Manufacturer Recalls for October 2019

Here is the list of all the cars that had a global recall in the month of October 2019.

If you remember the last month’s story, you might already know that the new Toyota Supra is being recalled by BMW for improper welds of the seat belt guide loop mount. It is no wonder that the Bavarian manufacturer is reeling in the Supra as, underneath the skin, it is the BMW Z4. But that’s for another day’s debate. The Supra is joined by almost all BMW vehicles made from 2018 for a different issue – the reversing cameras on these vehicles that allows the brightness and contrast of the visuals to be adjusted to an extent so that “the rear-view image is no longer visible.” This violates the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. NHTSA spotted this issue first in a 2019 BMW X4 and after further investigation, issued a recall for almost the entire BMW portfolio along with two big Rolls-Royces – the Phantom & Cullinan.

The long list of models affected by this recall include the following:

330I	2019-2020
530E	2018-2020
530I	2018-2020
540D	2018
540I	2018-2020
640I	2018-2019
740LE	2019-2020
740LI	2019-2020
745LE	2019-2020
750LI	2019-2020
840I	2019-2020
M340I	2019-2020
M5	2018-2020
M550I	2018-2020
M850I	2019-2020
X3	2018-2020
X4	2019-2020
X5	2019-2020
X6	2019-2020
X7	2019-2020
Z4	2019-2020
Rolls-Royce Cullinan	2019
Rolls-Royce Phantom	2018-2019
Toyota Supra	2020

This month, Subaru is in the bad light as they issue three different recalls, two of which are for engine-related issues. In the first recall, 466,205 vehicles, including 2017-2019 Imprezas and 2018-2019 Crosstreks, are included. These vehicles may have a faulty engine control module that may keep supplying power to the ignition coil even after the engine is turned off. This can lead to a short circuit and a blown fuse. Dealers will update the software to fix this. Some vehicles may need to get their ignition coils replaced, which will be done free of cost.

The second recall is also for Impreza and Crosstrek models. Several 2017-2018 Imprezas and 2018 Crosstreks are equipped with aluminum Positive Crankcase Ventilation valves that may come apart. This can cause the separated parts to enter the engine. If that happens, the drivers can feel a loss in power. The PCV valves of these vehicles will be inspected and the faulty ones will be replaced. If the separated parts of the valve are not found, the engine of these vehicles will be replaced, free of cost.

The third recall from Subaru is for the Forester, 366,282 of which are under the radar. In these vehicles, the passenger airbag may not go off during a crash, which is a safety hazard. The blame is on the “Occupant Detection System” which may not be able to detect the presence of a person on the seat, hence disabling the airbag. This is due to the usage of a special harness which lets the electrical connections loosen over time. This harness is only used in the vehicles with heated front seats, thus the recall is confined to only those examples.

About 20,000 Ford Ranger trucks are being recalled as they are doubted to have issues with the design of the HVAC blower motor. According to Ford, the blower motor may not have enough clearance between an electrical terminal & a conductive base-plate slot, which can cause an electrical short. These vehicles will be inspected and, if needed, parts will be replaced.

Mercedes Benz’s first EV crossover, the EQC is also under the radar because of a potentially defective bolt in the front differential. This makes the bolt very weak, and it may break over time. This can lead the vehicle to stall, or even worse, can lose control of the vehicle if the broken parts of the bolt get lodged within the differential transmission. Germany publication kfz betrieb reported that 1,700 EQCs are affected but Daimler has not confirmed the figure.

And that’s all for October. These are global recalls, so check with your local dealer to see if your car is affected.