Total recall: Millions of cars recalled in the past year

We stopped reporting on recalls last March because, firstly, it’s boring news, and secondly, there’s just too many of them. Most publicised recalls are issued according the U.S. NHTSA agency. But we’ve decided to list all the recalls since then, just to make sure we’ve covered them, and potential buyers of these cars can get the whole story, so here goes.

Recalls have been issued for four 2012 General Motors products over steering-gear issues. The Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana and GMC Yukon XL could suffer from pitman shafts that weren’t hardened properly, potentially leading to a fracture and a loss of steering.

The Subaru Forester crossovers were recalled over potentially faulty rear seatbelts that may not properly allow for the secure attachment of a child restraint. The affected models are from the 2009 to 2012 model years, built between November 26, 2007 and March 13, 2012.

There was a recall for 2011 and 2012 Nissan Juke, Infiniti M and Infiniti QX models over a fuel pressure sensor issue. It’s possible that the sensors weren’t tightened properly, which could lead to the sensor coming loose over time and an increased risk of leaking fuel.

A recall for the Porsche Cayenne from the 2011 and 2012 model years including the base model as well as the S, Hybrid and Turbo. The vehicles in question, produced from March 8, 2010 up to January of this year, may have been fitted with faulty headlight locking assemblies.

There was a 2012 Honda Pilot recall due to a possible fuel leak. The vent shut float valve cases in the fuel tank assemblies of these vehicles does not meet proper design specifications. Because of this, fuel could leak from the tank.

Honda recalled some of its previous-generation Honda Odyssey minivans due to potentially faulty gas-filled struts on vehicles equipped with a power rear liftgate. Affected by this recall were 2008 and 2009 models.

Mini recalled turbocharged models built between November 2006 and January 2011 for a water pump problem that could result in a fire. The electronic auxiliary water pump that cools the turbocharger has an electronic circuit board that can malfunction and overheat. If that happens, the board could smolder and result in a vehicle fire. Affected models include the 2007-2011 Mini Cooper S, the 2008-2011 Mini Clubman S, the 2009-2011 Mini Cooper S Convertible, the 2011 Mini Countryman S and Mini John Cooper Works models from 2009 to 2011.

Ford recalled nearly half a million vehicles in two separate actions. Almost 250,000 Ford Escape crossovers from model year 2001 and 2002 are being recalled for potentially leaky brake master cylinder reservoir caps, while more than 200,000 2004 and 2005 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans may have defective torque converter output shafts.

Nissan recalled almost 15,000 vehicles from the 2011 and 2012 model years over faulty bolts in the engine. Bolts that connect the engine oil cooler and the engine oil filter to the engine in these vehicles may have been manufactured to below specification strength. Affected vehicles include the 2011-2012 Nissan Pathfinder, 2011-2012 Nissan Xterra, and 2012 Nissan Frontier. Additionally, the 2011 Infiniti FX and 2012 Infiniti M are being recalled for this issue.

Owners of 2010 and 2011 Cadillac SRX crossovers face a recall, as almost 9,000 affected units could have an improperly fitted transmission shift cable. The faulty installation could result in the cable popping out of the transmission bracket. If that happens, the transmission may not shift at all, rendering the vehicle immobile. The gearbox could also appear to be in Park when it isn’t, resulting in a potential rollaway.

Ford is recalling thousands of Ford F-Series pickup trucks from the 2011 and 2012 model years over a transmission problem. The transmissions in these defective trucks can be shifted out of the park position without pressing the brake pedal due to a problem with the brake shift interlock switch. Affected models include 2011 F-150s built between September 9 and September 22, 2011, as well as F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 Heavy Duty trucks built between September 12 and September 22, 2011.

Audi recalled a small number of 2012 Audi A6 models built between April 8 and May 26, 2011. The seam of the side curtain airbag may not have been stitched properly, and thus, may not deploy properly in the event of a crash. Less than 400 A6 models are affected by this recall.

Ford announced a recall of certain Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan vehicles. Almost 130,000 2010 and 2011 models equipped with steel wheels may have been manufactured with wheel studs that could crack and split over time. If that happens, the vehicle may experience a wheel separation. The company is aware of a total of 30 wheel separation incidents, one of which occurred on the front of the vehicle. Even so, no injuries have been reported as a result of the defect. The problem apparently stems from the fact that the mounting pads on the vehicles’ steel wheels may have been faulty from the factory. In addition, the wheel mounting face on rear disc brakes may not have been installed properly.

