Tesla recalls more than 14,000 cars in China over airbags

SHANGHAI, China - Tesla will recall 14,123 cars in China over airbags that contained parts made by now-defunct Japanese manufacturer Takata, the Chinese market regulator announced on Friday.

Tesla, which recently broke ground on a factory outside Shanghai, has said the move is part of an industry-wide global recall of parts made by Takata, which went bust in 2017 after its airbags were blamed for a number of deaths.

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Toyota recalls 1.7 million more autos in North America over airbag defects

NEW YORK -- Toyota on Wednesday announced a recall of 1.7 million vehicles in North America as part of a general effort to replace defective Takata airbags tied to some 20 deaths worldwide.

The Japanese auto manufacturer did not say whether it had been notified of injuries or serious incidents related to the latest recall.

The sprawling recall concerned 4Runner SUVs from model years 2010 to 2016, Corolla sedans and Matrix hatchbacks from 2010 to 2013 and Sienna minivans from 2011 to 2014.

The recall also involves Luxury Lexus models: ES 350 sedans (2010-2012), GX 460 SUVs (2010-2017), IS 250C and IS 350C convertibles (2010-2015), IS 250 and IS 350 sedans (2010-2013) and Lexus IS-F sedans (2010-2014).

Scion XB compacts from the 2010 to 2015 model years are also involved.

Dealerships will replace either the airbag inflators or entire airbag systems.

Last week, US automaker Ford recalled 953,000 vehicles to address Takata airbag problems.

This is Toyota's third large-scale Takata-related recall in 5 months. In November, the firm recalled 1.6 million vehicles worldwide.

US authorities in 2014 exposed the Takata airbag defect, which has since resulted in a series of massive recalls concerning at least 100 million units worldwide from multiple manufacturers.

About 20 people have died in accidents linked to the defect while the number of wounded is near 300.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the Takata matter concerns 34 million vehicles and 46 million airbags in the United States but this could rise to 70 million by the end of 2019.

Founded in 1933, Takata went of business in June 2017 because of the crisis. The company was finally acquired last April for $1.6 billion by the equipment maker Key Safety Systems, with the resulting entity renamed Joyson Safety Systems.

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BMW recalls over 1 million cars over exhaust system fire risk

FRANKFURT AM MAIN - German high-end carmaker BMW said Tuesday it would recall more than one million additional diesel cars, citing a problem with the exhaust system that "in extreme cases can cause a fire".

"In some diesel vehicles, glycol cooling fluid can leak" from a faulty component called the exhaust gas recirculation cooler, which can combine with other substances in the system to create the fire risk, the group said.

BMW said it was contacting sellers who would in turn get in touch with owners of the affected vehicles to arrange a checkup.

"The exhaust recirculation module will be checked and if there is a fault the parts will be exchanged," the group said.

BMW had in August announced a recall for Europe and some Asian countries of over 480,000 vehicles affected by the same problem, and issued an apology in South Korea after around 30 cars caught fire there this year.

It said Tuesday it had checked more diesel models and identified a "minimal risk" of fire in some of them.

The latest recall brings the total number of cars affected to some 1.6 million around the world.

Shares in BMW shed 1.4 percent to trade at 73.38 euros ($84.21) in Frankfurt by 11:45 am (0945 GMT), against a DAX index of blue-chip German shares down 2.1 percent.

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Hyundai, Kia to recall 240,000 vehicles in South Korea

Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors on Friday said they would recall 240,000 vehicles from South Korea after the transport ministry issued its first compulsory recall order over safety defects first flagged by a whistleblower.

The ministry also asked the prosecutor to investigate whether or not the automakers allegedly covered up the five flaws, which affect 12 models, including the Elantra, Sonata, Santa Fe, and Genesis.

This is the first time ever that the ministry ordered a compulsory recall of Hyundai and Kia vehicles, and comes after the automakers had rejected an earlier order for a voluntary recall, saying the defects did not compromise driving safety.

