Safety recalls continue to increase during 2016 for a variety of assembly, design, electronic, mechanical and programming errors. The latest batch culled from NHTSA filings provide an overview on how complex vehicles have become, and the ways they can end up with unsafe conditions.
Troubling is the number of vehicles on the road with unfixed recalls – particularly older ones – in spite of automaker efforts to contact owners. At some point, a pressure group, the National Safety Council, or NHTSA is going to propose a national vehicle registry. It’s the logical conclusion of NHTSA’s goal of 100% completion rates.
Latest Safety Recalls
Bentley Motors is recalling 127 model year 2007-2009 Continental Flying Spur luxury cars because the sunroof glass may not be properly secured to the sunroof frame. As a result, the sunroof glass may detach from the car while driving. In effect, the Flying Spur creates a flying road hazard.
Chrysler is recalling 26,299 model year 2015-2016 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan, 2016 Dodge Journey and 2016 RAM ProMaster vehicles because transmission pump may seize causing a loss of hydraulic pressure. If the transmission loses hydraulic pressure, the vehicle may suddenly lose driving power.
Chrysler is recalling 8,561 model year 2015-2016 Jeep Renegade SUVs equipped with a factory-installed optional trailer hitch package. The trailer hitch assembly may have been attached with only a single fastener per side, not three per side as required. Without the proper number of fasteners, the trailer hitch assembly may separate from the vehicle. This means whatever was being towed is no longer connected.
Ford Motor recalls 88,000 model year 2013-15 Ford Taurus and Flex, and Lincoln MKS and MKT vehicles with 3.5-liter gasoline turbocharged direct injection engines to replace defective fuel pump control modules that can suddenly fail. The engine could stall without warning while driving and without the ability to restart.
Ford Motor recalls 2500 model year 2015-16 Ford Transit vans to replace unsafe fuel injection pumps that may cause the engine to not start or stall without warning while driving and without the ability to restart. Dealers will replace the fuel injection pump and associated parts. If metallic contamination is present, dealers will replace the fuel injection pump, fuel injectors and fuel filter, and will clean and flush the fuel.
Ford Motor recalls 23,000 model year 2017 Ford Escape SUVs to update power window software. In the affected Escapes, the power window system configuration may exceed the regulatory requirement for remote actuation closing force, increasing the risk of injury.
General Motors is recalling 189 model year 2016 Buick Verano vehicles equipped with the 2-liter turbocharged engine. The engine fuel line assembly may be mis-routed, allowing the fuel line to contact the surface of the engine, wear and leak. A fire could result.
Hyundai Motor America is recalling 64,500 model year 2013 Elantra cars because the brake pedal stopper pad can deteriorate. This allows the brake light switch plunger to remain extended when the brake pedal is released keeping the brake lights on. Moreover, if the brake switch plunger is not retracted, the transmission can be shifted out of PARK without depressing the brake pedal.
Mitsubishi Motors North America is recalling 82,436 model year 2015-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles and 2016 Outlander and Lancer SUVs and cars for hesitating during acceleration. The affected vehicles are equipped with a constant velocity transmission (CVT) that may balk when the driver wants to increase speed.