Safety Recalls Archives

As of December 21st, Ford has issued recalls for a number of vehicles, including over 8000 2017 Super Duty trucks that do not contain a proper fuel tank strap reinforcement.

A separate recall is affecting some 1,300 2016 Ford Taurus sedans, 2016-17 Flex crossovers, 2016-17 Lincoln MKT crossovers, and 2017 Explorers and Police Interceptor Utilities with leaky turbocharger oil supply tubes.

With both of these recalls, defective parts could lead to fires that could injure or kill passengers. The majority of vehicles were sold in the United States.

For both recalls, Ford dealers will fix the affected systems for free

Read more: Ford recalls 8,000 2017 Super Duty trucks for fuel strap reinforcement.

See if your vehicle is affected: safercar.gov/vin
 

 
A recall announced by Ford, for approximately 680,000 vehicles, affects certain owners of 2015-2016 Ford Mondeo, 2013-2016 Ford Fusion, and 2013-2015 Lincoln MKZs.

Cables for the seat belt system can fail, causing the seat belts not to hold, when they are needed in a crash. Seat belt failures can cause serious injuries, including permanent facial disfiguration, blindness, brain damage, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, epilepsy, or even death.

Ford has stated they are aware of two injuries attributed to this problem so far.

You can take your car to any Ford dealer, if your vehicle is affected, to have this safety defect fixed free of charge. The recall should commence Jan. 16, 2017.

Read more: ABC News: Ford Recalls 680,000 Cars; Seat Belts May Not Hold in Crash

See if your vehicle is affected: safercar.gov/vin
 

Some 2009 Kia Sportages could catch fire and cause a home, apartment building, or other structures to burn, killing anyone inside.

Kia recently announced the recall, which affects roughly 72,000 owners of 2008 - 2009 Sportage SUVs.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns that water with road salt can seep into the braking control computer, causing a short which could lead to catching on fire.

After receiving a number of complaints about this problem, Kia began notifying its customers about the recall on Nov. 28th, 2016. The letters will include instructions to "park your vehicle outdoors and away from other vehicles or structures until you have the recall repair performed."

Customers will be able to bring their Sportage to any Kia dealer for free repairs, and Kia says customers can call 800-333-4542 with questions about the recall.

Read more: TWC News: Kia Warns Sportage Owners to Park Outside.

See if your vehicle is affected: safercar.gov/vin
 

Auto manufacturer Fiat Chrysler announced the company is recalling about 74,833 vehicles in the United States to replace the alternators because of a defect that could cause the engine to stall in traffic, or cause the vehicle to catch on fire.

The defect involves alternators with malfunctioning diodes that could short-circuit.

The vehicles that have the defective diodes include: 2007-2013 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups; 3500, 4500 and 5500 chassis cabs; and 2011-2014 Dodge Charger Pursuits.

The recall also includes 10,077 vehicles in Canada, 1,088 in Mexico and 134 outside North America.
 

According to Reuters, as reported in Automotive News, "In August of 2009, after ruptured airbag inflators in Honda vehicles were linked to least four injuries and a death, the automaker quietly requested a design change and did not notify U.S. regulators, Honda confirmed in response to inquiries from Reuters.

Honda Motor Co. asked supplier Takata Corp. to produce a "fail-safe" airbag inflator, according to Takata presentations and internal memos reviewed by Reuters.

The previously undisclosed redesign could make Honda and Takata more vulnerable in more than 100 pending federal lawsuits and dozens more state suits, according to several legal experts and an attorney suing the companies. The request shows that Honda understood the safety risks posed by the inflators long before it started expanding recalls by the millions in 2014, the attorneys and law professors said."

Read more: Reuters: Honda and Takata Conducted Stealth Airbag Fix in 2009.
 

 
Consumer complaints are mounting about brake failures in Ford's F-150 pickups, the best-selling vehicles in the U.S. Some F-150 owners describe brakes that fail to slow the trucks, even when the pedal is pressed to the floor.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has demanded documents from Ford about the problem. So far, Ford has not issued a safety recall.

