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FCA Recalls Wide Model Year Range of Dodge Journey Vehicles

June 10, 2016 admin Chrysler Recalls, Dodge Recalls

Auburn Hills, Mich. — June 10, 2016 — A new recall from FCA concerns vehicles from a span of five different model years. As an official press release recently noted, most of the 187,436 recalled vehicles are in Canada, possibly because the action involves a condition made worse in cold temperatures.

Though this issue is not known to have caused any injuries, the source stated that drivers could face steering difficulties in affected autos. When the engine is turned on, some steering fluid could leak out, possibly disrupting the vehicle. The statement specifically noted that the problem exists when the auto is in extreme cold, putting owners in those climates at greater risk.

In the United States, the recall will affect 10,944 vehicles. The statement did not explain what the remedy would entail or when dealers and customers will be notified. It did say that the necessary replacement units “are expected to be available soon.” Impacted model years range form 2009 to 2016.

A different recall from January affected both 2009 Dodge Journey autos and two other models, Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country vehicles, both of which are from the 2008 and 2009 model years.

This action addressed occupant restraint controller functions that could interfere with the standard air bag control system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the issue could either lead to unexpected air bag deployment or prevent air bags from inflating when they need to after a collision. Like the Chrysler headquarters, the component’s supplier, Continental Automotive Systems Inc., is based in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

The official Part 573 Safety Recall Report for that issue also advised that a lit warning lamp could indicate a possible ORC malfunction. A later amendment to this report said that final owner notification isn’t scheduled until the end of this year, and that remedy parts are estimated for 2017.

Hyundai Recalls Cars for Second stage Air Bag Problems

June 9, 2016 admin Hyundai Recalls

Fountain Valley, CA — June 9, 2016 — A new Hyundai recall concerns several vehicles with possible air bag deployment issues. The relatively small action involves just 33 Sonata, Sonata Hybrid and Elantra vehicles from the 2015 and 2016 model years produced between 2014 and 2016. As of April 20, no injuries have been traced back to this problem.

According to the Part 573 Safety Recall Report attributed to this case, there is no signal identified that could indicate the problem could occur. If the affected vehicles were not equipped with the proper chemical enhancer, the report stated, the front driver second stage air bag may not deploy. Even if the first stage unit works properly, this failure could be dangerous for drivers and leave them unprotected for more advanced dangers.

The components in question come from Key Safety Systems, based in Lakeland, Florida. In early April, Key alerted Hyundai to some air bag inflator issues. The manufacturer launched the official recall nine days later.

This planned notification date for both dealers and owners was scheduled for April 29, as the supplier made necessary changes to the affected air bag manufacturing process. The replacement air bag module units won’t be produced in the same lots as the others.

As Left Lane News reported, Kia is executing a similar recall with its 2016 Optima, which includes just 17 potentially affected units. The Kia recalls are also due to components from Key, and the replacement air bags will feature the chemical enhancer missing in the previous ones.

All of the affected Kia vehicles were produced between November 2015 and February 2016. Owners and dealers in this recall were both scheduled for notification a week earlier than those in the Hyundai action.

Many Nissan Vehicles Affected in Sensor-based Recall [Video]

June 7, 2016 admin Video

Smyrna, TN — June 7, 2016 — Just one flawed part could compromise multiple systems in Nissan vehicles. More than 3 million units are part of the company’s new recall.

This action comes from faulty Occupant Classification Systems, or OCS. A glitch means that this system could keep an air bag from deploying when it needs to. The recall includes many different vehicles, including Altima, Maxima and Pathfinder cars. Model years range from 2012 to 2017.

Although all of the remedies will be free for the customer, the fixes vary depending on the vehicle. For some vehicles, dealers will only have to reprogram the air bag and OCS electronic control unit. In other cases, they will have to replace the electronic control unit entirely.

Check out our blog for more information on the most recent Nissan recalls, such as one caused by an actuator problem that started on March 30.

Tesla Motors Now a Part of Takata Inflator Recall

June 3, 2016 admin Takata Airbag Recalls

Washington, D.C. — June 3, 2016 — Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has taken action to accelerate the Takata air bag recalls. This historic effort has already set records as the largest of its kind, as regulators work with the manufacturers to ensure full completion rates. The official website for the recall campaign, safecar.gov, lists 22 different makes currently involved with the mass recall. Now, a new company is part of the action: Tesla Motors, Inc.

As Bloomberg reported, including Tesla with the existing manufacturers extends the recall’s focus even farther, as the NHTSA works with the various carmakers involved. Back in August, the source reported that Tesla was one of just two car companies that had managed to stay out of the Takata recall actions, along with Volkswagen. The latter company is still not listed among the other participants on Safecar.

