Mercedes-Benz recalls vehicles over risk of fire

Jacksonville, FL – May 4, 2022 – Daimler (OTCMKTS:DMLRY), which owns the Mercedes-Benz brand, is recalling 21,306 vehicles with an electrical installation that could overheat. This may cause a vehicle fire, increasing the risk of injury and property damage.

The affected vehicles include:

  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLS63
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS600
  • 2020 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE450
  • 2020 – 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE580
  • 2020 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS450
  • 2020 – 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS580
  • 2021 – 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE53

Recall summary  

All models on this are so-called “mild hybrids,” meaning they have an electric motor which works together with an engine to make it more fuel-efficient. This electric motor runs on 48V and has a separate electrical installation with several ground connections to power different components in the car.

In affected vehicles, the nut that secures one of the connections under the front passenger seat might not be tightened sufficiently. This may cause the connector to overheat and catch on fire. 

The component in question is the ground connection nut, with part number A0029906850.  

Recall risks

For more on the risks of fire, please visit this article about a Hyundai recall due to the risk of fire.

Warning signs

The driver may notice warning messages concerning the “48V onboard power supply” on the dashboard

Other Mercedes-Benz recalls

Apart from this Mercedes-Benz electrical Issue, there were at least two major Mercedes-Benz recalls in the past couple of months.  Earlier this month, over 8,000 new cars were recalled due to incorrectly programmed cruise control. The program would still run even if the driver’s hands were not on the wheel which is required for safety reasons.

In late March, 9,156 cars were subject to a recall due to inoperable rear lights also due to a programming error, as reported.

The repair

Dealers will tighten the nuts in question free of charge. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent on June 7, 2022.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Mercedes-Benz electrical ground connection recall is affecting more than 20,000 vehicles. To do a Mercedes-Benz recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicMercedes-Benz recalls vehicles over risk of fire

Ford recalls Escape SUVs over risk of rollaway

Dearborn, MI – May 1, 2022 – Ford (NYSE:F) has issued a recall for 96,015 2015 Ford Escape SUVs over a problem over a transmission issue that could cause the vehicle to roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall summary

In order to shift a car into a certain transmission, a driver pushes the shifter handle into the intended position. The handle is linked to the transmission by a shifter cable. The cable is fixed in place by a small rubber part called a bushing.

In the recalled vehicles, the bushing that connects the shift cable to the transmission may be damaged or degraded partially because of heat and humidity. When the bushing is damaged, the shift cable can disconnect from the transmission.

If the handle and the transmission are disconnected, the transmission will not respond to the driver’s input. For example, when the driver moves the gearshift lever into the Park position, the transmission might remain in Drive.

The component involved in this recall is the escape shifter cable bushing, with part number DJ5P-7E395-AC.

Recall risks

This may cause the vehicle to roll away. Similarly, the driver could attempt to shift into or out of Reverse, only to have the vehicle remain in the previous gear. Either situation could increase the risk of a crash.

Warning signs

Drivers may notice that the vehicle’s movement does not correspond to the gear they have selected, even if the correct gear is shown on the instrument panel. If the vehicle’s ignition is switched off while the transmission is not in Park, the engine will not restart.

Other Ford recalls 

In June 2021, Ford issued a similar recall for 192,080 Ford Transit Connect vans spanning the 2013 to 2021 model years. This was also over degraded bushings that caused the transmission shift cable to disconnect, making the transmission unresponsive to driver input.

Past 2015 Ford Escape recalls have addressed issues such as doors that could open while the vehicle was in motion and seat mounting bolts that could fracture.

The repair

Dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing with a more durable version and add a protective cap. The service will be performed free of charge. Ford will reimburse owners for the costs of any previous repair work involving the damaged component.

Affected owners will be notified on or before May 13, 2022.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 96,000 vehicles are included in this Ford shifter cable recall. To do a Ford recall check, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloFord recalls Escape SUVs over risk of rollaway

Daimler recalls Mercedes-Benz cars with defective rearview camera

Jacksonville, FL – April 30, 2022 – Daimler (OTCMKTS:DMLRY), which owns the Mercedes-Benz brand, is recalling 126,443 vehicles over malfunctioning rearview camera. This increases the risk of striking people or property when backing up.

