Toyota said it is unaware of any Lexus NX 200t crashes, injuries or deaths caused by this defect.
There are more safety recalls coming from Ford Motor, Subaru of America and Toyota Motor because of defective antilock brakes, pre-collision systems, sudden power steering loss and potential fires as major automakers – some with excellent quality records – struggle with manufacturing, supplier and programming procedures as well as a vigilant NHTSA.
Ford Motor Company is recalling 20,000 model year 2015 Ford Mustang vehicles with 2.3L engines because high temperatures can cause degradation of the fuel tank and/or fuel vapor lines, which may eventually result in a fuel leak. In addition, this safety defect could cause seals in the parking brake cable to degrade, potentially affecting parking brake function. In the required NHTSA filing, Ford said it is not aware of any reports of fire, accident or injury related to this safety defect.
Ford is recalling 394,000 Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ vehicles because intermittent electrical connection caused by quality issues within the steering gear motor can lead to a loss of the motor position sensor signal that may result in loss of power steering assist. Last October NHTSA opened an investigation (PE14-030) regarding loss of power steering assist and increased steering efforts on 2010-2012 model year Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ vehicles.
Ford now says it is aware of 16 accident allegations and three injury allegations related to this safety defect in the vehicles included in the field action that are listed below. Ford told NHTSA that most of the accident allegations report that minor vehicle damage was incurred, typically either wheel damage resulting from contact with a curb or minor body damage. Injury allegations were all reported as minor with no indication that medical attention was sought for any of the injuries.
(Covered in these safety recalls are model year 2011-2012 Ford Fusion vehicles without a 3.5L engine and Lincoln MKZ hybrid electric vehicles, 2011 Mercury Milan vehicles, 2011-2012 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine and 2013 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with any available engine.)
Subaru of America is recalling 72,000 model year 2015 Crosstrek, Impreza, Legacy, 2015, and 2016 WRX vehicles equipped with the Eyesight Driver Assist System. If the switch that activates the brake lights fails, the automatic pre-collision braking component of the driver assist system will not function.
The safety recalls result from the programming of the driver assist system will not detect a fault in one of the associated system components. With a brake lamp switch (BLS) failure, the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) correctly detects the BLS failure, but the driver assist system will be delayed in detecting the BLS failure. If the automatic pre-collision braking system does not function as intended, the vehicle will not react to an obstacle in its path, increasing the risk of a crash.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 3,013 model year 2015 Lexus NX 200t models because of defective anti-lock brake controllers. The NX200t is equipped with an Anti-Lock Braking system (ABS), Traction Control System (TRAC), and Vehicle Stability Control System (VSC) that are controlled by the ABS actuator.
In the required NHTSA filing, Toyota said the safety defect was caused because if the improper shape of a component inside the ABS actuator, there is a possibility that a resin component could be damaged during its press fitting assembly, creating minute resin fragment(s) that could become stuck in the actuator. If this occurs, the oil pressure control may be delayed when the Anti-Lock Brakes are activated, causing a loss of vehicle stability and thereby increasing the risk of a crash.Toyota said it is not aware of any Lexus NX 200t crashes, injuries or fatalities caused by this safety defect thus far.