In a Takata press release, the company’s CEO, Shigehisa Takada, said that his business still wants to work with regulators to make vehicles safer. “Our actions, including the expansion of product recalls to cover all non-desiccated frontal inflator models, demonstrate our total commitment to safety and our intention to be part of the solution and to restore the confidence of the driving public,” he said.

Tesla has launched multiple recalls recently, including one that impacts 2,700 of its Model X vehicles, according to the Wall Street Journal. That recall centered around loose third-row seats, which could possibly detach if the car was involved in a collision.

Before that, Tesla comprehensively recalled dispersed Model S units after discovering a seatbelt assembly issue. While there were no injuries reported in connection to this problem the seatbelt would have posed a security risk if an affected vehicle was involved in a crash.

Kia Recalls Vehicles for Headlight Issues

June 1, 2016 admin Kia Recalls

Irvine, CA — June 1, 2016 — Some Kia vehicles may suddenly lose headlight functionality, according to a new recall set to begin on this month. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Part 573 recall report on this effort stated that 3,099 vehicles were potentially affected, including Kia K900 cars from both the 2015 and 2016 model years. Production dates span three years, from 2013 to 2016, and the faulty components come from Daesung Electric, Ltd.

This problem could manifest itself in multiple ways. Headlights may, according to the report, either flicker on and off or shut off completely. This is because of resistance buildup within the electric system, which can come after prolonged usage of the automatic headlights. The connection can worsen over time, meaning that a flickering at first could be a sign of further headlight failure later on.

A Safety Defect determination document from the same source traced the history of this issue, with the initial Quality Information Report first occurring on October 19, 2015. After the first conditions were found, the manufacturer determined that the oxidized contact points within the affected vehicles’ multifunction switches were causing the lighting failure.

In contrast to this, the new material in the multiswitch contacts will be less prone to oxidization and make connectivity within the lighting system easier. No accidents or injuries are currently connected to this issue.

Although the company upgraded the contact material and software on January 12, 2016, the voluntary recall wasn’t launched until April 7, 2016. This was after 79 warranty claims and 46 consumer reports.

Dealers should be notified by May 19, and will replace the existing contacts with new ones that reduce the chance of a glitch. The owner notification date is planned for May 27.

Control Arm Issues Initiate GM Recall

May 31, 2016 admin GMC Recalls

Warren, MI — May 31, 2016 — A group of eight vehicle models, including Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC names, are subject to a new overarching recall concerning suspension front control arms. After the manufacturer’s report date of April 27, 4,789 potential units are part of this action and may leave drivers in danger of a sudden loss of control while steering.

This is a relatively recent recall, with the official vehicle chronology only dating back to April 5. According to the Part 573 Safety Recall Report, available through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website, the manufacturer noticed a “deformed” upper control arm in a GMC Yukon XL Denali, caused by incomplete welding within the vehicle. The control arm failure can occur no matter which speed the affected cars are driving, and may also be set off by “jarring road inputs.”

The issue traces back further to the component’s supplier, Multimatic Inmetmatic. The planned dealer notification date was listed as April 27, and after this, dealers were instructed to fix the vehicle alignment of these models and replace both the right and left front upper control arms. Since April 8, the supplier has improved its manufacturing process to reduce possible dangers and make these cars more compliant with General Motors regulations.

No specific owner notification date was listed in this report, though it did state that the manufacturer will reveal the official mail date when it becomes available. All of the affected vehicles carry either the 2016 or 2017 model years.

The models themselves include the Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban and Tahoe, and the GMC Sierra, Yukon and Yukon XL. The manufacturer urges owners to contact the individual companies involved in each of these GM recalls for more information.

Police Vehicles Part of Joint Ford Recall

May 30, 2016 admin Ford Recalls

Dearborn, MI — May 30, 2016 — Ford finished the month of April with a joint statement addressing several recalls impacting its vehicles in the United States. While the largest of these involved speed sensor issues, another one included Ford Police Interceptor and Explorer vehicles with the 2014 and 2015 model years. Altogether, the recall concerns suspension problems in 81,036 total autos, with 75,364 in the United States.

The affected Interceptors have a different manufacturing history than the Explorers also involved in this recall. Though both sets of vehicles were built at the company’s Chicago Assembly Plant in 2014, the Interceptors were produced between January 17 and May 31 last year.

According to this release, the vehicles are possibly subject to a weak rear suspension toe link, which could leave drivers vulnerable to a loss of control or possibly a crash. This defect has led to one confirmed accident and injury, and the manufacturer attributes the danger to “poor weld quality” in the affected links. Both the left and right links can be affected, requiring dealers to replace each of them for a full remedy. The fix also requires dealers to align the rear suspension.

The Ford recalls aren’t the only recent example of a police vehicle action. In March, Chevrolet recalled 6,280 Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicles for a corrosion problem that could cancel out the vehicle’s power steering.

