Honda CR-V vehicles recalled for window switch issue

Honda CR-V vehicles recalled for window switch issue

January 18, 2021 Ken Boyd

December 30, 2021 Update – Honda Motor Company (NYSE:HMC) has remedied issues with 47,586 Honda CR-V vehicles that had failures with the driver side power window master switch. Additionally, 9,353 of these vehicles have been categorized as unreachable and 57.552 have been removed from the recall. All of these Honda CR-V vehicles with window switch failures were divided into 3 groups throughout 2021 to fix the failure.

Torrance, CA – January 18, 2021 – Honda Motor Company (NYSE:HMC) has recalled 268,655 Honda CR-V vehicles, due to a faulty power window switch. If moisture enters the power window master switch, the switch may fail or melt, increasing the risk of a fire. The recall includes 2002-2006 Honda CR-V vehicles.

Recall summary  

Power windows in these cars are operated by a master switch located in the door panel. Heavy rain may cause water to enter the driver’s side window. If the water reaches these Honda CR-Vs’ power window master switch, it may damage the switch’s circuit board, causing the switch to fail. In some cases, it may also result in a short circuit, which may overheat and melt the switch connectors. This is similar to a 2013-2016 recall of Honda Accord models with battery sensor failures, that lead to battery fires.

Risks 

If the driver’s side power windows do not operate correctly, the issue may distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash, in the same way it did with the 2018-2020 Honda Accords with a programming error that increases the risk of malfunction of various components of the car while driving. In addition, the water issue may cause a fire, which can injure the car occupants and greatly up the risk of a crash.

As of November 2020, Honda has been notified of 23 fires related to this power window switch issue, as well as 87 “thermal events,” such as melting and smoke.

Second recall

Honda originally recalled the same Honda CRV models for an identical power window switch issue in 2012. However, customers continued to report thermal events. Honda found that the problem actually occurred more often in the vehicles that had had the recall repair. This second recall will replace rather than simply repair the switch.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will need to replace the power window CR-V master switch. Dealers will also inspect the wiring harness –  which is a set of wires and connectors that power the vehicle – and replace it  if necessary.

The repair is free of charge, and Honda expects the recall to begin January 18, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 250,000 vehicles are included in this Honda CR-V 2006 recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle recall lookup tool.

Ken BoydHonda CR-V vehicles recalled for window switch issue
Mitsubishi recalls Outlander vehicles for parking brake issue

Mitsubishi recalls Outlander vehicles for parking brake issue

January 15, 2021 Ken Boyd

Franklin, TN – January 15, 2021 – Mitsubishi Corporation (NASDAQ:MSBHF) has recalled 21,758 vehicles, due to corrosion in the parking brake system. The parking brakes may not operate correctly, increasing the risk of a crash. The recall includes 2016  Mitsubishi Outlander and 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport vehicles.

Recall summary  

The parking brake system prevents the car from rolling away when parked on a hill by engaging rear brakes, which lock the rear wheels of a car in place. 

Due to a supplier assembly error, the rear brakes of these cars may lack a rust prevention coating. Without that coating, water may penetrate the brake system and corrode it. As a result, the parking brake may fail and not keep the car from rolling away.

Risks 

If the driver believes that the parking brake is set and the brake malfunctions, the vehicle may roll into traffic, hit another parked vehicle or injure a pedestrian. This is particularly dangerous if the vehicle is parked on an incline.

Other Mitsubishi Outlander recalls

Outlander and Outlander Sport cars are subject to several recent recalls.  Both cars, for example, were among the ones recalled back in the summer for improperly designed seat belts. They are also subject to a May recall due to a part of the suspension detaching due to corrosion.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will need to replace the rear brake caliper assemblies. The repair is free of charge. Mitsubishi expects the recall to begin January 25, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 21,000 vehicles are included in this Mitsubishi Outlander recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Ken BoydMitsubishi recalls Outlander vehicles for parking brake issue
Honda CR-V, Accord, Insight recalled for battery charging issue

Honda CR-V, Accord, Insight recalled for battery charging issue

January 14, 2021 Ken Boyd

Torrance, CA – May 10, 2022 – Honda Motor Company (NYSE:HMC) has remedied issues with 25,297 vehicles including the 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid that had failures with the backup power 12-volt battery. Additionally, 26 of these 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid vehicles have been categorized as unreachable and 160 have been removed from the recall. All these 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid with 12-volt battery failures were remedied in 2021.

