Daimler recalls vehicles over risk of steering loss

Daimler recalls vehicles over risk of steering loss

October 8, 2021 Bojan Popic

Portland, OR – October 8, 2021  – Daimler (NASDAQ:DDAIF), which owns Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), is recalling 105,183 heavy-duty trucks with steering linkage that may come apart while driving. If this happens, the vehicle will suffer from a complete loss of steering, which increases the risk of a crash and injury.  This recall includes the following vehicles:

  • 2019 Freightliner Cascadia
  • 2020 Freightliner Cascadia
  • 2021 Freightliner Cascadia

Recall summary  

On these heavy-duty trucks, the steering assembly is connected to the front wheels with a pair of drag links. These are metal bars with a ball joint at each end that move the wheel left or right as you steer them. 

The cause of this deficiency involves the ball joint on the drag link, which may not be sufficiently tightened down.  As a result, it may become loose over time and completely detach from the steering arm. 

Warning signs

In its initial phases, a loose drag link may cause the vehicle steering to become loose or “off-center.” Additional warning signs may include vibrations at certain speeds and knocking sounds when turning. 

Recall risks

A reduction in steering capabilities makes the vehicle less stable or completely unresponsive, dramatically increasing  the chance of a crash or injury. This risk is as severe to the driver and its passengers as it is to other motorists and pedestrians.

Other Freightliner recalls

Daimler’s Freightliner Cascadia series trucks continue to be plagued by a cascade of several recent recalls. Deficiencies range from stalling due to faulty battery cables, to risk of fire from improperly mounted headlights, and most recently, loose steering tie rods – all within the last year.  Owners should be aware that these are separate recalls and the root of the problem is not identical. 

The repair

Daimler dealers will solve this problem by inspecting the ball joint and testing if it is tightened to a correct torque. In addition, they will replace the joint if necessary. Notifications about the repair will be sent to vehicle owners on October 31, 2021.  

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Freightliner Cascadia recall includes more than 100,000 heavy-duty trucks. To check for this and other Daimler recalls, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicDaimler recalls vehicles over risk of steering loss
Toyota Tundra recalled over fire-prone headlights

Toyota Tundra recalled over fire-prone headlights

October 8, 2021 Vishal Venugopal

Plano, TX – October 8, 2021 – Toyota (NYSE:TM) has issued a recall for 158,489 Tundra pickup trucks over a concern that the headlights may catch fire. The affected models include 2018-2021 Tundra trucks equipped with halogen headlights.

The affected component is the “Engine Room Main Wire Harness,” with multiple part numbers, including  82111-0CQ50-A and  82111-0CQ60-A.

Recall summary

The problem is caused by faulty wiring that causes both the low and high beam lights to illuminate simultaneously when the high beams are switched on, which could result in overheating and cause a fire.

Recall risks

If the headlight connector overheats and is destroyed, it will render the headlight inoperable. If the connector stays intact, it will continue to overheat and increase the risk of a fire that may spread throughout the vehicle. For tips on what to do in the event of a fire, please see this article on a recent Volkswagen recall.

Background of recall

Leading up to the recall, Toyota received 18 field reports, including six alleging “a flame in the headlight assembly.”  It also received 47  warranty claims related to the condition, including three alleging a fire.

Other Toyota recalls

The last Toyota Tundra recall was in July 2020 for faulty turn signals and hazard lights.

A recent Toyota recall included the 2019-2020 Yaris over a concern that the car may stall owing to a faulty fuel pump.  There was a 2019 Toyota Tundra recall for over 3,500 cars for load capacity labels that could become illegible. The recall also included Yaris, Highlander and Land Cruiser vehicles.

The repair

Owners will be notified between October 4 and November 1, 2021.

The wiring assembly and the headlight connectors on the affected vehicles will be inspected and replaced free of cost. Owners who have paid to have their Toyota Tundra headlights fixed will be offered a reimbursement. 

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

More than 150,000 trucks are part of this recall. To do a Toyota recall check,  use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Vishal VenugopalToyota Tundra recalled over fire-prone headlights
Over 19,000 Volvos recalled over unsecured child seat concern

Over 19,000 Volvos recalled over unsecured child seat concern

October 2, 2021 Vishal Venugopal

Ridgeville, SC – October 2, 2021 – Volvo (OTCMKTS: VLVLY) has issued a recall for 19,149 vehicles with a faulty passenger seat belt retractor that may not secure a child car seat correctly. This raises the risk of an injury to the child in an accident.

