Recall Mondays: BMW, Chrysler, Ford, Mazda And Mitsubishi Are In The Hot Seat

1. AUTOMAKER: BMW

NO OF AFFECTED CUSTOMERS: 140,669

SUMMARY:

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2004-2005 325i, 325xi, 330i, and 330xi Sedans; model year 2004-2005 325i Sportswagons; model year 2004-2006 330Ci, 325Ci, 325i, and M3 Convertibles; and model year 2004-2006 325i, 330i, and M3 Coupe vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

CONSEQUENCE:

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the vehicle occupants.

REMEDY:

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began December 1, 2014 for those vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands. All other affected owners will be notified on, or about, February 1, 2015. Owners may contact BMW Customer Relations at 1-800-525-7417.

2. BRAND: Chrysler, Dodge and Mitsubishi

NO. OF AFFECTED CUSTOMERS: 2.9 Million

SUMMARY:

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2005-2007 Dodge Ram 2500, Charger, Magnum, Dakota, Chrysler 300, 300C, SRT8, 2006-2007 Dodge Ram 3500 and Mitsubishi Raider, and 2007 Chrysler Aspen. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

CONSEQUENCE:

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the vehicle occupants.

REMEDY:

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Some of the vehicles included in this recall were recalled under safety recall 14V-354, and that addresses vehicles sold, or currently registered, in Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Owners of those vehiicles were notified earlier in December 2014. Chrysler has not determined a date for notifying the remaining owners of vehicles included in this national recall campaign. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P81. Note: This recall supersedes, in part, safety recall 14V-354 as to the driver's air bag inflators on the vehicles included in this recall.

3. AUTOMAKER: Mazda

NO. OF AFFECTED VEHICLES: 330,000

SUMMARY:

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6, and 2004-2008 RX-8 vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

CONSEQUENCE:

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the vehicle occupants.

REMEDY:

Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began October 17, 2014 for those vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in Florida, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. All other affected owners will be notified by mid-February 2015. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 7914J. Note: This recall previously included vehicles being recalled for potential inflator ruptures on passenger frontal air bag inflators. Those inflators and vehicles are now covered by safety recall 14V-773.

4. BRAND: FORD

SUMMARY:

Ford Motor Company, (Ford) is conducting a regional recall for certain model year 2004-2005 Ford Ranger and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa, as well as certain areas of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia, are included. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

CONSEQUENCE:

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the vehicle occupants.

REMEDY:

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in the latter part of January 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S28. NOTE: This recall supersedes, in part, safety recall 14V-343 as to the front passenger air bag inflators only. The driver's air bag inflators will continue to be addressed by that recall.

5. BRAND: Dodge 

NO OF AFFECTED CUSTOMERS: 256,956

SUMMARY:

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 trucks manufactured January 28, 2004, to August 3, 2005. In the affected vehicles, the rear axle pinion nut may loosen due to an undersized spline on the pinion gear.

CONSEQUENCE:

If the pinion nut loosens, the rear axle may seize, and/or the driveshaft may detach resulting in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

REMEDY:

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a retention feature to the pinion nut, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 13, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P77.

6. AUTOMAKER: Ford

NO OF AFFECTED CUSTOMERS: 462,911

SUMMARY:

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Mustang vehicles manufactured August 1, 2004, to June 30, 2007, and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles manufactured February 11, 2005, to January 30, 2006. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

CONSEQUENCE:

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the vehicle occupants.

REMEDY:

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14B09. NOTE: This recall supersedes, in part, safety recall 14V-343 as to the front driver air bag inflators in 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles only. The driver's air bag inflators in 2004-2005 Ford Rangers originally sold, or ever registered in, certain hot and humid locations will continue to be addressed by that recall.