Torrance, CA – January 14, 2021 – Honda Motor Company (NYSE:HMC) has recalled 27,838 vehicles due to an issue that may prevent the 12-volt battery from recharging properly. If the battery does not recharge, the vehicle may  lose power. The recall includes: 

  • 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid SUVs
  • 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid sedans
  • 2020-2021 Honda Insight hybrid sedans

Recall summary  

The 12-volt battery provides backup power for electrically-powered vehicles. If the vehicle’s hybrid battery is depleted, the 12-volt battery serves as an additional power source.

An excess amount of fuel additives and cold temperatures can cause “overvoltage” of a power converter unit (PCU), which powers these cars’ 12-volt battery. This may prevent that battery from recharging and may drain the car battery. Drivers may be alerted to the possibility of that happening when the 12-volt battery warning light is illuminated, and a warning message is displayed.

If both the hybrid battery and the 12-volt battery are depleted, the vehicle may lose all power, which increases the risk of a crash. 

Risks 

While there have been no reports of crashes or injuries related to the issue, there have been 53 warranty claims and 65 field reports as of December 10, 2020. 

The loss of battery power creates a number of risks:

  • Drivers may not be able to accelerate to enter a traffic lane or to avoid other vehicles and prevent an accident.
  • If the vehicle loses power on a highway or at higher speeds, it is at risk of getting hit.
  • The driver and occupants may be stranded in extreme weather in a vehicle with no power.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will need to update the software in the PCU. The repair is free of charge. Honda expects the recall to begin on February 25, 2021. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 27,800 vehicles are included in this Honda Accord recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Ken BoydHonda CR-V, Accord, Insight recalled for battery charging issue
General Motors continues recall of heavy duty pickups with faulty seat belts

General Motors continues recall of heavy duty pickups with faulty seat belts

January 5, 2021 Rebecca Rand ,

Warren, MI – January 5, 2021 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) is continuing  a recall of 38,048 heavy-duty trucks that were built with the driver- and front passenger-side seat belt parts meant for other cars. The recall includes the following pickup trucks:

  • 2017-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500
  • 2017-2018 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500

The name of the affected component is Retractor ASM-F/Seat Belt with part numbers 84253641, 84253686, 84234013 and 84234008.

Recall summary  

The recall concerns the seat belt torsion bars, which help the seat belt hold a passenger during a crash and protect him or her from an upper body injury. The bars a supplier of General Motors (GM) installed in these vehicle models in the seat belt retractors were the wrong size and had not gone through crash testing.  These bars are typically used in “other full-size trucks,” according to GM.

Continuation of the 2017 recall

This is a continuation of a recall that was originally announced in September 2017. A month after starting the original recall GM petitioned the auto industry regulator – the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) – to be released from going through with the recall, based on the belief that the different seat belt part would be “inconsequential” to safety. 

The regulator disagreed and denied GM’s petition in November 2020. Between fall of 2017 and spring of 2019, the automaker recalled and fixed over 10,000 cars.

Other Chevy Silverado recalls

A different model year of Chevy Silverado 2500 is subject to a recent recall launched on the back of faulty airbag end caps that may fly off and injure or distract the car occupants. 2020-2021 Silverado 2500 and 3500, as well as GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 trucks, are involved in another seat belt recall, also as reported. The seat belts on these cars may similarly fail to protect the driver and passengers due to being loose.

Risks

A seat belt meant for another car may not work as expected. This can lead to an injury or death for the car’s  driver and passengers.

Read more about seat belt safety in this Chrysler seat belt recall article.

