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Recall for 2016 Mercedes-Benz Vehicles Addresses Drive Shaft Problems

August 16, 2016 admin Mercedes-Benz Recalls

Montvale, N.J. — August 16, 2016 — Approximately 136 2016 Mercedes-Benz vehicles are potentially involved in a recent recall, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration document submitted May 16. This Safety Recall Report also stated that 23 percent of the vehicle population were estimated to have the defect, with production rates ranging from June 1 to July 24, 2015.

All of the suspected autos are two-door light Mercedes-Benz AMG GTS vehicles with a gas power train. The drive-shaft adhesive in these vehicles could be weak, leading to a dangerous separation between it and the flange. Drivers can lose traction in this case and may see an instrument cluster warning signal. The report doesn’t list any other possible identifiers.

Daimler AG reportedly discovered this issue in October 2015, though it wasn’t seriously analyzed until around two months later. Though the first field case listed in the report was in the U.S., other instances were later found in Japan and Saudi Arabia.

Though no specific notification date was given in the original report, owners were said to be notified sometime in June. To remedy this issue, dealers were instructed to replace carbon-fiber drive shafts if needed.

A later document from the manufacturer said the recall is scheduled once parts become available July 1. It also stated that it will send letters to customers “approximately one week after the recall launch.” This action also includes a stop sale for any two 2016 AMG GTS vehicles.

Other newer Mercedes-Benz recalls include a October 2015 action for 52 autos, including GLE63 and GLE450 units, also with the 2016 model year. Rear drive-shaft bolts in these vehicles could possibly loosen and detach the shaft from the transmission altogether. Dealers were prompted to tighten these bolts if necessary.

Software Problems Part of New Fiat Chrysler Recall

Auburn Hills, Mich. — August 12, 2016 — Some relatively recent model year FCA vehicles could leave passengers in danger because of a wire harness problem. Autoblog recently featured a press release from the manufacturer of the 323,361 U.S. vehicles involved in the recall. These include the 2014 and 2015 Chrysler 200, Jeep Cherokee and other vehicles.

According to this source, affected vehicles were produced before Sept. 23, 2014. Though the vast majority of these are in the U.S., a total of 43,927 are outside of the NAFTA region, with thousands more in both Canada and Mexico.

The issue itself involves a wire-crimping problem, which could be temporarily fixed if drivers turn their vehicles on and off. The newer versions of these models will benefit from an updated harness manufacturing system.

Crimping a wire can require the right hardware. including a crimp cap or an appropriate crimping tool. The quality of the wire makes a difference, too, as it needs to match the appropriate engine system.

Last year, the 2015 Cherokee was part of multiple Jeep recalls. One of these was in December and involved a possible short circuit in the power liftgate module that may have left drivers at risk of fire. Dealers were instructed to add a water shield in an acknowledgement statement dated for December 17.

Another recent recall with the same make and model was reported in October. That action concerned Jeeps with air conditioning hose issues that could have also left the occupants at risk of fire. The solution involved replacing the hose after inspection to keep it from contacting the exhaust manifold.

In Recalled GM Vehicles, Key Could Be Removed in Wrong Gear

August 11, 2016 admin GMC Recalls

Warren, Mich. — August 11, 2016 — According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents, a new GM recall addresses ignition concerns in some vehicles. The Part 573 Safety Recall Report said that approximately 2 percent of 7,620 vehicles are estimated to have this defect.

Altogether, the impacted model years encompass a wide range, from 2010 to 2017. The earliest collective production date is September 28, 2009 and the latest is May 27, 2016. The latter of these applies to the latest recalled model, the 2017 Buick Verano. Buick, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles are all included in the recall.

In these vehicles, the ignition system could allow users to remove the keys. This not only represents a possible Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard violation, but it also could put the car and any occupants in danger if the driver removes the key without first engaging the parking brake or putting the vehicle in park.

Unlike with many recalls, the Part 573 Report said that this outcome is also one of the ways to identify that the issue is present: If the key can be taken out while a different gear is in use, the recall may apply. This problem seems to stem from Electronic Park Lock damage in some steering column assemblies.

According to the report, dealers will inspect and replace the lock housing. A July 2016 bulletin updated the original response method, which includes nine steps. Three of these involve a repeated testing of the ignition key and transmission. This is supposed to help dealers see whether or not they can remove the key in gears aside from park. If the vehicle contains the defect, dealers are instructed to hold it and keep it from further sale.

