vehicles from the 2016 model year, for both F-150s and Explorers, stemming from concerns over power seats for both drivers and front-seat passengers.

For both types of seats, there is a concern with the upper left pivot bolt, which can loosen and fall out. This increases the risk of seat deflection and injury in the event of a crash if occupants are not properly restrained by their safety belts.

In all, Ford estimates that about 20 percent of the vehicles in the recall will be affected by the defect.

The Defect

Three separate factors can potentially come together to lead these bolts to loosen or fall out, including the extrusion height of the adjuster link being out of specification and side member extrusion heights not being properly specified in the first place. Furthermore, the threadlock material on the pivot bolts themselves may not meet required specifications.

Drivers or passengers of affected trucks or SUVs may be able to detect the problem if they find their seats sliding unexpectedly as the vehicle is speeding up or slowing down, or if they find a bolt on the floor of the vehicle.

Timeline of Events

Between June and July 2017, loose driver seats in certain F-150s were reported to Ford’s Critical Concern Review Group, which requested a comprehensive search of data for any associated symptoms, as well as requesting parts in the field.

Over the next two months, the CCRG reviewed field reports and other information, and found that the driver’s seat bolts were most likely to fail on vehicles produced between February and March 2016, and Ford determined that the same seat mechanisms were used in Explorers produced during the same period.

In October and November, Ford analyzed the pivot bolt’s threadlock material, and identified performance lapses in the production months in question. On Nov. 20, the company’s Field Review Committee approved field action on the recall.

The Solution

Ford encourages F-150 owners with affected vehicles to call its toll-free hotline at 1-866-436-7332 or contact a local dealer that can give them more information from the company’s online database. This is important because the vehicles in question were not produced in VIN order, meaning that some may be affected while others are not.

Owners of affected vehicles will be notified by mail that they should take the trucks to their local dealers to measure the torque on power seat pivot link bolts. If the bolt passes the assessment, dealers will remove and clean it, apply a new threadlock and re-install it. However, if it fails the inspection, another threadlock will be added until parts are available for a final repair, slated to be completed in the first quarter of 2018. All these efforts will be completed free of charge, and Ford will also reimburse drivers for any repairs they covered out-of-pocket before the safety recall.

Dealers were first notified of the recall on Nov. 30, 2017, and owner notifications should arrive between Jan. 15 and Jan. 19, 2018.

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Mazda announces recalls for CX-5 over trailer hitches

 

Washington, D.C. – Dec. 13, 2017 – Mazda North America recently issued a recall for nearly 1,100 CX-5 sport utility vehicles from the 2017 model year, citing an issue with genuine Mazda trailer hitch harness accessories.

Specifically, as a result of inappropriate routing of that harness, there may not be enough space between the harness itself and the main exhaust silencer. Consequently, if the exhaust silencer and trailer harness come into contact with each other during operation of the vehicle, it could lead to damage to the harness that causes its internal wires to short-circuit.

All CX-5s in the recall were produced between Oct. 27, 2016, and Oct. 31, 2017, and 100 percent of the vehicles in the recall are expected to be affected by it.

The Defect

If the wires in the trailer harness short-circuit, it can lead to failure of the trailer’s turn signals, tail lights and brake lights, which can increase the risk of accident – and injury – because trailing traffic may not be able to determine that the CX-5 intends to turn or is slowing down. However, the lights themselves are not affected directly by the defect.

Timeline of Events

In late September 2017, a Mazda employee noticed that the tail lights on an affected trailer were not working properly during an installation inspection, prompting an investigation the next day. That inspection found that the trailer hitch wire had been melted, and the fuse blow in the harness circuit. Another vehicle was also discovered to have the same problem, which led to a field report being issued, and a companywide investigation started in early October.

Then, on Nov. 15, Mazda’s Quality Audit Committee decided to issue a recall for all affected CX-5s.

The Solution

Dealers received the recall notifications on Nov. 30, and owners will be notified by Jan. 20, 2018. Those owners will be able to take their cars to local Mazda dealers for repairs, conducted free of charge. In the event that a trailer harness has been damaged, it will be replaced, and in either event, will be rerouted away from the exhaust silencer.

So far, Mazda has been able to identify 826 vehicle ID numbers with associated trailer hitch harness kits, but those accessories are not always traceable within the company’s systems, so dealers are being asked to contact purchasers directly.

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Chrysler recalling thousands of vans over impact sensors

 

Auburn Hills, Michigan – Dec. 12, 2017 – Chrysler recently issued a recall order for more than 3,500 of its 2018 Ram ProMaster cargo vans, citing an issue with the vehicles’ front door impact pressure sensors, according to a letter submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

The affected ProMaster vans have a new pressure sensor, but use the same fastening rivets as the vehicles with the older sensors, potentially leading to the driver’s side door airbags to unexpectedly deploy in certain situations. These vehicles were produced from late July to late August of 2017. Only about 13 percent of the 2018 ProMasters are estimated to have this defect.