The repair

GM will replace the seat belt retractor with one with the correct size torsion bar, free of charge. GM began notifying owners on December 28, but the repair will not be available until after March 17. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 38,000 vehicles are part of this GM recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandGeneral Motors continues recall of heavy duty pickups with faulty seat belts
Volkswagen recalls over 100,000 cars equipped with Takata airbag inflators

Volkswagen recalls over 100,000 cars equipped with Takata airbag inflators

January 4, 2021 Rebecca Rand ,

Auburn Hills, MI – January 4, 2021 – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) has recalled 105,652 Beetles and Beetle convertibles whose driver-side Takata airbag inflators could explode, hitting the occupants of the vehicle with its potentially lethal metal fragments.

This is the latest in the series of widespread Takata airbag recalls. General Motors and Nissan recently announced their own recalls associated with these dangerous airbags.

This round of recalls involves the following model years:

  • 2012 Volkswagen Beetle compact cars, as well as the 2013 and 2014 models
  • 2012 Volkswagen Beetle convertibles, as well as the 2013 and 2014 models

Recall summary

Cars involved in this ever-growing Takata airbag recall were made with Takata inflators that may blow up during a crash and hurl metal fragments at the driver and passenger, injuring or killing them. 

The airbags on these Volkswagen Beetle convertible and compact cars are no exception, despite being made with a desiccant, or drying agent, that was designed to prevent moisture – which is one of the factors in the explosion – from getting into the airbags.  However, while the addition of the drying agent does help, it does not fully prevent these inflators from degrading, resulting in a high risk of an explosion. The risk becomes higher as the inflators age, according to a study submitted to the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) on behalf of the manufacturers involved in the Takata recall in 2019.

Volkswagen’s internal efforts failed to show that these airbags were dangerous. However, the manufacturer agreed to recall the cars “out of an abundance of caution.”

To read more about the background of the Takata airbag recall, please see the following article about the recent General Motors recall of Takata airbags that suffered the same issue.

Risks

Exploding inflators pose a serious threat to the safety of car occupants. More than 25 people have been killed and at least 250 injured so far in the Takata airbag recall, which has turned into the biggest automotive recalls in U.S. history. 

The report provided by NHTSA to the public about the recall does not furnish any information about injuries associated with this particular Volkswagen recall.

Additional recalls

This is only the first round of Volkswagen recalls replacing desiccated Takata airbag inflators. The manufacturer has agreed to issue further recalls as vehicles age. The next recall, which will take place in 2023, will include 2015-2016 Volkswagen Beetles and Beetle convertibles. 2017-2019 Beetles and convertibles will be recalled in 2025, along with 2011-2014 Passats.

Repair

Volkswagen dealers will replace the airbag with one that does not contain ammonium nitrate. The repair is not yet available. Owners will be notified by mail starting February 12, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 100,000 vehicles are included in this Volkswagen recall. As of April 29, 2021, 2,151 airbags had been replaced, with 103,501 remaining. Use MotorSafety’s free recall lookup tool to see if your vehicle is among the ones that still need to be repaired.

Note: June 8, 2021

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


Rebecca RandVolkswagen recalls over 100,000 cars equipped with Takata airbag inflators
General Motors vehicles recalled for seat belt issue

General Motors vehicles recalled for seat belt issue

December 31, 2020 Ken Boyd , ,

Warren, MI – December 31, 2020 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has recalled 624,216 vehicles due to a seat belt issue in the front-row center seat. The seat belt may not properly secure the occupant in the seat, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

The recall includes:

  • 2019-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 trucks
  • 2019-2021 GMC Sierra 1500 trucks
  • 2021 Chevrolet Suburban SUVs
  • 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs
  • 2021 GMC Yukon XL SUVs
  • 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 trucks
  • 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 trucks
  • 2020-2021 GMC Sierra 2500 trucks
  • 2020-2021 GMC Sierra 3500 trucks

Recall summary  

Seat belt brackets are designed to secure the seat belt to the seat frame. In recalled vehicles, the supplier of the front-row center seat failed to attach the brackets to the frame of the seat correctly.

As a result, the seat belt may be “loose or detached from the seat frame.” Passengers may also hear a rattling sound emanating from the seat. 

The issue was first caught by the manufacturer in August 2020. There are no injuries associated with this recall.

