Recall wrap: Airbag fault hits 24,000 Toyotas

Toyota has announced a wide-ranging recall for airbag sensors in a selection of Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold in Australia.

And this time it's not related to defective Takata airbags.

The vehicles affected are: Prius, Corolla Sedan, Fortuner and HiLux, as well as Lexus NX and RX models (2009 units affected). According to the importer, insulating layers could peel away from an integrated circuit embedded within the airbag system and associated with g sensors. This could result in the airbag warning light illuminating and frontal and side-curtain airbags deactivating. In total, the recall applies to nearly 24,000 Toyota vehicles, of which the vast majority are the HiLux. Production dates vary between the models affected, but range broadly from late June, 2015 to Christmas 2015.

Toyota will contact owners by mail to provide further information. Once the replacement parts are available, Toyota will contact owners again, requesting they arrange repairs through an authorised Toyota/Lexus dealer. Toyota expects the replacement parts to be available during the second quarter of this year (from April 1). Owners in need of additional information may contact the Lexus Customer Assistance Centre on 1800 023 009 or the Toyota Recall Support Line on 1800 987 366.

Mazda Australia is recalling 14,420 cars for a faulty parking brake. The vehicles in question are the Mazda2 hatch and sedan sold between April 28, 2016 and January 31, 2018. According to the importer, "engagement between the sector gear and ratchet may be suddenly lost while the parking brake is applied, potentially causing unexpected movement of the vehicle if parked on a slope." Mazda will mail owners of the affected vehicles once replacement parts are available. Owners may phone Mazda Customer Support on 1800 034 411 or email for further information.

Honda is extending its Takata airbag recall program for Accord Euro (5458 vehicles sold), Honda Jazz (4897 vehicles sold), the Jazz Hybrid (325 vehicles sold) and the Insight (43 sold). The recall extension specifically applies to the front-passenger airbag inflators fitted to vehicles sold in Australia between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013. Honda will directly contact owners of the affected vehicles to request they arrange repairs at the nearest servicing dealer as a matter of urgency. Owners who remain unsure whether their vehicle needs to be repaired can check on Honda's website or ring 1800 789 839 for further information.

Jaguar Land Rover Australia is contacting owners of Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Jaguar XE, XF, XJ and F-Pace, due to a fault in the virtual display instrument cluster in each vehicle. According to the importer, the cluster "goes blank intermittently". JLR Australia is mailing owners of the affected vehicles to arrange a time at the most convenient authorised servicing dealer for a software update.

According to JLR Australia, 958 Jaguars are subject to the recall, and 2206 Land Rovers.

Jaguar models subject to the recall notice are in the vehicle identification number ranges from: SAJBA4BN8HCY40352 to SAJBB4BNXJCY62727,
SAJWA2G7XG8W03265 to SAJAA2080H8W12765,
SAJAB4BV9JCP16864 to SAJAB4AX2JCP28129,
SADCK2BV3HA081291 to SADCA2BN3JA899998

Land Rover models are in VIN ranges from:
SALGA2EV6HA311572 to SALGW2FE4HA366599,
SALWA2EJ4HA112609 to SALWA2FK2HA691414

BMW has expanded an existing recall for its X5 and X6 SUVs. Sold in Australia between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013, the 2082 affected vehicles are fitted with Takata airbags on the driver's side. The Takata airbag may rupture and discharge metal fragments during deployment in a crash. This may shower the driver's face, causing injury and possibly death. Owners can check whether their vehicle is subject to the recall on a web page or by phone (1800 813 299).

An intercooler sleeve detaching from the throttle body is the subject of a recall for 1394 units of the Fiat Ducato van (290/295 2.3 F1A E6 Van). Symptoms are the engine warning light illuminating and a loss of power. FCA Australia will notify owners of affected vehicles and request they make arrangements with an authorised dealer for the fault to be rectified.

Like Honda, Lexus has expanded its Takata airbag recall program for the passenger-side airbag inflator. Vehicles affected are the 20 Series Lexus IS models, including 402 units of the IS250, 69 units of the IS250C, 200 of the IS350 and 28 of the IS-F. Lexus will contact owners of the vehicles concerned by mail, requesting the owners contact the nearest authorised servicing dealer to replace the airbag.

Mercedes-Benz Vito and V-Class sold between May 1, 2015 and July 31, 2015 are being recalled to ensure the driver's airbag will not deploy without warning. This situation could arise out of an electrostatic discharge coinciding with improper grounding and a faulty or damaged steering column switch module. An airbag fault warning will display in the instrument cluster, should the module be faulty. Owners of the 381 affected vehicles are asked to arrange a dealer inspection and repair.

The local distributor of Aston Martin Lagonda cars advises that DB11 V12 and V8 coupes sold between August 31, 2016 and January 9, 2018 suffer from the same fault as Benz V-Class and Vito models – "inadvertent deployment of the driver's airbag". As for the Benz commercial vehicles, this may occur in the event of an electrostatic discharge taking place in a vehicle with a damaged steering column control module clock spring and inadequate grounding for the upper section of the steering column. The importer is contacting owners of the 91 affected vehicles by mail to request they arrange the repair of their DB11 coupes at a nearby servicing dealer.

Ateco Automotive has issued a recall notice for the Maserati Quattroporte (M156) GTS with V8 engine. A low-pressure fuel pump resistor is to be replaced for the 61 affected vehicles sold in Australia. The importer advises that the faulty resistor creates an open circuit in the wiring harness, potentially reducing engine power or even shutting down the engine altogether. After the importer has contacted them, owners are requested to arrange a servicing dealer inspection and repair.

Renault's Master III van is the subject of a recall notice for a fuel filter strap that may break. This will cause excess noise from the engine compartment and could be a fire hazard if the fuel leaks. Only 20 vehicles are affected, the importer advises, and owners will be contacted by mail to arrange an inspection and repair at the nearest authorised Renault dealer.

Mercedes-Benz has also announced a recall of the A-Class sold during the month of July 2017. Only seven vehicles are affected by the recall, which will address the bonding on the lower edge of the windscreen, on the passenger side. According to the importer, the windscreen may not hold fast in the event of a crash, and the front-passenger airbag may not deploy correctly as a consequence. Owners are advised to contact the nearest authorised Mercedes-Benz dealer to have the windscreen checked and repaired.

FCA Australia is recalling two RAM pick-ups from 2010, imported privately. Owners of the vehicles, a RAM 2500 and RAM 3500, are asked to arrange a service at the nearest authorised Dodge dealer to have a locking pin replaced for the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock. The locking pin can remain in the open position, allowing the transmission to be shifted out of Park without applying brake pedal pressure and without the key in the ignition lock barrel. This could result in the vehicle rolling freely and crashing. FCA will advise the owners as soon as the parts become available.