A cross-section of a steering wheel showing the airbag.Handout / Mercedes-Benz Takata, the parts supplier behind the largest auto recall ever, told U.S. safety regulators another 1.4 million vehicles need to be repaired over a defect linked to the death of a BMW driver and two other injuries in overseas markets.Components Takata supplied to five of the worlds biggest car manufacturers may absorb moisture that could either cause air bags to rupture or under-inflate, according to a notice on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations website.The recall involves parts produced from 1995 through 1999 and sold to BMW, Audi, Toyota, Honda and Mitsubishi.BMW issued three recalls covering roughly 116,000 U.S. vehicles containing the parts and recommended roughly 8,000 of those should not be driven until theyre fixed, the NHTSA said in a statement. The luxury-car maker is aware of one fatality and one injury in Australia linked to the faulty air-bag inflators, plus another injury in Cyprus, according to filings with the agency. The company told the NHTSA in November it hadnt received reports of similar incidents in the U.S. The callbacks and fatality disclosed Wednesday are the latest twist in a years-long saga that landed Takata in bankruptcy two years ago. The Japanese manufacturer supplied tens of millions of defective air-bag inflators for years that were prone to exploding in a crash and injuring or killing car occupants by spraying metal shards. Takata pleaded guilty as part of a US$1-billion settlement with the U.S. Justice Department over its handling of the issue.Takata was purchased in April 2018 by a unit of Chinas Ningbo Joyson Electronic Corp., and the combined unit was renamed Joyson Safety Systems.Past Takata recalls were blamed on its use of ammonium nitrate as a propellant to inflate air bags in the event of a crash. For its latest safety campaign, the company is citing a manufacturing issue that affected inflators containing a non-azide propellant.The parts maker said it produced and sold 4.45 million of the inflators globally during the time period covered by the recall. According to Takatas safety recall report to the NHTSA, the number of inflators it produced for vehicles sold in the U.S. was substantially smaller but is not precisely known at this time. Because of the age of the potentially affected vehicles, only a portion remain in service, the company said.BMW is the only carmaker to have issued vehicle recalls in the U.S. over the inflators so far.Honda is trying to understand which models are affected and cant say how many vehicles are impacted, a spokeswoman for the company said. A Mitsubishi spokesman said the company is identifying the models and countries involved, though the NHTSA said only the Mitsubishi Montero is affected in the U.S.Toyota is investigating the issue and working with the NHTSA and Joyson, a spokeswoman for the automaker said. Joyson representatives couldnt immediately be reached for comment. Audis U.S. unit is cooperating with NHTSA and investigating whether some its U.S. vehicles from model years 1997 through 1999 are affected, a spokeswoman said by
Origin: BMW driver death sees Takata recall another 1.4 million airbags
recall
BMW, Rolls and Toyota Supra backup camera recall impacts 250,000 new vehicles
2020 Toyota SupraHandout / Toyota BMW is recalling more than a quarter of a million cars in North America for a software glitch that may prevent the backup camera feed from displaying when the car is put in reverse.There may be up to 51 affected BMW-built models stretching back to model year 2020, including the 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom and 2019 Cullinan SUV; the 2020 Toyota Supra and twin BMW Z4; and various trims of the BMW 3 Series, 5 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series and 8 Series from 2018 to 2020, including some M performance and xDrive variants.The model year 2018 thru 2020 BMW X3 SUV is also affected, as is the 2019 and 2020 BMW X4, X5, X6 and X7 SUV. Adjusting the back-up camera display settings in some of these vehicles will render the rearview image no longer visible, and it may keep that setting the next time the car is put into reverse, too. Owners of affected vehicles will be notified beginning in November, and dealers will update the cars software.Nissan and Infiniti recently recalled more than 1.2 million vehicles for a similar
Origin: BMW, Rolls and Toyota Supra backup camera recall impacts 250,000 new vehicles
VW, Porsche recall about 227,000 over airbags, seatbelts
2015 Volkswagen Tiguan Volkswagen and Porsche are recalling a total of about 227,000 cars worldwide because a software glitch may cause the airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners to go off even when not warranted.VW Tiguan and CC vehicles from model year 2015, as well as Porsche 911, Boxster, Cayman and Panamera models from model years 2015 and 2016, may be affected by the issue, Reuters quotes German newspaper Stuttgarter Zeitung.In affected vehicles, a bug in the airbag control unit may cause the airbags to go off for no reason. Dealers are planning to update the software in those cars. Roughly 23,500 of the total number of vehicles affected are
Origin: VW, Porsche recall about 227,000 over airbags, seatbelts
GM expands Sierra, Silverado brake-issue recall to 3.4 million trucks in U.S.
2016 Chevrolet Silverado Under pressure from the U.S. federal government, General Motors is recalling roughly 3.46 million big pickup trucks and SUVs Stateside to fix a brake problem.The roughly 300,000 trucks affected in Canada were already recalled this past summer.The recall covers the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups from the 2014 through 2018 model years.Also included are the Cadillac Escalade from 2015 to 2017, and the GMC Yukon and Chevy Suburban and Tahoe from 2015 through 2018.GM says that as it ages, the pump in the power-assist brakes can put out less vacuum power than needed, increasing stopping distance and the risk of a crash.The recall comes after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the problem in November of last year.Dealers will recalibrate the electronic brake control module at no cost to customers. Owners were to be notified starting Sept. 6.NHTSA, the U.S. governments road safety agency, began investigating the problem last year after getting 111 complaints from owners of poor brake performance. At the time the agency had nine reports of crashes that had caused two injuries.GM says the problems occur rarely and mostly at low speeds like driving in parking lots. Even with the problem, the brakes continue to function and exceed the requirements of the appropriate federal motor vehicle safety standard, GM spokesman Dan Flores said.The vacuum pump is lubricated with engine oil that flows through a filter screen. In some of the trucks, oil sludge or other debris can clog the screen, reducing oil flow and causing the pumps vacuum output to drop, Flores said.The trucks, he said, have a secondary power brake assist system which works when there are problems with the main system, but it is limited at lower speeds. The reprogramming will activate the secondary system faster.GM isnt replacing the pumps because pump failures are rare and already are covered by an extended warranty, Flores said. This remedy will improve brake performance in any situation where brake vacuum drops, he
Origin: GM expands Sierra, Silverado brake-issue recall to 3.4 million trucks in U.S.
