BMW recalls motorcycles with blocked reflectors [Video]

August 29, 2017 admin ,

Hello, and welcome to another vehicle recall update.

B-M-W of North America has recalled nearly thirty thousand motorcycles with luggage mounts that, when fitted with aluminum travel cases, block rear reflectors. The campaign affects four different models. The automaker suspects one hundred percent of the vehicles named in the recall are equipped with the defective mounts.

The motorcycles referenced in the recall feature luggage mounts that suspend luggage in a way that blocks rear reflectors from view. This violates Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and creates a serious safety risk.

B-M-W has directed dealers to install new reflectors, free of charge. The company plans to contact owners September twenty-first, two-thousand and seventeen.

Stay tuned for more vehicle recall breaking news.

adminBMW recalls motorcycles with blocked reflectors [Video]

Chrysler recalls Jeeps with noncompliant software [Video]

August 29, 2017 admin ,

Hello, and welcome to another vehicle recall update.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has recalled more than three thousand sport utility vehicles suspected to contain instrument control panel software that violates Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The campaign affects two-thousand-seventeen Jeep Renegade models. F-C-A suspects 100 percent of the vehicles named in the recall contain the defective software.

The models named in the campaign are equipped with I-P-C software that causes malfunction indicators to illuminate when no mechanical problems are present. This violates F-M-V-S-S standard 101, which stipulates that warning lights should only shine when actual engine issues occur.

F-C-A has directed dealers to update the software in all affected Jeep Renegades, free of charge. The car company plans to contact owners on or about September sixteenth, two-thousand and seventeen.

Stay tuned for more breaking news on vehicle recalls!

adminChrysler recalls Jeeps with noncompliant software [Video]
Hino recalls industrial vehicles with defective door bolts

Hino recalls industrial vehicles with defective door bolts

August 28, 2017 admin

 

Novi, Mich. – Aug. 28, 2017 – Hino Motor Sales USA, a subsidiary of the Toyota Motor Corporation, has recalled dozes of industrial vehicles possibly equipped with improperly installed door bolts, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2018 NE8J, NJ8J and NV8J models. The automotive company believes 99 percent of the vehicles involved in the recall contain the defective parts.

The Defect

The models named in this latest campaign could be equipped with doors that feature upper hinges with loose bolts. This can cause the doors to function improperly and, in some cases, completely detach, creating a serious safety hazard for drivers and passengers. However, Hino has yet to receive any reports connecting the doors to accidents or injuries.

Timeline of Events

On June 13, 2017, the U.S. Hino assembly plant received prefabricated vehicle cabs from a supplier in Japan. Engineers immediately noticed structural issues with the doors on these fixtures and identified the root cause: misaligned door hinges.  Roughly one month later, the vehicle manufacturer began an internal repair initiative aimed at the hinges on assembled vehicles. This process involved installing shoulder-less bolts, repositioning cab doors by hand and tightening the bolts with the appropriate amount of torque. On July 19, the company adopted an alternative workflow due to high repair backlog, moving to an assembly-line based process that included the installation of shoulder-less hinges, along with a manual door adjustment – using a wedge – and bolt tightening. This last step was carried out with the wedge in place to ensure door fit, according to internal documentation filed with the NHTSA.

On July 28, quality assurance personnel performed spot checks on vehicles with reinstalled doors and discovered assembly errors. Specifically, assembly and repair teams at the Hino production facility had failed to apply enough to torque when installing the hinge bolts, leaving them loose. Shipments were immediately halted. Over the next two days, engineers at the site repaired the vehicles with the amended door hinges by removing the hinges. On July 31, the Hino QA division elected to launch an official safety recall to address the issue.

The vehicle manufacturer has introduced new production processes designed to prevent additional errors.

The Solution

Hino has ordered dealers to tighten the door bolts on affected vehicles, free of charge. The automaker has not yet announced when it will contact owners, according to documents submitted to the NHTSA. Owners in need of more immediate assistance can contact Hino customer service at (248) 699-9300 or connect with the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

adminHino recalls industrial vehicles with defective door bolts
Chrysler recalls Jeeps with defective software

Chrysler recalls Jeeps with defective software

August 25, 2017 admin

 

Auburn Hills, Mich. – Aug. 25, 2017 – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles recalled more than 3,000 sport utility vehicles possibly equipped with defective instrument control panel software, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2017 Jeep Renegade SUVs manufactured between June 1, 2017 and July 20, 2017. FCA estimates that 100 percent of the models referenced in the recall contain the defective equipment.

