Ford will be contacting owners of certain 2011-2013 Fiesta vehicles because their cars may fail to comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for occupant crash protection. According to Ford, an incorrect software installation may prevent the side impact airbags from deploying when there is no occupant in the front passenger seat. Ford will reprogram the vehicle’s software to make it consistent with the description on the owner’s manual. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Tag Archives: air bag safety problem
NHTSA Warns Of Dangerous Lemon Airbags
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is warning car owners to get their vehicle inspected for potential lemon airbags. This includes any airbags bought online, used vehicles where the owner is unsure if the airbags have been replaced, and any owner who has had their airbags replaced by an independent repair shop not connected to a new car dealership. It is estimated that only 1% of U.S. vehicles may be affected by the problem, but that equals to tens of thousands units. Continue reading
Coda Airbags May Be Installed Incorrectly
Coda Automotive is asking owners of certain 2012 Coda vehicles to bring in their vehicles to have the side curtain airbag installation inspected. According to Coda, the airbags may have not been installed correctly during manufacturing which could result in the airbags not deploying as intended. Coda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the side curtain airbag installations as needed. For more information on the problem, owners may contact Coda Automotive at 1-855-464-2632.
Honda Ridgeline And Element Problems
Honda has announced problems with two of their popular vehicle models, the 2012 Ridgeline and 2007-2011 Element, that will have owners bringing their vehicles to their nearest dealership for repairs.
According to Honda, certain Ridgeline trucks built on April 18, 2012, may have an incorrect passenger airbag status indicator. Without the proper indicator, the vehicle occupants may not be aware that the front passenger airbag is off and will not deploy in a crash. Honda will replace the incorrect indicator free of charge.
Honda will also be asking the owners of certain Elements to bring in their vehicles equipped with an accessory trailer hitch. The turn signal and brake light wiring may have been inadvertently switched during manufacturing giving inaccurate braking and turning signals when pulling a trailer.
Owners can expect to receive notices about the problems starting at the end of September or early October. For more information about the problem contact Honda Automobile Customer services at 1-800-999-1009
Dodge Durango Airbag Problem
Chrysler will be contacting approximately 1,500 owners of certain 2013 Dodge Durango sport utility vehicles (SUV) about a possible problem with their vehicles supplemental side curtain air bags. According to the report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), certain vehicles may have been manufactured with the incorrect airbag occupant restraint control (ORC) module. The incorrect module could result in the vehicles supplemental side curtain airbags not deploying properly if the vehicle is hit from the side or to the rear of the second row seat. Chrysler will be contacting owners, starting next month, and will correct the problem by replacing the the ORC module free of charge. Owners wanting more information on the problem can contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Mitsubishi Airbag Sensor Problem
Mitsubishi is asking owners of certain 2012 i-MEV electric vehicles to bring in their cars to correct a problem that could prevent their airbags from deploying properly. According to Mitsubishi, an incompatibility between the air bag sensor and the self diagnostic software, could deactivate the front and side airbag system. During an accident, the airbags may fail to deploy, increasing the chance of injury. Owners of affected vehicles may notice the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) warning lamp illuminating to alert the driver of the problem. Owners wanting more information can contact Mitsubishi at 1-800-222-0037.
Hyundai Airbag Problem
Hyundai is recalling certain 2007-2009 Santa Fe and 2012-2013 Sonata vehicles because of airbag problems that could increase the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
- Approximately 220, 000 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured between April 2006 to July 2008, could have an improperly calibrated occupant classification system (OCS). The problem could lead to the airbags not deploying during an accident increasing the chance if injury. Owners will be notified to bring in their vehicles to get the OCS software updated.
- Approximately 22, 000 Sonata vehicles manufactured between January to June, 2012 are being recalled because the curtain airbag may inflate without a deployment command. The manufacturing error could increase the risk of injury to the occupants and could increase the chance of an accident by distracting the driver.
Owners wanting more information on either recall can contact Hyundai customer services at 1-800-633-5151.
Toyota And Subaru Airbag Manual Update
Toyota and Subaru are recalling certain 2013 Toyota Scion FR-S and 2013 Subaru BRZ vehicles to update the owners manual information regarding the passenger side air bag. According to the recalls, the owner’s manual contains inaccurate information on the operation of the occupant classification system (OCS) which could increase the passengers chance of injury during certain crash conditions. The recall does not require the owner to take their vehicle to their dealership. Toyota and Subaru will be notifying owners of the problem and will mail out corrected manuals starting in June. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact Toyota at 1-866-707-2466 and Subaru at 1-800-782-2783.
