Kia Sedona minivans recalled for potential fire hazard

Kia Sedona minivans recalled for potential fire hazard

September 7, 2020 Ken Boyd

Pleasanton, CA – July 1, 2022 – Kia Motors America (OTC:KIMTF) has remedied issues with 4,078 2020 Kia Sedona that were dealing with electrical issues caused by an alternator failure. Additionally, 54 of these 2020 Kia Sedona have been deemed unreachable, and 20 have been removed from the recall. Two groups of these Kia Sedona models with alternator failures were remedied in 2020, four groups in 2021, and 1 group during the first quarter of 2022.

Pleasanton, CA – July 8, 2020 – Kia Motors America (OTC:KIMTF) has recalled 5,385 Kia Sedona vehicles because a  nut on the generator of the electrical power in the car was not sufficiently tightened during assembly. The nut may loosen over time, which creates an extreme risk of fire.  Affected vehicles include:

  • 2020 Kia Sedona

Recall summary  

In July, Kia announced that a nut on the alternator was not properly tightened when the car was in production. The alternator converts energy generated by the engine into electricity, which charges the vehicle’s battery and powers the electrical system. 

The nut in question maintains the electrical connection between the battery wire and the alternator terminal. If  it  is loose, a resulting electrical arc may cause a fire.

Risks 

A loose alternator terminal nut creates an extreme fire risk. In February of 2020, Kia received a customer complaint which alleged that a 2020 Sedona caught on fire. The manufacturer investigated and found that an alternator terminal nut was missing. Kia inspected a group of Sedona vehicles and determined that some terminal nuts were not properly tightened.

What to do in case of a fire

Car fires are extremely dangerous.  If your vehicle catches fire, here is what you should do:

  • Pull over to a safe location as soon as possible
  • Turn off the engine
  • Immediately get yourself and your family away from the vehicle
  • Call 911

If you think that there is a fire under the hood, do not open it to avoid feeding the fire oxygen.

The repair

To eliminate the risk of fire, the B+ alternator terminal nut must be inspected and tightened, if necessary. The update itself should take less than half a day.

There is no charge for this repair, and the recall is expected to start on August 14, 2020. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 5,300 cars are included in this Kia recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Ken BoydKia Sedona minivans recalled for potential fire hazard
Mercedes-Benz recalls A-class sedans over water damage risk

Mercedes-Benz recalls A-class sedans over water damage risk

September 4, 2020 Rebecca Rand

Pleasanton, CA – July 18, 2020 – Daimler AG (OTCMKTS:DDAIF), the owner of the Mercedes-Benz brand, is recalling 3,615 compact sedans with an air conditioning hose that may leak water into the cabin. The recall includes 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedans(A220).

Recall summary  

Due to a manufacturing error, certain 2019 A-Class vehicles may have an improperly-installed air conditioning hose that could leak water into the floor of the vehicle. The hose is designed to carry condensation out of the vehicle, but a loose seal allows water to seep into the floors and center tunnel of the car. The center console hosts the dashboard, one of the most important pieces of equipment in a vehicle.

The seepage can have more serious consequences than  wet carpets— the water can damage or short-circuit various electrical components in the floor and center of the car, creating a safety hazard.

Risks

The leak can damage or impair important electrical components, including the module that controls the airbags. If the module is damaged, the airbags may not be able to protect drivers or passengers in the case of a crash, increasing the risk of injury. 

It may also activate the car’s “limp-home” mode, which drastically reduces the car’s speed. If you are driving and your car enters this mode, the check engine light will illuminate and the car may feel sluggish. If you are on the freeway, it is best to pull over and call for help, as your reduced speed may make you a traffic hazard.

Finally, it could lead to a car’s “failure to start” or malfunctioning of other elements, such as the fuel pump.

If your car suffers this kind of leak, you may notice fogged  windows or wet carpets in the area where your foot pedals are located.