The recall includes:

  • 2021 Volvo V60CC
  • 2021 Volvo V90
  • 2021 Volvo V90CC
  • 2021 Volvo XC40
  • 2021 Volvo XC40 pure electric
  • 2021 Volvo XC90
  • 2021 – 2022 Volvo XC60
  • 2021 – 2022 Volvo S60
  • 2021 – 2022 Volvo V60

This is part of an ongoing recall with multiple manufacturers affected due to faulty parts supplied by Swedish-American manufacturer Autoliv.

Recall summary

Mechanisms called retractors hold seat belts in place. There are two kinds of retractors: Emergency Locking Retractors (ELR) that will allow for the seatbelt to extend with movement freely, but lock in place in the event of sudden deceleration, like if there is a crash; and Automatic Locking Retractors (ALR), which lock in place once it is withdrawn – it only gets tighter and does not extend further – making them a good fit for securing a child seat.

Due to faulty parts provided by Autoliv, the ALR function may deactivate and cause the child seat to come loose and move around.

Recall risks

As reported, child seats reduce deaths by 71% for infants under 1 year old and 54% for kids between 1 and 4 years. If a child seat is not secured correctly, it can seriously increase the risk of injury. 

Safety tips

To reduce the risk, parents should use the lower anchors and tethers for children system (LATCH) instead of seat belts while the issue is being fixed, as reported.

Warning signs 

Owners may realize that the ALR is not working if the clicking noise made when it is activated stops before the seat belt is fully retracted. 

Background of the recall

As mentioned, this is part of an ongoing series of recalls brought upon by faulty seat belts supplied by Swedish-American supplier Autoliv. Other manufacturers that have been affected include Volkswagen, Jaguar, Land Rover and Stellantis, among others.

Other Volvo recalls

A Volvo recall from earlier this year for defective airbags also included some models part of this recall, like the Volvo V60, V90, XC60, and XC90.

The repair

Dealers will change the affected seat belt assembly and the seat belt, free of charge, if required.

Owners will be notified on October 31, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

To find out if your vehicle is affected by this Volvo seat belt recall, check MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Vishal VenugopalOver 19,000 Volvos recalled over unsecured child seat concern
Ford tells owners not to drive F-150 trucks with faulty seat belts

Ford tells owners not to drive F-150 trucks with faulty seat belts

October 2, 2021 Vishal Venugopal

Dearborn, MI – October 2,  2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) recalled F-150 trucks that have been equipped with incorrectly routed seat belts, which may increase the risk of an injury in a crash.  The recall includes 16,430 ​​2021 F-150 Super Cab pickup trucks.

Ford is advising drivers to perform a “preliminary self-inspection” on the vehicles and to NOT drive the car or use the front passenger seat if the respective seat belts are found to be improperly routed. Instructions on how to perform the inspection were set to be provided in the mail this week. 

The affected component is the “Front Outboard Seat Belt Assembly” with part numbers ML3B-18612D64-ADW and ML3B-18612D65-ADW.

Recall summary

Affected vehicles are equipped with front seat belts that have not been routed properly.  The faulty seat belt assemblies have only made their way onto the Super Cab body style – F-150 models with the Regular Cab and Crew Cab body styles have not been affected. As a result, models like the 2021 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Cab are not a part of this recall.

Recall risks

The improperly routed seat belt may not do an adequate job at restraining the occupant in the event of an accident. This can result in serious injury or even death. 

Other Ford F-series recalls

Last month, Ford advised F-series owners not to drive their cars over a concern that the vehicle’s wheels may fall off. A quick Ford recall check on our website will also bring up results on an investigation conducted by an auto-safety regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over how the company handled a recall of over 600,000 vehicles to address issues with the rearview camera.

The repair

Owners should have received instructions on how to perform a self-assessment of their F-150’s seat belts in mail. The self-assessment will help them decide on whether their driver or passenger seat belt is faulty. If the driver seat belt is faulty, drivers should have the car towed for inspection where it will be replaced. For more information, please see the recall notice. All repairs are free.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

To find out if your vehicle is a part of this Ford truck recall, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Vishal VenugopalFord tells owners not to drive F-150 trucks with faulty seat belts
Stellantis recalls RAM vans with unsecured child car seats

Stellantis recalls RAM vans with unsecured child car seats

October 2, 2021 Rebecca Rand , ,

Auburn Hills, MI – October 2, 2021 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), which owns Fiat Chrysler and the RAM brand, has recalled 8,379 RAM cargo vans whose seat belts may fail to securely hold children’s car seats and increase the risk of an injury to the child in the event of a crash.

