GM recalls Chevys and Buicks over blank instrument clusters

GM recalls Chevys and Buicks over blank instrument clusters 

December 12, 2023 Bojan Popic , ,

Warren, MI  – December 12, 2023 – General Motors (NYSE:GM), which owns the Buick and Chevrolet brands, is recalling 60,154 vehicles because their digital instrument cluster may switch off, leaving the driver without vital information. This may lead to an accident, increasing the risk of injury. 

The following vehicles are affected by this recall:  

  • 2024 Buick Encore GX
  • 2024 Buick Envista
  • 2024 Chevrolet Trax

Recall summary  

A software glitch in the affected cars may cause the dashboard to go black, depriving the driver of access to vital information, such as vehicle speed and various warnings.  

The component causing this recall is the virtual cockpit unit module with part number 86519681. 

Recall risks

The defect greatly ups the risk of a crash.

Other General Motors recalls

In January 2023, GM recalled nearly a quarter of a million vehicles, including Chevrolets and Buicks, over headlight issues. 

On a separate note, inoperable brakes were the cause of a Buick recall that took place in July 2022.

The repair

Dealers will update the dashboard software with an updated version. The upgrade can be done at the dealership or over-the-air.

Both options are free of charge.

Owners should receive letters with more information on or before December 22, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 600,000 vehicles are affected by this GM blank display recall. To do a GM recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicGM recalls Chevys and Buicks over blank instrument clusters 
Honda recalls Acura, Odyssey cars that may stall or catch fire

Honda recalls Acura, Odyssey cars that may stall or catch fire  

December 6, 2023 Bojan Popic ,

Torrance, CA  – December 6, 2023 – Honda (NYSE:HMC), which owns the Acura brand, has recalled 248,999 vehicles that may lose power or burst into flames. Both situations greatly augment the risk of a crash and injury. 

This recall comes on the back of multitudinous warranty claims and affects the following vehicles: 

  • 2016 – 2020 Acura MDX
  • 2015 – 2020 Acura TLX
  • 2018 – 2019 Honda Odyssey 
  • 2018 – 2019 Honda Pilot
  • 2016 Honda Pilot
  • 2017 Honda Ridgeline
  • 2019 Honda Ridgeline

Recall summary  

A car’s engine has many moving components, with bearings between some of them to help reduce friction. In the affected vehicles, an engine’s internal rotating part – called the crankshaft – was not built within design specifications, which can cause the bearing that connects to it to fail. This can result in a stall or a fire caused by a subsequent oil leak.

Honda has listed the whole engine subassembly, with part number 10002-5J2-A00, as the cause of this recall. 

Recall risks

The risk of both fire and stall are described in this article about a recent Mercedes-Benz recall for the same issues.

Warning signs 

The driver may notice abnormal knocking sounds coming from the engine bay and “decreased engine output.” In addition, these issues could also trigger the check engine light on the dashboard.   

Background of the recall

The recall comes on the back of almost 1,500 warranty claims. No injuries or fires have been reported.

Other Honda recalls

Some of these Honda vehicles may have been affected by a recall from July 2023, which was caused by rearview camera issues. 

In the same month, a brake failure prompted the Japanese car maker to recall a batch of their SUVs and pickups.  

The repair

Dealers will check the engine and will either repair or replace it free of charge.

Owners will receive letters with more information around January 2, 2024. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

Almost a quarter million cars are affected by this Honda engine stall recall. To do a Honda recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. 

Bojan PopicHonda recalls Acura, Odyssey cars that may stall or catch fire  
Ford recalls Mustangs due to reduced braking performance

Ford recalls Mustangs due to reduced braking performance

December 4, 2023 Joseph Estabillo

Dearborn, MI  – December 4, 2023 – Ford (NYSE:F) is recalling 187,922 2020-2023 Mustang vehicles, as they may fail to warn the driver when the brake fluid level is low. This could impact braking performance and augment the risk of a crash.

Recall summary  

A computer called the Body Control Module (BCM) is normally hardwired to the brake fluid sensor and illuminates the “red brake warning indicator” when the fluid is getting low.

In the affected vehicles, the BCM is incorrectly linked to a different communications network, which may result in the BCM not activating the indicator when the fluid is running out.

Recall risks

Failure to top up braking fluid may lead to “softer” brakes and longer stopping distances, which augment the risk of a crash.

In more severe cases, the loss can result in inoperative brakes, as reported.

