Recalls

Thousands of Fiat Chrysler Group cars in Australia are being recalled as part of a worldwide problem with automatic head restraints. Fiat Chrysler Australia says 3725 Jeep Cherokee cars built between 2011-13 and 520 Dodge Nitro vehicles built between 2011-12 are affected in Australia.Chrysler announced on Wednesday it was recalling about 490,000 vehicles worldwide to fix the glitch. The US manufacturer says potentially fatal microcontrollers have been installed in certain vehicles that may prevent head restraints from automatically moving forward during some kinds of rear-impact collisions.Fiat Chrysler Australia will contact all Australian owners of affected cars and ask them to go to their local Chrysler Jeep and Dodge dealer, a company spokeswoman says. "We will then replace the component or upgrade the system software at no cost to customers," she said.The spokeswoman says they are not aware of any injuries or accidents associated with the problem. If customers have any concerns before they are contacted by the company, they can go straight to their local dealer, she says. 

Chrysler has bowed to pressure from the US safety regulator, and will recall 2.7 million Jeeps over a fire risk that has allegedly caused dozens of deaths overseas.The recall includes 28,000 vehicles in Australia -- 11,652 Jeep Cherokees (badged Liberty in the US) built between 2002 and 2007,  and 16,461 Grand Cherokees from 1993 to 2004.The carmaker agreed overnight in the US to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) demand to recall the models, which were deemed to have a higher risk of fire from rear-end collisions.However, as part of the agreement, Chrysler will not have to declare that the vehicles were defective. Chrysler Australia said there have been no deaths in Australia. "Our initial review is that there have been no known incidents or fatalities," spokesperson Karla Leach said."However we will follow the overseas lead and issue the recall, as we're vigilant to always make the safety of our customers a priority." Ms Leach acknowledged there had been reports of Jeeps catching fire some years ago, but said it was unrelated to the current recall. "There were some incidents a while ago, but we believe they were related to Wrangler models where owners had installed aftermarket modifications," she said.The recall will see the vehicles installed with a trailer hitch assembly to "better manage crash forces in low-speed impacts", the official statement says. The NHTSA requested the recall on June 3 in the US, but Chrysler had until now refused to issue one, disputing the agency's findings.Chrysler at the time claimed NHTSA analysis of crash data contained flaws, and disputed the agency's finding that the Jeeps' location of fuel tanks behind the rear axle constitutes a design defect. An official statement by Chrysler Group -- the parent company of the Jeep brand -- said it recognised the concern of buyers."Chrysler Group recognizes that this matter has raised concerns for its customers and wants to take further steps, in coordination with NHTSA, to provide additional measures to supplement the safety of its vehicles. Chrysler Group regards safety as a paramount concern and does not compromise on the safety of our customers and their families."It's the third Jeep recall in recent weeks, with nearly 7000 Patriot and Compass models recalled earlier this week due to a potential curtain airbag and seatbelt pretensioner fault, and 333 of the same models recalled earlier this month for a potential fuel flow defect.

Jeep says the recall is on 2010 to 2012 Patriot and Compass models sold in Australia, with the safety risk meaning the seatbelt pretensioners and curtain airbags may not work.The problem is caused by a software error in the Occupant Restraint Control Module (ORC), which could prevent deployment of the seatbelt pretensioner and/or side airbag curtains.The recall notice cites the risk of non-deployment during low speed roll-over events, increasing the risk of injury to occupants.Chrysler is sending a letter to owners, who can contact their local Chrysler dealerships to arrange an appointment for them to reprogram the module with new software. 

Cars from Audi and Skoda, the sister brands to Volkswagen, are poised to be added to the recall of almost 26,000 Volkswagen vehicles in Australia announced overnight.Audi is expected to announce this afternoon that 6267 cars will be recalled, comprising A1 and A3 models powered by 1.4-litre and 1.8-litre engines with seven-speed DSG automatic gearboxes, built between July 2008 to July 2011. Concerned owners can contact Audi on the customer service number: 1800 502 834. A batch of about 1746 Skoda vehicles made from 2009 to 2011 with DSG gearboxes will likely be added to the recall of Volkswagen cars. An official announcement from Skoda is due this afternoon. With a further 2800 diesel cars being inspected for injector faults, the latest fix brings the tally of recalled Volkswagen Group vehicles to nearly 37,000 in Australia.Volkswagen had been criticised by the peak consumer body in Australia, the ACCC, and the Australian Automobile Association for being too slow to react to customer concerns over a wide range of mechanical defects. After recalls in North America and China for unrelated issues with DSG gearboxes, Volkswagen finally issued a recall in Australia after a fortnight of unprecedented pressure from disgruntled customers.The vehicles affected were built between June 2008 and September 2011 and include the Golf hatchback, the Jetta sedan, the Polo hatchback, the Passat sedan and wagon and the Caddy van. The automatic DSG gearbox will be inspected and if needed repaired on that batch of vehicles.The recall follows years of customer complaints that reached new levels in the past two weeks after the Victorian coroner’s inquest into the 2011 death of a Volkswagen driver was announced -- even though the findings were yet to be handed down and the car in that incident was not deemed to have suffered a mechanical fault.Complaints highlighted in the past fortnight included engines that conked out, high oil use, and gearbox reliability issues. Several customers reported having their engines and/or gearboxes replaced while others complained about the  $5000 to $10,000 expense of fixing these parts once the warranty had expired.However Volkswagen is still yet to issue an official recall for vehicles that some customers claim decelerate suddenly. The company says anyone experiencing that fault or any others to contact their local Volkswagen dealer.  Volkswagen Australia has set up a dedicated customer service line to answer customer queries -- 1800 504 076. 