The repair

An authorized dealer will check the air conditioning drain hose and make sure it is tightly fastened. This free service is currently available, and should take less than half a day to complete.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 3,000 vehicles are included in this Mercedes-Benz recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandMercedes-Benz recalls A-class sedans over water damage risk
Honda issues a second recall for faulty sliding doors

Honda issues a second recall for faulty sliding doors

September 2, 2020 Rebecca Rand

Pleasanton, CA – July 29, 2020 – Honda (NYSE: HMC) will recall 324,194 vans whose sliding doors might not fully latch and could slide open while the car is moving.  The recall includes:

2018-2020 Honda Odyssey

Recall summary

The recalled vehicles were designed with reduced moisture protection. As a result, in cold temperatures, water can seep in and freeze on cables inside the door handle. The frozen cables cannot move properly, which could keep the door from fully latching shut.

This is the second time the manufacturer conducts a recall for the same issues.  As a result of the first recall, Honda replaced the door latches, but some vans’ doors continued to slide open while driving. 

The issue has not resulted in injuries or crashes but there have been 31 incidents so far, according to Honda.

Risks

If a car door suddenly opens while a vehicle is moving it poses a safety hazard to occupants who could fall out of the car. Falls from vehicles account for 17% of all non-crash vehicle fatalities, according to a 2015 report by the National Highway Transit Safety Administration (NHTSA). These falls caused 75,000 injuries between 2011 and 2012, the report says.

Repair

Honda will replace the cables inside the door handle at no cost to the owner. The repair is already available, though official owner notifications will not be sent until September 23.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 300,000 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 issues a second recall for faulty sliding doors
Honda recalls minivans for rear view camera leak and software glitch

Honda recalls minivans for rear view camera leak and software glitch

August 31, 2020 Rebecca Rand

Pleasanton, CA – May 10, 2022 – Honda Motor Company (NYSE:HMC) has remedied issues with 159,860 2019-2020 Honda Odyssey Minivans that had failures with the rearview camera. Additionally, 297 of these vehicles have been categorized as unreachable and 686 have been removed from the recall. Two groups of these 2019-2020 Honda Odyssey Minivans with rearview camera failures were remedied in 2020 and three groups were remedied during 2021.

Pleasanton, CA – July 28 2020 – Honda (NYSE: HMC) has recalled 212,068 Odyssey minivans with faulty rear view cameras. The recall includes 2019 and 2020 Honda Odyssey Minivans.  

Recall summary  

The rear view camera display on the recalled vehicles may fail to appear, look distorted or produce an error message.

This is a result of one of the two issues. The first one is that – because of a design flaw – moisture can penetrate the camera via the mounting holes, damaging it or disabling it altogether. The rearview image may also fail to display due to a programming glitch that disables the camera in bright environments. 

2018 Honda Odysseys may also experience these issues and will be provided with the same fix as the vehicles above.

Risks

Back-up crashes kill an estimated 284 people a year and injure around 12,000, according to the NHTSA. Rearview camera systems are intended to help prevent back-up crashes by showing the driver a 10-foot to 20-foot area behind the vehicle.

Since 2018, the National Highway Transit Safety Administration (NHTSA) has required all new vehicle models to be made with rearview cameras. Now a necessity rather than an accessory, it is required by law that these cameras function properly.

The repair

Honda will replace the rear-view camera with a redesigned one, free of charge. The company will notify owners on or around September 23. Because there are several open recalls on Honda 2018-20 Odyssey vehicles, you may be able to have multiple recall repairs completed at once. This could take about a day, according to the experience of some Honda owners.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 200,000 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 minivans for rear view camera leak and software glitch
Honda minivans and SUVs recalled for faulty rear view camera

Honda minivans and SUVs recalled for faulty rear view camera

August 28, 2020 Ken Boyd

Pleasanton, CA – July 28 2020 – Honda (NYSE: HMC) has recalled 499,342 Pilot, Odyssey, and Passport vehicles that have a delayed or inoperative rear view camera display. This issue can reduce the driver’s view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. The recall includes:

  • 2019-2020 Honda Odyssey Minivans
  • 2019-2020 Honda Passport SUVs
  • 2019-2021 Honda Pilot SUVs

Recall summary  

In July, Honda announced that there is a glitch in the vehicles’ software responsible for controlling the instrument panel and the audio system. Due to the error, the backup camera image may not display or may be delayed so when the vehicle is started, the display audio and rearview camera both stay off. 2018 Honda Odysseys may also experience this issue and will be provided with the same fix as the vehicles above.

