As the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration continues to look into Tesla’s Autopilot system in order to learn more about how safe the technology is, regulators also stay busy with the launch of several auto recalls.
According to officials, at least two major automakers have launched three auto recalls that should not be ignored since impacted vehicles are popular nationwide.
The first auto recall consumers should pay attention to was launched by Toyota.
According to the NHTSA, over 482,000 units of the 2010 through 2012 Toyota Prius, 2010 and 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, and 2011 and 2012 Lexus CT200h vehicles have been fitted with curtain shield air bag inflators that may experience issues due to a possible weld crack. If that’s the case, one or both portions of the inflator may eject into the passenger cabin. If that occurs, the risk of injury may be high.
Toyota has announced that recalled vehicle owners will be contacted after July 25. All recalled vehicle owners should be able to have their curtain shield air bags fitted with retention brackets to remedy the issue entirely or free. Consumers may wait until Toyota contacts them or they may reach out to Toyota directly.
The two other recalls launched recently impact only Ford vehicles.
According to the NHTSA, the first Ford recall impacts all units of the latest year make of the Ford Explorer and F-150 vehicles fitted with a manual recline driver’s seat. Since the vehicles may not meet important safety standards due to the fact that the seat back frames may have insufficient welds, the occupant may not be restrained correctly in the event of a crash. If that occurs, the occupant may experience injuries as a result.
Ford has indicated that all impacted vehicle owners will be contacted in August so the seat back frames are replaced if necessary.
Ford’s second recall impacts all units of the 2015 and 2016 Ford Electric vehicles manufactured between August 20, 2015 and April 13, 2016. These vehicles, the report shows, have differential pinion gear shafts that are part of the transmission that could fracture, causing a loss of motive power and loss of transmission park functions. These problems could lead to collisions.
Consumers with the recalled vehicles will be contacted after July 25. Once you’re contacted, the recalled vehicles will be inspected and the transmission differential assemblies will be replaced entirely for free.
If any of these recalls impacts one of your vehicles, make sure to have your car fixed immediately.