On Friday, Hyundai and Kia said they "accept the administrative order," adding: "There have been no reported injuries or accidents from the cited issues."

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Ford recalls F-250 pickups that could roll while in park

Ford Motor Co is recalling about 52,600 F-250 pickup trucks sold in the United States and Canada because the vehicles could roll after the driver moves the automatic transmission lever into park position, the company said on Saturday.

The recall, the third announced by Ford this week, affects 2017 model year F-250 vehicles powered by 6.2-liter gasoline engines and built in its Louisville, Kentucky, truck plant, it said in a statement.

Ford, the second-largest US automaker, also said it was unaware of any injuries or accidents associated with the latest issue.

The company said on Wednesday it was recalling 211,000 vehicles in North America to replace potentially faulty side door latches.

Another recall involves 230,000 vehicles that present a fire risk in the engine compartment. Ford said it had reports of 29 fires related to that issue but no injuries.

The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker had previously recalled nearly 4 million vehicles for door latch issues in six separate announcements since 2014, including 2.4 million vehicles recalled in late 2016.

(Reporting by Frank McGurty; Editing by G Crosse and Bill Trott)

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Mazda recalling 2.2 million vehicles over tailgate defect

Japanese automaker Mazda said Thursday it was recalling more than two million vehicles globally over a defect in their tailgates.

The recall covers about 400,000 vehicles sold in Japan and 1.8 million units exported overseas, according to a Mazda spokeswoman.

It affects six models including the popular CX-3 and CX-5 sport-utility vehicles.

No accidents or injuries have been reported over the issue -- paint was improperly applied to the tailgate which could lead to corrosion.

Separately the Hiroshima-based company recalled about 117,000 vehicles in Japan due to a diesel engine defect.

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Tesla recalls all Model S cars worldwide for seatbelt fix

NEW YORK, United States - Tesla said Friday it was recalling all 90,000 of its Model S luxury electric cars sold worldwide since 2012 after discovering a security problem with seatbelts.

The front seatbelts failed to correctly fasten, but no accidents or injuries had been reported as a result, Tesla said, in a blow to its stellar reputation.

In an email to customers, Tesla said it was ordering the recall as a "proactive" step after learning of a Model S in Europe with a front seatbelt "that was not properly connected to the outboard lap pretensioner."

"This vehicle was not involved in a crash and there were no injuries. However, in the event of a crash, a seatbelt in this condition would not provide full protection," the email said.

The notice said the company had inspected 3,000 vehicles and found no issues, but "we have decided to conduct a voluntary recall as a proactive and precautionary measure to inspect all front Model S seatbelts and make absolutely sure that they are properly connected."

Tesla's cars have been in high demand, despite a price tag of $70,000 and up, and the vehicles had won much praise -- until a recent Consumer Reports review which highlighted problems with the Model S.

Some analysts see Tesla's innovations as driving a new model for the auto sector, and predict it can grow from its small base into a major producer.

Tesla plans to unveil its Model 3 electric car aimed at less affluent buyers in March 2016.

Model 3, whose price is estimated at $35,000 -- half the cost of other Teslas -- is seen as key to expansion for the carmaker, which has a loyal following among well-heeled buyers.

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Porsche recalls close to 60,000 vehicles over leak

BERLIN, Germany - Porsche said on Friday it would recall close to 60,000 vehicles worldwide due to risks of engine leaks.

The luxury arm of beleaguered auto giant Volkswagen said the recall would apply to its Macan S and Macan Turbo models, which could be prone to leaks in a low-pressure fuel line in the engine compartment.

"This is a purely precautionary measure, as there have been no reports of accidents or injuries as a result of this concern," Porsche said in a statement.

A total of 58,881 cars will be recalled, including 21,835 in the US, 3,490 in Canada and 3,641 in Germany, the company said.