The Defect

The vehicles involved in the campaign could be equipped with ICP software that causes warning lights to illuminate even when no engine problems are present. A newly installed integrated circuit chip system is believed to be the root cause of the error, which renders the affected models noncompliant under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 101. The rule states that indicator signals “must not emit light except when identifying the malfunction or vehicle condition [they are] designed to indicate,” according to the NHTSA.

The defective ICP software creates a serious safety hazard, as drivers could be unaware of actual mechanical issues or other problems that may lead to breakdowns or accidents. However, FCA has yet to receive any reports connecting the problematic software with accidents or injuries.

Timeline of Events

On July 19, 2017, engineers at FCA pinpointed an ICP software error during production and immediately opened an investigation, as they believed the flaw put the affected vehicles in violation of FMVSS 101. Two days later, officials from the FCA Vehicle Safety and Regulatory Compliance examined evidence of the software error – video footage, in this case – and compared the issue to the functional requirements set out in the FMVSS. The internal group then connected with individuals from FCA Italy and expressed to them the opinion that the software did indeed pose a serious safety hazard and was in violation of FMVSS 101.

On July 26, FCA chose to conduct an official safety recall. The automaker notified dealers Aug. 2.

The Solution

The car company has directed dealers to update the ICP software in affected vehicles free of charge, according to a recall acknowledgement filed with the NHTSA. FCA is intends to notify owners via first-class mail on or about Sept. 16, 2017. Those in need of more immediate assistance can contact FCA customer service at (800) 853-1403 or call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

adminChrysler recalls Jeeps with defective software
Chrysler recalls sports cars with defective oil cooler lines

Chrysler recalls sports cars with defective oil cooler lines

August 24, 2017 Sean Reyes ,

 

Auburn Hills, Mich. – Aug. 24, 2017 – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has recalled more than 1,200 sports cars with defective oil cooler lines, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2017 Dodge Charger and Challenger sports cars equipped with eight-cylinder Hellcat performance engines. FCA suspects 10 percent of the total number of vehicles referenced in the recall contain the defective parts.

The Defect

The models involved in this recall are equipped with engines whose engine oil cooler lines are not properly joined. Specifically, on the section of the EOC lines where chlorinated polyethylene hose meets aluminum tubing, the joints are not suitably crimped. This can lead to line separation and engine oil spillage, resulting in engine seizure and the risk of fire. Additionally, drivers may lose visibility due to oil spray covering the windshield. All of these outcomes pose serious safety hazards to drivers and increase the risk of an accident. However, FCA has not received any reports connecting the defect to any accidents or injuries thus far.

Timeline of Events

On May 13, 2017, engineers at the FCA assembly plant in Ontario, Canada, initiated a product recall after receiving three warranty claims mentioning EOC line separation, according to a chronology document submitted to the NHTSA. The FCA Vehicle Safety and Regulatory Compliance division immediately launched an investigation to better understand the consequences of the issue. On May 15, the parts supplier, Hutchings Automotive Products, performed production tests to determine if increasing the adhesive temperature during assembly would improve the structural integrity of the EOC line connections. These trials failed. Fifteen days later, FCA tested EOC line joints from aftermarket Mopar stock. These fixtures showed no signs of failure.

Over the week of June 12, FCA conducted more in-house tests to pinpoint the root cause of the EOC line separation. More than two weeks later, dealers in the U.S. market inspected approximately 50 vehicles to determine if they were equipped with the defective parts and needed repair.

On July 12, Hutchinson sent FCA results from an internal evaluation of the EOC hose material. The parts provider concluded that the material used to make the defective lines was out of specification. Two days later, FCA US Master Black Belt performed a parallel materials test and determined with 95 percent certainty that Hutchinson engineers were correct in their examination of the hose material.

With this information in hand, the FCA Vehicle Regulations Committee called for an official voluntary safety recall Aug. 1. As of that date, the car manufacturer had received a total of eight customer assistance and information requests, zero vehicle owner’s questionnaires and zero field reports related to the defective EOC line.

