STLA dominates the week’s recall list

VM diesel (Ram)

After a few good weeks, Stellantis is dominating the U.S. weekly recall list with three types of incidents (Ford and BMW tied at #2).

First, 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokees and 2014-19 Ram 1500s with VM diesel engines can stall out due to bad crankshaft position sensors; their tone wheel can delaminate, so the engine can’t time fuel injector pulses to the camshaft movement. This is recall 23V411, expanding a prior recall from 2020 (20V-475). This covers 80,629 trucks and Jeeps in the United States, as well as an unknown number elsewhere…

2022-23 Grand Cherokee recall for bouncing springs

2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee (and L)

A new Jeep recall covers over 354,000 Grand Cherokees because the rear springs may have been put in badly, which can result in them coming loose. That increases the risk of a crash.There have been at least 17 cases where this has happened, but so far no crashes have occurred.The recall covers both two-row Grand … Read more

Yet more Ford fires, fracturing Alfa brakes, Cross Corollas, the wrong wheels: Recall Monday

Ford on fire recalls

The NHTSA issued its weekly summary of recalls today.

Ford had an interesting fire recall on the 2020-23 Escape, 2022-23 Maverick, and 2021-23 Lincoln Corsair: engine failure can cause a fire. When Fords with the 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines have an engine failure, they can vent oil and fuel vapor which can be ignited by hot engine or exhaust parts, causing a fire.

Recall Monday: Ford fires, Tesla steering wheels falling off

Ford on fire recalls

This week’s list of recalls does not disappoint, with two companies having overheating batteries, Ford yet again fixing fires, and Tesla having steering wheels come off, because that’s something that still happens after over a century of cars with steering wheels.Ford’s fires affect the 2015-19 Lincoln MKC, and since it can involve fires while parked or … Read more

Recall Monday tags Mopars, Minis, more

2015 jeep cherokee

Recall Monday—the day when NHTSA releases its list of recalls from the prior week—shows two Mopar recalls, one of which we have already covered (electrical shorts in 2014-16 Jeep Cherokees resulting in a “park outside” warning) due to its urgency. The second Stellantis recall for the week is almost trivial, a missing airbag warning label on 2022-23 Grand Cherokees. The fix for this one is adding a label, which cannot be done via over-the-air updates.

BMW’s Mini made the list with possible short-circuits in the footwell control module, affecting 2007-13 Mini Cooper, Cooper S, and JCW, and 2008-14 Cooper Clubman.

“Park-outside” recall for 2014-16 Jeep Cherokees

2015 jeep cherokee

Jeep is recalling nearly 220,000 Jeep Cherokees due to fire risks, with a “park outside” alert for owners. This only affects the 2014-16 models with power liftgate—and only 1% appear to have the defect.The recall covers Cherokees which have already been recalled (twice) for power liftgate short-circuits. All Cherokees made from February 27, 2013 through … Read more

Recall Monday hits Explorer, German companies; no Mopars; and the end of Maserati V8s

This week was a busy one for the NHTSA. The 2020-22 Ford Explorer had two recalls, one on an “incomplete” computer update that could result in cars rolling away; and one on rear view images not showing up. Land Rover had a recall for the storage compartment latch failing on the 2022-23 Range Rover and 2023 Range Rover Sport, and 2022-23 Ferrari 296 fuel pipes may leak. GM recalled the 2014-17 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia because the driver’s airbag inflator may explode.

By far, though, German automakers had the most recalls for the month.

Recall Monday: VW in the spotlight, Mopar in the clear

exploding seat belt pretensioner

There were no “Mopar” recalls again this week, but Volkswagen had a particularly bad time with front camera heaters overheating on 2020 Q7s, surprise-opening doors on 2023 the ID 4, breaking fuel pumps on the 2022 Taos, and inoperative airbags on the 2018-21 Atlas.

Tesla recalled the 2018-19 Model 3 for separating front suspension links, and Kia is fixing 2022-23 Carnival minivans whose power sliding doors may not stop for occupants. Oh, and the 2023 Hyundai  Genesis G90’s seat belt pretensioners may explode (see robot’s rendering). 

What’s left? 2019…

Jeep frames with an extra stud, Honda mirrors falling off: Recall Monday

camp jeep wrangler breakover test

Jeep made Wrangler frames with an extra stud, requiring a big recall to avoid ruptured fuel tanks—but first, the other embarrassing gaffes from around the globe:

Honda managed to put on side-view mirrors that may “detach,” on 2020-21 Pilots and Ridgelines, and 2020-22 Odysseys and Passports (oh, and the speedometer cable—remember those?—may be “incorrectly routed” on ’22 NVA110B motorcycles). Nissan put the wrong door latches onto 2022 QX50s and 2023 QX55s. Volvo has a “false warning message” on the emergency call system for most 2023s. 

Recall Monday: gauge lights, cameras, and at Hyundai/Genesis, exploding seat belts

exploding seat belt pretensioner

Late 2022 Jeep Compasses, made from May 12, 2022 to August 8, were made with no way to make the gauge cluster bright enough during some lighting conditions. This is not so much a defect as a design issue; as a result, starting by the end of March, Jeep will start adding a light sensor module and wiring jumper, and replacing the windshield and headlamp switches, so the display backlighting will be able to handle ambient lighting.

The second Mopar recall of the week is lack of rear-view images in 2021-23 Ram Ram 1500 and 2500 pickups….