Manufacturer recalls for December 2020

With the curtains finally falling on 2020, here is a list of all recalls announced around the world in the last month.

More than 130,000 Hyundai vehicles are being recalled for a potential engine failure caused by faulty connecting rod bearings. The faulty bearings may wear prematurely and can potentially cause an engine failure. The vehicles included in the recall are the 2015-2016 Veloster with 1.6-litre Gamma four-cylinder engine, 2012 Santa Fe, and 2011-2013 Sonata Hybrid with the 2.4-litre Theta II four-cylinder engine, and 2016 Sonata Hybrid with 2.0-litre Nu four-cylinder engine. The vehicles will get loaded with an updated engine control software that will help the knock sensor detect vibrations earlier than before. Post inspections, the engine of the vehicles will be replaced if deemed necessary. It is unknown if GCC-spec vehicles qualify for this recall.

Hyundai’s sister company Kia is also tagging along with another engine-related recall that prevails over 295,000 vehicles. The affected models include 2012-2013 Sorento, 2012-2015 Cerato, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, 2014-2015 Soul, and 2012 Sportage. These vehicles are suspected to have leaks in their engine compartment, which can be a fire hazard. Dealers will inspect for any leaks and rectify them if found. Repairs or even an engine replacement will also be carried out if necessary.

Three recalls from Honda are live now, with more than 1.4 million vehicles affected. The reasons for these recalls are a software glitch, malfunctioning window switches and a faulty driveshaft that can break. The software glitch plagues 737,000 Accords from 2018-2020 and Honda Insights from 2019 and 2020. In these vehicles, the glitch can cause the rear parking camera, windshield wipers, and turn signals to malfunction. The second recall covers 2002-2006 Honda CR-Vs, 268,000 of them. The window switch on the driver’s door may let water in and cause an electrical short, possibly setting off a fire. The same cars were recalled back in 2012 but the repair procedure did not alleviate the issue. The owners are instructed to take their vehicle to the dealers once instructed.

The third recall from Honda includes Honda Civic Hybrids from 2012 till date, 2007-2014 Honda Jazz, 2013-2015 Acura ILX and 2013-2015 Honda Accord, summing up to a total of 430,000 vehicles. The driveshaft of these vehicles may corrode over time and break. This is mainly an issue in Northern countries where salt is used to clear snow from the roads.

Hypercar maker Bugatti also takes a spot in this month’s recall list. 77 of their cars are being recalled, which is a large number for a company that sells very few cars every year. Two recalls from Bugatti affect some of its Chiron, Chiron Sport and Divo models. The first recall is for 73 cars from 2017-2020, to remedy a software glitch that prevents ESP from switching back to its original mode when Handling mode is selected. According to NHTSA, this may increase the risk of accidents. The second recall is for just 4 Chiron and Divos from the 2020 model year. The rear left driveshaft of these cars may break, yes that is right, under certain situations. Bugatti offers a free-of-charge replacement of the faulty part with an upgraded version.

Ford announces a recall for the 2020-2021 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs, affecting only 1400 units. The passenger-side engine mount hardware of these vehicles may detach due to faulty fasteners failing. This, according to Ford, can cause a “loss in power”, which is a less scary way of saying that the engine will partly separate from the vehicle. Thankfully, only a few vehicles are affected. Almost all of the affected vehicles are in North America. Dealers will be inspecting these vehicles and replacing the mount hardware.

That rounds off the recalls that happened in the last month of an eccentric 2020. Contact your local dealer if you think your car is affected.