Some automobile recalls are for relatively minor mechanical defects that are easily fixed. However, anything to do with the auto safety features is potentially very serious.
In the December 2016 automobile and component recall report issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), listed 18 recall notices involving defective airbags. Defects involving these vital safety devices require immediate attention.
Is the airbag system in your vehicle recall? Does another electrical or mechanical system in your vehicle pose a serious risk? Find out by visiting NHTSA’s recall search page and entering the model, make and year of your vehicle.
If you or a loved one has suffered harm in a motor vehicle accident due to a defective airbag system, you may be able to claim compensation for your financial losses, pain and suffering, and other losses. You should speak with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
Defective airbag recalls in December 2016
These are the vehicle recall notices involving defective airbag systems that appear in NHTSA’s December 2016 report:
General Motors is recalling certain 2017 Malibu vehicles manufactured on November 10, 2016. The right-hand rear side air bag inflator manifold may have insufficient welds. Insufficient welds could cause the inflator to separate and propel air bag debris into the cabin during a crash. Also, the inflator could fail to inflate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear side air bag
modules, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM’s number for this recall is 16146.
Mercedes-Benz is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 GL350 4Matic Bluetec, GL550 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE43 AMG Coupe, GLE450 4Matic, 2016 GLE300d 4Matic, GLE350, GLE350d 4Matic, GLE400 4Matic, GLE550e 4Matic, GLE63 AMG, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLE63S AMG 4Matic Coupe, and 2017 GLS63 AMG vehicles manufactured April 23, 2014, to May 10, 2016. The front passenger seat Occupant Classification System (OCS) calibration may be incorrect, and as a result, the system can incorrectly classify the occupant as a child seat, deactivating the front passenger air bag. If the front passenger air bag does not deploy as necessary in the event of a crash, the front passenger has an increased risk of injury. MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2016 Avalon, and 2017 Camry vehicles manufactured August 3, 2016, to September 12, 2016. The front passenger knee air bag module may have been attached to the lower instrument panel with incorrect fasteners. If the air bag was installed with incorrect fasteners, the fasteners may become loose over time, affecting the air bag deployment and increasing the risk of injury. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fasteners, and if necessary, replace the instrument panel brace and body bracket and reattach the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in February 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331- 4331. Toyota’s number for this recall is G05.
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2017 RAM ProMaster vehicles manufactured October 1, 2016, to December 7, 2016. The seat mounted side air bag inflator initiator may fail to ignite during a crash. If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat mounted side air bags, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 28, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler’s number for this recall is S96.
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima vehicles manufactured January 3, 2013, to July 29, 2013, 2015-2016 Rogue vehicles manufactured October 14, 2014, to August 12, 2016, and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured June 4, 2015, to August 19, 2015. An incorrect Occupant Classification System (OCS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have been installed in the front passenger seat. The incorrect ECU and seat combination may misclassify the front passenger seat occupant. If the front passenger seat occupant is misclassified, the air bag may deploy incorrectly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ECU and update the OCS software free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by February 12, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
BMW is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash. If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2017 S60 and S60 Cross Country, V60 and V60 Cross Country, and XC60 vehicles manufactured August 16, 2016, through October 21, 2016. The affected vehicles have driver and front passenger seat side mounted side air bags (SAB) with inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, “Occupant Crash Protection” and number 214, “Side Impact Protection.” If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury. Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the front seat side air bags, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo’s number for this recall is R89712.
Daimler Vans is recalling certain model year 2017 Mercedes-Benz Metris Vans manufactured September 9, 2016, to September 28, 2016. The affected vehicles have a passenger air bag that may have been manufactured with an incorrect Tether Activation Unit (TAU). As a result, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, the air bag may not vent properly. An improperly vented air bag may not protect the front passenger as expected, increasing the risk of injury. DVUSA will notify owners, and authorized Mercedes-Benz Sprinter dealers will replace the front passenger air bag, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 8, 2017. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267.
