Kia recalls Telluride SUVs with faulty high beams

April 9, 2024 Joseph Estabillo Kia Recalls

Irvine, CA – April 9, 2024 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) has issued a recall for 35,031 2020 Telluride SUVs equipped with “inoperative” high beams. The defect ups the risk of a crash and comes on the back of thousands of customer complaints, alleged deer strikes and a U.S. government investigation.

Recall summary

Halogen headlights have a high beam shield gear mechanism that allows drivers to switch between low beam and high beam modes. In the affected vehicles, the heat generated by the halogen bulb could damage the shield gear mechanism, disabling the high beam mode.

Recall risks

For the risks associated with this defect, please refer to this article about a similar Jaguar recall.

Background of the recall

The U.S. government auto safety regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), opened an investigation into the issue in January 2023. Kia initially refused to recall the cars – offering an extended warranty instead – but eventually relented after meeting with NHTSA.

The recall comes on the heels of nearly 5,000 warranty claims, 839 “techline cases,” 543 customer complaints and “three unconfirmed deer strikes.” No injuries have been reported.

Other Kia recalls

In February 2023, Kia issued a Telluride SUV recall due to airbags that would not deploy, as reported.

More recently, the automaker recalled Kia K900 and Stinger cars that could catch fire due to an oil leak. The recall was the latest in the long string of Kia fire-related recalls, some of which are also subject to an ongoing U.S. government investigation, also as reported.

The repair

Dealers will fix the issue by either attaching a clip to hold the shield gear in place or replacing the headlight assembly. The repairs will be free of charge. Kia will reimburse owners who paid for their own repairs before the recall was announced.

Owners will receive letters with more information on April 25, 2024.

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 35,000 SUVs are affected by this Kia headlight recall. To do a Kia recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

US government investigates Honda over sudden braking

April 2, 2024 Bojan Popic Honda Recalls

Washington, D.C. – April 2, 2024 – The U.S. government’s auto safety regulator is investigating Honda (NYSE:HMC) whose vehicles that may brake unexpectedly on their own. This ups the risk of a crash and injury.

If the investigation leads to a recall, it could affect an estimated 250,000 vehicles, including:

2019 – 2022 Honda Insight
2019 – 2022 Honda Passport

Investigation summary

The regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), opened an investigation on March 7, citing 46 complaints due to an alleged malfunction of the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system.

AEB warns the driver about any oncoming obstacles and applies the brakes on its own if necessary.

The affected vehicles’ AEB may cause the vehicle to start braking sharply, although there are no visible obstacles in front of it.

Risks

A vehicle that slams on its brakes without any apparent reason could get rear-ended by other motorists. Furthermore, this sudden and unexpected action may startle and confuse the driver, causing him to lose control of the car.

In fact, the alleged defect has already resulted in three crashes and two injuries.

Other Honda recalls

In February 2024, Honda recalled 750,000 cars whose airbags may deploy incorrectly, hurting children.

On a separate note, some of these Honda Passport SUVs may have been affected by a large-scale recall caused by malfunctioning rearview cameras, as reported.

Is your vehicle part of a recall?

This Honda braking investigation may lead to a Honda brake recall, possibly affecting around 250,000 vehicles. To do a Honda recall check and see if your car is affected by this, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Tesla recalls 2 million cars over insufficiently visible display messages

February 18, 2024 Bojan Popic Tesla Recalls

Austin, TX – February 18, 2024 – Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is recalling close to 2.2 million electric cars because the warning messages on their displays may be too small. As a result, the driver may not be aware of safety issues, which ups the risk of a crash.

The lengthy list of the affected models includes:

2024 Tesla Cybertruck
2017 – 2023 Tesla Model 3
2012 – 2023 Tesla Model S
2016 – 2024 Tesla Model X
2019 – 2024 Tesla Model Y

Recall summary

In the affected Tesla electric cars, the warning messages regarding parking and brakes are displayed in a font that is too small, making it difficult for the driver to read them.

Recall risks

Ignoring warning messages increases the risk of collisions.

Other Tesla recalls

In January 2024, Tesla recalled cars whose doors may open during a crash.

In the same month, Tesla also recalled more than 2 million vehicles because they may crash into first-responder vehicles while on autopilot.

The repair

Tesla already began releasing over-the-air (OTA) software updates to resolve the issue. It is not clear if the process has been completed.

The owners should receive letters with more information on March 30, 2024.