The recall affects Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class and Mercedes-Benz A-Class vehicles, among others. A partial list of vehicles includes:

  • 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLA250
  • 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC300
  • 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC350E
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLA35
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLA45
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLB35
  • 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC43
  • 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC63
  • 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC63 S
  • 2019 – 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG C43
  • 2019 – 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63
  • 2019 – 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 S
  • 2020 – 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA35
  • 2020 – 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA45
  • 2019 – 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS53
  • 2019 – 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53
  • 2020 – 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB250

Recall summary

The rearview camera enables drivers to see in real time what’s behind the vehicle when going in reverse. This is useful when backing up, such as when moving out of a parking spot or a driveway.

Due to a software error, the recalled vehicles’ camera may fail to produce an image. 

The full list of vehicles is available here.

Recall risks

For more on risks of this recall, please see our recent article about a similar Ford recall.

Other Mercedes-Benz recalls 

Earlier this month, some of the models involved in this recall were recalled due to faulty cruise control that allowed drivers to keep their hands off the wheel while using autopilot due to a software error.

In May 2021, a recall was issued for 342,366 Mercedes-Benz GLE Class, GLS Class and the AMG CLA Class vehicles also due to a rearview camera issue.

The repair

Dealers will install a software update on the affected models, at no charge to the owner, to make sure that the component meets current specifications.

Daimler will reimburse owners for the costs of any previous repair work involving the defective component.

Affected owners will be notified on or around June 7, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 126,000 vehicles are included in this Mercedes-Benz rearview camera recall. To see if your car is affected by the Mercedes-Benz E-Class recall, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class recall, or any other recall, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.  

Joseph EstabilloDaimler recalls Mercedes-Benz cars with defective rearview camera

Ford recalls trucks with inoperable rearview cameras

Dearborn, MI – April 30, 2022 – Ford (NYSE:F) is recalling 21,904 trucks whose rearview cameras may fail to display an image. This can lead to an accident while backing up, increasing the risk of injury or property damage. 

Vehicles affected by this recall include:  

  • 2019 Ford F-150
  • 2019 Ford F-250 SD
  • 2019 Ford F-350 SD
  • 2019 Ford F-450 SD
  • 2019 Ford F-550 SD

Recall summary  

All vehicles that are part of this Ford truck recall have a rearview camera which has a wiring connector. The pins inside the connector of the recalled vehicles are deformed due to a supplier error. This causes the camera to display a distorted or blank image. 

The component in question is the rearview camera, with multiple part numbers including JC3T-19G490-AD and JC3T-19G490-BD.

Recall risks

Read more about the risks of this recall and the history of rearview cameras in our recent article about a similar Stellantis recall.

Other Ford recalls

Over 78,000 of Ford Edge SUVs were recalled last month also due to malfunctioning rearview cameras, as reported.

There were at least two F-150 recalls in April. Last week, over 47,000  trucks were recalled due to faulty transmission that could cause them to shift into neutral on their own, increasing the risk of a collision. The week before, F-150s were among roughly 650,000 vehicles that were recalled due to inoperable windshield wipers, also as reported.

The repair

Dealers will replace the cameras in question with a redesigned version. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent between May 16, 2022 and May 20, 2022 and all repairs will be done free of charge.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Ford rearview camera recall is affecting more than 20,000 trucks. To do a Ford recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicFord recalls trucks with inoperable rearview cameras

Kia is investigated over doors that may close on occupants’ limbs

Washington, D.C. – April 24, 2022 – The U.S. government’s auto safety regulator is investigating Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) minivans whose rear power sliding doors could trap and injure the occupants of the car.

If the investigation leads to a recall, it could affect an estimated 24,312 2022 Kia Carnival vehicles. 

Investigation summary  

The regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), opened an investigation on April 10, following five complaints about alleged issues with rear door operation on vehicles in question. 

These vehicles have automated power sliding doors, which open and close at the touch of a button. This system also has an auto-reverse function, which backs up the closing door if it detects any obstacles. 

Based on the complaints, “excessive force” is required to get the door to reverse the direction. As a result, the occupant’s arm or other objects can be trapped by the closing door

Risks

Power sliding doors that do not stop at an obstacle may trap occupants’ limbs while they are getting in or out of the vehicle. So far, three injuries have been reported as a result of this potential defect.  

Other Kia Carnival recalls 

This is not the first time the Korean manufacturer is having issues with sliding doors. In December 2021, some of these Kia minivan 2022 models have been recalled over sliding doors that may open while driving

Separately, Kia recalled over 70,000 Kia Optima cars in February because of the risk of fire, as reported, as part of its ongoing fire-related recalls that are subject to a separate NHTSA investigation.

