Manufacturer Recalls for July 2019

July was an eventful month with recalls spanning from regular airbag stories, wheels falling off and companies replacing cars for free. 

Mazda had a duo of recalls last month. The first of them being a recall that spans three models and affects 262,220 vehicles. According to NHTSA, the three models include 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda 6 and Mazda 3. They are found to have a programming issue in the powertrain control module (PCM) which could cause the engine to shut down. This is due to a glitch in the software that governs the switching between cylinder deactivation mode and full cylinder activation modes. This glitch causes the intake valve rocker arm to jump out of place and hit other parts of the engine. This can cause misfiring and a shut down of the engine. Cylinder deactivation was introduced in 2018-onwards models, but it is unclear if the feature is offered in GCC-spec models as it was never mentioned here.

The second recall from Mazda may sound like an excerpt from a Tom and Jerry cartoon. About 25,000 examples of 2019 Mazda 3s are being recalled because their wheels may fall off while driving. Only the new generation Mazda 3s are affected by this issue. Mazda says  “A manufacturing process error may result in a gap between the wheel hub bolt and hub flange during assembly. This gap causes loosening of the lug nuts though they were initially tightened to the correct specification at the plant. A rattling noise occurs prior to a wheel detachment from the vehicle”. As per the statement, the lug nuts on the wheels of the 3 can loosen itself over time. As a precaution, the drivers should check the nuts regularly and tighten the nuts until your car is recalled and repaired by a Mazda dealer.

In another story about airbags, 27,822 VW Tiguans and CC sedans are being recalled. Takata is not to blame this time, as the problem in these vehicles stems from a faulty airbag control unit. According to NHTSA, the airbags could be shut down automatically or, even worse, deploy unexpectedly. The Tiguans built between 12 March 2015 and 19 Dec 2015 are believed to be affected by this issue. The CCs built from 6 May 2015 and 17 Dec 2015 adds up this recall. The recall officially begins on 13 Sep 2019. The units will be replaced if found faulty.

2017-2019 models of Nissan’s biggest truck, the Titan, are being recalled due to damaged alternator writing harnesses. According to the NHTSA, some of these alternator harnesses could have been damaged when the engines were lowered into the bay. The edge of a metal frame bracket may have dislocated the harness, pinning it against the bracket. This could cause the harness to wear out due to friction, which can lead to an electric short. As all electric short circuits, this one comes with the threat of a fire. The recall covers 91,319 Titans and it will start with intimations sent to the customers. The harness will be properly placed or replaced based on the damage. The Titan was never officially sold in the Middle East, but some were sold through pre-owned dealerships here.

Jeep’s transmission woes are not yet ready to take the train. They announced another recall for the 2014 Jeep Cherokee as its transmission can shift into neutral unexpectedly. The 2014 Cherokee is infamous for having many recalls under its belt, 11 of them, as per the NHTSA recall page for the SUV. This time, 81,165 Cherokees with the 3.2-litre V6 engine are recalled. The clutch in these vehicles can get stuck which will lead the transmission into neutral. Chrysler will initiate the recall in August to update the transmission software.

2107 Subaru Legacy and Outback models are also being recalled but this time, the buyers are getting new cars. These Legacy and Outback vehicles from the 2019 model year are found to have incorrect spot welds at the rear of the engine bay. The component was manufactured by a supplier, as mentioned in the recall notice by NHTSA. Subaru believes that only 12% of these cars are actually affected by this issue. Based on a report by The Detroit Bureau, Subaru has sold only a handful of these vehicles before spotting this issue. Subaru will offer to replace or buy back the vehicles to the buyers of the faulty examples.

Not all recalls affect GCC-spec models. If you happen to find your car in the list, ring up your dealer to know if it is eligible.