The Solution

FCA will direct dealers to replace the EOC lines in affected vehicles free of charge, according to a recall acknowledgment document sent to the NHTSA. The automaker plans to notify both owners and dealers on or around Sept. 22. However, owners in need of more immediate assistance can contact Chrysler customer service personnel at (800) 853-1403 or call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

Sean ReyesChrysler recalls sports cars with defective oil cooler lines
BMW recalls vehicles with defective air bags

BMW recalls vehicles with defective air bags

August 24, 2017 admin ,

Westwood, NJ – Aug. 24, 2017 – BMW (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) has recalled more than 3,000 vehicles believed to contain defective air bag assemblies, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2012-2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i SUVs and 2012-2013 xDrive35i SUVs. This campaign serves as an amendment to an earlier recall initiated in September of last year.

Recall Summary

The models referenced in this campaign could come equipped with improperly welded Takata-model inflator air bag housings on the driver’s side. This defect could lead the inflator to detach from the base plate during deployment, resulting in the discharge of dangerous metal debris that could potentially harm occupants. However, BMW has yet to receive any reports connecting the defective feature to any injuries.

On August 15, 2016, BMW received notification of an accident involving an X5 SUV, according to NHTSA documents. Investigators looking into this event noticed that metal projectiles had caused damage to the cabin. Engineers examined the vehicle and determined that the air bag inflator module had separated from its base plate during deployment, showering the interior with debris. Between August 30 and September 7, BMW and air bag manufacturer Takata met with NHTSA officials to discuss the issue. Early tests indicated that Takata was at fault, as the air bag inflator housing had not been properly welded during production.

On September 13, 2016 BMW launched a voluntary safety recall. During this same time, Takata began an internal investigation into its processes.

BMW received the preliminary results from this investigation July 20, 2017. The data indicated that the issue also existed in vehicles not addressed in the previous recall. Eleven days later, Takata confirmed this and recommended that BMW take action to ensure owner safety. The German automaker then reviewed its production records and compiled a final list of new vehicles containing the defective air bag assemblies.

On August 2, BMW quality assurance personnel decided that an additional recall action was necessary, and launched another voluntary safety campaign. The company notified dealers August 8.

Both the car manufacturer and Takata have pledged to continue monitoring the issue.

The repair

BMW has directed dealers to replace the driver’s side air bag assemblies in affected vehicles free of charge, according to documents submitted to the NHTSA. The automaker plans to notify owners via first-class mail by October 2.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 3,000 vehicles were originally part of this recall. Since then, the recall population has grown to 6,785. As of April 23, 2019 – the last date information was available – 4,807 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

Note: June 24, 2021

We have noticed a large number of readers are interested in this recall. For that reason, we have added the last section where drivers can check if their vehicle is part of this recall and included the recall completion rate. The article has also been updated to reflect the latest editorial standards.

adminBMW recalls vehicles with defective air bags
Mazda recalls additional vehicles with Takata air bags

Mazda recalls additional vehicles with Takata air bags

August 21, 2017 admin ,

Washington D.C. – Aug. 21, 2017 – Mazda North American Operations has recalled over 200,000 vehicles equipped with defective Takata air bag assemblies, according to documentation filed with the National Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). The campaign affects the following models:

  • 2007-2011 Mazda CX-7 SUVs
  • 2007-2011 CX-9 SUVs
  • 2009-2012 Mazda6 sport sedans.

This campaign replaces an earlier action taken in January and follows two others initiated in May and June. Together, these recalls involve hundreds of thousands of Mazda vehicles.

Recall summary

The models named in this recall are likely to contain Takata air bag assemblies with inflators prone to rupture on impact. If exploded, these fixtures send sharp metal projectiles flying throughout the cabin, putting passengers in grave danger. Mazda has received multiple reports of injuries related to this defect, according to internal records. Other car manufacturers using these air bags have even had owners killed because of these defective assemblies. In fact, more than one dozen drivers worldwide have perished due to injuries caused by Takata-made air bag fixtures, The New York Times reported.