All of the above vehicles are also subject to several additional recalls for issues with speedometer display and sliding doors that do not latch properly in freezing conditions.  

Risks

Rearview camera systems are designed to prevent backover crashes by displaying a 10-foot to 20-foot zone directly behind the vehicle. 

If the driver is in the habit of using the camera when the car is in reverse, the software problem creates a high risk of an accident. A driver may back over an item on the ground or hit an individual behind the car.

As of August 4, Honda notes that there have been no reports of crashes related to these actions. Passports and Pilots have an additional issue with the rearview camera. When these two vehicles are shifted into reverse, the rearview camera may not display. 

The repair

The remedy is a free software update that the vehicle owners can be installed directly by the vehicle owners or their dealers. Dealers were notified in July, while the vehicles owners will be made aware of the issue in late September. It is not clear when the update will be available. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Close to half a million vehicles are included in this Honda recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Ken BoydHonda minivans and SUVs recalled for faulty rear view camera
Hyundai recalls over 200,000 cars for interior fire hazard

Hyundai recalls over 200,000 cars for interior fire hazard

August 27, 2020 Rebecca Rand

Pleasanton, CA – July 3, 2020 – Hyundai (OTCMKTS:HYMTF) is recalling 272,126 light vehicles for a fire hazard related to the  12-volt accessory outlet. The recall includes:

  • 2012 Hyundai Accent
  • 2011-2012 Hyundai Elantra
  • 2011-2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
  • 2012 Hyundai Veloster

Recall summary

In June, Hyundai determined that 12v “cigarette lighter” outlets inside the cars had been installed too tightly during assembly, disabling the component designed to prevent overheating.

This can lead to the recalled cars smoking or catching fire when fixing a flat tire using the outlet. The tires are inflated using a tire mobility kit which gets plugged into the outlet and come standard on these models.

Hyundai first received a report related to this defect in October 2011.  In November 2018,  a  car caught fire inside someone’s garage  while the tire inflator was in use. Despite that, the car manufacturer was unable to replicate the smoke and burning in tests until this summer.

Safety risks

In the tests Hyundai conducted while investigating this issue, the outlets generated smoke and melted parts of the dashboard. Inhaling smoke from a burning vehicle may pose a health hazard to drivers and passengers, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Modern cars, the administration warns, are made with many synthetic materials, like plastic, that emit dangerous gases when they burn.

If you smell burning plastic or smoke while driving, stop the car someplace safe. Once stopped, turn off the engine and exit the vehicle. If you suspect a fire, stay 100 feet away from the car and call for help.

Repair

The recall will officially begin on August 28, when the company will notify dealers and owners of the issue. However, the repair is not yet available. In the meantime, owners should not use the tire inflator until their 12V outlets have been repaired.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 200,000 cars are included in this Hyundai recall. Check and see if your car is one of them using Motorsafety.org’s free recall lookup tool.


Rebecca RandHyundai recalls over 200,000 cars for interior fire hazard
Mercedes-Benz recalls high-performance cars with faulty stability control software

Mercedes-Benz recalls high-performance cars with faulty stability control software

August 24, 2020 Rebecca Rand

Pleasanton, CA – July 7, 2020 – Daimler AG (OTCMKTS:DDAIF), the owner of the Mercedes-Benz brand, is recalling 5,039 high-performance AMG vehicles for a problem with the software that reduces the risk of skidding. The recall includes:

  • 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63
  • 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG C 63 S
  • 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 63
  • 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 63 S
  • 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 53 
  • 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 63
  • 2019-2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 63 S

Recall summary

The recall concerns vehicles’ Electronic Stability Control (ESP) software. The ESP ensures that the car goes in the direction the driver wants it to go. If it determines that the driver may have lost the control of the car, it applies brakes or reduces the engine power to help the driver regain control. The software has been installed on all new cars sold in the U.S. since 2012.

Due to an error on the part of the supplier – Bosch Engineering – the ESP on the affected cars was not primed to interact with certain brakes and sensors being installed on the Mercedes Benz vehicles in question The issue first came to light in mid-2018.

Safety risks

Because the ESP aids in steering and braking, it can seriously impact the speed and direction of the car. If the ESP responds incorrectly, it could veer the car in the wrong direction and increase the risk of a crash. 

