Tag Archives: manufacturing error

GM Roof Rail Airbag Defect

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General Motors had decided that a defect relating to vehicle safety exists in certain 2020 Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC trucks and SUVs. GM will be contacting owners of affected vehicles with instructions to return to their dealerships for repairs.

According to the recall report, the diffuser component of the roof rail airbag inflator may have an improper crimp that would allow it to separate from the inflator during airbag deployment. If this happens, the performance of the airbag may be degraded and could increase the risk of injury to occupants in an accident.

Vehicles Affected
2020 Buick Enclave
2020 Cadillac XT5
2020 Cadillac XT6
2020 Chevrolet Blazer
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
2020 Chevrolet Traverse
2020 GMC Acadia
2020 GMC Sierra 1500
2020 GMC Sierra 2500
2020 GMC Sierra 3500

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect roof rail airbag modules. GM’s number for this recall is N202305380 and the NHTSA campaign number is 20V-446.

2020 Kia Stinger Difficult Steering

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A small number of 2020 Kia Stinger owners will be returning to their dealerships to fix a problem affecting steering. The vehicles involved are equipped with 2.0L Turbo-GDI engines.

According to the safety report, a machine calibration issue may have resulted in an insufficient number of balls used within the Rack Mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) Assembly . Over time, the balls could become fatigued and fracture, allowing pieces to get stuck in the steering rack. If this happens drivers will notice difficulty steering or a complete loss of steering.

Kia dealers will correct the problem by replacing the MDPS Assembly. Kia’s number for this recall is SC193 and the NHTSA campaign number is 20V422.

Expedition & Navigator Called Back For Improperly Welded Headrests

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Concerns related to improperly welded second row headrest attachment brackets will have some 2020 Ford Expedition and 2020 Lincoln Navigator vehicles recalled for repairs. Dealers are required to inspect and repair the problem before demonstrating or delivering any new stock.

According to the defect report, an in plant inspection found that the headrest to seat back frame attachment bracket was out of position during assembly and some welds did not properly penetrate the headrest bracket. As a result, the strength of the headrests are weakened and they do not meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for head restraints. An improperly welded headrest bracket may not adequately restrain an occupant during a crash.

Those receiving notices will be asked to return to their dealership to have the seat structure inspected and replaced as needed. Ford’s number for this recall is 20C12 and the NHTSA campaign number is 20V-366.

2020 Audi Q8 Transmission Fluid Leak

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Volkswagen will be contacting owners of certain 2020 Audi Q8 SUVs, regarding a potential problem affecting the transmission in their vehicle.

Due to a manufacturing error, the flanges of certain gearbox oil pipes were made from an uncertified material. Because of this difference in material, a permanent connection could not be created during the welding process and a transmission fluid leak could develop between the transmission oil pipe and the flange. A loss of transmission fluid will result in oil marks on the ground beneath the vehicle and a warning lamp indicator, once the fluid goes beneath a certain level.

Dealers will correct the problem by inspecting the transmission oil pipe welds and replacing it as necessary. Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 38C7 and the NHTSA campaign number is 20V-272.

Inaccurate Transmission Indication

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Ford has determined that a potential safety defect exist in certain 2020 Ford Expedition, F-150, and Ranger trucks equipped with 10 speed automatic transmissions.

According to the defect report, some vehicles may have been manufactured with a gear shift cable lock that may not be fully seated. The partially seated clip could allow the transmission to slip and show a different gear than the transmission is in. This could result in “shifter mismatch”, “shifter inoperative”, “shifter stuck in park” or “no start” symptoms. Drivers may be able to shift into “Park” and remove the key while the transmission may not actually be in “Park”. The instrument panel display will continue to show the correct transmission gear state.

Owners receiving notices will be asked to return to their Ford dealerships to have the shifting lock clip inspected and replaced as necessary. Ford’s number for this recall is 20S18 and the NHTSA campaign number is 20V-197.

Jeep Grand Cherokee & Dodge Durango Loss Of Power

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Chrysler will be contacting the owners of certain 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2019 Dodge Durango vehicles because of a problem affecting the powertrain of their vehicles.

According to the defect report, the front differential may have been built with pinion gears that were not sufficiently hardened. Over time the gears could wear down until torque power cannot be transferred from the drivetrain to the front wheels. If this happens drivers will experience loss of power and loss of the “Park” function when stationary. Prior to loss of power, drivers may notice a gear whine or grinding noise coming from the drivetrain

Those receiving notices will be asked to return to their dealerships to have the front differential replaced. This recall is expected to begin May 15, 2020. Chrysler’s number for this recall is W22 and the NHTSA campaign number is 20V-183.

2019 Volkswagen Arteon Reduced Brake Performance

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Volkswagen will be contacting a small number of 2019 Volkswagen Arteon sedan owners, because of a manufacturing error affecting the braking system.

According to the defect report filed with the NHTSA, the electronic brake booster pressure input rod may have been incorrectly attached to the brake pedal. This incorrect installation may require the driver to use extra braking force and could lead to a disconnection of the pressure input rod. Additionally, in the event of a 12V power failure, the brake performance could be further impaired.

Volkswagen dealers will inspect the mounting of the pressure rod and replace the electronic brake booster and mounting of the pressure rod, depending on the inspection results. Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 47P8 and the NHTSA campaign number is 20V-135.

Click Here to view the complete 2019 Volkswagen Arteon recall notice.

2019 Ford Ranger HVAC Blower Motor Failure

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Ford will be contacting the owners of certain 2019 Rangers because of a problem with the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) blower motor in their vehicles. The trucks affected had their HVAC blower motor replaced between October 9, 2019 to November 22, 2019 as part of recall 19V-726.

According to the defect report, the replacement motor installed, may have been built with improper clearance between the electrical terminal and the base plate. If the terminal shorts against the plate, it could overheat, melt, smoke and/or ignite.

Ford will ask owners to return to their dealerships to have the HVAC blower motor inspected and replaced as necessary. Ford’s number for this recall is 20S12 and the NHTSA campaign number is 20V-137.