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Hyundai & Kia Hybrid – Clutch Actuator Leak

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The Hyundai Motor group will be contacting the owners of certain 2017 Hyundai Ioniq and 2017 Kia Niro hybrids regarding a problem affecting the propulsion system.

According to the defect report filed with the NHTSA, the subject vehicles may be equipped with a hydraulic clutch actuator with burrs along the inner housing. Over time, these burrs could cause damage to the inner oil seal and allow oil to accumulate in the phase cap area. This accumulation could result an electrical short and an increased risk of fire. If a short exists, drivers will be alerted through an illuminated HEV warning light.

Dealers will inspect the HCA caps for leaked oil and replace the HCA assembly as needed. For more information: Hyundai owners can call 1-855-371-9460. (Hyundai’s recall number is 176 and the NHTSA campaign number is 18V-260.) Kia owners can call 1-800-333-4542. (Kia’s recall number is SC163 and the NHTSA campaign number is 18V-257.)

2018 Buick Regal Seat Belt Safety

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General Motors will be contacting certain 2018 Buick Regal owners regarding a problem affecting the safety of the seat belts in their sedans. According to the defect report, the rear outboard seat belts may have been improperly routed around the rear seat bolster bracket during manufacturing. This improper routing could result in inadequate restraint to passengers during extreme loading conditions and an increased risk of injury to occupants.

Owners will be asked to return to their dealerships to have the rear outboard seat belt routing inspected and rerouted as necessary. Owners wanting more information about the problem are asked to contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM’s number for this recall is 18117 and the NHTSA campaign number is 18V-230. (It is expected that fewer than 1% of the vehicle population have incorrectly routed seat belts.)

2018 Toyota Camry Engine Runs Rough

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Toyota will be contacting the owners of certain 2018 Toyota Camry cars regarding a problem affecting the engine and its cooling. The subject vehicles are equipped with 2.5L, 4 cylinder A25A-FKS engines.

According to the defect report, a manufacturing error has resulted in pistons being produced with a diameter larger than specified. Engines assembled with these pistons may cause the vehicle to run rough, create an abnormal sound, emit smoke from the exhaust, and/or illuminate an engine warning light. Drivers may notice a reduction in power and a stalling engine.

Toyota will ask owners to return to their dealers to have the production date codes of the pistons checked and replaced as necessary. Owners wanting more information can contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota’s number for this recall is J1M/J0M and the NHTSA campaign number is 18V-200.

2017 Jeep Renegade Defective Oil Pump / Balance Shaft Module

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Chrysler will be asking a small number of 2017 Jeep Renegade owners to return to their dealers because their vehicles are suspect to have a defective oil pump / balance shaft module (BSM). According to the defect report, these vehicles may have been manufactured with a cracked oil pump housing that could propagate throughout the housing and cause the oil pump to fail. Drivers will receive no warning of a problem except that the engine may not run optimally just prior to an engine stall.

Owners receiving notices will be asked to return to their dealers to have the oil pump inspected for its production information and replace the BSM as necessary. Chrysler’s number for this recall is U18 and the NHTSA campaign number is 18V-131.

2017-2018 Mercedes Benz Coupe Seat Safety Defect

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Mercedes Benz will be contacting the owners of certain 2017-2018 Coupe vehicles regarding a problem affecting vehicle safety. According to the defect report filed with the NHTSA, a production deviation at the supplier has resulted in front seat back locks that to not lock properly. Unsecured objects in the rear seats might not be held back during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to occupants.

The vehicles affected include:

  • 2017-2018 C300
  • 2017-2018 C43 AMG
  • 2017 C63 AMG
  • 2017-2018 C63S AMG
  • 2018 E400

Those receiving notices will be asked to return to their dealers to have the seat back locks inspected and replaced as necessary. For more information about the problem, owners can contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. The NHTSA campaign number for this recall is 18V-207.

VW Takata Airbag Recall

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Volkswagen will be contacting the owners of certain later model VW cars, regarding airbags affected by phase three of the Takata airbag recall. The vehicles involved include:

  • 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC
  • 2010-2011 Volkswagen EOS
  • 2010-2014 Volkswagen Golf
  • 2007-2010 Volkswagen Passat
  • 2007-2010 Volkswagen Passat Wagon

As reported by Takata, due to high temperatures and humidity, airbag propellant could degrade over time and cause the airbags to deploy with too much force. In the event of an airbag rupture, metal fragments could pass through the airbag cushion material, seriously injuring or killing occupants.

Those receiving notices will be instructed to return to their dealers to have the driver’s frontal air bag inflator replaced. Volkswagen’s number for this recall is 69Q9 and the NHTSA campaign number is 18V-148. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.

2018 Hyundai Santa FE & Santa FE Sport Steering Problem

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Hyundai will be contacting owners of certain 2018 Santa FE midsize SUVs because of a problem affecting the steering system.

According to the defect report filed with the NHTSA, temperature problems during the molding process could result in steering wheel hub assemblies with insufficient breakage strength. The steering wheel could completely separate from the steering column leaving the driver with no way of steering the vehicle.

Hyundai will be notifying owners to return to their dealers to have the production lot number of the steering wheel assembly inspected and replaced as necessary. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai’s number for this recall is 173 and the NHTSA campaign number is 18V-118.

Ford Escape And Lincoln MKC Brake Fluid Leaks

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Ford is asking the owners of certain 2018 Ford Escape and 2018 Lincoln MKC vehicles to return to their dealership for a problem affecting the brakes. According to the defect report, incorrect front brake jounce hoses may have been installed and could contact adjacent components during normal driving conditions. This could result in premature wear of the hoses and a potential brake fluid leak. Loss of brake fluid will increase the distance needed to stop the vehicle. Drivers will be alerted of a problem through an illuminated brake fluid warning light.

Dealers will inspect the brake hoses, replacing incorrect ones as necessary. Owners wanting more information about the problem can contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 18S04 and the NHTSA campaign number is 18V-104.