Could your vehicle be part of the potential recall?

This investigation may eventually lead to a Kia Carnival power sliding door recall, possibly affecting close to 25,000 vehicles.  To do a Kia recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicKia is investigated over doors that may close on occupants’ limbs

Tesla issues second recall for vehicles with faulty pedestrian warning systems

Austin, TX – April 24, 2022 – Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is recalling 594,717 vehicles that may fail to warn pedestrians when approaching. This increases the risk of a crash or injury. This recall supersedes a previous recall issued over the same concern in February this year.

The recall applies to the following models:

  • 2020 – 2022 Model S
  • 2020 – 2022 Model X
  • 2020 – 2022 Model Y
  • 2017 – 2022 Model 3

Recall summary

These Tesla models have a Pedestrian Warning System (PWS), which warns pedestrians of the vehicle’s nearly silent approach. In the recalled vehicles the PWS may be inaudible due to the simultaneous use of the Boombox function which allows the vehicle to play other sounds in place of a regular horn in certain scenarios.

While the previous remedy was set to disable the PWS when the car is motion, going in reverse or when in “Neutral,” the feature is still available with the use of the optional Summon or Smart Summon feature.

These features allow the user to “summon” the car out of its parking space or “move it to a specific location” if the driver is standing within a set distance.

Recall risks

If the PWS is inaudible, pedestrians may be unaware of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Background of the recall

For additional background on this recall, please visit the following page.

The repair

An over-an-air update under this recall will disable Boombox with the use of Summon or Smart Summon features at no cost to the owner.

In the previous recall, the update only applied to Reverse, Neutral and Drive.

Owners can expect to receive further communication from Tesla regarding the repair program by June 6, 2022. 

Other recent Tesla recalls

There was a Tesla Model X recall earlier this month because of front airbags that may fail to deploy if the windows are rolled down, as reported.

In February this year, there was a Model X recall because of windshield that may not defrost as designed, also as reported.

Some of these models are also subject a government investigation over a potentially distractive video game feature and phantom braking while driving on autopilot.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Nearly 600,000 vehicles are included in this Tesla Boombox recall. To do a Tesla recall check, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Senamile NkosiTesla issues second recall for vehicles with faulty pedestrian warning systems

Tesla recalls vehicles whose airbags may fail to deploy

Austin, TX – April 23, 2022 – Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is recalling 7,289 of 2021-2022 Tesla Model X vehicles whose front airbags may not deploy properly if front windows are rolled down. This reduces the level of protection during a crash, increasing the risk of an injury.  

Recall summary  

Tesla vehicles that are affected by this recall have airbags on their A-pillars whose purpose is to protect occupants in front seats in case of an accident. Due to a design flaw, these airbags may not deploy properly if front windows are lowered when the accident happens

The components in question are front-row curtain airbags, with part numbers 1036759-00-G for the right-hand airbag and 1036756-00-G for the left-hand one. 

Recall risks

In a collision, the passenger front-row curtain airbags may not deploy as intended, which reduces the level of their protection,  increasing the risk of an injury. 

Other Tesla Model X Recalls

Apart from this issue with Tesla Model X airbags, these vehicles may have been a part of some of the previous recalls. This includes issues with the pedestrian warning system and frosted-up windshields

The repair

Dealers will solve this issue on affected vehicles by replacing both left and right front row curtain airbags free of charge. Replacement parts are designed in a way that prevents improper deployment. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent on June 7, 2022. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Tesla airbag recall affects more than 7,000 vehicles. To do a Tesla recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicTesla recalls vehicles whose airbags may fail to deploy

Jaguar Land Rover recalls Range Rover SUVs over faulty seat belts

Mahwah, NJ – April 23, 2022 – Tata Motors, which owns Jaguar Land Rover (NYSE:TTM) has issued a recall for 14,812 vehicles due to a problem with the seat belts emergency locking retractor — the device that locks the seat belt in place when the vehicle crashes or slows suddenly. This increases the risk of injury.

This is at least the second recall for these issues since 2019 and includes the following models:

  • 2016 Range Rover
  • 2017 Range Rover
  • 2016 Range Rover Sport
  • 2017 Range Rover Sport

Recall summary

A seat belt prevents the occupants from being thrown or hitting any part of the vehicle in the event of a crash or sudden deceleration — significantly reducing the chance of serious injury or death.

