Mercedes-Benz recalls vehicles due to faulty child restraint system

Mercedes-Benz recalls vehicles due to faulty child restraint system

September 4, 2021 Mikaela Bolker

Jacksonville, FL – September 4, 2021 – Daimler (NASDAQ:DDAIF), which owns the Mercedes-Benz brand, has announced a recall for approximately 4,917 vehicles because their child seats may become unsecured, heightening the risk of an injury.

The recall includes the following vehicles:

  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS53 
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG E63 
  • 2022 Mercedes-Benz AMG E63
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG G63 
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT43
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT53 
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT63
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS450
  • 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS450 
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz E350
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz E450 
  • 2021 Mercedes-Benz G550 

The affected part is the rear seat seat belt with multiple part numbers,  including A21386007853D53 and A21386007857P84.

Summary

The rear seat belt in these cars have two retractors, which are both responsible for locking up the seat belt when there is an accident to immobilize the occupant and prevent injuries. 

One of them, the so-called automatic locking retractor (ALR), prevents the seat belt from moving once the “seat belt tongue is inserted into the buckle.”  The movement limitation makes ALR perfect for securing children in the back seat. 

In recalled vehicles, however, due to faulty parts, the ALR can malfunction and deactivate early.

Risks

A seat belt retractor that does not function as intended can increase the risk of injury during a crash. The risk is lower when parents opt to use the lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH) system instead of the seat belt to “secure child restraint seats.”

Warning signs

Vehicle users who choose to use the seat belt instead of the LATCH system to secure a child restraint seat will notice a clicking noise that will occur when the ALR function is activated but stops “before the seat belt webbing is completely retracted.”

Other Mercedes-Benz recalls

In May, over 340,000 Mercedes vehicles were recalled for faulty rearview cameras that may display a blank image or restart when backing up, as reported. Earlier that month, 17,800 Mercedes cars  – including the 2021 G550 and the 2021 AMG G63 – were recalled out of concern that their rear doors may open while in motion, upping the risk that passengers may fall out of the car, as reported.

Repair

Dealers will replace the rear seat belts free of charge. Owners were set to have received a notification via mail on August 24, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of this recall? 

Close to 5,000 cars are part of this Mercedes-Benz recall. To check if your vehicle is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Mikaela BolkerMercedes-Benz recalls vehicles due to faulty child restraint system
Volkswagen recalls Audi cars with faulty Takata inflators

Volkswagen recalls Audi cars with faulty Takata inflators

September 3, 2021 Vishal Venugopal , ,

Auburn Hills, MI – September 3, 2021 – The Volkswagen Group (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) has recalled 62,812 vehicles over a concern that the airbags may not properly deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of a serious injury or death. The affected vehicles include:

  • 2000 – 2001 Audi TT, including Roadster and Coupe cars
  • 2000 – 2002 Audi S4
  • 2000 – 2002 Audi A4

The affected part is a Takata Non-Azide Driver Airbag Inflators (NADI) with part numbers 4B0.951.403 and 4B0.951.403 A. This recall is different from the ongoing Takata airbag recall and serves as an expansion of a previous recall for some of the same models issued in February 2020.

Recall summary

The recall stems from a faulty airbag inflator that may slow down the deployment of the driver airbag in the event of a crash. Alternatively, the inflator may cause excessive pressure when inflating the airbag.

The exact cause of the defect is unclear but is thought to stem from a variety of factors, including “manufacturing variations [and] climatic conditions.” There have been no reported cases of delayed inflation of the airbag in the affected models. 

As reported, the NADI airbags have a defect that is similar to – but separate from – the larger Takata airbag recall, which involves a different type of inflator.  That larger recall has affected millions of vehicles across the country and stems from faulty airbags inflators that can rupture during deployment, hurling metal shrapnel at the car occupants. 

Risks

The driver’s airbag plays a vital role in mitigating a serious upper-body injury in the event of a crash. In the event that it does not deploy, there is a higher risk of an injury for the driver.

On the flip side – although Audi does not state this explicitly – if the airbag deploys too forcefully, the inflator may burst and maim or kill the car occupants with its fragments, as reported.

