GM issues second recall for Bolt EVs over risk of fire following crash

Warren, MI – January 19, 2024 – General Motors (NYSE:GM), which owns the Chevrolet brand, is recalling  6,614 2017-2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV cars that may catch fire after a crash. This defect greatly augments the risk of injury for everyone involved.

These cars were already recalled over the same issue in December 2022, but the repair was not performed correctly. 

Recall summary  

The seat belt pretensioner is a pyrotechnic device that “uses an explosive charge to lock the seat belt in place” following a crash.

In the affected vehicles, the pretensioner deployment may set fire to the cars’ upholstery.

Recall risks

A fire inside the vehicle occurring right after a crash greatly increases the risk of an injury. 

Background of the recall

In December 2022, the manufacturer conducted a large-scale recall for these vehicles during which dealerships were supposed to add a piece of “metal foil at the carpet near the pretensioner exhaust.” However, on 66 of the affected cars the repair was done incorrectly, necessitating a re-do.

Other Chevrolet recalls

Last month, General Motors recalled Buicks and Chevrolets whose instrument clusters would switch off, as reported. 

On a separate note, the U.S. government’s auto safety regulator is currently investigating 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt cars over complaints about sudden loss of motive power

The repair

Dealers will install a protective metal foil and matching pretensioner covers free of charge. 

Owners should receive letters with more information on January 29, 2024.  

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Chevrolet Bolt seat belt recall affects more than 6,500 electric cars. To do a Chevrolet recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicGM issues second recall for Bolt EVs over risk of fire following crash

Volkswagen recalls ID.4 cars with flammable sunshades

Auburn Hills, MI  – December 18, 2023 – Volkswagen (OTCMKTS:VWAGY) is recalling 23,883 2023 – 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 electric cars because their sunshades are not sufficiently fire-retardant. This augments the risk of bodily injury and property damage.

Recall summary  

Listed vehicles have a panoramic roof and a retractable sunshade on the inside. The material from which the latter is made is not sufficiently fire-retardant. This means if the car catches on fire, they will not reduce the intensity or help stop the spread of the flames.

This goes against U.S. auto safety standards.

Recall risks

Materials that are not fire-retardant shorten the time for occupants to exit the vehicle and up the risk of injury for everyone involved.  

Other Volkswagen recalls

The all-electric ID.4 SUVs were recalled in May 2023 because their doors could open while driving

In September, mismatched brake fluid reservoir caps were the cause of a recall affecting Audi’s sedans

The repair

Dealers will fix the issue by spraying flame retardant on the sunshade free of charge.

Owners should receive  letters with more information on or before January 5, 2024. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 20,000 electric vehicles are affected by this fiery sunshade Volkswagen recall. To do a VW recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool

Bojan PopicVolkswagen recalls ID.4 cars with flammable sunshades

Honda recalls Acura, Odyssey cars that may stall or catch fire  

Torrance, CA  – December 6, 2023 – Honda (NYSE:HMC), which owns the Acura brand, has recalled 248,999 vehicles that may lose power or burst into flames. Both situations greatly augment the risk of a crash and injury. 

This recall comes on the back of multitudinous warranty claims and affects the following vehicles: 

  • 2016 – 2020 Acura MDX
  • 2015 – 2020 Acura TLX
  • 2018 – 2019 Honda Odyssey 
  • 2018 – 2019 Honda Pilot
  • 2016 Honda Pilot
  • 2017 Honda Ridgeline
  • 2019 Honda Ridgeline

Recall summary  

A car’s engine has many moving components, with bearings between some of them to help reduce friction. In the affected vehicles, an engine’s internal rotating part – called the crankshaft – was not built within design specifications, which can cause the bearing that connects to it to fail. This can result in a stall or a fire caused by a subsequent oil leak.

Honda has listed the whole engine subassembly, with part number 10002-5J2-A00, as the cause of this recall. 

Recall risks

The risk of both fire and stall are described in this article about a recent Mercedes-Benz recall for the same issues.

Warning signs 

The driver may notice abnormal knocking sounds coming from the engine bay and “decreased engine output.” In addition, these issues could also trigger the check engine light on the dashboard.   

Background of the recall

The recall comes on the back of almost 1,500 warranty claims. No injuries or fires have been reported.

Other Honda recalls

Some of these Honda vehicles may have been affected by a recall from July 2023, which was caused by rearview camera issues

In the same month, a brake failure prompted the Japanese car maker to recall a batch of their SUVs and pickups.  