Toyota is recalling one 2016 Toyota 4Runner vehicle manufactured November 1, 2016 and one 2017 Lexus GX460 vehicle manufactured November 16, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with Takata PSPI-LD front passenger air bag inflators that may have been manufactured without ignition booster tablets. As a result, in the event of a crash, the air bag may not fully inflate during deployment of the primary stage. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, “Occupant Crash Protection.” The improper inflation of the passenger air bag may increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash. Toyota dealers have replaced the passenger side air bag modules, free of charge. Toyota notified the affected dealers on December 15, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331- 4331. Toyota’s number for this recall is G06, GLR.
Nissan is recalling certain 2017 Infiniti QX30 vehicles manufactured August 11, 2016, to September 27, 2016. The affected vehicles have a passenger air bag inflator initiator that may fail to ignite during a crash, preventing the air bag from deploying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, “Occupant Crash Protection.” A passenger air bag that fails to deploy in the event of a crash can increase the risk of injury. Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag assembly, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Jaguar Land Rover is recalling certain 2016 Land Rover Range Rover and Range Rover Sport vehicles and 2017 Range Rover Evoque vehicles. The affected vehicles have a front passenger air bag inflator initiator that may fail to ignite during a crash, preventing the air bag from deploying. In the event of a crash of sufficient severity, the front passenger air bag may not deploy as required, increasing the risk of injury. Land Rover will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover’s number for this recall is P094.
Jaguar Land Rover is recalling certain model year 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport vehicles and 2016-2017 Land Rover Range Rover and Range Rover Sport vehicles. The affected vehicles have seatbelt pretensioners that may not function properly in the event of a crash. If the front seat seatbelt pretensioners do not function properly, the seat occupants may not be adequately restrained in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Land Rover will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat belt assemblies, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover’s number for this recall is P095.
Jaguar Land Rover is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Jaguar XJ vehicles manufactured September 12, 2016, to October 26, 2016. The affected vehicles have a front passenger air bag inflator initiator that may fail to ignite during a crash, preventing the air bag from deploying. In the event of a crash of sufficient severity, the front passenger air bag may not deploy as required, increasing the risk of injury. Jaguar will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Jaguar customer service at 1-800-452-4827. Jaguar’s number for this recall is J080.
Porsche is recalling certain model year 2017 718 Boxster, 718 Boxster S, 718 Cayman, 718 Cayman S, 911 Carrera, 911 Carrera S, 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, 911 Carrera 4S, 911Turbo, 911 Turbo S, 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet, and 911 Turbo Cabriolet vehicles. The seat mounted side air bag inflator initiator may fail to ignite during a crash. If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the side air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash. Porsche will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bag modules, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Porsche customer service at 1-800-767-7243. Porsche’s number for this recall is AG10.
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009 Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen vehicles manufactured January 17, 2007, to December 18, 2008, and 2010 RAM 3500 cab chassis manufactured September 25, 2009, to February 1, 2010. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will replace the driver’s frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 11, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler’s number for this recall is S92. Note: This recall covers vehicles that were accidentally excluded from recall 15V-313.
Chrysler is recalling one model year 2017 RAM ProMaster City vehicle manufactured on November 5, 2016. This vehicle has side curtain air bags that may not inflate properly in the event of a crash. If the side curtain air bags do not inflate properly, the vehicle occupants are at an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash. Chrysler has notified the owner, and a dealer inspected the side curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler’s number for this recall is S95.
Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2017 Audi Q7, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, and 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners may not activate properly. In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury. Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2017 Hyundai Elantra vehicles manufactured April 15, 2016, to September 13, 2016, and Sonata vehicles manufactured May 27, 2016 to September 16, 2016. In these vehicles, the end seal for the driver’s frontal air bag inflator may not have been properly installed, possibly resulting in reduced inflation of the frontal air bag in the event of a crash. In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not inflate fully increases the risk of injury. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver’s frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 13, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai’s number for this recall is 156.