Troubled German car maker Volkswagen has issued a recall on 25,928 cars sold in Australia. The vehicles affected were built between June 2008 and September 2011 and include the Golf hatchback, Jetta sedan, Polo hatchback, Passat sedan and wagon and the Caddy van.The automatic “DSG” gearbox will be inspected and if needed repaired on that batch of vehicles. The recall follows two weeks of unprecedented pressure from customers demanding their cars be fixed for wide-ranging mechanical faults.Complaints included engines that conked out, high oil use, and gearbox issues. In addition to the official recall, Volkswagen Australia will also call 4000 diesel cars back to dealerships for inspection.News Limited understands that Volkswagen is still yet to issue a separate official recall following customer claims of sudden vehicle de-acceleration. The company says any one experiencing that fault – or any others – should contact their local Volkswagen dealer. Volkswagen Australia has set up a dedicated customer service line to answer customer queries - 1800 504 076.News Limited understands the boss of Volkswagen Australia, John White, flew to Germany late last week to brief head office in person about the widespread concerns over Volkswagen reliability issues locally.Motoring bodies and media outlets in Australia have received complaints about the mechanical reliability and durability of Volkswagen cars for several years. But customer concerns over engine dramas and gearbox failures gained renewed exposure following the Victorian coroner’s inquest into the death of a Golf driver in 2011. Her car was struck from behind by a truck after it appeared to slow suddenly. Volkswagen says there was no mechanical fault with the vehicle. The coroner is due to release the findings next month. 

Toyota has issued a recall of the 2008-09 ZW30 third-generation Prius hybrid. The recall affects some 1,652 Australian models, and relates to a potentially faulty Brake Booster Pump Assembly --a key element of the car’s braking system.The potential fault can result in a fatigue crack to the accumulator within the system, which could cause nitrogen gas to leak and result in a spongy or longer travel to the brake pedal. This could in turn increase stopping distances and the risk of collision.The recall includes all Prius models within the VIN number range: JTDKN36U# 01000031 – 01092008 and JTDKN36U# 05000003 – 05076028, produced between October 2008 and October 2009.Toyota will alert owners of the recall via mail, advising they visit their Toyota dealer for a free inspection of the relevant system. If necessary, the assembly will be replaced free of charge. 

The recall is equivalent to more than one year of sales in Australia, and is not due to a safety issue but because owners might notice the smell of fuel coming from the car. It follows two recalls at about this time last year that took in almost every Rolls-Royce sold in Australia over the previous 10 years for a potential brake failure and fire risk.The $645,000 Ghost limousine is being recalled this time simply because customers may notice the smell of fuel when approaching their vehicles. The director of global communications for Rolls-Royce, Richard Carter, told News Limited: “Australia seems to be at the moment the only country around the world to make this recall on a safety basis. It’s a minor fuel vapour venting issue. As fuel is naturally vented from the fuel tank when not in use it goes through a carbon filter … which removes any odours.“The software is not properly working. That means that you could when approaching your car smell fuel,” Carter said. “We are convinced this is not a safety issue because fuel vapours occur on any car, it’s just that you don’t smell them.”Last year Rolls-Royce recalled approximately 74 of the company's flagship Phantom sedans, coupes and convertibles sold between 2003 and 2009, and approximately 36 of its Ghost sedans sold between 2009 and 2011. It amounted to most cars sold over the previous 10 years and almost $100 million worth of vehicles. The latest recall affects only $12 million worth of vehicles.Product Safety Recalls Australia reported last year the $645,000 Ghost was being recalled because: “If the turbo cooling pump cracks, the pump electronics may smoulder, possibly causing an engine compartment fire or a vehicle fire.”At the same time, the agency issued a notice that the $1 million Phantom range was being recalled because of “the possibility of oil entering the brake booster, there may be a reduction in power braking assistance and an increased chance of an accident occurring.” 