A safety investigation may result in NHTSA's compelling Ford to issue a safety recall.


Read more: Detroit News: U.S. Investigates Ford F-150's for brake failure
 

 
General Motors is recalling 3,300 large pickup trucks and SUVs that may stall in traffic, also shutting off the air bags.

The trucks have ignition lock gears that may slip into the "accessory" position, causing stalling in traffic without warning. The affected vehicles are 2014 Chevrolet Silverados and GMC Sierras and 2015 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe SUVs.

GM is required to pay for the recall repairs, at no cost to the owners of the cars.

You should receive a written safety recall notice from GM in the mail, but as an added precaution, it's a good idea to check the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to be sure.

Here's where to check: vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin
 

 
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, road salt could corrode the front coil springs of the faulty cars, which could lead them to fracturing, puncturing a tire and increasing the risk of a crash.

The recall covers Sonatas manufactured between December 2009 -- February 2010 and Elantras produced between November 2010 -- March 2011.

The vehicles were sold or are currently registered in the "salt belt," which includes Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Missouri.

You should receive a written safety recall notice from GM in the mail, but as an added precaution, it's a good idea to check the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to be sure. Here's where to check: https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin

Hyundai is required to pay for the recall repairs, at no cost to the owners of the cars.

You should receive a written safety recall notice from Hyundai in the mail, but as an added precaution, it's a good idea to check the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to be sure.

Here's where to check: vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin
 

 
Kia is recalling model year 2011-2013 Kia Sorento vehicles manufactured 19 October 2009 to 31 January 2013. In the recalled cars, the brake-shift interlock mechanism may chip or crack, allowing the transmission to shift out of "Park" without the brakes being depressed. That means that the vehicles may unintentionally shift out of Park, allowing them to roll away on their own, which may result in a crash.

The vehicles also fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection."

Kia is required to pay for the recall repairs, at no cost to the owners of the cars.

You should receive a written safety recall notice from Kia in the mail, but as an added precaution, it's a good idea to check the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to be sure.

Here's where to check: vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin
 

After seven injuries caused by inadvertent air bag deployments, Fiat Chrysler is recalling 352,000 older model SUVs -- 2003 Jeep Liberty and 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees --- to replace their Occupant Restraint Control modules and/or side-impact sensors.

Fiat Chrysler said that "new ORC modules are being developed for the upgrade. Some vehicles also may require new front- and/or side-impact sensors to accommodate software compatibility.”

Earlier this year, Fiat Chrysler recalled 928,000 vehicles for an identical defect, to correct a repair that the company performed as part of a 2012 recall. That recall covered 2002-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees, 2002-2003 Jeep Liberties, and 2003-2004 Dodge Vipers. However, the company said the vehicles recalled Friday were not included in the earlier air bag recalls.

This new recall covers 284,000 vehicles in the United States, 20,000 in Canada and Mexico and 48,212 outside North America.

Fiat Chrysler is also recalling nearly 542,000 model year 2012-2015 Dodge Journey and Fiat Freemont SUVs, to because of problems that can disable the anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control, increasing the risk of crashes, including rollover collisions.

Fiat Chrysler was hit earlier this year with a record-setting $105 million penalty over its mishandling of 23 recall campaigns covering 11 million vehicles, including concealing deaths and injuries in its vehicles from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Under federal law, Fiat-Chrysler is required to notify customers, and provide repairs at no cost to the owners. However, many recall notices are sent to the wrong address, or never sent, particularly to owners who purchased used cars. So if you own a Fiat-Chrysler vehicle that is on the safety recall list, it's a good idea to check your car's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) yourself periodically for recalls.

Here's where to check: https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin.

If your vehicle was recalled, but you experience difficulty getting the manufacturer to cover the cost of the repairs, it's a good idea to file a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Here's where to file a complaint:
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/
 

Honda announced yet another air bag recall, because of a manufacturing defect in a metal housing surrounding the driver’s air-bag inflator. If the air bag deploys in crash, “the inflator could rupture, with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death."