If this happened suddenly, drivers could be in danger of losing control over the vehicle. A press release on this case from March 18 said that the company had not as of yet planned an official repair date. Chevrolet had, however, developed a basic remedy plan, which involved dealers replacing the entire steering gear assembly in affected units. No injuries were reported as of the statement’s release.

Ford Recall Will Focus on Shifting Difficulties

May 27, 2016 admin Ford Recalls

Dearborn, MI — May 28, 2016 — Some Ford drivers could experience a jarring gear change, according to a press release from the manufacturer’s official site. That source announced a new recall meant to fix a software issue that may cause unwanted transmission shifts. This was one of a series of five Ford recalls (three for safety and two for safety compliance) that will affect cars across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The shifting issue represents the largest of these recalls, with 201,900 vehicles potentially affected and total model years ranging between 2011 and 2012. The four models in question (the Ford F-150, Expedition and Mustang as well as the Lincoln Navigator) will have a 6R80 transmission.

Because of problems with an included sensor, the press release stated, vehicles could suddenly change speed and possibly lose control. Though there are no injuries or fatalities attributed to this fault, there have been three reports of accidents.

The remedy described in this statement varies slightly depending on whether or not the dealer finds diagnostic trouble codes in the vehicle’s affected control modules. Both cases involve updating the control software as necessary.

This is similar to another major recall related to shifting issues from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. In that case, the automaker recalled a total of 811,586 vehicles to address shifting systems that were confusing users.

While the models themselves did not suffer any equipment failure, a statement from that company did mention 41 injuries that may come from the difficult transmission lever. Drivers were at a possible risk if they exited these vehicles before fully parking them.

After the latest FCA enhancements, affected vehicles in this recall will reportedly automatically halt a vehicle to prevent any unintended movements. These vehicles already contain some warning systems, including chimes, to alert the driver when the car is not in park while the doors are open.

Jaguar Recalls Vehicles at Risk of Fire

May 25, 2016 admin Jaguar Recalls

Mahwah, New Jersey — May 25, 2016 — Fuel tank problems may lead to an enhanced fire risk in several 2010 Jaguar XF vehicles, according to a safety recall report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These affected autos, produced between December 2008 and April 2009, could contain a cracked fuel outlet flange within the tank, leading to a possible fluid leak underneath the vehicle.

Owners will be notified on May 20, according to the report, more than a month after the dealer notification date of April 5. Authorized sources will fix these vehicles by replacing the flange with a new unit that meets safety standards. No reported accidents have been traced to this issue.

Drivers will reportedly have multiple signs that the issue may be present, including fuel odors or a lit Malfunction Indicator Lamp. No description of the cause for this recall was given, and there was no description of how the new component will specifically improve on the faulty one. Just 28 vehicles are part of this action.

A chronology also included by the NHTSA detailed the steps leading up to this voluntary recall. The first reports of a flange failure in these vehicles date back to 2012, when investigations first began. Jaguar Land Rover launched a previous recall campaign that same year, after a company Field Review Committee decided that the fuel leak constituted a safety hazard.

More recently, the Senior Review Panel decided that newer vehicles included in the recall should follow the previous recall strictures. Liquid is explicitly only stated to appear under affected vehicles when they are “static,” and when they pose the largest risk (if a heat source is present). In a message to dealers, the manufacturer stated that dealers need to hold affected new cars.

BMW Recalls 7 Series Vehicles as Precaution

May 19, 2016 admin BMW Recalls

Westwood,NJ — May 19, 2016 — Due to air bag concerns, BMW has launched a voluntary recall to address issues that may affect deployment. On March 24, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received a report of the company’s recall, which includes 6,110 vehicles. These models are all part of the company’s “7 Series,” which encompasses the BMW 740Li, 750 Li and 750 Lxi.

According to the Part 573 Safety Recall Report for this case, the affected vehicles could malfunction due to a buildup of “metallic stamping particle residue.” This material could potentially short circuit the air bag modules, leaving occupants unprotected during a collision. Though the air bag would only be temporarily disabled during a short, it could theoretically be enough to cause a safety risk.

If the reset does occur, the report stated, the air bag warning lamp might also turn on, although this is not listed as a possible indicator showing a warning. The manufacturer chose to perform this voluntary recall action more than three months after the supplier warned them about possible problems with the module. The particles in the module housing can detach and hit the circuit board, leading to the possible system reset.

May 24 is the planned owner notification date. The report doesn’t go into details on the remedy program, simply saying that dealers will replace the air bag control module. A spokesman confirmed to Reuters that the effort is indeed purely precautionary and not in response to specific claims, as the company has produced 47,000 vehicles for this particular series.

The recall also has international consequences, the article added, with other vehicles recalled in China and Germany. The affected vehicles were produced between July 1, 2015 and December 11, 2015 and are all classified as “light vehicles.”