A feature called an emergency locking retractor (ELR) allows the seat belt to freely extend and retract under normal movement, with the excess seat belt webbing wrapping around a spool. If the belt is suddenly yanked, such as in a crash, the ELR automatically locks, preventing occupants from hitting their heads against the windshield or dashboard.

In the recalled vehicles, the seat belt retractor on the driver’s seat may fail to lock at the appropriate level of force, which means that the driver may not be properly restrained in an emergency.

Recall risks

The driver may be thrown against the windshield or the steering wheel or otherwise be hurt in a crash if the seat belt is not working properly.

Other Jaguar Land Rover recalls

Tata Motors recalled more than 18,000 Range Rover Evoque SUVs in February due to other problems with the restraint system, as reported.

In September 2021, a recall was also issued for multiple Jaguar Land Rover models over another retractor problem, which could result in injuries to child occupants in the event of a crash.  

There was another recall for the same issue in May 2019 but not all the recalled received the remedy offered under this recall.

The repair

Dealers will inspect the seat belt assembly on the driver’s side and replace any defective components. Repairs will be performed free of charge.

Affected owners will be notified by June 3, 2022.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 14,000 vehicles are included in this Jaguar Land Rover recall. To see if your Land Rover is one of them,  use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloJaguar Land Rover recalls Range Rover SUVs over faulty seat belts

Ford recalls trucks and SUVs whose wipers may fail

Dearborn, MI — April 23, 2022 —   Ford (NYSE:F), which also owns the Lincoln brand, is recalling 652,996 trucks and full-size SUVs with windshield wipers that may fail to operate. This reduces drivers’ visibility, increasing the risk of a crash and injury.

A long list of affected vehicles includes: 

  • 2020–2021 Ford Expedition
  • 2020–2021 Ford F-150
  • 2020–2022 Ford F-250 SD
  • 2020–2022 Ford F-350 SD
  • 2020–2022 Ford F-450 SD
  • 2020–2022 Ford F-550 SD
  • 2020–2021 Lincoln Navigator

Recall summary  

Windshields in the recalled vehicles are inoperable because of a faulty windshield arm due to a supplier error.

The components in question are the driver-side windshield wiper arms with part numbers ML34-17527-AB or FL34-17527-AA and passenger-side wiper arms with part numbers ML34-17526-AB or FL34-17526-AB.

Recall risks

If the wipers do not work or become detached, the driver will not be able to clean off dirt or water from the vehicle’s windshield. This reduces visibility and may lead to a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Warning signs

In some cases, windshield wipers will move erratically or slowly before failing.

Other Ford recalls

There was an F-150 recall last month, also due to inoperative windshields, as reported.

Earlier this month, there was a Lincoln Navigator recall due to malfunctioning trailer brakes, also as reported. The recall also included the 2022 F-150 and other F-series trucks, among others.

The repair

Dealers will fix the issue by replacing both wiper arms for free. Notifications to vehicle owners will be sent between April 23, 2022  and April 27, 2022.  

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Ford F-150 windshield wipers recall affects more than 650,000 trucks and SUVs. To do a Ford recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicFord recalls trucks and SUVs whose wipers may fail

Ford recalls vehicles with windshields that may detach

Dearborn, MI – April 17, 2022 – Ford (NYSE:F) is recalling 39,720 vehicles with front windshields that may detach during an accident. This increases the risk of injury to the occupants of the car and people around them.

The recall includes the following cargo vans:

  • 2016 Ford Transit Connect
  • 2020 Ford Transit Connect

Recall summary

Due to a supplier error, not enough adhesion was applied to the windshield of the recalled vehicles.

Recall risks

Detaching windshields increase the risk of injury to the driver and passengers during a crash.

Warning signs

Owners could perceive “wind noise,” notice a “water leak” or see that the windshield is loose.

Other recent Ford recalls

Last month over 150,000 F-150 trucks were recalled due to faulty windshield wipers, as reported.

In early September 2021, Ford Transit and Ford Transit Connect vans were recalled over faulty child restraint systems, also as reported.

In June 2021, the 2013 – 2021 Ford Transit Connect vehicles were recalled due to risk of rollaway.

The repair

This Ford windshield repair will involve an inspection by Ford and Lincoln dealers. If the windshields are found to be improperly attached, they will be removed and reinstalled with sufficient adhesive. There will be no cost to the owner. 

Owners are expected to be notified starting on April 18, 2022.   

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

This Ford Transit recall includes close to 40,000 vehicles. To do a Ford recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Senamile NkosiFord recalls vehicles with windshields that may detach