Not sure about a recall? Now you can ask Alexa!
As if Amazons Alexa doesnt already have enough to do, Canadas Ministry of Transportation is rolling out a pilot project where youll be able to ask her about recalls on your car.With Vehicle Recalls Canada, a new Alexa service, users say, Alexa, open vehicle recalls. After asking a few questions about the vehicle make and model, the program provides all of the recalls that apply to it.The service is intended as a six-month pilot test, and is one of the first uses of voice assistance by the government to provide services to Canadians. The Vehicle Recalls Canada service can be enabled through the Amazon Alexa application.Transport Canada said that, on average, vehicle manufacturers issue some 650 safety recalls each year that affect over five million vehicles but approximately 25 per cent of vehicle owners never get the recalls done. Not every recall applies to every vehicle, even among similar models, and the new Alexa program will allow owners to pinpoint recalls that apply to their specific vehicles.Those who dont subscribe to Alexa can determine if their vehicles have outstanding recalls by visiting Transport Canada’s website. When a recall is announced, auto manufacturers also mail notices to vehicle owners which is why, if you move, its a good idea to call the manufacturer or visit a dealer to get your new address updated in the
Origin: Not sure about a recall? Now you can ask Alexa!
GM truck power brake probe turns into recall
2017 GMC Sierra HDGMC An investigation into deteriorating power braking systems in newer GM trucks and SUVs has turned into a recall affecting over 300,000 vehicles in Canada.More than 150,000 similar trucks are also affected by a second, unrelated recent recall regarding a fire risk posed by a rear window defroster.The power brake recall covers 300,655 vehicles, including model year 2015 through 2017 Cadillac Escalades and Escalade ESVs; Chevrolet Suburbans and Tahoes; GMC Yukons and Yukon XLs; and model year 2014 through 2017 Chevrolet Silverados and GMC Sierras.In some of these vehicles, the vacuum output assisting the power brakes may begin to fall off, weakening the power brake assist and resulting a harder brake pedal and longer stopping distances. This extra effort required to stop could increase the risk of a collision.General Motors is still working on a fix for affected trucks and SUVs.A second unrelated recall also announced early July covers some 159,240 trucks, specifically model year 2014 through 2018 Chevrolet Silverados and GMC Sierras; and 2014 through 2019 Silverado and Sierra HD heavy-duties.On vehicles from those years equipped with a power sliding rear window, the rear window defroster circuit could overheat, leading to smoke, melting parts or possibly a fire.General Motors is also still working on a fix for that issue, but dealers can remove the rear defroster fuse as a
Origin: GM truck power brake probe turns into recall
Jaguar confirms I-Pace recall for potential brake issue
Jaguar has issued a voluntary global recall notice for its I-Pace electric SUV. Owners of 2018 and early 2019 models have been advised of a fault with the I-Pace’s electrical regenerative braking system, which could result in extended stopping distances. The fault will not present itself except in the event of a failure of the regenerative system, which isn’t an issue that has been reported. The company states that “in the unlikely event of an electrical regenerative brake system failure, affected vehicles do not meet the regulated standard for the time to transition brake force to the friction brake system. “This means that the stopping distance may be potentially extended. A brake system software update will ensure that the vehicles meet the regulatory requirements.” Jaguar will not charge owners of affected vehicles for the repair, which it says requires only a short visit to a dealership. This latest recall is the second issued by Jaguar Land Rover in recent months. Around 44,000 2.0-litre diesel- and petrol-powered models were called back by the company in March amid concerns that they could be emitting excessive levels of
Origin: Jaguar confirms I-Pace recall for potential brake issue
Ford adds 270,000 Fusion sedans to recall for unintended rollaways
The first Ford Fusion built in the U.S. waits to be driven off the assembly line at Ford Motor Companys Flat Rock Assembly Plant August 29, 2013 in Flat Rock, Michigan.Bill Pugliano Ford is adding 270,000 vehicles to a recall in North America to fix a gearshift problem that could cause them roll away unexpectedly. The addition covers certain 2013 through 2016 Fusion midsize cars with 2.5-litre engines. It means another 10,282 cars are affected in Canada, on top of the original recall’s 36,887 total. The company is urging drivers to always use the parking brake until repairs are made. Ford says a bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission can degrade, causing the cable to detach. If that happens, a driver could shift into park but the car could be in another gear. Ford has one report of an injury and three property damage reports. Engineers are developing a fix. Last year Ford recalled 550,000 Fusions from 2013 through 2016 and Escape small SUVs from 2013 and 2014 for the same problem with a different cause. Ford says owners will be notified when repairs and parts are ready, and that owners of cars fixed in the previous recall are not affected. The 2018 recall covered cars with a number of different engines, including the
Origin: Ford adds 270,000 Fusion sedans to recall for unintended rollaways
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