Earlier Takata air bag defects led to the largest-ever U.S. automotive safety recall, which now involves more than 19 million vehicles produced by 12 manufacturers. A total of 23 million defective inflators need to be replaced, but less than a quarter of the affected cars in the U.S. have been repaired, NHTSA said in an Oct. 22 briefing in Washington.

The new CR-V recall involves 515 vehicles.

Under federal law, Honda is required to notify customers, and provide repairs at no cost to the owners. However, many recall notices are sent to the wrong address, or never sent, particularly to owners who purchased used cars. So if you own a Honda that is on the safety recall list, it's a good idea to check your car's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) yourself periodically for recalls.

Here's where to check: https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin.

If your vehicle was recalled, but you experience difficulty getting Honda to cover the cost of the repairs, it's a good idea to file a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Here's where to file a complaint:
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/

Read more: Bloomberg report
 

Ford Motor Co. announced that it is recalling 110,636 model year 2009-2010 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers in the U.S. and another 18,187 in Canada for “possible corrosion under the reinforcement brackets where the fuel tank is mounted.” The rust can result in a fuel leak, potentially resulting in a fire.

The recall covers models sold or registered in “corrosion states and provinces” only, meaning regions that use salt to clear roads of snow and ice. Ford is overlooking the fact that some members of the military and their families may be harmed, because they may have purchased and registered their vehicles in other states, and will not be notified, under this limited "regional" recall. Plus, of course, some of the owners may have moved.

Ford is also recalling 1,906 model year 2016 Mustangs because occupant restraint parts that could have been damaged while shipping. The affected parts may fail to comply with federal child restraint anchor system standards.

Ford is also recalling 72 model year 2016 E-series cutaway and chassis cab vehicles due to a trailer brake controller defect that could cause a crash.

Under federal law, Ford is required to notify customers, and provide repairs at no cost to the owners. However, many recall notices are sent to the wrong address, or never sent, particularly to owners who purchased used cars. So if you own a Ford that is on the safety recall list, it's a good idea to check your car's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) yourself periodically for recalls.

Here's where to check: https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin.

If your vehicle was recalled, but you experience difficulty getting Ford to cover the cost of the repairs, it's a good idea to file a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Here's where to file a complaint:
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/
 

 
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified an ignition defect that affects 1.368 million older vehicles Mazda sold in the U.S. The vehicles date back to the late 1980's. Over time, grease accumulates around the contact points of the ignition switch. That can cause a short circuit, causing a fire.

The recall will start this December, and includes these vehicles:

• Mazda MPV models from 1989 to 1998
• Mazda 323 models from 1990 to 19951
• Mazda Protégé models from 1990 to 1998
• Mazda MX-3 models from 1992 to 1993
• Mazda 929 models from 1993 to 1995
• Mazda MX-6 models from 1993 to 1997
• Mazda 626 models from 1993 to 1998

Under federal law, Mazda is required to notify customers, and provide repairs at no cost to the owners. However, many recall notices are sent to the wrong address, or never sent, particularly to owners who purchased used cars. So if you own a Mazda that is on the safety recall list, it's a good idea to check your car's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) yourself periodically for recalls.

Here's where to check: https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin.

If your vehicle was recalled, but you experience difficulty getting Mazda to cover the cost of the repairs, it's a good idea to file a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Here's where to file a complaint:
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/

Be sure to also let the CARS Foundation know if you run into roadblocks at Mazda, over covering repairs on older vehicles. We can sometimes get manufacturers to reconsider, by exposing them in the media or bringing their refusals to the attention of regulators. Contact the CARS Foundation here:

http://www.carsfoundation.org/contact.php
 

Fiat Chrysler recalling 23,688 Dodge Darts in the U.S. from model years 2013-2015 because the transmissions can shift into neutral without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. FCA said that a mounting bracket can disrupt a circuit board in the transmission control module and shift the vehicle into neutral. The engine stays on and the air bags and other safety features aren’t affected.