Lock Issues Affect Several Aston Martin Recalls

August 8, 2016 MotorSafety.org Aston Martin Recalls

Gaydon Warwick, U.K. — August 08, 2016 — Several Aston Martin vehicles may not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard requirements, according to a recent press release.

The manufacturer will recall 6,076 vehicles with model years ranging from 2010 to 2016 to address ineffective door locks. While the manufacturer’s initial investigations began last year, owners will not be notified until August.

The defect

Using the locks in affected models could accidentally prevent occupants from being able to unlock the car from the inside. This is intended to be a security precaution, but could instead go against FMVSS No. 206, which specifically concerns “door locks and door retention components.”

As much of a risk as this could pose, owners have some resources at their disposal. First of all, the release said that the horns inside would still work, allowing users to warn others and avoid being trapped.

Certain vehicles will also come with an alarm system that sounds off if it detects an occupant.

Finally, the company explained its remedy in a Part 573 Safety Recall Report submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last month.

This source said that reprogramming the system software in the affected vehicles will disable the double locking mechanism and fixed the problem. Most of the cars targeted in this recall (5,845 exactly) are said to be with customers, while 231 remain with the dealers.

Timeline of events

The report listed the owner notification date as July 1 and the owner notification period as the days between August 1 and 15. The assertions of noncompliance date back to a recall meeting on December 11, 2015.

In 2014, Reuters reported on a 17,590-Aston Martin recall because some parts contained counterfeit plastic. Around three quarters of the right-hand drive models built since May 2012 were affected, as well as left-hand drive vehicles dating back to 2007.

Check your car’s recall status using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Transit Vans Part of New Ford Recalls

August 4, 2016 admin Ford Recalls

Dearborn, Mich. — August 04, 2016 — Approximately 605 Transit Connect vans are included in a new Ford recall, according to official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents. The action addresses recent vehicles produced between February 22 and April 9 this year. The Part 573 Safety Recall Report said that affected vehicles could include a hydraulic control unit pump with metallic debris.

While the source did not give an estimate for the percentage of these vehicles with the defect, it did describe said potential defect in greater detail. Debris in the Hydraulic Control Units could potentially render these vehicles unfit under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. It would particularly represent noncompliance with FMVSS 126: “Electronic Stability Control Systems.” The debris is said to come from a “poorly modified piercing tool.”

The report did not list any specific signs of the defect, though it said that brake system performance could degrade “without warning.” Ford first observed the issue through its Critical Concern Review Group on May 19.

The Field Review Committee approved an official field action just over a month later on June 20. While the dealer notification date was listed as June 28, owners are not scheduled to hear about the issue until the four-day period between August 8 and 12. During this time, owners will be directed to contact an appropriate dealer to address the issue, perhaps removing the HCUs as necessary.

This is only the most recent of Ford recalls to impact this brand and model year. Earlier this year, the 2016 Transit Connect was subject to a separate action involving 37,066 potentially affected units. That was due to a badly oriented side curtain air bag fold, according to other NHTSA documents.

Possible Seat Back Welding Issue Discovered in Some Ford Vehicles [Video]

August 3, 2016 admin Ford Recalls, Video

Ford is addressing an issue that could push vehicles outside of safety standard requirements. According to a recent statement, nearly fifty-three hundred vehicles could be at risk due to a seat back welding problem.

The recall affects two different 2016 vehicle lines: the Ford F-150 and Ford Explorer. In both of these autos, the bad weld could leave the seat back looking loose. Occupants may notice a squeaking or rattling sound.

Dealers will examine the assemblies of these vehicles and replace the seat back frames if necessary. The official owner notification will take place between the nineteenth and fifteenth of August.

We’ve covered other Ford recalls in our blog. Check out our May twenty-seven article about a shifting issue to learn more.

New Action Stops Sale for Several BMW Vehicles

August 2, 2016 admin BMW Recalls

Woodcliff Lake, N.J. — August 02, 2016 — The M-Series represents multiple types of cars under the BMW label. This month, the automaker revealed three new “Competition” models in this line in Australia alone. In the U.S., however, BMW has put a hold on M-series deliveries to address an important rear differential problem.

As of this writing, this is not a recall and the company has yet to disclose the exact nature of the concern. A Service Information Bulletin delivered to Bimmerpost and cited by Autoblog said that 3,800 cars have been affected and the number could continue to change.

The original notice said that just 202 vehicles could be affected. The rear differential will have to be replaced in these autos, and repair instructions were said to come as they’re available. The impacted vehicles includes eight different models: including a total of five different “M” vehicles including coupes, convertibles and sedans. The manufacturing dates range from May 12 to July 6 this year.

