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Mazda recalls vehicles over dangerous airbag covers

July 23, 2021 Bojan Popic Mazda Recalls

Washington, D.C. – May 26, 2022 – Mazda has remedied issues with 7,845 2004-2007 Mazda 3 vehicles dealing with Airbag problems caused by the emblem on them that may shatter during a collision. Additionally, none of these models have been categorized as unreachable and 1,574 has been removed from the recall. Two groups of these Mazda 3 models with airbag issues were remedied during 2021 and one group in 2022.

Washington, D.C. – July 22, 2021 – Mazda (OTCMKTS:MZDAY) is recalling 260,915 cars with logos on airbag covers that may shatter during a collision. Flying plastic segments may hit the driver or passengers, which increases the risk of an injury. This airbag recall includes 2004 – 2007 Mazda3 light vehicles.

The affected component is the airbag cover, with part numbers BP4K-57K00, BP4S-57K00, and BN8P-57K00.

Recall summary

Vehicles that are affected by this recall have a plastic logo on the driver’s airbag that contains polyurethane. With time, this material may deteriorate and become brittle as a result of sun exposure. In case of a collision, the logo could shatter in pieces when the airbag deploys.

Risks

The force generated by the airbag deployment can break the plastic logo and send its fragments throughout the vehicle interior at very high speeds. These flying objects may hit anyone in the car, increasing the risk of serious injury.

Other Mazda recalls

Earlier this year, Mazda was ordered to recall over 5,000 Mazda B-series pickup trucks because of faulty Takata airbags inflators that are prone to exploding when the airbag is deployed and hurling deadly shrapnel at the car occupants.

In addition, in 2019, several 2016 – 2017 Mazda3 vehicles were recalled because of potentially inoperative front windshield wipers. Over 150,000 2011 Mazda Mazda3s had to be taken in for repair in 2017 because of seat adjustment issues.

The repair

To fix the issue, Mazda authorized dealers will remove the airbag cover and replace it with an improved one, at no charge to the owner. The logo on the updated cover is made out of a different material that does not contain polyurethane and will not become fragile with time. Notifications will be sent to owners around August 28.

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Mazda Airbag Recall includes more than 260,000 Mazda3 vehicles. To see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

US government investigates Dodge and Chrysler vans’ sliding door issues

Washington, D.C. – July 21, 2021 – The arm of the U.S. government that regulates vehicle safety is conducting an investigation to determine if Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) will need to recall 233,084 2016 Chrysler Town and Country and the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan vans because of faulty sliding doors. The doors may allegedly become stuck, potentially trapping passengers in the vans in the event of an emergency.

Summary

The vans in question are equipped with power sliding rear doors that open at the push of a button inside the car or on the key fob. However, 426 drivers complained that they could not get the doors to open, even manually. This prompted the regulator – the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – to open an investigation on July 9.

Consumer complaints

Many of the complaints described “consumers having to remove passengers in the rear of the vehicle through the front doors, the second sliding door (if it was operational), the windows, or the rear hatch of the vehicle.”

Previous issues

Stellantis, Dodge and Chrysler’s parent company, has been aware of the issue since 2016, when they issued a bulletin to dealers instructing mechanics to replace sliding door lock actuators on vans whose doors got stuck. The automaker discovered a defect in the lock actuators that would cause the doors to get stuck, sometimes emitting a loud buzzing noise when the car was locked or unlocked.

It is not clear how big the population affected by this issue was or how many cars were actually repaired at the time.

Risks

Many complaints NHTSA received expressed concern that in an emergency or crash, vehicle occupants could become trapped inside the vehicle. This represents a grave risk in the event of, for example, vehicle fires, where occupants need to leave a vehicle quickly. If someone is hurt, first responders may also have a hard time getting to the patient quickly if they cannot open doors from the outside.

More dangers

Through the investigation, NHTSA is set to find out how often these rear door failures, confirm the risks that the complaints are referring to and potentially flesh out any additional dangers.

Next steps

The investigation is currently in the “preliminary evaluation” stage, which NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) usually completes within four months. If the evaluation shows a potential safety defect, the office will conduct an engineering analysis to decide whether to initiate a safety recall. That stage usually takes around a year, as reported.

Will your vehicle be part of a recall?