Although it is known as a cargo van, some RAM ProMaster vans have rear seats where children are most  likely to be situated.

 This recall is part of a series of ongoing recalls and includes:

  • 2021 RAM ProMaster cargo vans
  • 2021 RAM ProMaster City cargo vans

The faulty component in this recall is the Seat Belt Assembly with multiple part numbers, including 5PC00LK3AB and 1ZS83JXWAB.

Recall summary  

There are two ways to secure a child car seat in a vehicle, using the regular seat belt or the so-called lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH) system.

The former comes with two retractors, which are things used to hold it in place – the emergency locking retractor (ELR) and the automatic locking retractor (ALR). The ELR only locks in if there is an accident, while the ALR locks in as soon as the belt is unspooled and buckled.  This makes it ideal for securing child seats to prevent them from moving around.

Due to faulty parts provided by Swedish-American supplier Autoliv, the ALR may malfunction and allow the seat belt to move around.

Background of the recall

Before the recall was issued Autoliv recommended that car companies petition government safety regulators to consider the safety risk “inconsequential” and release the companies and Autoliv from responsibility to repair and replace the defective seat belts. The petition was not granted and the recall is moving forward but it could have delayed the recall for a long time, as was the case for the December General Motors’ Takata recall, as reported.

Recall risks

Faulty seat belts posed “an increased risk of injury” to children in car seats secured with the seat belt, according to Autoliv.

Safety tips

The defect would not affect car seats secured using anchors and tethers using the LATCH system. You can read more about  which car seats use the LATCH  system in this article.

Fiat Chrysler recalls

There were two Fiat Chrysler recalls last month. Over 200,000 RAM trucks were recalled due to faulty airbag inflators which may rupture and maim the vehicle occupants. Later in the month, over 14,000 Jeep Wranglers were recalled because of a potential fuel leak, as reported.

The repair

Starting October 29, 2021, Stellantis will notify owners, instructing them  to take their vans to an approved RAM repair shop. Workers will inspect the seat belt assemblies and replace them, if needed. The inspection and repair are free.

Other recalls

This recall is just one in a series of recalls by manufacturers who used Autoliv seat belts in their vehicles. The other affected manufacturers are:

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 8,000 vehicles are included in this Chrysler recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandStellantis recalls RAM vans with unsecured child car seats
General Motors adds more cars to Chrevrolet and Buick recall

General Motors adds more cars to Chrevrolet and Buick recall

September 30, 2021 Rebecca Rand , ,

Warren, MI – September 30, 2021 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has recalled 32,894 cars with rear suspension toe links that may break. The issue may result in the driver losing control of the car.

This is an expansion of a previous recall for the same issue conducted in December 2020 and only includes “sold or registered” in the 23 states that use road salt in the winter, which may corrode the suspension.

The following vehicles are included:

  • 4,473 2013 Buick Lacrosses recalled
  • 492 2013 Buick Regals recalled
  • 27,929 2013 Chevrolet Malibus recalled

The recall affects the “Rear Suspension Toe Link,” part numbers 13219171 and 22924230, built by Shanghai Huizhong Automotive Manufacturing.

Recall summary  

The recall, like its 2020 predecessor, stems from a problem with the car’s rear toe links, a part underneath the car body that holds the rear wheels straight. The supplier applied too much protective coating to the toe links, paradoxically causing the coating to flake off. The protective coating repels debris and prevents corrosion from road salt. Without the coating, the metal toe links may wear down and snap, allowing the rear wheels to wobble left and right.

Background of the recall

The expansion is a result of an internal GM investigation conducted on the heels of a previous recall. 

Recall risks

The rear suspension toe links hold the back wheels straight. A car with a broken toe link becomes difficult to control and may crash.  Read more about the risks of a broken toe link in this article about a Ford toe link recall.

Other GM recalls

GM recently recalled over 7,000 vehicles – whose faulty tires may cause the drivers to lose control of the car. Over 50,000 Chevrolet Bolt cars were recently recalled for the third time since 2016 because of an increased risk of a battery fire, also as reported. There have been no meaningful Chevy Malibu recalls lately, aside from this one.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 32,000 vehicles are part of this Buick and Chevy recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandGeneral Motors adds more cars to Chrevrolet and Buick recall
Stellantis recalls 2020 Jeep Wranglers over risk of fuel leak

Stellantis recalls 2020 Jeep Wranglers over risk of fuel leak

September 27, 2021 Rebecca Rand ,

Auburn Hills, MI – September 27, 2021 – Stellantis (NYSE:STLA), which owns Fiat Chrysler, has recalled 14,410 Jeeps that may suffer a fuel leak in the engine compartment due to a fuel supply line issue. The issue may result in a fire, greatly endangering the lives of the car occupants and those around them.

