Manufacturer recalls for January 2020

The first month of the new decade opened up to two massive recalls from two Japanese manufacturers, one letting the infamous Takata airbag issue to resurface. In addition to this, an American manufacturer is correcting a mistake that it had made while it was correcting a previous mistake.

Mercedes Benz is recalling nearly 750,000 cars for faulty sunroofs that can literally fly off the car. According to NHTSA, these sunroofs are having a bonding material that may deteriorate over time, weakening the bond. This can lead the sunroof to detach from the car. If the vehicle is on the move, the sunroof can fly off and become a potential hazard for fellow road users. The models affected include C-Class, E-Class, CLK-Class and CLS-Class vehicles made between 2001 and 2011.

About 700,000 Toyota and Lexus vehicles from 2018 and 2019 are being recalled due to a faulty fuel pump that may stop working. The list of models is quite exhaustive, starting from the Toyota Corolla, Tundra, Avalon, Tacoma, Sequoia, Land Cruiser, Camry, 4Runner, Highlander and Sienna to the Lexus LS 500, LC 500, RC 350, RC 300, GS 350, IS 300, ES 350, LX 570, GX 460, RX 350, NX 300, RX 350L, and GS 300. Out of these, the Corolla, Avalon, NX 300, RX 350L and GS 300 are confined to just 2019 while the rest of them potentially have the issue in the 2018 and 2019 model-year vehicles. If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle will sputter and stall and finally come to a stop. Warning messages and lights will be displayed prior to it. The investigation for the issue is going on and once Toyota hones in on a resolution, notifications will be sent to owners. The repair procedure will be free of cost.

Toyota’s recalls don’t stop there. About 3.4 million Toyota vehicles are also being are being recalled for airbag issues that may prevent them from deploying in the event of an accident. According to the U.S. NHTSA agency, these vehicles may have an electronic control unit that is not protected well from “electrical noise,” a phenomenon that can occur during crashes. Due to this, the airbag may only be deployed partially, or may not be deployed at all. This problem can also impede the functioning of seatbelt pre-tensioners as well. The problem affects 2011-2019 Corolla, 2012-2018 Avalon, 2011-2013 Matrix and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles.

Toyota is not the only Japanese manufacturer which is recalling cars in the millions. About 2.7 million Hondas are being recalled for potentially defective airbag inflators. This recall affects Honda and Acura vehicles from 1996 through 2003 model years. These vehicles are fitted with Takata airbag inflators, but not the kind of inflators that caused the massive recall of millions of vehicles worldwide. Honda confirms that the replacement parts for the faulty inflators are not available yet so all inspections and repairs will begin in approximately a year.

General Motors is now preparing for a recall to undo an issue that may be caused by an older recall. About half a million brand-new GM Trucks and sedans were recalled for addressing an issue with the Anti-lock Brakes. There was a glitch in the software that controls the ABS and in turn, the ESP. This sometimes turns off the ABS and ESP, causing a partial loss in braking power. According to Detroit Free Press, GM has appeared to have over-corrected the issue accidentally. After removing the glitch, the brakes now activate automatically, resulting in unintended braking incidents. The recall had affected 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500, Cadillac CT6 Sedan, and GMC Sierra 1500.

That winds up the recalls for the new month of the new year. Be advised that not all recalls may apply to the GCC, so contact your local dealer to find out more.