Manufacturer recalls for November 2019

The month of November came with an exclusive recall for the UAE and a string of recalls from FCA and others globally. Here is the list of all recalls from the past month.

Al Futtaim Motors, the official Importer and dealer of Toyota/Lexus vehicles in the UAE has announced a recall for certain 2019 Model Year Toyota Previa vans. The recalled vehicles are equipped with gas-charged back door damper stays, which are used to help lift and support the back door while it is open. In the faulty cars, these dampers may be unable to keep the door open due to a loss in power. About 93 vehicles in UAE are estimated to be affected by this special service campaign. Al Futtaim motors will start notifying the customers soon and the repair work will be done free of cost. If any further clarifications are required, customers can contact Al Futtaim Motors Customer Care.

Nissan has now announced a global recall of 394,025 vehicles for fire risk. Strangely, 215,000 of these vehicles were previously recalled by Nissan for the same issue but were deemed not in need of a repair. This time around though, Nissan has added more vehicles to the recall. The anti-lock brake pump seal in these vehicles can deteriorate and create a brake fluid leak. The fluid can fall on the circuit board, causing a short, which comes with a fire risk. According to Nissan, if the brake fluid leaks on to the circuit board, the ABS warning light will illuminate in the cluster and remain so for the next 10 seconds. If this happens, drivers are advised by Nissan to “park the vehicles outdoors away from other vehicles and structures and not to drive the vehicle.” They are also advised to park it away from places which can start a forest fire. The affected vehicles in this recall include 2017-2018 Nissan Pathfinder, 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2015-2017 Nissan Murano and 2017 Infiniti QX60.

About 638,000 SUVs and pickup trucks from General Motors are being recalled for a faulty wheel sensor that could cause unintended braking. The failure of the sensor can trigger activation of the driveline protection system, which brakes the wheel opposite to the side of the failed sensor. This can cause the vehicle to harshly weave to the side unexpectedly which, undoubtedly, can cause a crash. Thankfully, no crashes have been reported which can be attributed to this issue yet. The vehicles included in this recall include the 2015-2020 Chevy Suburban, Tahoe and GMC Yukon and 2014-2018 Chevy Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, all equipped with the 5.3-litre engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive.

FCA’s recall spree continues as 700,000 SUVs are being recalled for a malfunctioning electrical connection that may prevent the engine from starting or stall while running. The recall includes 2011-2013 Dodge Durangos and Jeep Grand Cherokees. FCA says in a statement that the recall is to address silicon deposits on the contact points of fuel pump relays. These deposits can interrupt the electrical current, which can stop the engine from starting.

Almost 72,500 Fiat 500 compact cars are also being recalled by FCA, all manufactured from 2012 to 2013. These small cars may have fault shift cable bushings that may degrade over time from the exposure to heat and humidity. This can cause the shift cable to separate from the transmission, making it unable to shift gears. The problem will be rectified free of charge and the customers will be notified of the recall.

More than 78,000 of Ford Ranger pickup trucks are also being recalled for faulty tail lamps. According to Ford, the connector terminals for these Rangers’ taillights are found to be not aligned properly, which may not let the tail lights function properly. The dealers will inspect these vehicles and if found faulty, technicians will re-pin the terminal into a replacement connector.

That wraps up the recalls for the past month. All recalls may not apply to the UAE and GCC, so contact your local dealer for more information.