Repair

The repair is a software update. Mercedes has not indicated when it will become available.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 5,000 cars are included in this Mercedes recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool to check your car for open recalls.

Rebecca RandMercedes-Benz recalls high-performance cars with faulty stability control software
Chevrolet Silverado Pickup Trucks Recalled for Faulty ABS Indicator Light

Chevrolet Silverado Pickup Trucks Recalled for Faulty ABS Indicator Light

August 13, 2020 Nate Gouldsbrough

December 9, 2021 Update – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has remedied issues with 10,137 2019-2020 Chevy Silverados dealing with ABS issues. 11 vehicles have been deemed unreachable with additional 2 vehicles being removed from the recall of the Silverado antilock braking system.

Pleasanton, CA – July 17, 2020 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has recalled 12,200 Chevy Silverado trucks that may fail to indicate to the driver that there is a problem with the car’s anti-lock braking system (ABS), increasing the risk of a crash. The recall includes:

  • 2019-2020 Chevrolet 4500HD Silverado Medium Duty trucks
  • 2019-2020 Chevrolet 5500HD Silverado Medium Duty trucks
  • 2019-2020 Chevrolet 6500HD Silverado Medium Duty trucks

It’s not the first time that a similar problem has occurred in Chevy vehicles, previously the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 had been recalled due to problems with the ABS fault indicator lights.

Recall summary  

On May 29, General Motors decided that certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Medium Duty 4500HD/5500HD/6500HD trucks do not comply with a federal regulation requiring the ABS light to illuminate during certain kinds of malfunctions.

Vehicles use several control modules to operate many aspects of the car. GM houses many of these modules together in a grouping called the Body Control Module (BCM), which coordinates many functions in the vehicle, including the speedometer, the instrumentation panel, and the chime warnings.

Another module, called the Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM), reads sensors in the braking system and uses that information to activate the ABS as needed for sudden braking, stability, or traction control. These two systems need to communicate for the safety of the driver.

In the recalled vehicles, the ABS light fails to illuminate when the BCM can’t communicate with the EBCM. This means that the driver will not be notified when there is a problem with the ABS.

Other Chevy Silverado Recalls

Apart from this recall, the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado was among the cars recalled in April 2021 due to airbag failures that failed to deploy properly during car accidents.

Previously In 2020, GM had recalled more than half a million vehicles including the 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado Trucks due to seat belt issues in the front-row center seat. General Motors began the recall on February 1, 2021.

Risks 

It is important for drivers to know if there is a problem with the anti-lock brakes. Driving without the ABS, particularly in bad weather, can be dangerous because the vehicle may not handle braking on slippery surfaces the way it is supposed to.

When a vehicle skids, the tires lose traction with the ground and the driver can no longer steer, increasing the risk of a crash.

The repair

The affected Chevy Silverado trucks need a software update for the BCM. The update itself should take approximately 35 minutes, but GM advises owners in its owner notification letter that it may take longer “because of service scheduling requirements.”

The repair is available now and is free of charge.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 12,000 cars are included in this Chevy recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Nate GouldsbroughChevrolet Silverado Pickup Trucks Recalled for Faulty ABS Indicator Light
Volkswagen recalls nearly 13,000 Audi luxury sedans for engine fire risk

Volkswagen recalls nearly 13,000 Audi luxury sedans for engine fire risk

August 7, 2020 Nate Gouldsbrough

Pleasanton, CA – July 16th, 2020 – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS: VWAGY) is recalling  all 2013-2018 Audi S8 and A8 vehicles that were manufactured between June 2012 and July 2017. The company warns that a faulty part of the engine compartment may increase the risk of a fire.

Recall summary

The recall stems from an issue with the engine compartment seal, a flexible strip that seals the engine compartment against the hood and helps keep the engine cool.

In “rare cases,” after being exposed to large temperature fluctuations near the hot engine, metal inside the rubber seal can warp and deform the seal. As a result, the seal—and possibly components surrounding it—can scorch and cause a fire.

Smells like trouble

The first sign of a problem for one Audi owner in McKinney, Texas, was a “rubber/plastic smell coming from under the hood,” the driver said in a post to an Audi World forum.