The repair

Dealers will check the engine and will either repair or replace it free of charge.

Owners will receive letters with more information around January 2, 2024. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

Almost a quarter million cars are affected by this Honda engine stall recall. To do a Honda recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool

Bojan PopicHonda recalls Acura, Odyssey cars that may stall or catch fire  

Toyota recalls RAV4 SUVs over risk of fire

Plano, TX  – November 27, 2023 – Toyota (NYSE:TM) is recalling 1.85 million 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 SUVs over the risk of an electrical short which may lead to a fire.

The recall comes on the heels of an ongoing U.S. government investigation and multiple fires.

Recall summary  

The affected vehicles received aftermarket batteries with incorrect dimensions.  This may allow them to move and contact the bracket they are in, causing an electrical short.

Recall risks

An electrical short may generate excessive heat, which may cause the components around the battery – and the car – to catch fire. 

Investigation

The recall comes on the back of an investigation launched in February 2021 by the U.S. government auto safety regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The investigation was launched after the agency received almost a dozen complaints about fires and smoke. At least four of the fires occurred when the ignition was off. 

Other Toyota recalls

The risk of a vehicle fire was also the cause of a Toyota recall from August 2023, which affected RAV4 and Lexus SUV Hybrids

Earlier this month, the manufacturer recalled approximately 250,000 Highlander SUVs because their front bumper could detach.

The repair

Dealers will replace the battery tray and the retaining bracket with upgraded versions free of charge.

Owners should receive letters with more information between December 17, 2023 and December 31, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

This Toyota battery fire recall affects almost 2 million SUVs. To do a Toyota recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool

Aleksandra SnesarevaToyota recalls RAV4 SUVs over risk of fire

Kia recalls 40,000 SUVs over fire risk  

Irvine, CA – August 12, 2023 – Kia (OTCMKTS:KIMTF) is recalling 39,765 SUVs because they may catch fire while driving or parked. This ups the risk of a crash, injury and property damage. 

This is the latest in an ongoing string of Kia and Hyundai fire-related recalls. The affected vehicles include:

  • 2023 Kia Soul
  • 2023 Kia Sportage
  • 2023 – 2024 Kia Seltos

Recall summary  

The vehicles above are equipped with the Idle, Stop and Go (ISG) system which includes an oil pump and a circuit board and shuts down the engine when the car is stationary “to maximize fuel efficiency.” While the engine is off, the oil pump ensures that transmission, brakes and power steering can remain operational.

In the affected vehicles, the circuit board may develop a short, consequently overheating and potentially leading to a vehicle fire.

Recall risks

You can find out all about the risks posed by vehicle fires in this article about another Kia fire recall.

Warning signs 

The defect could trigger multiple warning lights, including those regarding electric power steering, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Smart Cruise Control (SCC), Auto Hold, Forward Collision Avoidance (FCA) and Lane Keeping Assist (LKA). Other than that, the IGS may fail to operate, sending the vehicle into a limp-home mode, which may be hard to turn off. Lastly, the driver could also notice smoke coming from the engine bay. 

Safety tips 

Kia advises owners to “park their vehicles outdoors and away from other vehicles or structures until the recall repair has been performed.”

Here are also the things you should do if the car does catch on fire.

Other Kia recalls

Apart from this issue, some of these vehicles may have been affected by a power brake assistance recall that happened in July 2023

Moreover, Kia and its sister company Hyundai are being investigated by the U.S government on the back of multiple and continuous fire-related recalls. The last recall in the series occurred in August of last year and affected over 280,000 of Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade cars, also as reported.

The repair

Dealers will replace the electric oil pump and the circuit board free of charge. 

Owners should be notified on September 28, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

Almost 40,000 vehicles are affected by this Kia fire recall. To do a Kia recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicKia recalls 40,000 SUVs over fire risk  

Toyota recalls hybrid SUVs over fire risk   

Plano, TX – August 5, 2023 – Toyota (NYSE:TM), which also owns the Lexus brand, has recalled 43,442 SUVs because their charging system may short circuit and overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.  

The following vehicles are affected by this recall: 

  • 2021 – 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime 
  • 2022 Lexus NX450H+ 

Recall summary  

Plug-in hybrids have two electrical systems – a high-current one to drive the wheels and a 12-volt system to power other components, such as lights or power windows. In between, there is a converter, which negotiates this voltage difference and ensures the 12-volt battery is being recharged.  