Other recent BMW recalls have involved BMW M models. A December 14 acknowledgement addressed both the M3 and M4 models from 2015 and 2016. These vehicles were singled out for containing driveshafts with dry slip-joints that didn’t contain enough grease.

The vehicles involved in this effort were manufactured as far back as May 29, 2015, and as recently as September 11, 2015. The slip-joint issue reportedly left users at risk of a sudden stop, which could have threatened occupants. Just 42 vehicles were included in this effort, and the same action also involved a delivery halt from the manufacturer, perhaps suggesting that this newest action could lead to a recall as well.

GM Recalls Chevrolet Impalas Over Faulty Sensors

July 29, 2016 admin Chevrolet Recalls

Warren, Mich. — July 29, 2016 — One of the latest General Motors recalls concerns approximately 289,254 2009 and 2010 Chevrolet Impala vehicles. These units might put occupants in danger because the passenger presence sensor wire might deteriorate and accidentally deactivate the passenger air bags when they’re needed.

According to the official Part 573 report for this recall, the PPS module wiring could get damaged if the front passenger seat frame rubs against it. While this might not happen in all vehicles – and only 1 percent of the recalled population are believed to have the defect – the problem is still considered potentially serious. Affected vehicles were produced between April 25, 2008 and February 16, 2010.

The damage has to be severe to prevent the air bags from functioning properly. If owners notice the air bag telltale light, the air bag status indicator or the service air bag message switched on, then this could indicate a possible problem. The same sensor issue might also affect alerts within the vehicle. The first employee indication of this issue dates back to a March 8 report through the company’s Speak Up for Safety program.

To update impacted cars and correct this problem, affected wires will be updated with anti-abrasion tape. This should help strengthen the wires and keep them from wearing down as easily. Though the report was submitted June 29, the same date planned for dealer notification, the accompanying recall acknowledgement wasn’t dated until July 20. No owner notification date was included.

In a Global Safety Field Instructions note also released June 29, the manufacturer announced that the GWM Investigate Vehicle History screen would be scheduled for a July 1 update. The statement also lists the passenger presence sensor and instrument cluster malfunction as the prompt for the recall.

Mitsubishi Corrosion Issues Prompt New Recall

July 28, 2016 admin Mitsubishi Recalls

Cypress, Calif. — July 28, 2016 — Mitsubishi Motors North America recently recalled four different models over a period of 11 model years, according to an acknowledgment statement with the National Highway Traffic Safety Report. The statement said that approximately 174,382 vehicles are part of a new effort to address problems from possible corrosion in these vehicles.

Exposure to salt water, particularly through road salt, could wear away at sections of the suspension, as the NHTSA source said. If this occurs, the front control arm could detach completely, making it more difficult to control the vehicle.

Impacted models include the Lancer, Lancer Evolution, Lancer Wagon and Outlander, all of which are light four-door vehicles. The recall specifically applies to a range of 22 states and Washington D.C., including locations in New England and the Midwest. The regional distribution is important, because it indicates the areas where high salt density is especially problematic.

The Part 573 Report said that the first indication of this problem came from Canada in 2014. After this initial indication, the company began a two-year investigation culminating in the official recall decision itself June 13.

Though the report didn’t list a specific owner notification date, it did say the automaker would encourage owners to get their vehicles inspected. Corroded cross members will be replaced, while less severe instances may just require a sealing/anti-corrosion agent. Even though this recall was issued this summer, it follows the possible dangers of snow melt water on vehicle exteriors.

Dealers should identify the condition during an inspection. However, the report didn’t list any sign of the problem that owners would be able to tell on their own, meaning a dealer inspection might be necessary to determine if the issue exists.

New Chrysler Vehicles Part of Seat Belt Related Recall [Video]

July 27, 2016 admin Chrysler Recalls, Video

Chrysler has a new recall on its hands for some recently produced vehicles. More than thirty-five hundred twenty seventeen Pacifica autos may feature fragile seat belt parts.

Official documents stated that some of the stow clips could break in affected models. If so, the occupants would not be able to use the seat belt as intended. The recalled vehicles were made between February and April twenty sixteen.

The broken stow clips were first discovered earlier this year as part of a March twenty-sixth inspection at the FCA Windsor Assembly Plant. The manufacturer itself did not launch a recall until June twenty-first.

Learn more about the latest Fiat Chrysler recalls by reading our blog, and thanks for watching!