Over 233,000 vans could be implicated in a future Fiat Chrysler recall or Dodge recall. To see if your van is one of them, bookmark MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool and check back for open recalls in the future.

Mercedes-Benz recalls SUVs for water leak

July 16, 2021 Rebecca Rand Mercedes-Benz Recalls

Jacksonville, FL – July 16, 2021 – Daimler AG (OTCMKTS:DDAIF), the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, has recalled 5,680 SUVs because water may seep into the floor at the front of the car, potentially damaging electronics installed there. This may lead to a stall, upping the risk of a crash and injury.

The recall affects 2020 Mercedes GLB 250 SUVs.

Recall summary

The recall concerns a leak between the front wheel wells and the front footwells, where drivers and passengers put their feet. The 2020 GLB 250 4matic SUV’s body may not have been sealed properly during manufacturing, allowing water to leak inside.

Previous recalls

This recall expands on a 26-car recall from May 2020 for the same issue. Mercedes received reports in October 2020 that vehicles which had supposedly been “fixed” at the factory were still showing signs of water damage in the front footwells. Because Mercedes-Benz can no longer be sure that all GLB250s in production were fixed, the automaker will recall the whole lot to make sure every SUV is properly sealed.

Risks

Sensitive electronics installed under vehicle occupants’ feet could be water-damaged by this kind of leak. This damage could cause the car to stall, increasing the risk of a crash. It could also black out the information panel, including important warning lights for the engine and brakes.

Read more about what to do if your car stalls on the road in this article about a Chrysler truck recall.

Potential fire risk?

While the manufacturer does not say it explicitly, its previous water leak recall also carried a risk of electrical short, which may lead to a fire. For tips on what to do in the event of a car fire, please visit this article.

Warning signs

Mercedes SUV owners should keep an eye out for wet carpets in the front seat and fogged-up windows, which could be a sign that a puddle is forming under their feet.

The repair

Mercedes Benz dealers will check the front footwells for signs of water and will, if needed, properly seal the front of the car and repair any water-damaged components. This inspection and repair are free. Mercedes will notify owners by mail in early August.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 5,600 vehicles are included in this Mercedes Benz recall. To see if your SUV is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Volvo recalls vehicles due to risk of engine shutoff while driving

July 15, 2021 Mikaela Bolker Volvo Recalls

Ridgeville, SC – July 15, 2021 – Volvo (OTCMKTS: VLVLY) has announced a recall for 85,550 vehicles because of a faulty fuel pump. The issue can cause the car to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

The component in question is the 15A fuse, with its part number unknown.

The recall includes the following vehicles:

2019 Volvo S60
2020 Volvo S60
2019 Volvo S90
2020 Volvo S90
2019 Volvo S90L
2020 Volvo S90L
2019 Volvo V60
2020 Volvo V60
2019 Volvo V60CC
2020 Volvo V60CC
2019 Volvo V90
2020 Volvo V90
2019 Volvo V90CC
2020 Volvo V90CC
2019 Volvo XC60
2020 Volvo XC60
2019 Volvo XC90
2020 Volvo XC90

Recall summary

The fuse to the recalled cars’ fuel pump may blow during “pre-run” actions like “unlocking the vehicle, opening the door, or pushing on the brake pedal.” A blown fuse will cause the fuel pump to fail, cutting off the fuel supply to the engine and causing the car to lose power while in motion.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) that are part of this recall will not lose power until the battery is depleted.

Risks

Stalling while driving is very dangerous and can result in the driver being rear-ended by vehicles moving at a high speed. Additionally, the driver may become stranded in a hard-to-access area. For additional risks, please refer to a recent article on a Ford recall due to the same issue.

Warning signs

The driver may be warned that the fuse is blown if the engine does not start or a warning message is displayed in the infotainment panel.

Other Volvo recalls

In August 2020, the Volvo 2018 – 2020 XC60 was part of an 87,226 vehicle-wide recall for loose windshield wipers. In March 2020, several of these same models including 2019 & 2020 S60, V60, V60CC, S90L, V90CC, XC60 and XC90 were part of a large vehicle recall for a software issue, causing the automatic emergency brake System to fail.