Even Honda Goldwing motorcycles were not spared. Some bikes manufactured between 2001 and 2010 may have been built with a secondary master cylinder that could cause the rear brake to drag. Prolonged brake drag could cause a crash or a fire. A total of 126,000 models are part of the recall.

The 2012 Subaru Impreza is just now going on sale, but it’s already faced its first major recall. All 2012 Impreza models built till November 15 are being recalled to replace the brake master cylinder after a number of customers reportedly noted that their cars have “greater than normal” brake pedal travel. While the brakes in the affected population remain operational, repairs involve replacement of the brake master cylinder to correct a potential brake pedal travel condition that is greater than usual. The company also cites that 2012 model year Subaru Legacy and Subaru Outback models built between October 17 and November 23 are also being recalled for the same problem.

Nissan recalled certain Nissan 370Z and Infiniti G37 Coupe models due to an improperly calibrated auto-reverse feature on the vehicle’s windows. Less than 2,000 2011 and 2012 models may have been built with a window switch controller that won’t actuate the auto-reverse quickly enough. Should someone accidentally get a body part trapped in the window, a “pinch injury” may result.

General Motors is recalling a small number of 2012 Cadillac CTS models for concerns over the vehicle’s braking system. The affected cars could have a power vacuum brake boost pushrod retention nut that may not have been torqued to the proper specification. This could cause the pushrod to separate from the brake pedal, which may result in a loss of braking ability.

Toyota recalled 550,000 vehicles in the United States for a potentially faulty crank shaft pulley. The vehicles may experience a pulley failure in which the inner and outer rings become misaligned. If that happens, owners may experience noise, vibration and a check engine light. If the problem is left untreated, the power steering belt may slip off of the crank shaft pulley, resulting in more steering effort. Toyota says that this could cause an accident, though no problems have been reported so far. The recall covers the 2004 Toyota Avalon, 2004 and 2005 Toyota Camry, 2004 and 2005 Lexus ES 350 and RX 330, and other U.S. models.

General Motors recalling tens of thousands of Holden Commodore and Pontiac G8 sedans from its 2008 and 2009 model years, and thereby the similar Chevrolet Lumina might be affected. The cars may have a passenger-side airbag flaw that might prevent proper deployment in certain scenarios. Reports say the airbag might not adequately protect very short woman. The issue has been blamed on a seat position sensor that governs airbag deployment rates. When the front passenger seat is moved all the way forward, the faulty sensor may inappropriately trigger a 30-millisecond delay between airbag stages, potentially leading to greater injuries.

Those who purchased 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost models manufactured between September 2009 and September 2010 will need to make a trip to the dealership, as the sedan is being recalled due to an electric auxiliary water pump that can overheat and potentially result in a fire.

BMW recalled tens of thousands of vehicles from five different model lines covering the years 2008-2011 due to a fire risk. Turbocharged V8 and V12 engines in the BMW 5 Series, BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, BMW 7 Series, BMW X5 and BMW X6 could suffer from overheating circuit boards that control the electric auxiliary water pump. The overheating board could cause the pump to smoulder, and in extreme cases among the 102 failures, BMW has found there were two engine compartment fires.

Honda recalled 304,000 vehicles globally for airbags that may inflate with too much pressure in a crash, send metal and plastic pieces flying and cause injuries or deaths. Honda said there have been 20 accidents so far related to the problem, including two deaths in the US in 2009. The recall affects Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Honda Odyssey, Honda Pilot, Honda CR-V and other models manufactured in 2001 and 2002.

General Motors recalled more than 30,000 crossovers, including the 2012 GMC Terrain, over improperly calibrated tyre pressure monitoring sensors. The monitors are required to be calibrated to illuminate a warning light any time a tyre is inflated to 25 percent below the recommended level. The sensors in Terrain models may not illuminate until the tyre is much further below that threshold. Improperly inflated tyres could lead to an accident due to premature wear and excess heat.

Harley-Davidson announced that it is recalling 308,474 motorcycles and trikes. The rear brake switch may be exposed to excessive heat from the exhaust system. If this happens, the rear brake light may fail to illuminate. It’s also possible that the rear brake system could leak fluid, causing a brake failure. Harley-Davidson will replace the brake light switch free of charge, though it’s unclear what will be done to prevent the same condition from reoccurring in the future. The recall covers 25 different Harley-Davidson models manufactured between 2009 and 2012. Around 250,000 of the motorcycles were sold in the U.S. while the remaining 50,000 were sold elsewhere.