Similar Audi airbag recalls

Over the last couple of years, Volkswagen has issued multiple recalls to replace Takata airbag inflators, including one in January of this year for over 100,000 of Beetle compact and convertible cars.

Some of the Audi models in this recall, including the Audi TT Roadster, TT Coupe, and A4, were also recalled in February 2020, for the same issue.  

The repair

The driver’s side airbag will be replaced with an alternative, newly designed inflator that uses a different propellant, which is a substance that is used to inflate the airbag. Owners were set to be notified on August 20, 2021, and are slated to receive a second notification once the parts become available in mid-October.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

An airbag that fails to deploy correctly is a serious hazard. To find out if your car is affected by this Audi recall, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

Vishal VenugopalVolkswagen recalls Audi cars with faulty Takata inflators
Hyundai issues fourth recall for fire risk

Hyundai issues fourth recall for fire risk

September 3, 2021 Mikaela Bolker

Fountain Valley, CA – March 20, 2022 – Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) has remedied issues with 7,981 2021-2022 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2021-2022 Hyundai Sonata, which were dealing with fuel leaks at pipe connection between the fuel rail & fuel pump. By the date of this update, 0 of these 2021-2022 Santa Fe and 2021-2022 Sonata models have been categorized as unreachable and only one has been removed from the recall. All these 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe and Sonata vehicles were remedied during the first quarter of 2021.

Fountain Valley, CA – September 3, 2021  – Hyundai (OTCMKTS: HYMTF) has announced its fourth recall this year due to the risk of fire. This recall includes 15,752 vehicles and is caused by a fuel leak.

The following cars are affected:

  • 2021 Hyundai Sante Fe
  • 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe
  • 2021 Hyundai Sonata
  • 2022 Hyundai Sonata

Recall summary 

This recall is caused by a supplier error and a manufacturing defect and follows on the heels of a recent Kia recall conducted for the same reasons and due to the same risk. 

During production, some of the fuel pipes were not sufficiently tightened and some were made out-of-specification. This can lead to a fuel leak  at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail. The latter is a metal pipe that helps transport fuel to the engine.

Millions of cars recalled

This is the fourth fire-related recall that Hyundai issued this year.  Both Kia – in which Hyundai holds a minority stake – and Hyundai have recalled millions of cars in the past five years because of a risk of fire caused by various issues, including brake fuel leaks, faulty engines and electrical shorts. 

Kia is also subject to an ongoing investigation by the auto safety regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for this issue, based on at least 1,784 complaints and 77 injuries, as reported.

Risks

A fuel leak can cause a fire in the engine compartment, leading to a crash, injury, or in extreme cases, death. For more on dangers of car fires and what to do in case of one, please see our recent coverage of this Kia Stinger recall.

Safety tips

While this is not explicitly recommended in this instance, in other fire-related recalls, manufacturers have advised drivers to park their vehicles OUTSIDE and AWAY from structures until repairs are completed.

Warning signs

Warning signs for this recall include smelling the odor of fuel, burning or melting or seeing smoke. The driver may also notice that the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) comes on.

Other Hyundai recalls

In April of last year, there was a Hyundai Sonata recall for 11,870 vehicles out of concern for improperly installed self-parking system. Last month, there was a Hyundai Santa Fe recall for 151,205 vehicles over a short in the anti-lock braking system, which may cause an engine compartment fire.

Repair

Owners are set to be notified starting September 6, 2021. The repair is a  free replacement pipe.

Is your vehicle part of this recall? 

Approximately 15,752 vehicles are part of this General Motors recall. To do a Hyundai recall check, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Mikaela BolkerHyundai issues fourth recall for fire risk
Nissan Rogue Sport recalled for fly-away trunk lids

Nissan Rogue Sport recalled for fly-away trunk lids

September 2, 2021 Vishal Venugopal

Franklin, TN – September 2, 2021 – Nissan (OTCMKTS:NSANY) has issued a recall for 13,215 units of the 2021 Nissan Rogue Sport over a concern that the trunk lid – called liftgate in auto-speak – may separate from the vehicle in the event of a rear-end crash.

The affected part is the liftgate hinge shaft with part number 904006MA0A.