Mitsubishi has issued a recall of the 2013 Mirage hatch , just four months after the model’s arrival in Australia.The recall affects all models sold between January and the end of March – 3377 vehicles in all -- and relates to a potentially faulty wheel speed sensor, a key element of the anti-lock braking system.The potential fault can be evident when exposed to moisture, and Mitsubishi has identified a lack of weatherproofing to a related foglamp casing as the root cause of the issue. This could result in false dashboard warnings, brake shudder, reduced braking performance, or compromised steering control – all of which could pose a crash hazard.The recall is being executed globally as directed by Mitsubishi in Japan, and Mitsubishi Australia sold 2385 Mirages during that time. The remaining vehicles in the recall may not yet have been sold.Speaking with Carsguide today, Mitsubishi Australia’s Caitlin Beale confirmed that “just one or two Australian owners have reported brake shudder as a result of the issue,” and no accidents have been reported.Beale understands that dealers have completed most, if not all repairs already, with the replacement part being fitted in 30 minutes.She says Mitsubishi has already alerted all Mirage owners by mail.  Any owners yet to be alerted are advised to contact their authorised Mitsubishi dealership for inspection and rectification. 

The widespread recall affecting more than 3.4 million vehicles from several different makes has now hit German luxury brand BMW.According to the carmaker, roughly 220,000 of its 2002 and 2003 3-Series models have been affected by the recall worldwide, including 3300 of the popular BMW 3 Series in Australia.The recall is due to a defective airbag from Japanese supplier Takata Corp. Other makes with vehicles featuring the defective airbag include Honda, Infiniti, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan, Pontiac and Toyota.The root of the problem is an airbag inflator that deteriorates over time. This can cause the inflator to rupture when the airbag is triggered, which in turn can cause injury to occupants by pieces of the inflator breaking off and turning into projectiles.For BMW, the recall affects 325i, 325xi, 330i, 330xi sedans; 325Ci and 330Ci coupes and convertibles; 325iT and 325xiT Sports Wagons; and M3 coupes and convertibles around the world from the 2002 and 2003 model years, and the airbag in question is the passenger side frontal unit.BMW is in the process of notifying owners affected by the recall. Once replacement parts are available, BMW will notify owners again to contact their dealers and schedule a replacement of the passenger airbag, free of charge.www.motorauthority.com 

Nissan is recalling 40,400 (out of as many as 90,000 4x4 models it sold in the time period) of its Navara D40 series, manufactured in Spain between July 2005 and January 2010, for an inspection.A redesigned Nissan replacement towbar (with additional mounting points) and welded repairs to any chassis cracks - some as wide as 2.5mm according to owners - will be completed for those with faulty genuine Nissan towbars.But Navara owners who opted for an aftermarket set-up with cracks in the chassis rails could face repair bills of $1000 or more.The company said the problem relates to faulty towbar designs specific to the Spanish-built D40 ST-X and RX model Navara and while 40,400 vehicles were being recalled for inspection under this campaign, around 9800 were fitted with the affected Nissan genuine towbars.The D40 Navara starts from around $35,000 and was launched here in late 2005 - all bar one 4x2 model is listed with a towing capacity of 3000kg when towing a trailer fitted with its own brakes, which has made the vehicle popular with tradesman and drivers towing heavy recreational vehicles.The Pathfinder SUV - also built on a ladder-frame chassis and rated to a braked towing capacity of three tonnes - was not impacted by the recall, according to Nissan.Spokesman Peter Fadeyev said the attachment points on the Navara's genuine towbars could cause excessive stress upon the chassis frame rails over time.``As a result, cracks can occur at the ends of the chassis rails,'' he said.``In extreme cases, sections of the chassis rails around the towbar may bend when a heavy tow load is applied,'' he said.Mr Fadeyev said the vehicle's towing capacity was not being altered.``The vehicle can still tow exactly what was identified in the owner's manual - that's the specification of the repair, the vehicle can still tow exactly what is identified as its capability in its manual from the start,'' he said.The company has agreed to inspect customer vehicles fitted with a non-genuine towbar at no charge to the customer, but any chassis repair or replacement to a new revised-design genuine Nissan towbar will be at cost to the customer, Mr Fadeyev said.The company said the inspection takes under 20 minutes to complete or the worst-case-scenario of inspection, repair and towbar replacement would be completed in under two hours.Navara owners looking for more information are being asked to contact their local Nissan dealer or call the Nissan Customer Assistance Centre on 1800 035 035.Nissan said it began recall proceedings following legislated procedures earlier this month, but the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) product recalls website as yet has no mention of the safety campaign.Nissan Navara 4WD utility annual sales:2005 -    9,6272006 - 14,3622007 - 18,2452008 - 16,1922009 - 16,4552010 - 19,424Total - 94,305