ITS RECALL MONDAYS: HONDA, HYUNDAI, JEEP, MINI AND RAM ARE IN THE HOT SEAT

1. AUTOMAKER: Honda

NO. OF AFFECTED VEHICLES: 303,804

SUMMARY:

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Honda Accord vehicles manufactured January 22, 2007, to June 30, 2008. In the affected vehicles, the side impact sensor calibrations may be overly sensitive, and as a result, the side air bag inflatable curtains and/or seat air bags may unexpectedly deploy when the ignition is on and the door is slammed or there is an impact with road debris.

CONSEQUENCE:

Air bags that unexpectedly deploy increase the risk of a crash or injury.

REMEDY:

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the air bag control unit software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on December 14, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JV

2. AUTOMAKER: FCA

NO. OF AFFECTED CUSTOMERS:  284,089

SUMMARY:

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles manufactured March 29, 2003, to July 3, 2003, and 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured May 27, 2003, to May 20, 2004. Due to electrical noise beyond the tolerance of the air bag electronic control module (ECM), a component in the ECM may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the vehicle is being operated.

CONSEQUENCE:

Inadvertent deployment of the air bags may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.

REMEDY:

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag electronic control module and the front and/or side impact sensors, as necessary, free of charge. The replacement parts needed for this remedy are not expected to be available until the later part of 2016. Owners will be mailed an interim notification by the end of December 2015 and will be mailed a follow up notification when new air bag control modules are available. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R60.

3. AUTOMAKER: BMW 

NO. OF AFFECTED VEHICLES: 86,018

SUMMARY:

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2002-2005 MINI Cooper and Cooper S vehicles and 2005 Cooper and Cooper S Convertible vehicles. The affected vehicles may experience temporary or permanent loss of the electro-hydraulic steering assistance.

CONSEQUENCE:

If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist, extra steering effort will be required at lower speeds, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

REMEDY:

MINI will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the electro-hydraulic power steering system, replacing the components and wiring, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 1, 2015. Owners may contact MINI customer service at 1-866-825-1525.


4. AUTOMAKER: FCA

NO. OF AFFECTED VEHICLES: 75,574

SUMMARY:

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015 Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured October 1, 2014, to June 18, 2015. The affected vehicles may have a misrouted air conditioning suction/discharge hose.

CONSEQUENCE:

If the line is misrouted, it may contact the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

REMEDY:

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the routing of the air conditioning hose. Any hose that is misrouted will be replaced and installed correctly. This work will be performed free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R57.

4. AUTOMAKER: FCA

NO. OF AFFECTED VEHICLES: 65,760

SUMMARY:

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured June 17, 2015, to September 28, 2015. The affected vehicles may have been built with rear axles that were incorrectly heat treated.

CONSEQUENCE:

If the rear axle shaft was not properly heated treated, it may fracture and a wheel separation could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.

REMEDY:

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace the axle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R59

5. AUTOMAKER: Hyundai

NO. OF AFFECTED VEHICLES: 64,744

SUMMARY:

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 28, 2014, to August 21, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with an Antilock Braking System (ABS) warning light intended to warn the driver if there is an ABS malfunction. In the event of an ABS malfunction, the Brake System warning light will illuminate, but the ABS warning light will not illuminate. Since the vehicles have ABS malfunction lights that do not illuminate, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

CONSEQUENCE:

If the driver is alerted there is a brake system malfunction, but not specifically with the ABS system, the driver may operate the vehicle unaware that the vehicle's brakes may lock up during hard braking, increasing the risk of a crash.

REMEDY:

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control unit software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 11, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 134.