Other GM recalls

December saw a GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado recall due to an issue with roof-rail airbags, as well as a massive, six-million car recall due to faulty Takata airbags’ inflators that are prone to hurling “sharp metal fragments” into the car occupants in a crash. The latter includes Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe SUVs. However, the trucks involved in both recalls are older models and not the same ones that are being recalled this time around.

Risks  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among those aged 1-54 in the U.S.”  Seat belts can sharply reduce the risk of death or injury in a crash but they must be able to secure each occupant in the vehicle. If not, the passenger or the driver may be injured inside the vehicle or thrown from the vehicle during a crash.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers must inspect the seat belt bracket attachments on both sides of the front-row center seat and will reassemble them as necessary. The repair will be free of charge.  General Motors expects to begin the recall on February 1, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 624,000 vehicles are included in this General Motors recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Ken BoydGeneral Motors vehicles recalled for seat belt issue
Nissan Titan trucks recalled for risk of fire, stalled engine

Nissan Titan trucks recalled for risk of fire, stalled engine

December 30, 2020 Ken Boyd

Franklin, TN – December 30, 2020 – Nissan Motor Company (NASDAQ:NSANY) has recalled 7,583 Titan pickup trucks due to an exposed engine wire. The wire may cause an electrical short, which could give rise to a fire. It could also result in the car stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.

The recall includes 2020 Nissan Titan and Nissan Titan XD pickup trucks.

Recall summary  

The engine wiring harness is a group of wires, connectors and terminals that operate each truck’s electrical system. Due to a supplier error in the assembly process, the wiring harness may include an exposed wire.  The issue could cause an electrical short, which could bring about an engine fire or negatively affect engine performance. The latter could result in the car stalling while out on the road, “without the ability to restart.”

Risks 

Both an engine fire and a stalled engine could put the car occupants, other motorists and even pedestrians at the risk of getting hit, injured or worse.

For tips on what to do if your car stalls, please see our article about a recent Chrysler recall for a similar issue. For information on steps you need to take in the event of a fire, please refer to our article about a recent BMW recall for contaminated battery, which also created significant fire risk.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will need to inspect the engine harness and determine if there are any exposed engine wires. The engine harness will be replaced free of charge, if necessary.  Nissan expects the recall to begin January 27, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 7,500 vehicles are included in this Nissan Titan recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Ken BoydNissan Titan trucks recalled for risk of fire, stalled engine
Subaru recalls 2020 Legacy and Outback cars for back-up camera glitch

Subaru recalls 2020 Legacy and Outback cars for back-up camera glitch

December 29, 2020 Rebecca Rand

Camden, NJ – Mar 20, 2022 – Subaru has remedied issues with 7,217 vehicles including the  2020 Subaru Outback and 2020 Subaru Legacy dealing with a software failure that may cause the rearview camera to shut down. Additionally, none of these models have been categorized as unreachable and only two have been removed from the recall. All these Subaru models with backup camera issues were remedied in three groups during 2021.

Camden, NJ – December 29,  2020 – Subaru (OTCMKTS: FUJHY) has recalled 7,741 vehicles with a software issue that shuts off the backup camera display. The recall includes the 2020 Subaru Legacy mid-size vehicles and the 2020 Subaru Outback SUVs.

The affected component is the Cockpit Control Module (CCM) with part numbers 86201AN65A and 86271AN60A. The CCM includes the backup camera.

Recall summary  

These 2020 Subaru Outback and Legacy vehicles could lose their backup camera displays while in reverse due to a glitch that causes the computer to reboot every three minutes. 

The problem originated during a remote software update Subaru streamed to vehicles in August.  The installation process timed out and the data that was being transmitted was not transferred to the recalled vehicles. As a result, the CCM may repeatedly reboot, disabling the camera display for six seconds. 

Risks

No accidents or injuries relating to this issue have been reported, but, if rear view cameras are not functioning properly, there is a risk that drivers could run over or crash into people and objects behind them. 

To read about the Cameron Gulbransen Safety Act, which made backup cameras standard on all vehicles starting in 2018, and back-up crashes statistics,  please head to an article about a recent Ford recall due to the same issue.