Repair

The repair that replaces the 15A fuse with a 20A fuse is free of charge. Owners will be notified if their Volvo needs a replacement on August 1, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Approximately 85,550 vehicles are part of this Volvo fuel pump recall. To do a Volvo recall check, use Motorsafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Daimler recalls Freightliner Cascadia trucks over risk of fire

July 14, 2021 Bojan Popic Daimler (DTNA)

Portland, OR – February 21, 2022 – Daimler (NASDAQ:DDAIF) has remedied 40,686 2017-2022 Freightliner Cascadia vehicles due to an issue where a dislodged headlight may cause a fire. Additionally, Daimler has deemed 0 vehicles unreachable and 28 vehicles including the 2022 Freightliner Cascadia being removed from the dislodged headlight recall. All these models were remedied by Daimler during the third and last quarter of 2021.

Portland, OR – July 14, 2021 – Daimler (NASDAQ:DDAIF), which owns Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), is recalling 72,508 heavy-duty trucks in which a headlight may dislodge from its position. This can melt surrounding components, which increases the risk of fire.

This recall includes the following:

2017 Freightliner Cascadia
2018 Freightliner Cascadia
2019 Freightliner Cascadia
2020 Freightliner Cascadia
2021 Freightliner Cascadia
2022 Freightliner Cascadia

The trucks in question are equipped with halogen headlights and use Sylvania H11 Long life 55w bulbs.

Recall summary

On vehicles that are part of this recall, a headlight bulb that was incorrectly fitted during replacement may dislodge. This allows it to come in contact with surrounding headlight components, which could melt as a result of excessive heat.

Risks

When the hot headlight bulb comes in contact with surrounding plastic components, it may melt them. Besides causing permanent damage to the affected component, this also increases the risk of fire. For tips on what do if your vehicle catches fire, please visit the following article.

Reduction in visibility is another potential risk, as the beam of light created by a dislodged bulb will be pointing in the wrong direction.

Warning signs

Owners can conduct a visual check by looking through the headlamp lense to see how the bulb is positioned inside it. An improperly fitted one will be positioned at an awkward angle and may even flicker during its operation.

Other Daimler Trucks recalls

The manufacturer recently recalled Daimler Freightliner Cascadia trucks over a risk of tie rod detaching, caused by defective clamp nuts.

The repair

To fix the issue on vehicles made before December 2019, dealers will put a grommet, a fastening inside the headlight. The repair is free of charge. Notifications will be sent to owners on July 12.

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Freightliner Cascadia headlights’ recall includes more than 70,000 heavy-duty trucks and spans over several brands. To see if your vehicle is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

General Motors recalls vehicles over collapsing emergency jacks

July 9, 2021 Bojan Popic GM Recalls

Warren, MI – July 9, 2021 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has recalled 135,400 vehicles with potentially defective emergency jacks, which may fracture and collapse under load. This increases the risk of injury for people that are near or under the vehicle. This GM recall includes:

2020 Buick Encore GX
2021 Buick Encore GX
2022 Buick Encore GX
2021 – 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer

The affected component is “jack assembly,” with multiple part numbers, including 42743996 and 42743997.

Recall summary

The emergency jack is a tool that is used when changing a punctured tire on the side of the road. After placing it under the appropriate jacking point, the driver uses a lever on the jack to prop up the vehicle.

On affected vehicles, if the driver positions the jack incorrectly, it may collapse while lifting the vehicle.

Warning signs

According to the manufacturer, defective jacks may collapse only ‘if not positioned as directed in the vehicle owner’s manual’. This scenario is, however, likely to happen when the driver is performing a roadside repair, since these are usually less-than-ideal working conditions.

Safety tips

Roadside repairs are dangerous and should be avoided. Always call a tow truck or try to get to an empty parking lot or somewhere where you are not on the side of the road, if possible.

If you are driving and see a tow truck – or other emergency vehicles – please slow down and move over to the right. Over 30 first responders have been killed just this year due to distracted driving.

Risks

The plastic jack may not be sturdy enough if positioned incorrectly and collapse under unforeseen loads. This may result in injury to people that are close by or under the vehicle.

Other General Motors recalls

Different model years of Buick Encore were recalled in November of last year because of a potential fluid leak. Both Buick Encore GX and Chevrolet Trailblazer were part of a separate recall in September of the same year because of potential loss of electronic brake assist. The 2021 Buick Encore has not been subject to any recalls.