The Defect

The existing fastening rivets in question were incorrectly fastened to the new sensors, which are designed to expand within a plastic attachment. Due to the incorrect installation, those sensor housings could fracture and potentially affect either sensor retention overall or the gasket seal-to-door area. If that happens, it could trigger the deployment of the driver’s door airbags in some crashes. That, in turn, could lead to additional injury risk for drivers.

Timeline of Events

While production with the existing fastening rivets began July 24, the investigation into the potential flaw did not begin until Aug. 18, initiated by Chrysler’s Manufacturing Quality organization. Two days later, the investigation determined that there was nothing materially wrong with either the rivets or sensors, so further information was sought. On Aug. 22, the rivet issue was discovered, prompting an effort to replace more than 1,300 affected vehicles built from Aug. 18 to 23 that were held back during the investigation.

Then, on Sept. 20, the full investigation was completed, and found that because of how random the causes behind any potential fractures were, it was advisable to recall all 2018 ProMasters built before Aug. 23. Through early November, Chrysler was unaware of any accidents or injuries that may have stemmed from this defect.

The Solution

Chrysler’s voluntary recall of the affected vehicles will replace both the front door impact pressure sensors, and fasten them with the proper rivets. The company will also ask in the letters it mails to affected owners that they include the receipts or other proof of payment for these repairs, so that it can reimburse customers for whatever expenses they incur.

Both owners and dealers will be notified on or about Jan. 3, 2018.

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Jaguar Land Rover recalls vehicles with defective instrument clusters [Video]

Hello, and welcome to another vehicle recall update.

Jaguar Land Rover has recalled more than twenty-one thousand vehicles potentially equipped with defective instrument clusters. The campaign affects 2017 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport sport utility vehicles. The automaker suspects all of the models referenced in the recall have the defective equipment installed.

The affected vehicles likely contain thin film transistor instrument clusters that go blank intermittently during operation due to a software error. Engineers discovered the issue following the receipt of numerous customer complaints.

Jaguar Land Rover has directed dealers to refresh the software in the recalled vehicles. The car company intends to notify owners on or around December fifteenth, two thousand and seventeen.

Stay tuned for more vehicle recall breaking news.

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Toyota recalls tens of thousands of SUVs with faulty e-brakes

 

Plano, Texas – Dec. 7, 2017 – Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing recently issued a recall for nearly 28,600 new vehicles due to concerns about the efficacy of their electric parking brakes and skid control computers, according to a letter submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

Specifically, the recall affects 2018 Toyota C-HR sport utility vehicles, which were first introduced this year and produced between Feb. 2, 2017 and Oct. 17, 2017. Currently, Toyota is unable to estimate what percentage of these vehicles were affected by the potential issues, noting in its filing, ” Whether the condition will occur prior to first sale and constitute a noncompliance will differ depending on the environment and conditions that the vehicle is exposed to.”

Not all of the vehicles in the recall were actually sold in the U.S., however, as the issues were first spotted in Japan.

The Defect

The recall notice states that Toyota discovered a possibility the computer that controls the C-HR’s skid control function may “incorrectly identify a small increase in circuit resistance” due to a film applied to the electric parking brake motor’s open circuit. Most often, this is likely to occur when a parking brake hasn’t been used in a while.

When this issue arises, the vehicle’s dashboard will light up, advising the driver that there has been an “EPB Malfunction” and that they should visit a dealer, as well as the inability to disengage the parking brake, or to apply it in the first place.

The latter issue, in turn, creates a potential rollaway risk if vehicles are stopped on a significant enough slope and not put into park properly.

Timeline of Events

The recall came in the wake of a few C-HRs in Japan reportedly having their EPBs stick after being applied, prompting an investigation into the issue from Toyota. As a result of that effort, which concluded in late October, the automaker determined the potential cause of the issue to be the oxide film on the EPB motor. However, C-HRs were not intended to go on sale in the U.S. before Nov. 9, so many of the issues might have cropped up before the vehicles got into consumers’ hands.

The Solution

Nonetheless, Toyota is issuing letters to all known owners of C-HRs to return their vehicles to the dealerships where the SUVs were purchased, for a quick, no-cost update to the programming on the skid control computer, rather than fixing anything to do with the EPB itself. All such repairs will fall well within the window of the company’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty. These notifications were expected to reach most owners by late November, but some could arrive as late as mid-January.

For more information about the recall, owners will be able to call either Toyota’s hotline at 1-800-331-4331, or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236. They can also visit www.safercar.gov for more information.

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