A number of recalls were announced last week, with an estimated 1 million vehicles affected.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued several vehicle recalls affecting major car manufacturers like Ford, Chrysler, and Toyota.
Here is a rundown of the latest safety issues reported impacting popular models like Ford’s F-150 and Toyota’s RAV4.
Ford F-150
Over 870,701 Ford F-150 pickup trucks built from 2021 to 2023 are being recalled due to a fault in the electric parking brakes that can activate unexpectedly.
According to the NHTSA safety report dated July 21, the issue might stem from the electric parking brake wiring being damaged by abrasion over time, as certain units’ rear axle wiring harness bundles may be making contact with the rear axle housing.
This defect could lead to loss of vehicle control and a crash, although Ford reported not being aware of any accidents caused by the problem, according to USA Today.
Ford will take corrective action by installing protective tie straps and tape wraps and replacing the harness as necessary, all free of charge. Letters will be mailed to the owners of these models on September 11.
Ford Transit Connect
A separate recall has been issued for more than 112,000 Ford Transit Connect cargo vans due to an issue with front door latches.
The safety report filed on July 21 with NHTSA shows that units built between 2013 and 2016 might be affected.
Owners of these vehicles are asked to visit a Ford dealership to have the faulty latches replaced free of charge. A defective latch can prevent the door from closing properly or cause it to unlatch while the vehicle is in motion.
Notifications for this problem will be mailed out on August 28.
Ford Escape SUVs, Super Duty Pickups
Another Ford recall involves over 38,600 of its 2023 Escape SUVs and over 17,000 2023 Ford Super Duty vehicles due to an instrument panel malfunction.
The 2023 Super Duty models affected are the F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, and F-550 SD, according to the NHTSA report.
The instrument panels may not illuminate correctly because of improperly soldered joints, hindering drivers from seeing critical safety information.
A separate recall also flags another potential issue in certain 2023 Super Duty models related to the driver and front passenger door modules.
According to the report submitted on July 21, door modules on 1,339 of its 2023 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, and F-550 SD pickup trucks may reset, disabling the windows’ anti-pinch function, leading to a potential risk of injury.
Ford dealers will replace defective modules or instrument panels free of charge.
Chrysler Pacifica
Due to potential fuel leaks, Chrysler issued a recall of 967 of its 2023 Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid Electric minivans.
If a leak occurs, uncontained fuel in the engine compartment can lead to a fire, posing a risk to occupants and property.
To check and fix the improperly extruded fuel line free of charge, owners of these vehicles are asked to report to a licensed dealership.
Toyota RAV4
An estimated 195 vehicles are subject to a recall issued on July 20 by Gulf States Toyota.
2023 Toyota RAV4 SUVs outfitted with 17-inch black alloy wheels might have issues with the tire valve stem that could cause tires to underinflate.
To avoid any risk of a crash in relation to this defect, owners of these vehicles are asked to visit an authorized Toyota dealership for an inspection. The wheel valve stems and the load-carrying capacity modification labels will be replaced free of charge if deemed necessary, according to Toyota.