The repair

To fix the issue, General Motors dealers will replace the plastic emergency jack with a more robust, metal jack. The repair is free of charge. Notifications will be sent to owners around July 26.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

These Buick recalls and Chevrolet recalls include more than 135,000 SUVs. To see if your vehicle is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Porsche recalls over 10,000 Taycans following government investigation

July 8, 2021 Rebecca Rand Porsche Recalls

Atlanta, GA – July 8, 2021 – Porsche (OTCMKTS:POAH) has recalled 10,373 luxury electric cars that may stall due to a software issue. The recall comes on the heels of a recent investigation by an auto safety regulator and includes the following models:

2020 – 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo
2020 – 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S
2020 – 2021 Porsche Taycan 4S
2021 Porsche Taycan
2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo
2021 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo
2021 Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo
2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo

The affected part is “power electronics.” There is no part number available.

Recall summary

The axles of a car are responsible for transferring the power from the car to the wheels, which is what moves the car forward, as reported.

In the recalled Taycans, software designed to monitor communication between two computers on the front and rear axles may incorrectly sense a problem and trigger a shutdown of the car’s powertrain, causing the car to stall.

Investigation

Porsche discovered the issue while it was reviewing complaints brought forward by an investigation, conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about stalls in Taycan vehicles. The administration’s investigation focused on potential issues with the electric cars’ batteries, which are not mentioned in the recall documents.

It is not clear whether Porsche believes all the stalls in Taycans under investigation were caused by this software issue, instead of the battery issue proposed by NHTSA.

Warning signs

If the software error occurs, a warning message will appear on the car’s display, notifying the driver of a “motor control error” and instructing him or her to stop the car in a safe place. Once the car is stopped, Porsche says, the vehicle can be restarted by pressing the on-off button.

Read more about what to do if your car stalls in this article about a recent Chrysler recall.

Risks

According to Porsche’s own evaluation, stalls “can increase [the] risk of a crash in certain traffic situations.” Indeed, stalls put a car at risk of being hit by faster-moving traffic behind it.

The repair

Porsche dealers will update the problem software for free. Owners will be notified about the recall by August 27.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 10,000 electric vehicles are included in this Porsche recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Tesla recalls almost 6,000 vehicles over increased accident risk

July 7, 2021 Bojan Popic Tesla Recalls

Palo Alto, CA – July 7, 2021 – Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is recalling 5,974 cars that may lose tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash. This recall includes the following vehicles:

2019 Tesla Model 3
2020 Tesla Model 3
2021 Tesla Model 3
2020 Tesla Model Y
2021 Tesla Model Y

The parts in question are a brake caliper and a fastener. Tesla did not provide corresponding part numbers.

Recall summary

The Tesla brake caliper is a part of the brake system, which helps the car slow down by clamping down on the wheels as the driver presses the brake. It is held in place by two bolts, called fasteners.

During production, the fasteners were not tightened down and may become loose. If bolts become loose enough, the brake caliper will detach from the wheel and come in contact with the inner rim surface.

This can lead to loss of tire pressure. The caliper may also jam the car wheel and stop it from rotating freely.

Warning signs

Owners may notice a metal-to-metal grinding noise that changes its pitch depending on the vehicle speed, similar to one that worn brake pads generate. This happens as a result of the contact between the caliper and rim.

Risks

Both low tire pressure and jammed wheels may make the car less stable and harder to maneuver and increase the risk of a crash.

Other Tesla recalls

Over 280,000 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles were recently recalled in China because of an autopilot problem that made it more likely that the car will unexpectedly change speeds.

The November 2020 Tesla Model Y recall because of a trailer brake light glitch included close to 3,000 cars.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will check the condition and tightness of brake caliper bolts on all four wheels. Bolts that are loose will be re-tightened, while those who are damaged will be replaced with new ones. The repair is free of charge. The date on which the notifications will be sent to owners is not yet released.

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Tesla Model 3 recall includes almost 6,000 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. To see if your vehicle is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

BMW recalls cars over Takata airbag malfunction

July 2, 2021 Rebecca Rand BMW Recalls, Takata Airbag Recalls

Westwood, NJ – July 2, 2021 – BMW (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) has recalled 4,511 cars equipped with faulty Takata airbag inflators that may cause the airbag malfunction during a crash. This may result in the driver-side airbag exploding during an accident, hurting the driver with metal shrapnel. It may also cause the airbag to become under-inflated, failing to protect the driver from injuries in a crash.