Recall summary

A supplier manufacturing error has resulted in the reduced strength of the liftgate shaft. The liftgate shaft is the part with which the liftgate is hinged onto the vehicle. 

Risks

In the event of a rear-end crash, the liftgate may separate from the vehicle and increase the risk of injury for the occupants of the car and people around them. To read about the dangers of road debris, please refer to this article about Land Rover’s fly-away spoilers.

Other Nissan Rogue Recalls

Back in May, the 2021 Rogue compact SUVs were part of another Nissan recall for a brake fluid leak.  

The repair

Dealers will replace the left and right liftgate hinges on the affected vehicles. Owners affected by the recall will be notified by September 7, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

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

Vishal VenugopalNissan Rogue Sport recalled for fly-away trunk lids
Kia recalls vehicles with faulty trunk latches

Kia recalls vehicles with faulty trunk latches

September 1, 2021 Bojan Popic

Irvine, CA  – September 1, 2021 – Kia Motors (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) is recalling 253,074 cars with truck latches whose interior emergency release may become faulty. This prevents the person inside the trunk from opening the trunk gate, which increases the risk of injury. Vehicles involved in this recall include:

  • 2016 – 2018 Kia Forte
  • 2018 – 2019 Kia Rio

Recall summary  

On vehicles that are affected by this recall, including a 2017 Kia Rio, trunk latch may not be opened from the inside using the interior emergency release. This happens because of the damage to the internal components of the trunk latch which is caused by high temperature. 

The affected components installed in Kia Forte have part numbers 81230-A7010 or 81230-A7030, while those in Kia Rio have part numbers 81230-H9011 and 81230-H9031. 

Risks

A faulty trunk release would prevent the person closed inside the trunk from getting out of it, increasing the risk of injury or even death.

Warning signs

Owners may notice that the trunk sometimes fails to open or close. 

Other Kia vehicle recalls

Among previous Kia Forte recalls, one that covers potential issues with the oil pump that may cause engine damage is the most recent. 

There are no other Kia Rio recalls associated with the 2018 or 2019 model years.

As reported, thousands of Kia and Hyundai cars – including 2012-2015 Kia Forte sedans – have been subject to ongoing recalls due to fire risk.

The repair

Kia authorized dealers will replace the affected trunk latch assemblies with improved ones. Owners should receive their notifications by mail around October 5, 2021.

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This trunk latch recall includes more than 250,000 vehicles. To check if yours is part of this recall, please  use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicKia recalls vehicles with faulty trunk latches
Jaguar Land Rover recalls SUVs that leak fuel

Jaguar Land Rover recalls SUVs that leak fuel

September 1, 2021 Vishal Venugopal

Mahwah, NJ –  September 1, 2021 – Jaguar Land Rover (NYSE:TTM) has issued a recall for 111,746 cars to replace a part of the fuel tank – a fuel outlet flange – that may crack and result in a fuel leak. This recall is a result of a government investigation and this defect can lead to a car fire.  The affected vehicles include:

  • 2010 – 2016 Land Rover LR4
  • 2010 – 2013 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The recalled vehicles are equipped with 3.0L V6 or 5.0L V8 engines. The affected component is the “fuel tank outlet flange” with part number AH22-9039-A.

Recall summary

The affected vehicles are equipped with a fuel tank outlet flange that may crack and result in a fuel leak. The issue was identified as a result of an investigation by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) after several customers complained about a “fuel odor” and liquid fuel” on the ground under the rear part of the vehicle.

Risks

A fuel leak can result in a fire, which may endanger not only the occupants of the vehicle but also people and property around them. 

For safety tips in the event of a fire, please visit this article on a recent BMW recall for a related issue.

According to the complaints, the leak may also result in the car running out of fuel, leading to a stall, which increases the risk of an accident. 

Other Land Rover recalls

Back in March 2021, Land Rover issued a recall for multiple newer model year vehicles for defective high beams. 

A recall in October 2020 included 2010-2011 Range Rover Sport vehicles to fix an issue where the spoilers may detach from the vehicle while driving.

