Customers assume that the vehicles they purchase or lease have been inspected thoroughly to minimize the possibility of any faulty parts that could cause an accident or injury. While there are several safety inspection protocols in place to protect consumers, there are times in which a defective part is not discovered until issues arise. Manufacturers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) may launch various investigations in response to customer reports of persistent, worrisome issues with their vehicles. In some cases, the investigation identifies the core problem, and the manufacturer alerts impacted customers about this issue, urging them to take their vehicles to the nearest dealership to obtain the recommended repair or replacement part free of charge. During the last few weeks, a number of automobile manufacturers have issued safety recalls. Here is what you need to know about these most recent recalls and what steps to take should you own or lease a vehicle affected by a safety recall.
General Motors Announces Seat Belt Safety Recall
In August 2022, General Motors issued a safety recall pertaining to a defective rivet in the third-row seats. So far, the affected makes and models include certain 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles, all of which have third-row seats. Investigators determined that the rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat belt buckle may have been improperly formed during the assembly process. The manufacturer announced that it intends to notify affected consumers starting in late September 2022. Once you receive your recall notice, you can schedule a visit to the dealership for an inspection of the buckle assemblies. If necessary, the dealership will replace the rivet or other components free of charge. An estimated 484,155 vehicles are included in this recall.
Ford Air Bag Safety Recall
Ford Motor Company recently announced a recall over side-curtain airbags that may not deploy properly. So far, an estimated 64,974 units are thought to be impacted by this campaign. Those who own or lease a 2022 Ford Maverick vehicle can expect to receive a recall notice in late September 2022. According to the NHTSA, certain side-curtain airbags in these vehicles may fail to function properly, putting them in violation of the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 226, also known as “Ejection Mitigation.” Customers impacted by this recall can take their vehicles to the dealership to receive a replacement of the left and right side-curtain airbag modules at no charge to the consumer. These newly-designed airbag models are in compliance with the Ejection Mitigation standard, increasing the overall safety of these vehicles.
Ford Driveshaft-Related Recall
Recently, Ford announced another auto safety recall affecting certain 2021-2022 Ford F-150 vehicles. The underlying issue stems from underbody heat and noise insulators that are prone to loosening and making contact with the aluminum driveshaft, potentially damaging and fracturing the driveshaft. Fractured driveshafts can cause a loss of driving power or vehicle control, as well as unintended movement while the vehicle is in park mode. These scenarios increase the risk of collision and injury. Starting in early September 2022, Ford will notify affected customers and urge them to take their vehicles to the dealership for inspection. The dealership will repair and properly attach the underbody insulators, if necessary, at no cost to the customer. So far, the manufacturer has estimated that approximately 58,203 vehicles have been affected by this safety recall.
Kia Transmission Shift Issues
Kia has launched a safety recall impacting certain 2016 Kia Sedona and Kia Sorento vehicles, which may have been manufactured with defective automatic transmission shift lever assembly components. These faulty parts may prevent the shift lever from locking, causing the vehicle to roll away and increasing the likelihood of crash or injury. The manufacturer will start notifying customers impacted by this recall in early October. Consumers will be invited to take their vehicle to the dealership for an inspection and replacement of the automatic transmission shift lever assembly components, free of charge. An estimated 28,065 units are included in the safety recall so far.
Nissan Braking System Recall
Nissan has announced a safety recall impacting approximately 5,904 vehicles. So far, certain 2017-2019 Nissan Rogue Hybrid vehicles are included in this recall, which stems from a faulty hydraulic brake booster system. Investigators found that the hydraulic brake booster assembly in these vehicles may overheat internally, causing a loss of power brake assist. This issue puts the vehicles in violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, also known as “Light Vehicle Brake Systems.” The loss of the power brake assist can prolong the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of collision or injury. Nissan will start mailing recall notices to affected customers in mid-September 2022, providing consumers with instructions for having these issues inspected and repaired.
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