Other Ford recalls

In July 2023, Ford issued a recall for 14,452 Fusion plug-in hybrid vehicles due to a battery problem that can increase the likelihood of engine stalls or fire.  

In August 2023, Ford recalled a number of models including the Escape and the F-Series pickup due to faulty instrument panels.  

The repair

Dealers will fix the issue by reconfiguring the BCM on the affected vehicles free of charge. The automaker will reimburse the customers who paid for their repairs prior to the recall being issued.

Owners will receive letters with more information by December 8, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

Over 180,000 vehicles are affected by this Ford brake fluid recall. To do a Ford recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloFord recalls Mustangs due to reduced braking performance
Mazda recalls new CX-90 and MAZDA 3 cars with faulty 360 cameras

Mazda recalls new CX-90 and MAZDA 3 cars with  faulty 360 cameras

November 29, 2023 Bojan Popic

Washington, D.C. – November 29, 2023 – Mazda (OTCMKTS:MZDAY) recalled 11,903 vehicles because their 360-degree cameras may fail to display an image. This limits visibility and ups the chances of backing into other vehicles or pedestrians. 

The following vehicles are affected by this recall: 

  • 2024 Mazda CX-90 
  • 2024 Mazda MAZDA 3 

Recall summary  

Due to a software issue, the image from one or more of the cameras may flicker or fail to display. If this happens, the driver’s view will be impaired. 

Recall risks

Risks posed by inoperable rearview cameras are well-documented in many of our previous recalls, such as this one from September 2023, which affected certain GM models. 

Other Mazda recalls

Inoperable rearview cameras were a cause of another Mazda recall that took place in July 2023. 

The repair

Dealers will update the monitor control module with an improved software version free of charge. 

Owners should receive letters with more information by December 22, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Mazda rearview camera recall affects more than 10,000 cars. To do a Mazda recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. 

Bojan PopicMazda recalls new CX-90 and MAZDA 3 cars with  faulty 360 cameras
BMW issues second recall for stalling cars

BMW issues second recall for stalling cars

November 28, 2023 Bojan Popic

Westwood, NJ  – November 28, 2023 – BMW (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) is recalling  155,627 cars and SUVs that may stall while driving.  This ups the risk of a crash and injury, especially if it happens in dense traffic.

 The following vehicles are affected by this recall: 

  • 2010 – 2012 BMW 1 Series
  • 2010 – 2012 BMW 3 Series
  • 2010 – 2011 BMW 5 Series
  • 2010 – 2011 BMW X3
  • 2010 – 2011 BMW X5
  • 2010 – 2011 BMW Z4

Some of these cars were recalled over the same issue back in 2014.

Recall summary  

All listed vehicles have an engine with variable valve timing, called VANOS, which adjusts the opening and closing of engine valves to achieve better performance and improve fuel economy. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that hold the VANOS housing in place may become loose or break.

If that happens, the VANOS may develop a leak which may subsequently lead to the activation of the limp-home mode or a stall.

The component causing the recall is the VANOS bolt, with part number 8602263.

Background of the recall

The seemingly identical problem was already addressed in 2014, in a recall where these bolts were replaced with new ones. But, due to a quality issue, the repair turned out to be insufficient. 

The present recall is also composed of additional vehicles that back in 2014 were included into an “extended warranty program” to address the same “condition”.

Recall risks

If the car stalls or enters the limp-home mode – which would decrease the power output – it may get hit from behind. The accident may result in injuries for the occupants of the car and other motorists involved.

Warning signs

The driver may see the “Check the engine” or “Service the engine soon” message of the dashboard. He or she may also perceive “distinct change in engine running condition, reduced engine power, and hear increased engine noise.”

Other BMW recalls

In May 2023, BMW recalled almost 100,000 Minis that were at risk of catching fire.  

On a separate note, BMW’s electric SUVs were recalled in July 2022 because their displays did not show critical safety information when parked by a valet.

The repair

Dealers will once again replace the suspected bolts with new ones free of charge.

Owners should receive letters with more information on December 12, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This BMW VANOS recall affects more than 150,000 cars. To do a BMW recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. 

Bojan PopicBMW issues second recall for stalling cars
Toyota recalls RAV4 SUVs over risk of fire

Toyota recalls RAV4 SUVs over risk of fire

November 27, 2023 Aleksandra Snesareva

Plano, TX  – November 27, 2023 – Toyota (NYSE:TM) is recalling 1.85 million 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 SUVs over the risk of an electrical short which may lead to a fire.