Owners of the affected vehicles will be contacted by local dealers, who will perform the estimated one-hour repair.

Porsche's mother company Volkswagen on Wednesday booked its first quarterly loss in more than 15 years in the wake of the global pollution-cheating scandal.

The German carmaker is facing probes in several countries after admitting it fitted 11 million diesel vehicles with software to cheat emissions tests.

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Toyota recalls 625,000 Prius cars, other hybrids globally

Toyota on Wednesday recalled 625,000 hybrid vehicles globally, mostly the Prius model favored by the eco-conscious including Hollywood celebrities, over a defect that can bring the car to an unexpected stop.

The Japanese automaker said the problem was linked to software that controls a power converter, similar to an issue last year that led to the recall of 1.9 million Prius cars -- Toyota's biggest ever for its signature petrol-electric vehicle.

Toyota, the world's biggest car maker, added that no accidents or injuries had been reported.

"In limited instances, the hybrid system might shut down while the vehicle is being driven, resulting in the loss of power, bringing the vehicle to stop," it said.

The latest call back affected the Prius V, which is also sold as the Prius Alpha and Prius+, as well as some Auris hybrid vehicles.

More than half the recalled vehicles were sold in Japan with most of the others in North America and Europe between May 2010 and November 2014.

The Prius was one of the first hybrid cars to go mainstream and was quickly adopted as a symbol of green technology, with the likes of actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz snapped behind the wheel.

Toyota has sold more than seven million hybrid cars globally since the debut of its Prius hybrid in 1997 in the first mass production of green cars.

It has roughly 30 hybrid models sold in more than 90 countries worldwide.

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Why Honda is recalling 4.89-M vehicles

TOKYO - Honda on Thursday said it is recalling 4.89 million vehicles over fears about airbag inflators that could explode, widening a global auto parts crisis linked to several deaths.

Japan's number three automaker announced the recall just a day after Toyota and Nissan said they were calling back a combined 6.5 million vehicles over fears about airbags made by embattled supplier Takata.

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Toyota, Nissan recall 6.5-M cars globally over exploding airbag fears

TOKYO - Toyota and rival Nissan on Wednesday announced the recall of about 6.5 million vehicles globally in the latest chapter of an exploding airbag crisis linked to at least five deaths.

The world's biggest automaker said its recall of five million vehicles affected 35 models globally produced between March 2003 to November 2007, while Nissan said its recall of 1.56 million vehicles worldwide was also due to faulty airbags made by embattled supplier Takata.

"This will affect many of our markets, including Japan, Europe and North America," a Nissan spokesman told AFP, adding that the explosion risk was among a range of problems seen in the defective airbags.

"There might be many factors. (But) we have seen risks that the metal casing for inflators can malfunction."

Nissan's recall affects a range of models produced between 2004 and 2008.

Both automakers said there were no reports of deaths or injuries linked to their latest airbag-linked recall.

The announcement comes after about 20 million vehicles produced by major automakers, including General Motors and Honda, were recalled because of the risk that their Takata-made airbags could improperly inflate and rupture, potentially firing deadly shrapnel at the occupants.

At least five deaths have been linked to the defect, with one US woman's death intially investigated as a murder due to her grisly injuries.

The scandal has seen Japan-based Takata -- one of the world's biggest airbag suppliers -- hit with lawsuits and regulatory probes.

Toyota said the latest recall affects 1.35 million vehicles sold in Japan, 637,000 sold in the United States and 1.26 million in Europe.

"We have been conducting various ongoing investigations regarding Takata-produced airbag inflators," it said in an email.

"Among the parts collected from the Japanese market, certain types of airbag inflators were found to have a potential for moisture intrusion over time. As a result, they could be susceptible to abnormal deployment in a crash."

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Nissan, Ford recall hundreds of thousands of cars

WASHINGTON - Nissan and Ford issued recalls of hundreds of thousands of cars Wednesday to address problem parts that could lead to injuries.