A dashboard warning light may light up before the transmission slips, or there may be no warning at all.

Under federal law, FCA is required to notify customers, and provide repairs at no cost to the owners. However, many recall notices are sent to the wrong address, or never sent, particularly to owners who purchased used cars. So if you own a 2013-2015 Dodge Dart, it's a good idea to check the VIN yourself periodically for recalls.

Here's where to check: https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin.
 

Fiat Chrysler announced the recall of more than 1.7 million trucks with air bags that can inflate without a crash, and faulty steering welds. 1.35 million model year 2012 -- 2014 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 pickup trucks and 3500, 4500, and 5500 Chassis Cabs have electrical wires that can short circuit and cause the driver’s side air bag to inflate without a crash. In some trucks, an air bag warning light may come on before the air bag inflates, but in others, there is no warning.

Fiat Chrysler is also recalling 188,000 model year 2014 and 2015 Ram Quad Cab pickups. The manufacturer says the side curtain air bags fail to comply with federal safety standard aimed at protecting rear passengers in rollover collisions. Testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that the air bags fail to prevent rear passengers from striking a roof support pillar. Fiat Chrysler has not yet developed a repair that addresses this defect. Owners should contact their local dealers to inquire about the availability of loaner cars, and if possible avoid having passengers riding in the rear of the vehicle, pending the repair. Of course, it's always important to wear seat belts, as well.

A faulty weld in the steering system has led to another recall, involving almost 194,000 model year 2013 and 2014 Ram 2500 and 2500 pickups and 3500 Chassis Cabs. If the weld fails, steering components can come apart and cause steering loss. Fiat Chrysler said it knows of one crash but no injuries from the problem. The manufacturer said that owners of Customers will be told in October to take their trucks to dealers for an inspection, and if needed, the steering welds will be repaired. Dealers later will install a reinforcement bracket on trucks that weren’t repaired in the first phase, the company said.

Ram pickups have been recalled frequently in recent years. The 2014 Ram 1500 has been recalled nine times.
 

Volkswagen is recalling 420,000 model year 2010 to 2014 Volkswagen CC, Passat, and Tiguan; 2010 to 2013 Eos and Jetta; 2011 to 2014 Golf and GTI; and 2011 to 2013 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles, because a faulty spring in the steering wheel assembly can rip a cable that controls the electrical connection to the front air bags. If that occurs, the air bags will fail to inflate when needed, in a crash.

The problem does not appear to be linked to the ongoing Takata air-bag recalls that have affected millions of other cars.

According to VW, owners can expect to see an air bag warning light if the defect is likely to occur.

To find out if your car is being recalled, don't wait for the recall notice, which may not reach you, particularly if you are the second or subsequent owner. Safety recall notices are often sent to the wrong address or may not be sent at all, if you are not the first owner.

Here's where to check for the recall status -- a good idea to re-check every week, to be on the safe side: vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin Simply enter the Vehicle Identification Number for your car. If the notice says the recall is "incomplete," contact a local VW dealer and schedule an appointment right away to get your car repaired.
 

General Motors is issuing a safety recall for 73,424 model year 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt sedans to fix a safety defect in the wiring that may keep air bags from inflating when needed, in a crash.

Today's cars are designed so that the seat belts alone do not provide adequate protection in the event of a moderate or severe collision. Fully functioning air bags are important for slowing the deceleration enough to prevent severe or fatal injuries to internal organs, spinal columns, ribs and collar bones, faces, and brains. Air bags provide cushioning that can prevent the head from whipping around, causing the brain to slosh inside the skull and damaging the brain. Air bags also reduce the risk of paralysis.

If you have questions about this recall, you can contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

If there are no repair parts available, the CARS Foundation urges you to insist on a safe loaner or rental car, pending repairs. Be sure to check the safety recall status of the loaner.