General Motors is recalling 5,755 2011-2012 Chevrolet Corvette coupes for potentially faulty hatch hinges that could break loose in a crash. The rear hatch hinges on Vettes built between January and September don’t meet federal weight capacity requirements.

Owners of 2005-2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier and Saab 9-7X SUV models with faulty gas gauges don’t get a full recall, but can get their problem fixed for half-price, at least in the United States. General Motors will cover half the repair costs for select vehicles with malfunctioning fuel level sensors. GM’s offer stems from a NHTSA investigation after thousands of complaints of gauge failure. According to the report, nearly 300,000 vehicles may experience premature wear on the fuel level sensor contacts. This can lead to incorrect fuel level readings, especially after filling the tank, when the gauge may still show empty. But it can also result in the gas gauge showing more fuel than is actually in the tank, leading to the inevitable running out of gas and engine stalling. A total of 867,337 vehicles were included in the investigation.

Affecting 69,590 model year 2011 Subaru Legacy and Subaru Outback vehicles, this recall concerns adhesive, or a possible lack thereof, used to affix moonroof glass to its retainer. This action covers 2011 models manufactured from August 3, 2010, through July 1, 2011. An inadequate amount of adhesive on the moonroof of affected models could allow the glass to loosen or even detach while the vehicle is in motion. This flying glass could become a road hazard and possibly even lead to a crash. Subaru will apply more of sticky substance to ensure the glass doesn’t detach.

A recall of over 200,000 Hyundai crossovers, specifically Hyundai Santa Fe and Hyundai Veracruz crossovers, all from the 2007 and 2008 model years was done for airbags that may not deploy in the event of an accident. The clock spring contact assembly for the driver’s airbag may become damaged over time. The driver’s airbag electrical circuit will experience a high resistance condition, potentially causing the driver’s airbag to not deploy.

Honda recalled nearly 350,000 Honda Pilot models worldwide for a potential issue with the front seatbelts. Honda says the recall, which affects 2009-2011 model year Pilot models built in Alabama, is due to a manufacturing error on a small number of front seat belts, where the stitching connecting the lap section of the belt to the outboard anchor webbing may be incomplete or missing.

Honda also globally recalled 960,000 2006 Honda CR-V and 2006-2008 Honda City vehicles to replace the power master switch. The recall comes after reports of driver door fires that resulted from faulty switches, and Honda says the issue occurs when the switch allows residue from interior cleaners to accumulate. The cleaners could eventually wear out electrical contacts, which would lead to a fire.

Porsche has announced a recall for certain 2011-2012 Porsche Boxster, Porsche Cayman and Porsche 911 models for seatbeat anchor plate issues that could increase the risk of injury during a crash. Porsche says there’s a possibility that affected models have undersized anchor plate mounting holes, which could restrict the plate from rotating as intended and may result in the seatbelt not being routed optimally around the occupant. Over time, the anchor plate could loosen, causing the seatbelt to not function as intended.

Honda recalled 2,097 Honda Accord 2008-2010 models in the GCC due to a software glitch with the transmission. The automatic transmission secondary shaft bearing in the affected vehicles can be damaged if the transmission is quickly shifted between each of the reverse, neutral and drive positions, as may be done in an attempt to dislodge a vehicle stuck in mud or snow. If the bearing is damaged in this unusual scenario, it can cause the engine to stall or lead to difficulty engaging the parking gear. All owners of Honda Accord cars of the 2008-2010 model years will be contacted. Worldwide, even Honda CR-V models were affected elsewhere.

Chrysler has announced that it is recalling 300,000 minivans for a potentially dangerous HVAC fault. Certain 2008 Chrysler Voyager and related models could have air-conditioning systems that leak condensation onto the occupant restraint control module. This can cause the airbag light to illuminate and may eventually lead to the accidental deployment of the supplemental restraints. The vehicles in question were manufactured between June 24, 2007 and July 30, 2008.

Nissan is recalling 20,000 2011 and 2012 Nissan Altima cars built between April 25 and June 10 due to a suspension bolt that may not have been torqued to specification. If the transverse link bolt isn’t properly tightened, it may loosen while the vehicle is being driven, which could lead to a rattling noise and vibration.

About 8,500 2007 Volvo S80 cars built between between March of 2006 and May of 2007 are being recalled due to power steering reservoir return hoses that may have been incorrectly routed. An incorrectly routed hose can result in increased pressure within the power steering system. If this happens, it’s possible for the hose to burst, resulting in a loss of power steering capability for the car.