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 2 million Tesla electric vehicles are affected by this small-font recall. To do a Tesla recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Ford recalls almost 2 million Explorer SUVs over fly-away trim

February 15, 2024 Bojan Popic Ford Recalls

Dearborn, MI – February 15, 2024 – Ford (NYSE:F) is recalling close to 1.9 million 2011-2019 Ford Explorer SUVs because a piece of exterior trim may detach while driving and create road debris. This increases the risk of a crash and injury.

This recall follows a U.S. government investigation caused by several incidents involving trim pieces flying away from these vehicles.

Recall summary

The listed SUVs have a plastic trim surrounding the windshield, which is held in place with clip attachments. In the affected vehicles, the trim was not seated properly and may become loose and detach while driving.

Recall risks

The trim may become a “road hazard” and increase the risk of a crash.

Background of the recall

The recall comes on the back of a U.S. government investigation started in January 2023 after the auto safety regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), received over 150 complaints about the fly-away trims. There have been several instances of drivers behind the Explorers “momentarily” losing control of their cars while trying to evade the object.

Warning signs

The driver may notice the trim is not seated correctly or hear it rattle while driving.

Other Ford recalls

Last month, Ford recalled close to 190,000 Maverick pickup trucks whose turn signals may fail to operate.

On a separate note, there is an ongoing issue with Explorer SUVs that may stall or roll away, with the latest recall caused by this issue taking place in October 2023.

The repair

The dealers will replace A-pillar trims repairs are free of charge.

Owners should receive letters with more information between March 13, 2024, and March 25, 2024.

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

Almost 2 million of Ford’s popular SUVs are affected by this fly-away trim recall. To do a Ford recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Tesla recalls 2 million cars over autopilot issues, first responder crashes

January 4, 2024 Bojan Popic Tesla Recalls

Austin, TX – January 4, 2024 – Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) has issued a sweeping recall for roughly 40% of the vehicles it has ever sold due to issues with autopilot issues which may up the risk of a crash.

The recall is related to an ongoing U.S. government investigation into Tesla collisions with emergency vehicles and comes on the back of at least two fatalities and multiple injuries.

Over 2 million vehicles – including the majority of 2012 –2023 Tesla Model S cars – as well as all of the following are affected:

2017 – 2023 Tesla Model 3
2016 – 2023 Tesla Model X
2020 – 2023 Tesla Model Y

Recall summary

The listed vehicles are equipped with an autopilot package which includes “steering, braking and acceleration support,” as well as cruise control available under certain circumstances. When autopilot is engaged, the driver is still required to be in control of the vehicle, maintaining his hands on the steering wheel, “remaining attentive to surrounding road conditions, and intervening…as needed to maintain safe operation.”

In the affected vehicles, the methods used to ensure driver’s attention are not sufficient, allowing the car to drive on autopilot without appropriate human supervision.

Recall risks

If the driver is not ready to take over in an emergency situation, the car could crash into other vehicles or pedestrians, augmenting the risk of injury.

Background of the recall

This recall is related to an ongoing National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation related to crashes between autopilot-enabled Tesla cars and emergency vehicles on the side of the road. The autopilot defect has so far resulted in at least two fatal accidents and multiple injuries. One of the most recent collisions occurred in February of last year in California when a Tesla hit a Contra Costa County fire truck, killing the driver of the car and “critically injuring [the] passenger.”

Other Tesla recalls

Some of these cars may have also been affected by a Tesla recall from February 2023, which was the result of the same investigation.

In May 2023, NHTSA started looking into a separate request to add an allegedly missing safety feature to prevent Teslas from accidentally accelerating while parking.

The repair

Some of the affected vehicles should have already received an over-the-air (OTA) update which, “depending on the vehicle hardware,” should have included additional “visual alerts” and “additional checks upon engaging [autopilot].” If the driver still fails to stay in control of the vehicle, access to autopilot may eventually be suspended.

The rest of the cars should receive a separate OTA at a later date.

Owners should receive letters with more information by February 10, 2024.

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This vast Tesla autopilot recall affects more than 2 million cars. To do a Tesla recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Audi recalls Q7 SUVs over higher risk of head injury in event of crash

November 27, 2020 Aleksandra Snesareva Audi Recalls, Volkswagen Recalls

Pleasanton, CA – April 14, 2022 – Volkswagen AG (NASDAQ:VWAGY) has remedied issues with 86,004 2018-2020 Audi Q7 that were dealing with roof issues caused by inadequate padding on the c-pillar. Additionally, 154 of these 2018-2020 Audi Q7 vehicles have been declared unreachable and 0 have been removed from the recall. One group of these Audi Q7 models with c-pillar issues that may cause head injuries were remedied in 2020 and four more groups were remedied in 2021.

