More Australian recalls announced

Four individual vehicle manufacturers have announced separate low-volume recalls in Australia this week.

Ford, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot have each issued notices with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, on a range of issues including headlights that inadvertently switch off along with stalling engines.

Peugeot also issued a notice for May 2014 to December 2015-built 4008 SUVs fitted with the brand’s continuously variable transmission (CVT). The automatic “may experience a delay in the vehicles acceleration,” the manufacturer says, with the fault creating potential cause for an accident. Some 1500 vehicles are affected.

Ford has issued a recall for 579 Mondeo models built between October 16, 2014 and December 22, 2015. The issue involves the vehicle’s adaptive LED headlights, which are prone to switching off inadvertently because of a software error within the Headlight Control Module (HCM).

In the event of the headlights switching off unexpectedly, affected Mondeo owners are advised to deploy their hazard warning lights and pull over where possible, before turning the ignition off and on again. A full rectification is available via local dealerships.

Over at Mercedes-Benz, 198 E-Class vehicles have been recalled over concerns the engine is prone to stalling. The reported culprit is a faulty fuel pump wiring harness, which may come in contact with the frame of the rear seat base.

Mercedes-Benz says if the fault occurs, operation of the fuel system may be affected, triggering an engine stall in the worst case scenario. Affected E-Class models were built between October 1, 2015 and August 31, 2016.

Meantime, Jaguar has recalled a total 36 F-PACE SUVs over the routing of the starter motor cable. The British car maker says MY17 models built between March 3 and June 15 and fitted with the marque’s 3.0-litre diesel engine are susceptible to the fault, which in extreme circumstances could cause an under-bonnet fire.

“If the starter motor cable is in contact with, or in close proximity to the engine mounting, the vibration of the engine can cause the outer sheathing of the cable to wear through, exposing the wires,” a notice on the ACCC website said.

“The continued use of the vehicle with exposed wires may cause subsequent arching and a short circuit that could result in illumination of a warning light on the instrument panel, possible vehicle stalling, melting of the battery cable sheathing and surrounding parts that could lead to smoke from under the bonnet and in extreme circumstances, an under-bonnet fire.”

Owners affected by any of the recalls are urged to contact their nearest respective dealer for more information.