“I opened things up and the rubber seal (that seals the engine compartment against the hood when it is closed) had fallen off right above one of the turbo assemblies.”

The poster drives a 2016 Audi S8 and claimed to have looked into the issue back in March, four months before Volkswagen issued their recall.

Volkswagen became aware of incidents of burning and warping  seals in September 2019, but received no reports from North America.

Safety tips

If you smell something burning while driving, stop the car someplace safe. Check the tires first. Wait for the engine to cool down before popping the hood to take  a look– you  do not want to burn your fingers on a hot component. 

If you suspect there is an actual fire under the hood, do not open it. Oxygen will rush in and feed the flames. Instead, get yourself and others away from the vehicle, at least 100 feet. Call the fire department at 911 when you are in a secure location. Do not return to the vehicle for any reason.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), car fires kill over 300 people a year on average. But, the number may be higher because it is often hard to tell whether the person died from the crash or from the fire. Between 2008 and 2017, vehicle fires caused, on average, over a thousand injuries per year. 

The repair

Volkswagen dealers will install a retaining plate that will hold the engine seal in place and keep it from loosening. As of [date of publication] the repair is not yet available. Repairs may be forthcoming by September, when the recall officially begins.

In the meantime, customers can check the condition of their engine compartment seal by looking under the hood to see if the seal is in the correct position. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Nearly 13,000 cars are included in this Volkswagen recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool to check your car for open recalls.

Nate GouldsbroughVolkswagen recalls nearly 13,000 Audi luxury sedans for engine fire risk
Fiat Chrysler’s loose brand emblem may impale drivers, passengers in a collision

Fiat Chrysler’s loose brand emblem may impale drivers, passengers in a collision

July 31, 2020 Nate Gouldsbrough

Pleasanton, CA – June 10, 2022 – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) (NYSE:FCAU) has remedied issues with 120,501 vehicles including the 2007-2011 Dodge Nitro that was dealing with security issues caused by the brand emblem on the steering wheel that might detach during a crash. Additionally, 56,764 of these models have been categorized as unreachable and 92,004 have been removed from the recall. Four groups of these 2007-2011 Dodge Nitro  models with steering wheel issues were remedied in 2021 and one group was remedied in 2022.

Pleasanton, CA – July 7, 2020 – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) (NYSE:FCAU) is recalling 925,239 vehicles because of a loose or a missing brand emblem that may be flung at the drivers and passengers during a crash, potentially causing serious injury. The recall includes:

  • 2008-2010 Chrysler Town & Country
  • 2008-2010 Dodge Grand Caravan
  • 2007-2011 Dodge Nitro

Recall summary

The plastic brand emblem on the steering wheel, as well as the nuts securing it, form part of the airbag cover. As a result of a design flaw, these components may detach and injure the driver and passengers, especially if the driver airbag deploys  during a crash.

Safety risks

There are 14 known injuries caused by this defect. One report filed in 2013 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) describes how one man received a “huge laceration” from a Dodge emblem that was flung into his forearm during a crash. “It could have knocked out his eye, entered his heart or even slashed his throat,” his spouse said in the report. Another near miss was reported in 2011, when an Oregon driver noticed, after a crash, that the emblem on her 2007 Dodge Nitro had shot off the steering wheel when the airbags went off and ended up in the passenger-side door. The driver was concerned with how forcefully the emblem had flown off the wheel.

Airbags deploy at speeds between 100 and 200 miles per hour within 30 to 50 milliseconds. Additionally, “objects in the path of a deploying airbag can become injurious, potentially lethal projectiles.” Even without the boost of an airbag, any loose object in a crashing vehicle can impale an occupant at close to the speed the vehicle was going before it crashed. For example, in 2015, surgeons in Rhode Island found a dime lodged in a crash victim’s leg. It had passed through his femur. The dime was bent.

Repair

FCA intends to replace the driver airbag cover on all affected vehicles. Replacements are set to be available by September. In the meantime, FCA has offered to remove emblems from the airbag cover as an “interim repair.” 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 900,000 cars are included in this Fiat Chrysler recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool to check your car for open recalls.

Nate GouldsbroughFiat Chrysler’s loose brand emblem may impale drivers, passengers in a collision

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