The recall comes on the heels of an ongoing U.S. government investigation and multiple fires.

Recall summary  

The affected vehicles received aftermarket batteries with incorrect dimensions.  This may allow them to move and contact the bracket they are in, causing an electrical short.

Recall risks

An electrical short may generate excessive heat, which may cause the components around the battery – and the car – to catch fire. 

Investigation

The recall comes on the back of an investigation launched in February 2021 by the U.S. government auto safety regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The investigation was launched after the agency received almost a dozen complaints about fires and smoke. At least four of the fires occurred when the ignition was off. 

Other Toyota recalls

The risk of a vehicle fire was also the cause of a Toyota recall from August 2023, which affected RAV4 and Lexus SUV Hybrids. 

Earlier this month, the manufacturer recalled approximately 250,000 Highlander SUVs because their front bumper could detach.

The repair

Dealers will replace the battery tray and the retaining bracket with upgraded versions free of charge.

Owners should receive letters with more information between December 17, 2023 and December 31, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Toyota battery fire recall affects almost 2 million SUVs. To do a Toyota recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. 

Aleksandra SnesarevaToyota recalls RAV4 SUVs over risk of fire
Toyota recalls Highlander SUVs whose front bumpers may fall off

Toyota recalls Highlander SUVs whose front bumpers may fall off   

November 9, 2023 Bojan Popic

Plano, TX – November 9, 2023 – Toyota (NYSE:TM) is recalling 750,795 SUVs whose front bumpers and surrounding plastic trims may fall off and create an obstacle for other motorists, upping the risk of a crash and injury.

The following vehicles are affected by this recall: 

  • 2020 – 2023 Toyota Highlander 
  • 2020 – 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid 

Recall summary  

The front bumper covers on affected SUVs have upper and lower sections which are held together with a series of retaining tabs. Some of these tabs may break “during normal operation.”

If this happens, the lower bumper section may separate and cause other pieces of plastic trim fastened to the bumper’s lower section to fly off as well. 

Recall risks

For the risks of this recall, please see this article about a similar Mercedes-Benz recall.

Other Toyota recalls

Some of these SUVs may have been affected by a recall from May 2023 caused by an inoperable stability control system, as reported.

On a separate note, in August 2023, Toyota recalled over 43,000 luxury Toyota and Lexus hybrid SUVs because of the risk fire, also as reported.

The repair

Dealers will replace the bumper section and install upgraded retaining hardware if there is damage. If no damage is noticeable, the existing retaining tabs will be replaced with a sturdier version. 

All repairs will be conducted free of charge.

Owners should receive letters with more information between December 11, 2023  and December 25, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Toyota fly-away bumper recall affects approximately three-quarters of a million SUVs. To do a Toyota recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicToyota recalls Highlander SUVs whose front bumpers may fall off   
Stellantis recalls new Jeep Wagoneer SUVs over ‘defective’ seat belts

Stellantis recalls new Jeep Wagoneer SUVs over ‘defective’ seat belts  

November 7, 2023 Joseph Estabillo ,

Auburn Hills, MI  – November 7, 2023 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), which owns the Jeep brand, is recalling 97,066 vehicles over a problem with the third-row seat belt buckles. This increases the risk of a crash and injury. 

The supplier behind the recall is also the culprit of multiple other recalls related to seat belts.

The following vehicles are affected: 

  • 2022 – 2024 Jeep Grand Wagoneer 
  • 2022 – 2024 Jeep Wagoneer

Recall summary  

In the affected models, the buckle for the third-row seat belts may be damaged or otherwise inaccessible. This means that third-row occupants may be unable to use the seat belts.    

Recall risks

Failure to use the seat belt while the vehicle is in motion ups the risk of injury to occupants in the event of a crash. 

Background of the recall

The supplier behind this recall is a Swedish-American parts manufacturer Autoliv, which was also recently implicated in a series of recalls related to faulty child seat locking mechanism, as reported.

It was also behind a recent Rivian recall caused by a faulty passenger seat belt that could prevent the airbag from being deployed.

Other Stellantis recalls

In August 2023, Jeep also recalled Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models over a problem with the side curtain airbags, which could fail to deploy in the event of a crash.   

In October 2023, Jeep issued a recall for the Gladiator and Wrangler models because of issues with the reverse camera and reverse lights.  

The repair

Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt buckle on the affected models, where necessary. Stellantis will reimburse owners who paid for their own repairs prior to the recall.

Owners should be notified by December 15, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 97,000 SUVs are affected by this Jeep seat belt buckle recall. To do a Jeep recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloStellantis recalls new Jeep Wagoneer SUVs over ‘defective’ seat belts  
Nissan recalls 2023 Ariya SUVs that may stall

Nissan recalls 2023 Ariya SUVs that may stall 

November 1, 2023 Bojan Popic

Franklin, TN – November 1, 2023 – Nissan (OTCMKTS:NSANY) is recalling 9,813 2023 Nissan Ariya electric SUVs that they may shut down. This ups the risk of a crash and injury, especially if it happens in dense traffic. 

Recall summary  

The motors of the affected vehicles are powered by inverters which convert direct current (DC) stored in batteries into alternating current (AC) to propel the car forward.

Due to the intrusion of foreign particles into the motor, it may experience a short circuit. The short will shut off the inverter, resulting in a stall.

Nissan says that the power should be restored following a “vehicle power off and restart.” However, there is at least one instance where the driver was not able to restart the car and was stranded on the side of the road “for over an hour” waiting for a tow.

Recall risks

The risks of a stall are described in this article about a similar recall.

Warning signs

An “EV System Off” warning message will be shown on the display prior to the stall.

Safety tips

If you are stuck on the side of the road, get out of the car through the passenger door and do not stand too close to the vehicle to avoid getting struck by a distracted driver.

Other Nissan recalls

Nissan Sentra vehicles are subject to a September recall caused by the loss of steering, as reported.

Sentras were also included in another September recall caused by faulty rearview cameras, also as reported.

The repair

Dealers will update the inverter software free of charge.

Owners should have received letters with more information on October 20, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Nissan software glitch recall affects nearly 10,000 electric SUVs. To do a Nissan recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. 

Bojan PopicNissan recalls 2023 Ariya SUVs that may stall 
Ford issues third recall for Ford Explorer SUVs that may lose power or roll away

Ford issues third recall for Ford Explorer SUVs that may lose power or roll away  

October 31, 2023 Bojan Popic

Dearborn, MI – October 31, 2023 – Ford (NYSE:F) is recalling 238,364 2020-2022 Ford Explorer SUVs that may stall or roll away. Both situations increase the risk of a crash and injury. 

The recall comes on the heels of an U.S. government investigation, a driver sliding into a pole and a multitude of customer complaints.

Recall summary  

Part of the drivetrain – called driveshaft – may disconnect from the rear axle, which is responsible for transmitting power to the vehicle’s rear wheels and moving the car forward. The disconnection is caused by a bolt which may fracture due to a supplier error.

Background of the recall 

Ford recalled the majority of the affected vehicles last May, as reported. In some cases, instead of replacing the bolt, the manufacturer opted to deploy a software update which was designed the get the parking brake engaged to prevent rollaway once the vehicle stopped moving. The update did not address the stall issue and it later turned out that some of the involved vehicles received the update that did not even result in the engagement of the parking brake when needed.

This caused Ford to issue another recall to release the correct software update.

Amidst the recalls, the U.S. government auto safety regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation after receiving two complaints alleging the loss of motive power in vehicles that have undergone repair.

The agency concluded that the software remedy was inadequate and ordered the present recall.

Recall risks

All the risks correspondent to a stall are described in this article about a related Mercedes-Benz recall.

A rollaway may lead to the vehicle hitting a stationary object, like a pole, which is exactly what happened to one of the drivers who filed a NHTSA complaint that led to this recall. No injuries were reported in that case but, overall, the defect did result in nearly 400 complaints and close to two dozen rollaway or stalling incidents .

Warning signs

The driver may hear “loud, grinding, binding, or clunking noises” coming from the back of the vehicle. 

Other Ford recalls

Drivetrain failure and corresponding rollaway were the cause of a recent Ford recall affecting a batch of heavy-duty pickup trucks. 

More than a three-quarter of a million F-150 trucks were recalled in August 2023 because their parking brakes would engage on their own. 

The repair

Dealers will replace the bushing and the bolt that holds the rear axle with a stronger one. In addition, they will check the axle’s cover for damage and replace it if necessary. 

This repair will be free of charge. 

Owners should be notified between November 6, 2023  and November 10, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Ford rollaway recall affects almost a quarter of a million SUVs. To do a Ford recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool. 

Bojan PopicFord issues third recall for Ford Explorer SUVs that may lose power or roll away  
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