The recall affects  2020 Jeep Wrangler SUVs with 2.0-liter engines.

Recall summary  

The Jeep Wrangler recall was launched over concerns that fuel may leak from a cracked plastic connector on the fuel supply line. The fuel supply line is a long narrow pipe which carries gas to the engine. If gas leaks into the engine compartment, it can cause a fire.

Recall risks

Car fires pose a serious risk not only to vehicle occupants but to people and buildings around them. You can read more about the risks of engine compartment fires and how to address them in this article about a recent Fiat Chrysler recall of RAM trucks.

Warning signs

Drivers and passengers may smell gasoline—the only warning sign before a fire could start.

Background of the recall

The manufacturer discovered the faulty part after investigating two similar vehicle fires in July. As of mid-August, the company had received over 800 warranty claims of Jeep Wrangler issues that  were “potentially related” to this issue. 

Other Wrangler recalls

In February 2021, Stellantis recalled Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators for burnt-out clutch components that may overheat and fracture. 

The repair

Jeep dealers will inspect and replace the fuel supply line on cars affected by the Fiat Chrysler recall. Owners who repaired this problem on their own dime before the recall was announced may be eligible for reimbursement. Stellantis will send owners further instructions on repair and reimbursement in a recall notification letter around October 15, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 14,000 vehicles are included in this Jeep recall. To see if your 2020 Wrangler is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandStellantis recalls 2020 Jeep Wranglers over risk of fuel leak
New Jaguars recalled over unsecured child car seats

New Jaguars recalled over unsecured child car seats

September 26, 2021 Rebecca Rand ,

Mahwah, NJ – September 26, 2021 – Tata Motors (NYSE:TTM), which owns Jaguar Land Rover, has recalled 9,000 vehicles with faulty seat belts that may not securely hold children’s car seats. The recall includes:

  • 2020 – 2021 Jaguar F- Pace SUVs
  • 2021 – 2022 Jaguar F- Type sports cars
  • 2021 Jaguar XF luxury cars

The faulty component in this recall is the seat belt assembly, with multiple part numbers, including 636655200 and 639430300.  This is the second recall by Tata Motors because of this issue, caused by faulty parts supplied by Swedish-American manufacturer Autoliv.

Recall summary  

The problem stems from a faulty seat belt mechanism. There are two ways to secure a child car seat in a vehicle, and one is to utilize the seat belt, using retractors, which are parts used to hold it in place.

The retractor that secures a child seat is called the automatic locking retractor (ALR). It locks once “the continuous motion of spooling the belt out is stopped.”

Due to a supplier manufacturing issue, the ALR may deactivate and allow the seat belt to become loose, potentially allowing the child seat to move around.

Recall risks

According to research conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car seats reduce deaths by 71% for infants under one year old, and by 54% for kids between one and four. In 2017 alone, car seats saved an estimated 312 lives among children under the age of five. 

If car seats are not tightly secured, they will not offer this level of protection. The defective Jaguar seat belt poses “an increased risk of injury in a crash” to a child in a car seat, according to the recall document.

Safety tips

Jaguar Land Rover has not yet released any instructions for owners on how to protect child passengers from this defect. The supplier did say the defect does not affect child car seats secured using anchors and tethers (e.g., “LATCH system”) on the seat. Find out which car seats use anchors and tethers in this article.

Warning signs 

Jaguar Land Rover also did not detail any warning signs that indicate a faulty seat belt. However, documents for an identical recall by Mercedes-Benz have reported an “audible clicking noise” drivers may hear when the seat belt is locked. If the clicking noise stops before the seat belt is fully retracted, the seat belt may be faulty.