The repair

Dealers will replace the fuel outlet flange with a new, redesigned part. Land Rover has also mentioned that owners that have already paid to have this issue rectified will be covered by the Jaguar Land Rover reimbursement plan.

Customers will be notified on October 8, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 111,000 vehicles are included in this Land Rover recall. To see if your car is one of them, MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Vishal VenugopalJaguar Land Rover recalls SUVs that leak fuel
Kia recalls vehicles with faulty instrument clusters

Kia recalls vehicles with faulty instrument clusters

September 1, 2021 Mikaela Bolker

Irvine, CA – September 1, 2021 – Kia (NASDAQ:KIMTF) has announced a recall for 5,143 vehicles due to a blank instrument cluster on startup, which augments the risk of a crash or an injury.

This recall is for 2022 Kia Telluride SUVs.

The component in question is the “Instrument Cluster Assembly,” with the part numbers 94001-S9500 and  94001-S9510.

Recall summary 

The Kia Telluride LCD monitor displays various important instrumentation to the driver, including the digital speedometer, gear selection indicator, and odometer. Under certain conditions, the current software cannot load the large file required on startup for the welcome message, so the screen remains blank.

Risks

A blank LCD display may be missing important instrumentation, such as the digital speedometer, gear selection indicator, and odometer. A lack of access to this information may heighten the risk of a crash. 

Other Kia recalls

There are no other 2022 Kia Telluride recalls at the moment.  In July 2020, Kia issued another Telluride recall for 86,921 2020 Kia vehicles due to faulty brake lights.

Thousands of various Kia and Hyundai models – including Kia Optima, Soreno and Soul– have also been subject to a series of recalls due to the risk of fire. The recalls have had different causes ranging from brake fuel leaks to internal damage. 

Repair

The repair is a free update of the software that controls the Kia Telluride screen.  Owners will be notified via letter starting August 3, 2021.

Is your vehicle part of this recall? 

Approximately 5,143 vehicles are part of this Kia Telluride recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Mikaela BolkerKia recalls vehicles with faulty instrument clusters
BMW recalls vehicles over a risk of engine stalling

BMW recalls vehicles over a risk of engine stalling

August 31, 2021 Bojan Popic

Westwood, NJ – August 31, 2021  – BMW (OTCMKTS:BMWYY) has recalled 11,216 vehicles which may stall, increasing the risk of injury or a crash. This recall affects a wide range of diesel vehicles, including: 

  • 2014 – 2018 BMW 328D
  • 2015 – 2017 BMW X3
  • 2014 – 2016 BMW 535D
  • 2014 – 2018 BMW X5 
  • 2015 BMW 740LD

The affected component in this recall is the BMW high-pressure fuel pump with part number 7810696 and 7283473

Recall summary  

Vehicles in this recall have diesel engines with a so-called “common rail” fuel system, which allows better performance and fuel economy. Part of that system is a high-pressure fuel pump, whose internal components may wear excessively due to factors such as using low-quality fuel. In certain scenarios, the pump may shut itself down as a preventive measure, causing the vehicle to stall. 

Warning signs 

A warning light on the dashboard will illuminate when the fuel pump is not performing properly. 

Risks

A vehicle that stalls while driving may lead to situations that are potentially dangerous to both its occupants and other motorists, especially if it happens in high-speed or dense traffic conditions. To read more

Other BMW recalls

All of these diesel vehicles were involved in a previous BMW recall where a potential coolant leak could result in a fire.

The repair

BMW authorized dealers will solve the issue by replacing the fuel pump with an improved version, which is less susceptible to wear. This repair is free of charge, and notifications will be sent to owners on  September 20, 2021.  

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This BMW recall includes more than 11,000 vehicles. To check for this and other BMW recalls, use  MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicBMW recalls vehicles over a risk of engine stalling
US government investigates rollaway Mercedes ambulances and Amazon trucks

US government investigates rollaway Mercedes ambulances and Amazon trucks

August 30, 2021 Rebecca Rand

Washington, D.C. – August 30, 2021 – The arm of the U.S. government that regulates vehicle safety is conducting an investigation to determine whether Daimler’s (OTCMKTS:DMLRY) will have to conduct a recall of its Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans that may roll away when the vehicle is in park.