Nissan said it was calling in around 768,000 Pathfinders, Infiniti JX35s, QX60s and Rogues around the world to repair two problems.

On Pathfinders, Infiniti JX35s and QX60s of certain model years, the hood latch might not lock, potentially allowing it to spring open while the vehicle is moving.

For 2007 to 2014 Rogues, water, snow and salt leaking into the car could cause a short at a certain point of the wiring and potentially a fire, Nissan said.

Ford recalled nearly 205,000 Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKS and Ford Police Interceptor sedans from the 2010 to 2013 model years, saying the doors could open in a crash due to a problem with the handles.

In addition, Ford is recalling 16,000 2014 Transit Connect vans for incorrectly tightened seat-belt fasteners. The company said it knew of no injuries related to either problem.

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Japanese automakers recall 3-M vehicles globally for airbag

TOKYO - Japanese automakers on Monday recalled nearly three million vehicles worldwide over an airbag defect that could pose a fire risk.

Honda said it recalled about 2,033,000 vehicles which were produced between August 2000 and December 2005, including more than one million in North America and 668,000 in Japan.

Two other automakers -- Mazda and Nissan -- also recalled hundreds of thousands of vehicles over the same problem, which was also responsible for earlier recalls by Toyota.

Japan's Takata Corp., which made the airbag, noted its US subsidiary had manufactured the airbag, apologising for the problem and vowing to make its utmost efforts to prevent a recurrence.

"We apologise deeply for causing tremendous trouble and worries to client companies, users of our products and other people concerned," the company said in a statement.

Nissan recalled a combined 755,000 vehicles, including 128,000 in Japan and 627,000 overseas.

"In North America, 228,000 are on the recall list, with 7,000 in China," a Nissan spokesman said.

A Mazda spokeswoman said: "The recall will cover 11,832 vehicles at home and 147,975 units overseas, mainly in Europe and China."

Subject to Honda's recall are a total of 13 types of vehicles in Japan including popular Fit and Accord models.

Front passenger airbag inflators could have been assembled with an improperly manufactured propellant component, Japan's third largest automaker said.

That could cause the container of the inflator to rupture in the event of a crash, posing a fire risk or injuring passengers, it added.

The same problem has also caused top automaker Toyota to recall millions of vehicles globally.

Toyota has earlier said it acted as it received a complaint from a Japanese customer who said his passenger seat was burned from the defect.

Honda said the company had received no complaint or reports of injuries on its own.

Honda shares closed down 0.63 percent at 3,602 yen on the Tokyo Stock Exchange while Takata soared 2.87 percent to 2,111 yen.

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Toyota recalls 2.27-M vehicles globally over airbag defect

TOKYO - Toyota on Wednesday said it was recalling 2.27 million vehicles globally over an airbag system defect that could cause a fire, the latest in a series of callbacks by the world's biggest automaker.

The company, which has now recalled about nine million vehicles in the past two months, said the announcement covered about 20 models, including its Corolla sedan and Yaris subcompact.

The fire risk from the defect covers about 1.62 million cars abroad and 650,000 in Japan, Toyota said.

"There is a risk that the airbag container could break down and scatter around, which could cause fire or injuries," the carmaker said in a statement submitted to Japan's transport ministry on Wednesday.

It did not elaborate on details of the potential fire hazard, but a company spokesman in Tokyo said the automaker had received a complaint from a Japanese customer who said his passenger seat was burned due to the glitch.

The spokesman added that no serious injuries or accidents linked to the defect had been reported.

The callback comes after Toyota in April recalled 6.39 million vehicles globally over a string of problems, dealing another blow to the firm, whose reputation for quality and safety has been dented in recent years.

Despite record sales and bumper profits, Toyota has been fighting to protect its brand after earlier recalls involving millions of vehicles.

In March, it reached a deal to pay $1.2 billion to settle US criminal charges that it covered up a sticky pedal blamed for dozens of deaths.