Back in January 2017, Mazda initiated an official safety recall to address the Takata air bag assemblies installed in various models. Between the January and June, the car manufacturer replaced the safety features in affected vehicles with like-for-like parts to provide temporary relief while engineers worked on long-term solutions. In late July, Mazda finished designing and testing these permanent replacement parts. Weeks later, the automaker authorized an additional recall to supersede the action taken in January and equip affected vehicles with viable air bag parts in need of no further mechanical adjustments, according to internal documentation filed with NHTSA.

Mazda notified dealers Aug. 11.

The repair

The car company has directed dealers to replace the air bag assemblies in affected vehicles with safe alternatives, free of charge. These new parts are made to withstand hot and humid conditions, and therefore do not develop the structural issues that cause Takata assemblies to rupture upon deployment. Mazda intends to notify owners via first-class mail Aug. 25.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 200,000 vehicles were originally part of this recall. As of April 9, 2021 – the last date information was available – 118,893 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

Note: June 24, 2021

We have noticed a large number of readers are interested in this recall. For that reason, we have added the last section where drivers can check if their vehicle is part of this recall and included the recall completion rate. The article has also been updated to reflect the latest editorial standards.

adminMazda recalls additional vehicles with Takata air bags
Nissan recalls pickups with noncompliant seat belt components

Nissan recalls pickups with noncompliant seat belt components

August 15, 2017 admin

 

Franklin, Tenn. – Aug. 15, 2017 – Nissan North America has recalled more than 44,000 pickup trucks with noncompliant seat belt components, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2016-2016 Nissan Titan crew cab models produced between Sept. 29, 2015 and Feb. 24, 2017, as well as Titan XD diesel crew cab models with production dates ranging from Aug. 4, 2016 to Feb. 24, 2017. Nissan suspects 100 percent of the vehicles named in the recall contain the noncompliant components.

The Defect

The vehicles named in the recall could be equipped with seat belt fixtures that do not meet automotive assembly requirements established in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 201, which states that such components cannot have passenger head injury criterion values exceeding 1,000, according to the NHTSA. The Titan pickups referenced in the campaign contain seat belt assemblies that recorded a HIC value of 1007.9 in factory safety tests. These parts pose a serious threat to passengers, who, due to overly lax restraint features, could come into contact with hard metal seat belt bolt rim caps during accidents. However, Nissan has yet to receive reports connecting the noncompliant components to accidents or injuries.

Timeline of Events

In January 2017, Nissan conducted internal HIC tests to assess the safety features on multiple vehicles, according to company documents submitted to the NHTSA. During these trials, engineers for the automakers learned that multiple models of the Nissan Titan pickup did not meet FMVSS requirements. In February, the NHTSA’s Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance sent an information request to Nissan asking for HIC readings. As engineers prepared this data, they performed further tests to ascertain the root cause of the readings and pinpoint any possible seat belt assembly defects that might have caused them.

Nissan responded to the OVSC request in March and continued internal tests to see if the noncompliant readings created real-world safety concerns. Engineers soon discovered that the restraint features present in vehicles that registered HIC values over 1,000 were slightly skewed – specifically, the D-ring bolt trim caps and C-pillars were installed so as to create an approach angle of 15 degrees, when the FMVSS recommended they be installed to accommodate an approach angle of 0 degrees.

With this information in hand, Nissan established that the installed equipment created a significant safety risk and issued an official recall. The car company notified dealers July 31.

The Solution

Nissan has ordered dealers to the seat belt bolts and bolt caps in affected vehicles, free of charge. Owners should expect to receive notification Sept. 26 via first-class mail. Those in need of more immediate assistance can contact Nissan customer service personnel at (800) 647-7261 or call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

adminNissan recalls pickups with noncompliant seat belt components
GM recalls trucks with faulty EPS software

GM recalls trucks with faulty EPS software

August 15, 2017 admin ,

 

Warren, Mich. – Aug. 15, 2017 – General Motors has recalled nearly 700,000 vehicles suspected of containing faulty electronic power steering software, according to documents filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2014 Chevrolet Silverado LD pickup trucks manufactured between Jan. 30, 2013 and Sept. 4, 2014, as well as 2014 GMC Sierra LD pickups with production dates ranging from Jan. 29, 2013 to Sept. 4, 2014. GM estimates that 2 percent of the vehicles named in the recall contain the defective EPS software.