The affected component is the driver-side airbag with multiple part numbers, including 1095767 and 1095763.

BMW will pull Takata airbags from BMW 3 series vehicles, including:

1999 – 2001 BMW 3 Series
2000 – 2001 BMW 323CI
1999 – 2000 BMW 323i
2000 – 2001 BMW 325Ci
2000 – 2001 BMW 328Ci
1999 – 2001 BMW 328i
2000 – 2001 BMW 330Ci
1999 – 2001 BMW 330i
1999 – 2001 BMW 330xi
2001 BMW 323 i

Recall summary

The recalled BMWs’ airbags contain Non-Azide Driver Inflators (NADI), which have been subjected to several recalls since 2019. The recalled inflators may have a faulty seal, allowing moisture to get into the inflator and degrade the explosive chemicals inside.

The NADI airbags have a defect that is similar to – but separate from – the larger Takata airbag recall. That larger recall has affected millions of vehicles across the country, and cost BMW 131 million dollars in a 2017 BMW Takata class action settlement.

Previous recall

The airbags in question were inspected under a series of prior recalls in 2019, but not replaced. At least one of the prior recalls was associated with several injuries and a fatality outside of the U.S.

Risks

When moisture degrades the explosives in the inflator, the airbag inflator could generate more or less force during deployment than it should. Too much force will explode the airbag inflator, sending dangerous shrapnel through the vehicle, potentially maiming or killing occupants. Too little force will under-inflate the airbag, which could fail to protect someone during a crash, increasing the risk of injury or death.

Some of the BMWs recalled in 2019 were considered so dangerous that BMW instructed owners to not drive the car until the repair was completed. This time, BMW is telling owners that they can continue to drive the car, but is also imploring owners to schedule a free recall repair appointment as soon as slots become available.

The repair

Dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator with a newly designed inflator for free. BMW will notify owners about the recall by mail starting on July 19.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 4,500 vehicles are included in this BMW recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

GM recalls multiple models for faulty airbag warning light

July 1, 2021 Vishal Venugopal Buick Recalls, Cadillac Recalls, Chevrolet Recalls, GM Recalls, GMC Recalls

Warren, MI – July 1, 2021 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has issued a recall for 285,622 cars and SUVs over a concern that the airbag malfunction indicator may fail to warn the driver if there is a problem with the airbag, increasing the risk of an injury in a crash. The models that are part of the recall are:

2021 Buick Envision
2021 Cadillac CT4
2021 Cadillac CT5
2021 Cadillac Escalade
2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV
2021 Chevrolet Tahoe
2021 Chevrolet Corvette
2021 Chevrolet Suburban
2021 GMC Yukon
2021 GMC Yukon XL

The affected part is the Serial Data Gateway Module (SDM) – a gateway that handles the multiple networks in a vehicle – with part number 13542878. It is not clear if the 2021 Corvette Stingray is part of this recall.

Recall summary

The root of the problem is with the GM SDM Programming; specifically, a software issue that causes the airbag sensor to inconsistently illuminate the airbag malfunction indicator light. As a result, the driver may think his or her airbag is working properly when it is not and this could result in inadequate protection in the event of a collision.

Risks

An airbag is meant to protect the occupant from an upper-body injury and frontal airbags have saved over 50,000 lives in the last 30 years. An airbag that does not deploy in the event of a crash can result in serious injury or even death.

Related complaints

In April 2021, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation over reports concerning airbag malfunctions in General Motor vehicles. Some of the models that are part of this recall were also investigated.

Of 15 complaints submitted to the NHTSA, six mentioned serious crashes where the airbags failed to deploy. Some also mentioned that the warning lights came on “every two to three minutes when driving.”

GM has not commented on whether this recall is a consequence of the investigation.

Other GM recalls

Back in December 2020, General Motors was ordered to recall 5.9 million cars with Takata airbags that may rupture when deployed.

Other Chevrolet and Buick recalls in the recent past include the January 2021 recall for mid-size sedans over a potential suspension issue.

The repair

The software issue can be resolved with an over-the-air (OTA) update at a dealership. Affected customers will be notified on July 19, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

To find out if your vehicle is a part of this GM recall, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

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