US rival General Motors has also been sideswiped by accusations that it hid a decade-long ignition and airbag problem linked to 13 deaths.

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Toyota to recall over 70,000 Crown, hybrid cars

TOKYO - Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it will recall a total of 74,662 vehicles including five gasoline-powered models and two hybrid cars.

Subject to the recall are the Crown luxury car, the Mark X sedan, the Lexus GS350, the Lexus IS350C, and the Harrier and Kluger hybrids.

The automaker will also recall a total of around 290,000 vehicles exported overseas, it said.

In a report to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry, Toyota said the engines of the gasoline-powered models could stall due to a fault in a device controlling air intake.

As for the hybrid models, an electronic part in their hybrid systems could be damaged due to heat, causing motors and power generators to stop working.

No accidents have been reported so far.

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Honda recalls Pilot, Odyssey vehicles

MANILA, Philippines - Honda Cars Philippines, Inc.  on Monday announced a voluntary recall of some 171 Honda Pilot and Odyssey vehicles due to a potentially inappropriate installation of a rivet in the driver's front airbag.

The Honda Pilot and Odyssey vehicles were sold between June 2012 to January 2013.

According to Honda's findings, there are possibly some rivets that secure the driver's front airbag cover and bracket that were not installed properly. The affected airbags may not deploy properly upon collision.

Honda Philippines' announcement is part of a US recall of these vehicles. A manufacturing report showed potential inappropriate installation of driver airbag rivets of some 836,716 vehicles of Honda Pilot (Year models '09 to '13) and Odyssey (Year models'11 to '13) manufactured in the USA.

Honda said there have been no crashes or injuries reported related to this issue.

"HCPI is carrying out a proactive market action through the conduct of a voluntary recall. This action is in accordance to Honda's own standard even if there is no specific law in the Philippines that requires such an action. Honda still opts to do the recall as a matter of policy on worldwide customer satisfaction when it comes to quality of the product and safety of customers which are the top priorities," the company said.

Honda customers and owners will be notified through a phone call by Honda dealers and letters of notice sent on January 19.



Customers are requested to call their respective dealers for service appointment or call the Honda Hotline 1-800-1000-HONDA (46632) and (02) 857-7240 or email at customer_relations@hondaphil.com. They may also visit Honda Cars Philippines' website www.hondaphil.com  for inquiries and details of scheduling as well as the list of frame numbers of the identified vehicles.


 HCPI will inspect the driver's front airbag of the affected vehicles. Inspection of the units will take about 12 minutes. For affected vehicles, replacement of parts will take about 18 minutes only.

The inspection will start from today (January 21). Inspection and/or eventual replacement will be carried out in all 28 authorized dealers and 3 service centers nationwide.

Honda assured that Honda Jazz, City, Civic, Accord, CR-V and HR-V models are not affected by the recall.

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Subaru recalls 633,842 vehicles over faulty light

WASHINGTON - Japanese automaker Subaru could recall up to 630,000 cars and SUVs in the United States because of a faulty puddle light that could short-circuit, possibly sparking a fire, the firm said Thursday.

Subaru did not say whether it was aware of any accidents or injuries as a result of the defect, which affects certain 2006 to 2012 Legacy, Outback, Tribeca and Forester vehicles equipped with an optional accessory light.

"A short circuit can develop when either the puddle light or connector are exposed to an electrolytic moisture source (i.e. salt water) and it penetrates the circuit board of the puddle light or the pins of the puddle light connector," the company wrote in a notice to federal safety regulators.

"This may generate heat which may melt the plastic resulting in smoke or fire."

Subaru said the first complaint of "smoke and/or fire" was in 2007, adding that the company had made several changes to try to fix it.

After determining in a review begun in 2011 that the defect related to safety, the company ordered the recall. Affected vehicles will be equipped with an additional fused-harness, free of charge.

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