Pleasanton, CA – November 27, 2020 – Volkswagen AG (NASDAQ:VWAGY) has recalled nearly 10% of its 2018-2020 Audi Q7 luxury SUVs due to inadequate padding on one of the pillars – a structure that supports the roof of the car. This issue may translate into a higher risk of a head injury in the event of a crash. Around 94,000 vehicles are affected by this recall.

Part number for the deformation element is 4M0 880 619.

Recall summary

C-pillar is one of the four or five pillars that support the roof of the car and is located towards the back of the car. Recalled vehicles do not have enough padding on this pillar, due to a production error made by a sub-supplier based in Austria.

Risks

Inadequate padding may result in a head injury if a passenger who is not wearing a seatbelt hits his or her head during an accident. Until your car is repaired, pay special attention to your surroundings to protect your loved ones.

The repair

Dealers will replace the non-conforming element of C-pillar free of charge. It is not clear from the recall documents if that element is padding.

The recall started on November 17 but it is uncertain when the remedy will be available.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 94,000 vehicles are included in this recall. To see if your Q7 is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

General Motors issues another round of recalls for brake assist system

November 25, 2020 Ken Boyd Cadillac Recalls, Chevrolet Recalls, GM Recalls, GMC Recalls

Pleasanton, CA – November 25, 2020 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has recalled 14,620 vehicles that operate with either 5.3L or 6.2L V8 engines. In each case, the power of the mechanical vacuum pump – which helps the engine with several key functions, including braking – may decrease. This may negatively affect the brake assist system. The recall includes:

2018 Cadillac Escalade sedans
2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 trucks
2018 Chevrolet Tahoe SUVs
2018 GMC Sierra 1500 trucks
2018 GMC Yukon SUVs

Recall summary

Among other functions, the mechanical vacuum pump provides power to the brake assist system. Due to a design error that was not addressed during a previous recall of the vacuum pump in the power assist brakes last year, essentially “the output” of the pump can drop over time, making the power brake assist system less effective.

There are several factors that alert the driver to the brake assist issue:

The brake pedal may vibrate when the driver applies the brakes
Braking requires more effort
A ticking sound is emitted from the engine compartment when the brakes are applied
The driver may see a “Service Brake” message pop up on the dash

Risks

If the brake assist is not operating correctly, the driver must press on the brake pedal with more effort and depress it further to be able to stop the vehicle.

This change in braking ability increases the risk of a crash. Drivers may not be able to brake quickly enough to slow or stop the vehicle. GM notes that the problem is more apparent at low speeds when a driver applies soft pressure to the brakes.

The repair

To fix the issue, dealers will need to inspect the Electronic Brake Control Module and reprogram the system. The recall is free of charge and began on November 16.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

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

Chevrolet Corvette Vehicles Recalled for Faulty Hood Latch Software

September 28, 2020 Ken Boyd Chevrolet Recalls

Pleasanton, CA – August 18, 2020 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has recalled 7,071 Chevrolet Corvette vehicles whose controls fail to prevent them from developing high speeds despite an unlatched front trunk.

The trunk may then open while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. The recall includes 2020 Chevrolet Corvette vehicles.

Recall summary

Due to the lack of safety controls, these vehicles can develop high speeds despite having the front trunk unlatched.

The cause is multifold. First, thanks to a design flaw, drivers can accidentally press the front trunk release button on their key fob.

Second, the cars’ internal controls fail to limit the speed – allowing the vehicle to reach up to 82 miles-per-hour (mph) – despite detecting that the trunk is not securely closed.

Drivers will still receive audible and visual alerts telling them that the trunk is open.

What happens when the driver speeds up?

As the car reaches a higher speed, air resistance may force open the unlatched hood, blocking the driver’s front view.

Risks

Not being able to see in front of the vehicle creates a very high risk of a crash. The driver may not see traffic down the road and hit a vehicle from behind.

To prevent that from happening, drivers should pay attention to their warning system. When the hood is not properly latched, the driver will receive two different types of warnings.

They will first see an icon indicating an open hood on the instrument panel and hear a chime. Once the vehicle is put in drive and moves faster than 3 mph, the chime sounds repeatedly.

In spite of the warnings, the vehicle can be driven up to 82 mph with the hood unlatched. As the driver speeds up, air resistance may force open the unlatched hood.

The repair

GM’s upcoming software update will limit the affected vehicle’s speed to 26 mph when the hood is not latched.

The manufacturer is also going to re-design both the key fob and the “door trim switch and release button” inside the hood to reduce the risk of a driver inadvertently opening the hood with the fob.