The repair

Subaru dealers will reprogram vehicles affected by the recall. If a car’s backup camera display is not working, the dealer will replace the CCM with a new one. Owners will be notified by mail starting January 22.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 7,700 vehicles are included in this 2020 Subaru recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandSubaru recalls 2020 Legacy and Outback cars for back-up camera glitch
Hyundai’s Nexo and Kona cars recalled for faulty brakes

Hyundai’s Nexo and Kona cars recalled for faulty brakes

December 28, 2020 Ken Boyd

Fountain Valley, CA – December 28, 2020 – Hyundai Motor Company (NASDAQ:HYMTF) has recalled 8,176 vehicles, due to a sensor signal malfunction that may “significantly” reduce braking power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recall includes 2019-2020 Nexo Fuel Cell sedans and 2019-2021 Kona Electric SUVs.

Recall summary  

These vehicles operate with an Integrated Electronic Brake (IEB) system which is designed to automatically reduce the speed of a car when the system determines that the risk of a crash is increasing.  

Recalled vehicles’ IEB may receive a faulty “sensor signal,” which may illuminate the malfunction indicator lamp and increase the time it takes the vehicle to slow down after applying brakes.

Hyundai recalled the 2020 Nexo due to a self-parking system issue in April of 2020. Several model years of Hyundai Kona electric vehicles were recalled in 2020 for a battery issue that could lead to a fire.

Risks 

If the brakes do not work as designed, the driver may not brake in time to avoid hitting another vehicle, a pedestrian or a stationary object, such as the curb, railing or a tree. A crash may injure the vehicle occupants or passengers in other vehicles.

An owner of a 2019 Nexo logged a complaint of last year that mentioned that the brakes would intermittently fail, causing the braking power to fall dramatically and the car speed to be limited to 13 mph. The failure also seemed to allow the car to “roll backward when the brake is not applied.” The complaint was logged before Hyundai started its investigation.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will need to update the IEB software. The repair is free of charge. Hyundai expects the recall to begin on January 22, 2021. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 8,100 vehicles are included in this Hyundai Kona Electric and Nexo recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Ken BoydHyundai’s Nexo and Kona cars recalled for faulty brakes
Honda recalls Accord and Insight cars for potential multi-component malfunction

Honda recalls Accord and Insight cars for potential multi-component malfunction

December 24, 2020 Rebecca Rand

Torrance, CA – December 24, 2020– Honda (NYSE: HMC) is recalling 737,233 Accord and Insight cars with a programming error that increases the risk of malfunction of various components of the car while driving, upping the risk of a crash and injury.  The recall includes:

  • 2018- 2020 Honda Accord sedans
  • 2018-2020 Honda Accord hybrids
  • 2019- 2020 Honda Insight hybrids

Recall summary  

Due to a supplier programming mistake, these Honda vehicles may experience a glitch that disrupts communication between the body control module (BCM)  and other parts of the car. As reported, the BCM is the “core” of the car that is in charge of many of its operations. For the part numbers involved, please refer to the National Highway Safety (NHTSA) administration documents.

Disrupted communication between the BCM and other components may cause various warning lights to come on and several “electrical components” to malfunction. Some of the examples of what can happen are listed below:

  • Rearview camera won’t work
  • Windshield wipers and defrosters fail to function
  • Car lights and turn signals won’t turn on
  • Trunk won’t open
  • Cruise control and lane keep assist lights will flash

Software issues

Software issues have prompted more than one Honda recall in 2020. In July, for example,  the Japanese manufacturer recalled Odyssey minivans, Passport and Pilot SUVs because of “a programming glitch” that caused cars’ instruments panels to suddenly power off,  “depriving drivers of vital information,” such as the speed of the vehicle.

Risks

Malfunction of various components of the car can seriously increase the risk of a crash, especially while driving. Warning lights that come without reason can distract the driver and cause him to take actions that may also augment the risk of a crash or injury for the car occupants, as well as other motorists and pedestrians.

The repair

The recall is scheduled to begin on January 18, 2021. The repair will be a software update but it is not clear when it is going to be available.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 730,000 vehicles are included in this Honda  recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandHonda recalls Accord and Insight cars for potential multi-component malfunction
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