The Defect

Vehicles referenced in the recall could potentially contain EPS software prone to sudden shutoff during low-voltage maneuvers such as low-speed turns. The software normally fails within a one-second span, when system voltage measurements drop below 8.8 volts. With the EPS disabled, operators have difficulty navigating the vehicle. This poses a serious safety risk to owners, passengers and other drivers. However, GM has yet to receive any field reports connecting the defective software to any accidents or injuries.

Timeline of Events

On Feb. 2, 2017 GM opened an internal investigation into EPS software installed in some vehicles after receiving multiple customer complaints and vehicle owner’s questionnaires mentioning momentary loss of EPS function. Throughout February and April, the automaker reviewed the collected customer complaints, warranty claims and VOQs to determine if the vehicles referenced in these reports shared similar mechanical features. GM did indeed find technical links between the models and launched an extended field investigation to gather more data, eventually discovering that faulty software was the root cause of the EPS failures.

Over the course of April and May, GM engineers conducted internal tests at the company’s testing facility in Milford, Michigan in an effort to recreate the and evaluate the EPS problem. The automaker was able to gain a deeper understanding of the defective software and its impact on driveability. Engineers discovered that the EPS software stalled in particularly low-voltage situations and required at least 9 volts of electricity to maintain proper operations.

In June, the GM Open Investigation Review re-evaluated the original reports collected in February. On June 22, the car company’s Safety Field Action Decision Authority announced that an official safety recall was necessary. GM notified dealers of the campaign Aug. 7, according to internal documentation submitted to the NHTSA.

The Solution

The automaker has ordered dealers to update the EPS software in affected models with a new iteration released May 19. The repairs are to be administered free of charge. GM plans to notify owners via first-class mail beginning Aug. 15. Those in need of more immediate assistance can contact GM customer service at (800) 462-8782 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

adminGM recalls trucks with faulty EPS software
Infiniti recalls sedans with defective fuel pump software

Infiniti recalls sedans with defective fuel pump software

August 11, 2017 admin

 

Franklin, Tenn. – Aug. 11, 2017 – Nissan North America has recalled more than 14,000 Infiniti sedans possibly equipped with defective fuel pump control module software, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2016-2018 Q50 models produced between March 10, 2015 and April 5, 2017, as well as 2017 Q60 models with production dates from July 30, 2015 to April 5, 2017. Nissan suspects 100 percent of the vehicles referenced in the recall contain the defective software.

The Defect

The models involved in the recall could include FPCM software that references the incorrect fuel pressure map and, as a result, may not effectively filter gasoline from the reserve tank to the primary tank when its fuel levels drop. This could result in complete engine shutoff, as the small amount of fuel left in the main tank is inaccessible to the fuel pump. This scenario could increase the likelihood of an accident and poses a serious safety risk to vehicle operators. However, Nissan has yet to receive any field reports connecting the defect to any accidents or injuries.

Timeline of Events

In December 2016, the car company received a report from the U.S. market detailing an Infiniti sedan that experienced fuel pump issues. Nissan launched an investigation immediately. More than a month later, engineers succeeded in replicating the problem in-house, using parts retrieved from the vehicle named in the initial report. In March 2017, the automaker launched a monitoring program to collect more data on the defect and assess its impact.

One month later, engineers involved in the initial investigation submitted evidence connecting the issue to the fuel pressure mapping components in the vehicle’s FPCM software. Nissan amended the software at the point of production and then reached out to the NHTSA. However, the car company had not yet gathered enough information to launch an official safety recall and continued to monitor the field for more data related to the fuel pump defect. This program lasted until early July, by which point Nissan had collected enough field insights to initiate a recall.

The car company met with NHTSA officials for the final time on July 12, launched an official safety recall July 19 and notified dealers July 27.

The Solution

Nissan has ordered dealers to reprogram the FPCM software in affected vehicles, free of charge, according to internal documentation submitted to the NHTSA. The automaker plans to notify owners via first-class mail by Aug. 21. Those in need of more immediate assistance can contact Infiniti customer service representatives at (800) 662-6200 or call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

adminInfiniti recalls sedans with defective fuel pump software

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