The repair is expected to begin October 3, and is free of charge.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 7,000 vehicles are included in this Chevrolet recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Chevrolet Silverado Pickup Trucks Recalled for Faulty ABS Indicator Light

August 13, 2020 Nate Gouldsbrough Chevrolet Recalls

December 9, 2021 Update – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has remedied issues with 10,137 2019-2020 Chevy Silverados dealing with ABS issues. 11 vehicles have been deemed unreachable with additional 2 vehicles being removed from the recall of the Silverado antilock braking system.

Pleasanton, CA – July 17, 2020 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has recalled 12,200 Chevy Silverado trucks that may fail to indicate to the driver that there is a problem with the car’s anti-lock braking system (ABS), increasing the risk of a crash. The recall includes:

2019-2020 Chevrolet 4500HD Silverado Medium Duty trucks
2019-2020 Chevrolet 5500HD Silverado Medium Duty trucks
2019-2020 Chevrolet 6500HD Silverado Medium Duty trucks

It’s not the first time that a similar problem has occurred in Chevy vehicles, previously the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 had been recalled due to problems with the ABS fault indicator lights.

Recall summary

On May 29, General Motors decided that certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Medium Duty 4500HD/5500HD/6500HD trucks do not comply with a federal regulation requiring the ABS light to illuminate during certain kinds of malfunctions.

Vehicles use several control modules to operate many aspects of the car. GM houses many of these modules together in a grouping called the Body Control Module (BCM), which coordinates many functions in the vehicle, including the speedometer, the instrumentation panel, and the chime warnings.

Another module, called the Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM), reads sensors in the braking system and uses that information to activate the ABS as needed for sudden braking, stability, or traction control. These two systems need to communicate for the safety of the driver.

In the recalled vehicles, the ABS light fails to illuminate when the BCM can’t communicate with the EBCM. This means that the driver will not be notified when there is a problem with the ABS.

Other Chevy Silverado Recalls

Apart from this recall, the 2020 Chevrolet Silverado was among the cars recalled in April 2021 due to airbag failures that failed to deploy properly during car accidents.

Previously In 2020, GM had recalled more than half a million vehicles including the 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado Trucks due to seat belt issues in the front-row center seat. General Motors began the recall on February 1, 2021.

Risks

It is important for drivers to know if there is a problem with the anti-lock brakes. Driving without the ABS, particularly in bad weather, can be dangerous because the vehicle may not handle braking on slippery surfaces the way it is supposed to.

When a vehicle skids, the tires lose traction with the ground and the driver can no longer steer, increasing the risk of a crash.

The repair

The affected Chevy Silverado trucks need a software update for the BCM. The update itself should take approximately 35 minutes, but GM advises owners in its owner notification letter that it may take longer “because of service scheduling requirements.”

The repair is available now and is free of charge.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 12,000 cars are included in this Chevy recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

BMW X6 Rear Spoiler Could Detach

February 19, 2020 Marshall Earley BMW Recalls

Laguna Hills, CA – February 6, 2020 – Rear spoilers on certain 2020 BMW vehicles may detach while in operation, creating a road hazard and increased risk of crash.

The total number of affected vehicles is 166,196.

The defect

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling 2020 X6 sDrive 40i, X6 xDrive 40i, and X6 xDrive 50i vehicles whose rear spoilers may detach during operation and create higher risks of vehicle crashes.

On January, 15, 2020 a loose rear spoiler was noticed during BMW X6 vehicle assembly. BMW contacted the supplier of the spoilers and performed a visual examination on the remaining vehicles in assembly.

The examination revealed that many of the spoilers placed on the vehicle were not applied with uniform adhesive.

Records provided by the spoiler supplier revealed that there was a period in the production process where the application of the adhesive to the spoiler deviated from the normal specified process.

Continued testing on February 2, revealed that the rear spoiler could detach from the vehicles at high speeds. By February 12, 2020, BMW decided to release a safety recall for the certain X6 vehicle models.

The solution

All BMW X6 vehicle owners will be notified by First Class mail beginning April 13, 2020. To perform the proper remedy affected vehicle owners must bring their vehicle into any authorized BMW center where they can assess the spoiler and replace it with adequate adhesive if necessary.

This repair will be free of charge.

For more information on this or other recalls past or present, visit MotorSafety.org.

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About MotorSafety.org

MotorSafety.org is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to vehicle safety and assisting consumers with the identification and resolution of vehicle manufacturing recalls and defects. Through education, awareness, government relations, repair facility referrals and strategic partnerships, MotorSafety.org hopes to remove every unsafe vehicle from the road, facilitate its proper repair, and ensure its prompt return to the owner once the vehicle has met the required safety and performance standards. For more information about MotorSafety.org, please email support@motorsafety.org.

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