The repair

Affected seat belts will be replaced free of charge by Jaguar dealers. Owners should receive letters with more information on October 22, 2201

Other Jaguar recalls

Earlier this month, Tata recalled 28,000 Land Rover SUVs affected by the same issue. Over 7,000 Land Rover Defenders were recalled in the same month because of  incorrect child restraint information in the owner’s manual, as reported. In March, there was also a Jaguar recall for defective high beams involving over 26,000 vehicles. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

A total of 9,000 vehicles are included in this Jaguar recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Rebecca RandNew Jaguars recalled over unsecured child car seats
Ford recalls Bronco Sport, Escape and Corsair cars that may stall

Ford recalls Bronco Sport, Escape and Corsair cars that may stall

September 25, 2021 Vishal Venugopal ,

Dearborn, MI – September 25, 2021 – Ford (NYSE:F) has issued a recall for 13,334 cars from its 2021 and 2022 line-up to fix an engine stalling issue. Stalling on the road can result in a crash, increasing the risk of an injury for both the occupants of the car in question and nearby drivers.

The affected models include the following SUVs and light vehicles:

  • 2021 – 2022 Ford Bronco Sport
  • 2021 Ford Escape
  • 2021 Lincoln Corsair

The component in question is the “fuel delivery module” with part numbers LX61-9H307-TC/BC and LX61-9H307-BC/YB.

Recall summary

The affected vehicles are fitted with a faulty fuel delivery module, which is the part that pumps fuel from the fuel tank to the engine. Owing to a manufacturing error, the wall of the fuel tube inside the module may be too thin which can cause the module to leak inside the fuel tank. This can result in a drop in fuel pressure to the engine, causing it to stall. It can also prevent the engine from starting in the first place. 

Recall risks

If the engine loses power while driving, it can increase the risk of another vehicle crashing into the stalled car, resulting in an injury. 

Other Ford recalls

Ford Explorer recalls include four recalls over the past five years for multiple model-years because of faulty suspension which can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Loss of control – albeit because of a different issue – is behind another recent Ford recall that, in addition to Ford Explorers,  includes Taurus sedans and Edge SUVs.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was recalled in August for improper deployment of side airbags and in December of last year for a  potential loss of power.

The repair

Lincoln and Ford dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. 

Owners will be notified between October 4 and October 8, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

To see if your vehicle is a part of this Ford Escape, Lincoln Corsair, and Ford Bronco recall, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Vishal VenugopalFord recalls Bronco Sport, Escape and Corsair cars that may stall
Volkswagen recalls over 45,000 vehicles with risk of injury to children

Volkswagen recalls over 45,000 vehicles with risk of injury to children

September 24, 2021 Vishal Venugopal ,

Auburn Hills, MI – September 24, 2021 – Volkswagen  (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) – which owns the Audi brand – has recalled 45,496 cars to rectify a problem with the child restraint system related to faulty seat belts. The issue can increase the risk of injury to a child in an accident.

The rather long list of affected models includes nearly every offering in the company’s 2021 Audi portfolio, and the VW ID.4. Here are some of the models affected:

  • 2021 Audi A4
  • 2021 Audi A5
  • 2021 Audi A5 Cabriolet
  • 2021 Audi A6
  • 2021 Audi A6 allroad
  • 2021 Audi SQ7
  • 2021 Audi SQ8
  • 2021 Volkswagen ID.4

You can see the full list here. 

Recall summary

There are two ways to secure a child seat:

The recalled vehicles have been fitted with faulty ALRs that may allow the seat belts to come loose after they are locked which would result in the child seat moving around.

Recall risks

If the child seat is not secured properly, the child can get injured if there is an accident or even a hard stop.

There is no risk if the LATCH system is used to secure the seat instead.

Warning signs

Parents may realize that the ALR is not working if the clicking noise made when it is activated stops before the seat belt is fully retracted.

Background of the recall

As reported, this is part of an ongoing series of recalls brought upon by faulty seat belts supplied by Swedish-American supplier Autoliv. The affected component is the “seat belt assembly” of the middle-rear seat with multiple part numbers, including 4M0857807AV04 and 4M8857807AV04. You can read more about a BMW recall caused by the same issue here.

Other Volkswagen and Audi recalls

There was an Audi Q5 recall in May of this year Volkswagen recalled 40,993 vehicles over a suspension issue. Some of the company’s high performance models like the 2021 Audi RS6 Avant, and the RS Q8 were also recalled. 

A quick VW recall check on our site will also bring up results of one for the 2021 VW ID.4, where multiple units were recalled for misadjusted headlights.

The repair

Dealers will change the affected seat belt assembly and, if required, the seat belt, free of charge.

Owners will be notified on October 1, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 45,000 Audi cars are affected by this recall. To find out if your vehicle is a part of this Audi recall, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Vishal VenugopalVolkswagen recalls over 45,000 vehicles with risk of injury to children
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