In affected vehicles, the converter may develop an electrical short due to damage “during production by the supplier.” This may cause it to overheat, augmenting the risk of fire. 

Recall risks

You can find out all about fire-related risks in this Hyundai recall from July 2022

Other Toyota recalls

Some of these SUVs may have been affected by a Toyota recall caused by a potential loss of stability, which took place in May 2022, as reported

More recently, in October 2022, more than 83,000 Lexus SUVs and Toyota trucks were recalled because their parking brakes would stop working, also as reported.

The repair

Dealers will replace the faulty converters with improved ones free of charge. 

In the meantime, Toyota advises owners “not to charge their vehicles when the ambient air temperature is below or expected to drop below 41 degrees Fahrenheit”. 

Owners should be notified between August 7, 2023, and September 10, 2023. 

Is your vehicle a part of this recall?

More than 40,000 SUVs are affected by this Toyota hybrid fire recall. To do a Toyota recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Bojan PopicToyota recalls hybrid SUVs over fire risk   

Ford recalls Explorers and Aviators over fractured driveshafts

Pleasanton, CA – December 1, 2020 – Ford (NYSE: F) is recalling 10,905 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs whose driveshafts – one of the most important components of a car – may fracture, presenting several risks including vehicle rollaway, fuel leaks and fire. All of the recalled vehicles have 10-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, and 2.0L or 3.3L engines. 

Recall summary

In approximately 18 of the 10,905 recalled vehicles, the rear driveshaft may not have been welded properly and could snap. The driveshaft transfers power to the rear wheels. Its breakage could cause the vehicle to lose power while in motion or roll away when parked. The snapped shaft could also pierce the fuel tank and cause a leak and/or fire.

Ford knows the serial numbers of the faulty driveshafts, but they must inspect over 10,000 vehicles to find them. 

Other recalls

The 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator have had close to a dozen of  combined recalls since August 2019, including one for malfunctioning rearview camera and another one for defective fuel lines

Safety risks

The broken driveshaft can cause a whole host of problems. A snapped driveshaft will cut off drive power to the rear wheels, increasing the risk of a crash because of unexpected movement. The vehicle could also roll away if parked on a hill. This is what killed actor Anton Yelchin, whose Jeep Cherokee (also recalled) rolled down his driveway and crushed him against a pillar.  Furthermore, if the driveshaft snaps, it could hit the fuel tank and spring a leak, which in turn could lead to a fire. It’s a frightening list of potential scenarios that should encourage owners to get their vehicles looked at.

Repair

Dealers will inspect the driveshaft and check its serial number. If it matches one on Ford’s list of affected serial numbers, they will replace the driveshaft. Ford plans to notify owners by mail during the week of November 30 as to when the repair will be available.

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

Over 10,000 cars are included in this Ford recall. To see if your car is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool to check your car for open recalls.

Rebecca RandFord recalls Explorers and Aviators over fractured driveshafts

GM Issues Cadillac Recall For Defroster Risk

Detroit, MI — September 22, 2015 — A new recall action centers around more than 120,000 Cadillacs at risk of fire damage.

According to the Associated Press, there have been no reports of injuries connected to this issue, but four documented instances of a fire starting in these vehicles after a window defroster overheated.

The defect

In total, the recall concerns approximately 97,000 Cadillac ATS vehicles in the United States and 24,000 elsewhere. Fewer than 1 percent of the vehicle population are considered vulnerable,  and the defect has been localized in the “driver’s side rear pillar,” as the source describes.

Timeline of events

Although the models span three years, the manufacturer said that vehicles produced before September 2 are the only ones at risk.

The article describes the source of the possible fires, which could occur after defroster units for the rear windows are used too much. Fortunately, the fix is described as being simple and will not interfere with standard operation once implemented.

The solution

“Dealers will update climate control software to remove a function that automatically turns the defroster on,” the article states. “Drivers will still be able to turn on the defroster manually.”

Automotive News provides additional context for this action, stating that ATS sales have dropped as of last month, down 13 percent when compared to the previous year.

This decline seems to parallel the growth in recall actions regarding the brand, since this most recent one also follows a pair of Cadillac recalls from the same manufacturer for problems with Cadillac sedan sunroofs.

Check your car’s recall status using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

adminGM Issues Cadillac Recall For Defroster Risk