Maserati is recalling Maserati Quattroporte and Maserati GranTurismo vehicles from the 2009 model year over poorly machined rear tie-rods that could fail. The recall should begin next month and affects 800 cars. The affected cars were built between July and September of 2008. Maserati dealers will replace the shoddy tie-rods, install a tie-rod kit and do a wheel alignment.

Audi is recalling certain Audi R8 Spyder cars for a potential fuel leak, caused by the fuel supply line rubbing against the heat shield in the engine compartment.This effects convertible R8s built between May 18, 2010 and June 22, 2011.

Chrysler has announced a recall that affects almost 250,000 Ram pickups manufactured between 2003 and 2011. This includes the 2008 Ram 1500, and 2003-2011 Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 Heavy Duty trucks. These trucks may have a defective left tie rod ball stud that can fracture during low-speed parking manoeuvres.

Porsche recalled certain 911 models equipped with centre-locking hubs need to head back to the dealership for a new set of wheels. The hubs can prematurely wear, which means the wheels could separate. Affected 2010 and 2011 models include the Porsche 911 Turbo, Porsche 911 Turbo S, Porsche 911 GT2, Porsche 911 GT2 RS, Porsche 911 GT3 and Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

General Motors recalled less than 800 trucks and SUVs due to a steering shaft bolt that’s been improperly tightened. If loose, it could make for rather difficult steering and cause an accident. This recall affects the 2011 Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL.

Chrysler issued a recall that spans across several models. A missing or incorrectly installed rivet on the steering column could result in a loss of control. The recall affects 2011 models of the
Dodge Caliber, Chrysler Voyager, Dodge Nitro, Jeep Compass, Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Patriot and Jeep Wrangler.

Honda recalled about 200,000 passenger cars globally due to defective engine parts. The company said it had received 63 customer reports in Japan of engine malfunctions as a result of the defect, but said none had led to accidents. Among the vehicles affected was the Honda Civic, produced between July 2008 and July 2010. Honda will exchange engine bolts that may cause trouble with the motor cooling system and that could eventually cause the engines to stop.

Audi recalled the Audi A6, Audi S6 and Audi RS6. This recall affects 2001-2004 A6 models, 2002-2003 S6 models and the 2003 RS6. The rollover valve in the fuel system is the concern. The nipple can become cracked and lead to fuel winding up on the ground instead of feeding the engine.

The 2012 Volvo S60, models built between November 18, 2010 and May 5, 2011, was recalled due to a fuel starvation issue. At fault is software for the fuel pump units that may deliver insufficient petrol transfer in the pump unit. When this happens, the engine may hesitate and even stall, even when there is a quarter tank of fuel left in the tank.

General Motors recalled 48,000 2011 Cadillac SRX models. The vehicles are programmed to deactivate the right-side roof rail airbag if sensors detect that the right side seat is unoccupied. That means that in the event of a rollover, rear seat occupants may not be protected by the supplemental restraint system. As such, the vehicles fail to comply with federal standards.

Mazda recalled any Mazda 3 built between January 2008 and July 2010. The recall, affecting almost 500,000 cars, has been issued because of an electronic glitch keeps the windshield wipers from working properly.

Mercedes-Benz recalled for its 2000-2002 Mercedes-Benz M-Class and 2000-2004 Mercedes-Benz M-Class AMG models after reports that hitting the brakes may not automatically turn off cruise control. The recall affects 136,751 vehicles built between August 1999 and June 2004. The root of the problem is reportedly a failed brake lamp switch, which can cause not only the cruise control issue, but also prevent the vehicle being shifted out of park and a failure of the brake lights.

Jaguar issued a recall of 6,085 2010 Jaguar XF and Jaguar XK models built between June 2009 and March 2010 to repair power steering hoses that could corrode and start to leak. The hoses it used on the affected cars have a zinc-nickel plating that doesn’t meet their corrosion resistance requirements. If the pipes corrode to the point of leaking, affected cars could not only lose power steering, but the fluid could ignite.

Honda issued a recall for 2011 Honda Odyssey minivans for faulty front driver and passenger windows that can come off track, rendering the window inoperative. This new recall covers less than 3,000 vehicles. A supplier used a faulty primer fluid when making the glass. If the glass isn’t replaced, the window may shatter into the passenger cabin.

As usual, some but not all of these recalls affect GCC-spec cars, but dealers will perform the repair for free if it was locally announced.