Tag Archives: automobile safety defect

2017 Jeep Renegade Defective Oil Pump / Balance Shaft Module

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Chrysler will be asking a small number of 2017 Jeep Renegade owners to return to their dealers because their vehicles are suspect to have a defective oil pump / balance shaft module (BSM). According to the defect report, these vehicles may have been manufactured with a cracked oil pump housing that could propagate throughout the housing and cause the oil pump to fail. Drivers will receive no warning of a problem except that the engine may not run optimally just prior to an engine stall.

Owners receiving notices will be asked to return to their dealers to have the oil pump inspected for its production information and replace the BSM as necessary. Chrysler’s number for this recall is U18 and the NHTSA campaign number is 18V-131.

2018 Toyota C-HR EPB Malfunction Warning

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Toyota will be contacting the owners of certain 2018 Toyota C-HR subcompact crossover SUVs regarding a problem affecting the electric parking brake (EPB). According to the defect report, an oxide film on the EPB motor could increase the circuit resistance and be incorrectly identified as an open circuit. The problem could result in the illumination of the EPB malfunction light and the inability to release the parking brake. In certain cases it may prevent the parking brake from being applied.

Those receiving notices will be asked to return to their Toyota dealers to have the skid control ECU software updated. Owners wanting more information about the problem are asked to contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota’s number for this recall is H0W and the NHTSA campaign number is 17V-717.

2016 Toyota Prius Engine Shutdown

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A small number of 2016 Toyota Prius owners will be contacted by the manufacturer regarding a problem affecting the hybrid propulsion system. Some vehicles were manufactured with an inverter assembly which contains a capacitor that may not have been properly attached to the inverter housing. Over time the terminal of the capacitor may become damaged by normal vehicle vibrations which could eventually result in a hybrid system shut down.

All known owners of the subject vehicles that have not received the repair will be notified directly via telephone to return to their dealerships to have the inverter replaced. Owners wanting more information about the defect may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota’s number for this recall is H0U and the NHTSA campaign number is 17V-658.

2015-2017 Maserati Quattroporte Stalling

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Maserati will be contacting the owners of certain 2015-2017 Quattroporte GTS vehicles equipped with a V8 3.8 liter engine due to an electrical problem affecting the fuel system. According to the defect report, a resistor in the low pressure fuel pump could fail as a result of cyle time and temperature fatigue. If the resistor fails, the low pressure pump will stop working, eventually stalling the vehicle. (The vehicles involved in these incidents average a mileage of around 19,500 when the failure occurred.)

Dealers will correct the problem by replacing the fuel pump resistor cable assembly. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact Maserati customer service at 1-201-510-2369. Maserati’s number for this recall is 359 and the NHTSA campaign number is 17V-610.

Audi A4, A5 & Q5 Susceptible To Auxiliary Heater Fires

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Volkswagen will be contacting the owners of certain 2013-2016 Audi A4, A5 & Q5 vehicles regarding a problem affecting the electrical connector to the auxiliary heater. According to the defect report, the connector is susceptible to contact corrosion which may cause the auxiliary heater to fail and/or cause the wires to overheat and melt. The problem could result in an electrical fire.

Owners receiving notices will be asked to return to their dealers to have the auxiliary heater replaced, as necessary. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact Audi customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen’s numbers for this recall are 80C5 and 80C6 and the NHTSA campaign number is 17V-622.

Loss of Engine Power In GM Vehicles

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General Motors have decided that a defect relating to vehicle safety exists in certain 2017-2018 GMC and Chevy front wheel drive vehicles. According to the defect report, the drive shaft supplier’s quality check for metal hardening may have not been calibrated properly, limiting the likelihood of crack detection. If cracks exist, the front right intermediate drive shaft assembly could fracture and separate.

If the drive shaft assembly separates while driving, the vehicle will lose propulsion, If the assembly separates while parked on a grade, without the park brake engaged, the vehicle could roll-away. The models affected include:

  • 2018 Chevrolet Equinox
  • 2017-2018 GMC Acadia
  • 2018 GMC Terrain

Dealers will correct the problem by replacing the right front intermediate drive shaft assembly. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM’s number for this recall is 17329 and the NHTSA campaign number is 17V-516.

2017 Jeep Renegade Inaccurate Warning Indicator Lamps

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Chrysler will be contacting the owners of certain 2017 Jeep Renegades regarding a problem affecting the instrument panel warning lights on their vehicle. According to the defect report, an integrated circuit chip and software combination could result in one or more illuminated malfunction indicators when no malfunction exists. (The issue is more likely to occur when the fuel indicator is reading “Low”. ) If the malfunction indicator lamps illuminate at incorrect times, drivers may not be aware when a true malfunction occurs.

Dealers will correct the problem by updating the Instrument Panel Control software. Owners wanting more information about the issue can contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler’s number for this recall is T50 and the NHTSA campaign number is 17V-485.

2011-2014 Chrysler Alternator Failure

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Chrysler will be asking certain 2011-2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep owners to return to their dealerships to repair a problems affecting the electrical system. According to the defect report, vehicles equipped with electrohydraulic power steering could experience diode thermal fatigue in the alternator. The problem could result in a rapid failure of the alternator with little or no warning. Depending on the failure mode and timing, system voltage drops could disable systems such as the Antilock Brake System, Electronic Stability Control, Engine Control Module, Central Body Controller or result in a loss of vehicle power. Diodes failing through thermal fatigue may also develop a resistive short that could result in a fire.

The vehicles affected by this recall include:

Dealers will inspect the alternator part number and replacing it as necessary. Owners wanting more information about the problem are asked to contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler’s number for this recall is T36 and the NHTSA campaign number is 17V-435.