The investigation focuses on 19,000 vehicles of the following models, specifically those configured as ambulances or Amazon delivery vans:

  • 2019 Mercedes-Benz  Sprinter Vs30
  • 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500
  • 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500
  • 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4500

 Consumer complaints

On August 3, the regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened this investigation based on 11 reports of vans rolling away after the vehicles were put in park. One owner of a fleet of Mercedes 2500 Sprinter vans complained that the vans rolled away after 10 minutes of idling. Other complaints described vans rolling away not long after the driver had gotten out, crashing into other parked cars, and even a house.

The potential defect already resulted in one injury, according to NHTSA’s information.

Risks

Rollaway vehicles with no driver at the helm can crash into pedestrians, other vehicles, or buildings, making this a significant safety hazard to people inside and outside the vehicle. NHTSA is aware of eight crashes and one injury related to this issue. 

Read more about the process NHTSA uses to evaluate these risks in this article about the administration’s ongoing investigation into Dodge and Chrysler minivans.

Prior Mercedes recalls of Sprinter vans

In December 2020, many of the same Sprinter models were recalled for a brake fluid leak that weakened the vans’ braking power, increasing the risk of a crash.  Sprinter vans were recalled again in June over faulty side airbags.

Will your vehicle be part of a recall?

Around 19,000 vans could be implicated in a future Mercedes Sprinter recall. To see if your van is one of them, bookmark MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool and check back for open recalls in the future.

Rebecca RandUS government investigates rollaway Mercedes ambulances and Amazon trucks
Subaru recalls vehicles due to risk of engine stall

Subaru recalls vehicles due to risk of engine stall

August 28, 2021 Bojan Popic ,

Camden, NJ – August 28, 2021  – Subaru (OTCMKTS:FUJHY) is recalling 165,026 vehicles in which the engine may stall while driving, which increases the risk of a crash. This recall includes the following models, some of which were developed in partnership with Toyota, which owns a minority stake in the company:

  • 2018 – 2020 Subaru Outback
  • 2018 – 2019 Subaru BRZ
  • 2018 – 2020 Subaru Impreza 
  • 2018 – 2020 Subaru Legacy
  • 2018 – 2019 Subaru WRX
  • 2019 – 2020 Subaru Ascent
  • 2018 – 2019 Toyota 86 2-Door
  • 2018 Subaru Forester

The affected component is the fuel pump, with different part numbers, including 42022CA000 and 42022FL02A.

Recall summary  

These cars are equipped with an impeller, which is a rotating plastic disk that draws fuel from the tank and directs it to the fuel pump. Due to what appears to be a supplier error, the impeller does not have enough density,  which makes it prone to cracking or becoming deformed. This may cause the fuel pump to stop working and result in the engine stalling, which may cause a crash.

Warning signs 

The ‘check engine’ or malfunction indicator light (MIL) may appear on the dashboard and the engine may run rough. Other potential symptoms include various engine running issues, ranging from sluggish performance to hesitation during accelerations.  To learn more, please refer to this article about a recent Nissan recall for the same issue.

Risks

A vehicle that stalls while driving may lead to situations that are potentially dangerous to both its occupants and other motorists. This is especially true if it happens in high-speed or dense traffic conditions.

Other Subaru recalls

A year ago, there was a similar Subaru Impreza recall caused by the same fuel pump issue. The recall also included Ascent, Legacy and Outback vehicles. The last 2020 Subaru Outback recall occurred in December 2020, also due to glitchy rear view cameras, as reported.

The last 2018 Subaru BRZ recall occurred in late 2018 when these cars were among roughly 70,000 units that had to be repaired due to faulty rear view cameras. The 2019 Subaru BRZ has not been subject to any additional recalls.

The repair

To solve the problem, Subaru authorized dealers will replace the fuel pump inside the tank that includes an impeller with a higher density at no charge. Owners will be notified beginning September 13, 2021. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Subaru fuel pump recall includes more than 160,000 vehicles. To check for this and other Subaru recalls, use  MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicSubaru recalls vehicles due to risk of engine stall
Recall Lookup
Enter your vehicle(s) below to check the current recall status.

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories