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Chance of Fire Prompts General Motors Recalls

September 13, 2016 admin GM Recalls

Warren, Mich. — September 13, 2016 — Wiring issues may make a fire more likely to break out in one Buick model. Although there is no remedy scheduled as of this writing, one of the more recent General Motors recalls addresses this problem. The component manufacturer in this recall is Lear Corporation, based in Germany.

The official Part 573 Safety Recall Report on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website said that the recall potentially involves 42,984 2011 Buick Regals. A full 100 percent of these are thought to have a wiring harness problem that could wear down the wires themselves.

This chafing could potentially lead to a short circuit, which in turn could start a fire within the vehicle. In addition, the report cited other possible side effects, such as smoke, sparks and flickering instrument-panel lights. Despite this, it did not list any signs to be taken as “identification” of the defect.

The fix requires dealers to repair faulty wiring, if needed, after inspecting and securing the harness. There is also no apparent danger of wire chafing in similar vehicles manufactured after 2011 in Russelheim.

Though the decision to conduct the recall only came June 29, it dates back to Dec. 21, 2015. On that date, the source said, customer reports of fire led to a a Speak Up for Safety report.

A July 7 notice for dealers said that the parts necessary to conduct this recall fix were not currently available: dealers can only proceed once they are. This statement also announced that the Global Warranty Management system would update to reflect the new recall, as a way for dealers to prepare to address owner concerns.

Takata Air Bag Recall Expands to Include More Jaguar Vehicles

Mahwah, NJ — September 12, 2016 — Jaguar Land Rover, owned by Tata Motors (NYSE:TTM) is expanding two recalls. A Jaguar recall will now cover 20,107 XF’s, and a Land Rover recall will now cover a total of 34,738 Range Rovers. The recalls include the following models:

2009-2011 Jaguar XF
2007-2011 Land Rover Range Rover

Recall summary

The vehicles in question are equipped with potentially dangerous Takata airbags. In both cases, the problem comes from the degraded air bag inflators, which could trigger a dangerous rupture and combustion. The risk is higher in hot climates, which is why these areas are the priority for the recall.

A June 1 acknowledgment document said that 20,016 Jaguar XF vehicles were affected, while the corresponding Land Rover document cited 34,334 units. The XF vehicles in this recall were manufactured between 2007 and 2011, while the Land Rover manufacture years fell from 2006 to 2011.

The Part 573 Safety Recall Reports for each of these Jaguar recalls include comments from Takata on the exact way this problem could affect drivers.

“The propellant wafers in some of the subject inflators may degrade over time, which could lead to over-aggressive combustion in the event the air bag is activated. Overly aggressive combustion creates excessive internal pressure when the inflator is activated, which may cause the inflator body to rupture.”

NHTSA also keeps a running list of recall progress by make. As of July 15, a total 9,348,948 air bag inflators have been repaired across all models. Jaguar and Land Rover were not mentioned on the completion page, and each was noted as having only a single range of vehicles involved by this time frame.

The repair

Jaguar and Land Rover dealers will replace the passenger front airbag, free of charge. Both recalls began in March 2017.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 54,000 vehicles were originally part of this recall. As of April 9, 2021 – the last date information was available – 37,592 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

Multiple Vehicles Part of Volkswagen Recalls

September 9, 2016 admin Volkswagen Recalls

Auburn Hills, Mich. — September 9, 2016 — A new Volkswagen recall will address problems with child locks in four different brands of vehicles released in 2016. Official information filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that just 1 percent of the 5,658 potentially involved vehicles was estimated to have the defect. The Part 573 Safety Recall Report was submitted on June 22.

This document further described the four models subject to recall: the CC, e-Golf, Golf R and Tiguan. Although they all have the same model year, the collective production rates range from November 25, 2015 to February 3, 2016.

The rear-door child safety locks in these autos could disengage due to certain outside vibrations. Since the locks are supposed to prevent children from opening rear car doors, disabling them could inadvertently give children the chance to exit the vehicle.

Though the defect was officially determined June 15, the research goes back as far as January 25. Lock functionality was tested in a full production check after the issue was first discovered that same month. To fix the issue, the report said dealers will replace the locks. The production was reportedly remedied “by 100 percent inspection” by January 25, with certain molding cavities now prohibited.

Aston Martin also recently recalled several vehicles for door-lock issues. Last month, CNET reported on the 6,076 vehicles that did not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard #206. Model years ranged from 2010 to 2016, and encompassed a group of eight different models.

Although doors in these cars could potentially lock from the outside, trapping occupants, the problem was described as not a defect so much as an unexpected side effect of a double-sided safety system. The fix involved upgrading car software.

Porsche Recalls Spyder Vehicles

September 7, 2016 admin Porsche Recalls

Atlanta, Georg. — September 07, 2016 — A new recall concerns 306 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder vehicles. The official Part 573 Safety Recall Report on this issue said that the seat belt mount and reels in these vehicles may have been secured with the wrong screws. As such, occupants could be at a higher risk of crash than usual.

If the seat belts in these Porsches are removed, the report said, new screws are needed to put them back into place. Owners, drivers and passengers might notice “clicking noises,” the source said, as well as new stiffness with the seat belt, which won’t be able to swiftly move around as would normally be seen.

The report also said that the issue with the screws was first noticed May 30, 2016, though the recall itself wasn’t put into action until July 4. Though this document didn’t list the official recall schedule, it did state that the remedy would involve inspecting the screws and competing repairs depending on the situation.

Other Porsche recalls include a June action involving vehicles of the same make and model year, one which left vehicles at possible risk of fire. These were manufactured between February 25, 2014 and April 29, 2015, potentially affecting as many as 223 vehicles.

The danger came from the included wiring harnesses, which could possibly spark a fire if they make contact with the engine heat insulation plate. These harnesses, which connected the left radiator fans in targeted vehicles, were accessed through the vehicles’ engine compartments. The wire chafing issue was attributed to two 2015 field incidents, one in April and the other in May.

What the Chevrolet Cruze Recalls Mean

September 6, 2016 admin Chevrolet Recalls

Warren, Mich. — September 6, 2016 — A Part 573 Safety Recall report submitted June 29 concerned approximately 32,913 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. In these autos, the source said, headlamp lenses do not come bearing the proper aiming identifier code. The report said that this represents noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, which could apply even though the units were properly aligned during production.

The larger cause of the issue was described as a headlamp supplier etching equipment programming error. Because of this issue, the lenses did not contain the right codes, potentially making it hard for services to adjust the headlamps properly.

This report came just over a month after the first notice of the issue, on May 25. General Motors’ official investigation opened June 2, with the voluntary recall action launching June 22. To address the problem, the manufacturer said it would mail both owners and dealers the necessary labels.

These labels contain four categories of information about the recalled component: the necessary name, description, part number and country of origin. The codes should appear on the headlamps in vehicles made after May 26, 2016.

Other Chevrolet recalls have included the Cruze model. A more recent one concerned a different FMVSS, number 114. This action included not just 2016 Cruzes but also other Chevrolet models, such as the Malibu and Equinox.

All of these cars could have a defect making it possible to roll away if the ignition key is removed while the transmission is in park. The component supplier involved in this case is Alps Electronics, another outfit based out of Warren, Michigan. New housings were used to remedy the problem. This safety recall officially began after June 23, 2016, on the decision of the Safety Field Action Decision Authority.

Engine Room Connections in Some Sentras Could be Faulty [Video]

August 30, 2016 admin Nissan Recalls, Video

Franklin, Tenn. — August 30, 2016 — Nissan has recalled more than fifteen hundred Sentra autos from the 2016 model year. These units could have control issues that affect engine performance. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statement said that the engine room harness could lead to terminal connection issues that would determine whether the engine functions normally, potentially stalling.

The official recall is scheduled to start August 26th. During an April investigation, Nissan both addressed the problem themselves and prompted the component supplier, Yazaki, to investigate as well.

Because terminal pins in these vehicles could be too large to fit, the remedy will see dealers replace the pin entirely.

Read more about recent Nissan recalls in our blog.

Volvo Truck Recall Addresses Axle Issues

August 29, 2016 admin Volvo Recalls

Greensboro, N.C. — August 29, 2016 — A new recall concerns several Volvo truck models that leave drivers potentially at risk of losing control during operation. The official 473 Safety Recall Report explained that 1 percent of the 129 recalled vehicles in the U.S. were estimated to have the defect. While the action affects certain VNL and VNM models, both stem from the same range of production dates: April 16 to May 4 in 2012.

The recall addresses a problem associated with an axle from the manufacturer Meritor. The report said that some of the axles were “improperly heat-treated.” As a result, a beam included in the car could fracture. While it didn’t explain specifics, the report said that the fracture areas “could indicate some level of warning,” showing the driver that the fault exists.

A Safety Recall Alert from June 27, 2016 said that the recall affects 19 trucks outside of the country: 16 in Canada and three in Mexico. The dealers were instructed to increase awareness of the recall among their staff, correcting these issues in affected trucks before they were sold.

Meritor is a U.S. company based in Troy, Michigan. The original planned dealer notification date was June 24, with owners notified just five days later. However, owner notices and repair instructions were said to ship at July 29 at the very latest.

Before this recall, the 2013 VNL was also part of a different recall announced in October, 2015. In this action, 101 units were said to have electrical system defects. The metal housing mounting points in the electric auxiliary power units in these trucks were said to potentially “crack and tear,” according to the NHTSA-filed report.

Small Number of 2016 Vehicles Part of Volkswagen Recalls

August 19, 2016 admin Volkswagen Recalls

Auburn Hills, Mich. — August 19, 2016 — Some 2016 Volkswagen Golf R vehicles could bear incorrect information on the Safety Certification Label, one recent recall stated. According to a Part 573 Safety Recall Report from May 20, 11 vehicles are potentially involved in this action, and a full 100 percent of them are thought to have the defect.

The Report, available through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said that these vehicles could contain an incorrect rear-axle weight limit. The displayed weight could be more than 1000 pounds off from the actual maximum amount of 2227 pounds.

The concerned vehicles were produced between May 17 and 23, 2016. The inaccurate labels were discovered April 13 this year and were reportedly caused by “”new printer installation,” the source said. As a result, the printers accidentally produced labels with default weight values. Assuming this number is correct, numerous owners could misjudge their vehicles’ weight capacity and potentially overload them.

All 11 of the Golf R vehicles involved in this action are located in the United States, a dealership communication from May 24 said. The document stated that “parts were allocated to address affected dealer inventory vehicles” because of the small number of vehicles involved.

This issue has led to recent Toyota recalls as well. Last month, Car Complaints reported on a series of Toyota and Scion models recalled for weight label discrepancies. Model years ranged between 2015 and 2016, and included 2,520 total vehicles.

Due to inaccurate load-carrying-capacity modification labels, a report filed with the NHTSA said that these vehicles could fail to comply with federal standards. The problem was discovered in May, and owner notification is planned for July 14 and 15. While it was making calculations, the manufacturer halted production on the impacted vehicles.

New Round of Ford Recalls Start Off July 2016

August 18, 2016 admin Ford Recalls

Dearborn, Mich. — August 18, 2016 — Ford ended June 2016 by announcing three new recalls in a single press release. All of the vehicles involved in these efforts are from either the 2015 and 2016 model years. While each of these cases extend outside of the United States, the majority of vehicles in all three recalls are in the U.S.

According to the source, only one of these is a safety recall, while the other two are safety compliance recalls. The manufacturer is not aware of any injuries or accidents connected to any of these issues. All together, the three Ford recalls concern approximately 8,218 vehicles.

The safety recall concerns transmission assembly problems in both 2015 and 2016 Ford Focus Electric autos produced at either the Michigan or Saarlouis assembly plants. A certain coating could lead to fractures in the differential pinion shaft of these vehicles, so dealers will replace the assembly completely with a setup that includes the right friction-reducing coating.

One of the safety compliance recalls addresses 6,661 Ford F-150 and Ford Explorer units, both from model year 2016 and possibly containing improperly welded driver seat backs. The other involves 608 2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles that may have a brake hydraulic control unit.

Before this, the most recent recall-related Ford press release involved the Takata air bag inflator recall. In that statement, the manufacturer said that it was adding several brands to the existing recall numbers for issues with nondesiccated passenger-side frontal airbag inflators. Model years for these vehicles collectively ranged from 2005 and 2011.

As of June 17, Ford had completed 20.2 percent of passenger-side air bag repairs, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. On a larger scale, Ford has finished just 7.1 percent of its total air bag repairs.

Toyota Issues Recall for Seat Heating Issues

August 17, 2016 admin Toyota Recalls

Jacksonville, Fla. — August 17, 2016 — A June 8 statement posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website described a new Toyota recall affecting 14 different models. According to this letter, a total of 7,749 vehicles may potentially be at risk for a fire hazard due to possibly damaged electrical wiring in seat heaters.

If some of these cushions are compressed, the source said, a short circuit could occur. This would happen because of worn electrical wiring within the copper strand heating element. The model years for the affected vehicles range from 1988 to 2012 – some of the brands include the Toyota Avalon, Camry, Tacoma and Tundra. Together, all of the vehicles were produced between Dec. 5, 1987 and Jan. 27, 2012.

The Part 573 Safety Recall Report said that a short circuit could potentially injure an occupant and burn through the seat cover. The component manufacturer involved in this case, Marketing World Wide, Inc., was said to no longer be in business.

While the report set June 1 and 2 as the dealer notification date, owners aren’t scheduled for notice until later this month, between July 14 and 29. The recall will include “all potentially affected vehicles,” the report said, and dealers will disconnect the relevant seat heaters.

A press release from the manufacturer announced another pair of Toyota recalls in late June. The U.S. arm of the company recalled “approximately 482,000” units for possible cracks in the weld area of the air bag inflators.

This could cause the inflator to separate, putting occupants in possible danger. To remedy this, dealers will reportedly add retention brackets to the impacted vehicles’ curtain shield air bag inflators. This issue seems unrelated to the millions of vehicles involved in the widespread Takata air bag recalls.