KPI — September: Recent Vehicle Recalls

 2013-2015 Kia Optima, Sorento

  • Vehicles Affected: Approximately 440,400 model-year 2013-2015 Kia Optima sedans and model-year 2014-2015 Sorento SUVs
  • The Problem: The brake fluid may leak inside the hydraulic electronic control unit, which could result in an electrical short and increase the risk of an engine compartment fire.
  • The Fix: Dealers will inspect the control unit for leaking brake fluid and replace it, as necessary, for free.

2018 Volkswagen Atlas, 2019 Jeep Cherokee

  • Vehicles Affected: Approximately 190,000 ZF North America remote accelerometer sensors installed in model-year 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and model-year 2019 Jeep Cherokee SUVs
  • The Problem: The airbag crash sensors may have been exposed to excessively high temperatures during manufacturing, resulting in damaged soldering connections within the sensors. This may cause a delayed airbag deployment in a frontal crash or a risk of a non-deployment in a low-speed crash, increasing the risk of injury.
  • The Fix: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles dealers will replace the airbag crash sensor on the affected models for free.

2019-2021 Hyundai Tucson, Kia Stinger

  • Vehicles Affected: Approximately 180,000 model-year 2019-2021 Hyundai Tucson SUVs, as well as some 9,400 model-year 2019 Kia Stinger hatchbacks equipped with 3.3-liter T-GDI engines
  • The Problem: An engine compartment fire may occur in the area where the hydraulic electronic control unit for the antilock brakes is located, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
  • The Fix: Hyundai dealers will replace the Tucson’s hydraulic ECU for free, while a remedy for Stingers is still under development.

2019-2020 Ram 1500

  • Vehicles Affected: Approximately 160,200 model-year 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Laramie and Big Horn pickup trucks equipped with adjustable pedals and Mopar All-Weather Floor Mat Kits sold as accessory equipment from 2018-2020
  • The Problem: The adjustable pedals may be positioned in a location that affords insufficient clearance with all-weather floormats, interfering with the accelerator pedal while driving and increasing the risk of a crash. Note: While this is identical to a previous recall, the affected trucks may be different.
  • The Fix: Dealers will modify the driver’s floormat to remove the potential for pedal interference for free.

2013-2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

  • Vehicles Affected: Approximately 151,200 model-year 2013-2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SUVs
  • The Problem: Brake fluid may leak inside the antilock brake system module, possibly resulting in an electrical short and increasing the risk of an engine compartment fire.
  • The Fix: Dealers will inspect the antilock brake system module and replace it, as necessary, for free.

2019-2020 Ram 3500

  • Vehicles Affected: Approximately 32,300 model-year 2019-2020 Ram trucks, including 3500 chassis cabs, equipped with 6.7-liter high-output Cummins engines
  • The Problem: Inadequate warmup protection can cause a lack of oil film on the engine connecting rod bearings while the engine is reaching operating temperature. This can result in engine damage and connecting rod failure, which could potentially puncture the engine block and increase the risk of a fire.
  • The Fix: Dealers will flash the engine calibration software to enhance the engine warmup protection for free.

2020 Chevrolet Corvette

  • Vehicles Affected: Approximately 7,100 model-year 2020 Chevrolet Corvette sport cars
  • The Problem: Despite visual and audible warnings, the car can be driven with the front trunk lid unlatched, which can open above a certain speed, obstructing the driver’s forward view and increasing the risk of a crash.
  • The Fix: At no cost, dealers will update the software in the vehicle’s body control module to limit the vehicle speed to 26 mph when the hood is not completely closed and latched. Additionally, the operation of the hood release on the key fob will be modified to reduce the likelihood of inadvertent hood release actuation. Owners also may allow the vehicle to be remedied via an over-the-air software update.

2020 Nissan Sentra

  • Vehicles Affected: Approximately 5,500 model-year 2020 Nissan Sentra sedans
  • The Problem: The right-hand LED headlight may have been misaligned during production, which can result in insufficient illumination of the road while driving at night, increasing the risk of a crash.
  • The Fix: Dealers will replace the headlight for free.

2020-2021 Audi and Volkswagen Sedans and SUVs

  • Vehicles Affected: Approximately 4,800 model-year 2020 Audi Q5 and SQ5 SUVs; model-year 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport and Tiguan SUVs and Jetta sedans; and model-year 2021 VW Atlas SUVs
  • The Problem: The front seat backrest frame may not have been welded properly. In the event of a rear-end crash, the backrest adjustment could break, possibly reducing the amount of occupant restraint and increasing the risk of injury.
  • The Fix: Dealers will inspect the front seats, and, as necessary, replace the seatback frames for free.

2019-2020 BMW Z4, Toyota Supra

  • Vehicles Affected: Approximately 4,300 model-year 2019-2020 BMW Z4 roadsters and model-year 2020 Toyota Supra coupes
  • The Problem: The plug that covers a headlamp’s horizontal adjustment mechanism may have been inserted into the space for the vertical plug and vice versa, diminishing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
  • The Fix: Dealers will inspect the headlamp’s vertical and horizontal adjustment plugs, correcting them as necessary for free.

2020 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

  • Vehicles Affected: Approximately 1,300 model-year 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque SUVs equipped with 18” wheels
  • The Problem: The tire pressure monitoring system recommended pressure has been set incorrectly in the instrument cluster. As a result, the TPMS warning light will not illuminate when tire pressure reaches 25% below the cold inflation pressure stated on the tire placard, negatively impacting vehicle handling and increasing the risk of a crash.
  • The Fix: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software for free.

*All recall information is courtesy of Cars.com

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By A.J. Hecht

A.J. Hecht is the managing editor of THE SHOP and host of the In Gear with THE SHOP podcast. Have an idea, a tip, or a question you’d like to see answered? Contact A.J. at ahecht@cahabamedia.com.