Recall wrap: Holden updates Takata campaign

Holden, Audi and Ferrari have all announced new or extended recall campaigns to fix defective Takata airbags in the 10 days since the last recall wrap.

The GM brand has extended an existing campaign for the Holden Trax, Holden Barina and Holden Cruze to cater for vehicles registered in Queensland, the Northern Territory and West Australia. Collectively, over 40,000 more vehicles of the type are subject to the extended recall campaign, with nearly 26,000 located in Queensland and NT, plus over 14,500 registered in WA. The recall notice applies to the driver's airbag in each vehicle.

According to Holden, the vehicles to be rectified are MY2013 Holden Trax, MY2012-2013 Holden Barina and MY2010-2013 Holden Cruze. Owners are advised to contact the nearest authorised servicing dealer to have the airbag replaced.

Holden is also conducting a national recall for cars sold by Holden and built by Opel during the years 2012 to 2017. As with the Trax, Barina and Cruze, the Takata airbags were all fitted on the driver's side. The vehicles concerned are the Opel Astra for MY2012-2013, the Holden Astra for MY2014-2017, the Opel/Holden Cascada for MY2014-2017 and the MY2013 Opel Zafira. Just under 4800 vehicles are subject to this recall notice.

Audi is recalling 26,150 vehicles for driver-side Takata airbag replacement. The vehicles at risk are the A3, the A4 Cabriolet, the A4 and A5 Cabriolet sold in Australia between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2013. Audi recommends vehicle owners contact the nearest servicing dealer to have the airbag replaced.

In addition to the on-going Takata campaign, Audi is also recalling the A4, A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 for a potentially faulty heater element the car's air conditioning system. The vehicles to be repaired were manufactured between April 2011 and May 2015. In all, over 14,400 vehicles are subject to the recall notice.

Fiat Chrysler Automotive Australia has announced it will recall the Fiat 500X for the 2015 to 2018 model years. Over 1800 vehicles are being recalled to address a defective rear-seat latch, which could allow the seat to tip forward in the event of a crash. This would also reduce the effectiveness of an ISOFIX child safety seat.

The importer will advise vehicle owners as soon as replacement parts are available, at which time the owners can contact an authorised servicing dealer to the new parts fitted. According to FCA Australia, the replacement parts are due around the end of September.

Mercedes-Benz Australia is contacting 173 owners of the 'White Art Edition' variants of the A-Class, GLA and CLA models concerning the top-tether anchorage point for the centre/rear seat position. During the production process, the anchorage point was not installed on vehicles sold in Australia between July 3, 2017 and November 28, 2017. The importer recommends vehicle owners make contact with the nearest servicing dealer to book a time for repair.

Benz is also contacting five local owners of C-Class and E-Class vehicles sold during May 2018 for incorrectly installed panelling that could make contact with the exhaust on the left side of the vehicle. During 'full-load operation' the defect may pose a fire hazard. The importer advises vehicle owners arrange inspection and repair at the nearest Mercedes-Benz servicing dealer.

The local distributor for the Ferrari brand is recalling the California, 458 Spider, F12 Berlinetta, FF and 458 Italia for Takata airbags fitted on the passenger side of each vehicle. According to the importer, the 100 vehicles subject to the recall are MY13 models sold between September 3, 2012 and August 3, 2013. Owners are advised to contact the nearest servicing dealer to have the airbag replaced.

Faulty welds in the front lower control arms of the Ford EcoSport built between May 3, 2017 and June 10, 2017 have prompted a recall for 49 vehicles. Ford Australia is contacting the vehicle owners and recommends owners arrange an inspection and repair at the nearest authorised dealer at the earliest opportunity.

FCA Australia is also recalling two examples of the Jeep KL Cherokee for a faulty bearing cage in the half-shaft assembly that could result in a loss of power and possibly cause a crash if left unrepaired. The defect may prevent the vehicle from remaining stationary when the transmission is shifted to 'Park'. Owners will be informed as soon as replacement parts are available.