Manufacturer Recalls for August 2022

Here is the list of all recalls that happened in the month of August. It contains a decent number of recalls from many different manufacturers for many obvious issues. But, guess who is back? Takata airbags return to this list, again.

After millions of cars being recalled, there still does not seem to have a clear end to this Takata issue. For those who have forgotten, let us jog your mind. Takata Corp., a major airbag supplier in the world went under heavy fire as many of their airbag inflators started triggering an unwarranted airbag deployment. This injured multiple people and unfortunately, took the lives of 28 people around the world. Since then, it has been a recall spree from many major manufacturers.

Nissan and Infiniti add more numbers to this list. The new list includes some cars with replacement Takata inflators installed in them after they came into the service centre for accident repairs. As of now, the number stands at a paltry 375, but Nissan says that more than 18,000 vehicles may have this part installed in them. The models affected by this include the 2007-2016 Nissan Tiida hatchback and sedans, 2001-2003 Nissan Maximas, 2002-2006 Nissan Sentras 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4s, and 2006-2010 Infiniti M35s/M45s. The defective parts in these vehicles will be replaced free of cost.

Another safety system, the seat belt, is the cause of recalls across three brands. Audi is recalling several 2022 Audi A3 and S3 models due to an inadequate pretensioner system that may not help in properly restraining the occupants in the event of a crash. In the same way, Jaguar and Land Rover are also recalling their vehicles.  This recall affects 2022 Jaguar F-Type sports cars, XF sedans, and F-Pace SUVs, along with 2022-23 Land Rover Defenders, Discovery Sport, Discovery, Range Rover Sport, and Range Rover Velar. These vehicles are also recalled due to a faulty seat belt pretensioner.

Ferrari comes up with a recall that crawls its way back into the past. A large number of Ferraris, 23,555 of them may have a faulty brake fluid reservoir cap. This faulty cap can allow brake fluid to leak out, causing the brakes to not function properly. The fix is just a free replacement of the faulty cap and a software update that will throw a warning light when the brake fluid goes low. The affected models include many models from the 2005-2009 Ferrari F430 all the way to the 2022 Portofino.

A lot of Kias are a part of this month’s recalls starting with 257,998 units of 2012-2013 Kia Optimas. These sedans may have headliners that are not properly installed. Though it may sound trivial, the loose parts can be hazardous, in the event of a crash. They can become projectiles and harm the occupants. As of now, no incidents connected to this issue have been reported outside the USA, but it is better to get your vehicle checked if it belongs to these model years.

The next Kias on this list are the 2016 Kia Sorento SUVs and Carnival vans. These vehicles may have a faulty shift lock lever that can let the driver shift out of park without pressing on the brake pedal. This is a rollaway risk and can injure someone. As per NHTSA, the recall numbered 22V-612, affects 7,263 units of the Carnival and 20,802 units of the Sorento. These cars will be inspected and if the shift lock lever is found to not work satisfactorily, the defective parts will be replaced free of cost.

The third Kia on this list comes with its Hyundai sibling. The owners of the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade SUVs take notice. All of these SUVs with the tow hitch harness factory accessory are affected by this recall. This part can be the first risk as it can have a short circuit formed inside it due to the accumulation of moisture and debris. The owners of these cars are advised to park them away from structures and flammable items. Hyundai and Kia will notify the owners starting in October.

Hyundai Palisade is not going out yet. Yet another recall for the brand’s flagship SUV is around the corner. More than 120,000 of these SUVs from the model years 2020 and 2021 are a part of this recall. The issue that triggered this fiasco is the windshield wiper motors that can fail. These motors may work intermittently or not work at all. Both of which are not favorable for safe driving. This cause is currently under investigation, as per NHTSA. As of now, no fix has been rolled out yet. Hyundai will soon find a remedy and start contacting the owners.

Subaru jumps into this list with almost 200,000 2017-2019 Imprezas which may have headlights that are too dim. It only affects the base and Premium models that do not have LED headlamps. This defect will reduce visibility at night, and hence may also not meet the local regulations, apart from being dangerous. The front headlamp assemblies of these cars will be replaced free of cost.

Mitsubishi’s small crossover, the ASX is being recalled for a potential issue that can end up damaging the engine. It all starts with a software glitch. If the CVT loses power temporarily but is restored later, this wrong code holds the transmission in the lowest ‘gear’ possible. Of course, if this happens when the revs are high, for example on a highway, the engine can rev beyond its capacity. The piston can crash into the exhaust valve in this case, which of course, damages the engine. Some Mitsubishi ASXs from the 2019 to 2022 model years are affected and there are 76,508 of them. If your ASX has a manual gearbox or a push-button start system, it will not be affected. The fix is a simple software update and your little crossover should be good to go.

That is it for this month. Stay tuned for more recall news.