Recall Roundup: Detroit Three Announce Plethora of Recalls; Ford Sets Pace

During the past week, a slew of automakers issued safety recalls, affecting approximately 418,000 vehicles. Ford Motor Company accounts for about three-quarters of these recalls, the largest of which affects Ford Windstar vans from the 1998-2003 model years. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, General Motors, Honda, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Suzuki also issued recalls. Details for each recall are below, in alphabetical order by vehicle brand.

2016 Buick Enclave

2016 Chevrolet Traverse
2016 GMC Acadia
General Motors (GM) is recalling 29,295 model-year 2016 Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured August 18, 2015, to September 24, 2015. Due to a manufacturing defect, the windshield wiper motor may overheat when used.

GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the windshield wiper motor cover assembly free of charge. Owners are advised not to use their front windshield wipers until the wiper cover has been replaced. If weather conditions prevent operation of the vehicle without using the windshield wipers, GM will make arrangements to pick up the vehicle for servicing. The recall began on September 30, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15780; owners may also refer to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) campaign number 15V609000.

2006-2007 Buick Rainier

2006-2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
2006-2007 GMC Envoy
2006 GMC Envoy XL
GM is recalling 9,932 model-year 2006-2007 Buick Rainier, Chevrolet TrailBlazer, and GMC Envoy vehicles, as well as 2006 GMC Envoy XL and Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT vehicles. Fluid may enter into the driver's door master power window switch module, causing corrosion that could result in a short in the circuit board, causing window switches to become inoperative. Previously, the affected vehicles may have had their master power window switch module treated with a protective coating, instead of having it replaced. The protective coating may not eliminate the risk that the circuit board could short and result in a fire, even while the vehicle is unattended.

GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a new driver's door switch module free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15700; owners may also refer to NHTSA campaign number 15V599000.

2016 Chrysler Town & Country

2016 Dodge Grand Caravan
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is recalling a total of 1,624 model-year 2016 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan vehicles manufactured August 19, 2015, to August 27, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that attach the hood striker may loosen and, as a result, the hood may open unexpectedly while driving.

FCA will notify owners, and dealers will install new hood striker bolts with the proper torque free of charge. The recall is expected to begin November 6, 2015. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's recall number is R53; owners may also refer to NHTSA campaign number 15V595000.

2015 Fiat 500L

FCA is recalling 15 model-year 2015 Fiat 500L vehicles manufactured April 23, 2015, to May 10, 2015. The affected vehicles may be equipped with a passenger frontal air bag that was not folded properly during the assembly process. As a result, the air bag may not deploy as designed. In the event of a crash, if the air bag does not inflate as designed, the front-seat occupant is at an increased risk of injury. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208: Occupant Crash Protection.

FCA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module free of charge. The recall is expected to begin November 6, 2015. Owners may contact Fiat customer service at 1-888-242-6342. FCA's number for this recall is R54; owners may also refer to NHTSA campaign number 15V590000.

2001-2008 Ford Escape

2001-2008 Mercury Mariner
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling 57 model-year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3-liter or 3.0-liter engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with a rebuilt one. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning. If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear-selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position.

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28; owners may also refer to NHTSA campaign number 15V606000.

2016 Ford Explorer

2015 Ford Taurus
2015 Lincoln MKS
Ford is recalling 203 model-year 2015 Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKS, and 2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured on July 24, 2015. During vehicle production, the fuel tank attachment bolts may not have been properly tightened. As a result, the fuel tank straps may fracture and the fuel tank could separate from the vehicle.

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the fuel tank attachment bolts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S26; owners may also refer to NHTSA campaign number 15V605000.

2015 Ford F-150

Ford is recalling 33,481 model-year 2015 Ford F-150 trucks manufactured March 18, 2014, to August 6, 2015 and equipped with adaptive cruise control (ACC). While using the ACC, the vehicle may falsely detect an obstacle in its path and may unexpectedly apply the brakes. A vehicle that unexpectedly brakes increases the risk of a crash.

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the cruise control module with updated ACC radar software free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S29; owners may also refer to NHTSA campaign number 15V614000.

2016 Ford Fusion

2016 Lincoln MKZ
Ford is recalling 658 model-year 2016 Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured September 3, 2015, to September 13, 2015, and 2016 Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured September 3, 2015, to September 12, 2015. The affected vehicles have a fuel tank that may have insufficient wall thickness. As a result, the fuel tanks may crack in the event of a crash and thus the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS No. 301: Fuel System Integrity.

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C11; owners may also refer to NHTSA campaign number 15V618000.

1998-2003 Ford Windstar

Ford is recalling a total of 283,413 model-year 1998-2003 Windstar vehicles manufactured September 2, 1997, to July 3, 2003. The affected vehicles were previously remedied to safeguard against the rear axle cracking from corrosion; however, the remedy brackets may have been incorrectly installed. The incorrect bracket installations may limit the effectiveness of the service repair for NHTSA recalls 10V-385, 12V-193, and 12V-195. If the brackets were not installed properly, the rear axle may fracture.

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brackets to verify their proper installation. If a bracket is found to have been incorrectly installed, the rear axle will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S27; owners may also refer to NHTSA campaign number 15V608000.