Recall Roundup: Toyota Recalls Camry, Highlander, RAV4 Vehicles to Fix Electric Power Steering

During the past week, approximately 215,000 vehicles were recalled by various manufacturers. Toyota Motor accounted for more than half of this number, recalling vehicles from the 2012-2015 model years. Details for each recall are below, in alphabetical order by vehicle brand.

2014-2015 BMW X5

BMW of North America (BMW) is recalling 46 model-year 2015 BMW X5 xDrive 35d Sports Activity Vehicles (SAV) manufactured August 19, 2014, to February 16, 2015, and 2014-2015 BMW X5 xDrive 35i, X5 sDrive 35i, and X5 xDrive 50i Sports Activity Vehicles (SAV) manufactured August 28, 2013, to February 16, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Head Protection System (HPS) air bag may not be securely connected to the air bag inflator gas generator. Without a secure connection to the inflator, the HPS air bags may have insufficient inflation during a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Head Protection System free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 1, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417, and may refer to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) campaign number 15V147000.

2015 Buick Encore

2015 Chevrolet Trax

General Motors (GM) is recalling 2,295 model-year 2015 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured November 27, 2014, to February 24, 2015, and 2015 Chevrolet Trax vehicles manufactured November 18, 2014, to February 17, 2015. The steering column assembly housing may contact the power steering printed circuit board, causing the circuit board to wear. The circuit board wear may cause a sudden loss of electric power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the steering column assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15168; owners may also refer to NHTSA campaign number 15V146000.

2011-2013 Chevrolet Volt

GM is recalling 50,236 model-year 2011-2013 Chevrolet Volt vehicles manufactured August 25, 2010, to June 26, 2013. If the driver exits the vehicle without turning off the electrical system, the battery may drain low enough that the gasoline engine will automatically start itself to recharge the electric battery. If the engine runs for an extended period of time in an enclosed space, carbon monoxide may build up, increasing the risk of personal injury.

GM will notify owners, and dealers will update at no charge to the consumer the engine-management software to limit the time that the stationary vehicle can be left in the "On" position. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14617; owners may also refer to NHTSA campaign number 15V145000.

2012-2015 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Mercedes-Benz USA (Mercedes) is recalling a total of 30,141 vehicles, including model-year 2015 CLS 400 and CLS 400 4Matic; 2012-2015 CLS 550 and CLS 550 4Matic; 2012-2013 CLS 63; 2014 CLS 63; and 2014-2015 CLS 63P. The affected vehicles have LED taillights that may not light on the sides, reducing the rear side visibility of the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108: Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment. Reduced rear side marker illumination may prevent other drivers from seeing the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Mercedes will notify owners, and dealers will update the lighting controller software free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Mercedes customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Mercedes' number for this recall is 2015030005; owners may also refer to NHTSA campaign number 15V137000.

2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 4Matic, C400 4Matic

Mercedes is recalling 3,039 model-year 2015 C300 4Matic and C400 4Matic vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to July 25, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the fuel-delivery module may be improperly secured to the fuel tank. Secondly, electrical wires that connect to the fuel-delivery module might have been pinched between the flange of the fuel-delivery module and the tank. If the locking plate is not properly secured to the fuel-delivery module it may become loose, and leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire. If the electrical wires are pinched, the fuel pump may stop working, resulting in a stall, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Mercedes will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles for improperly secured locking plates and pinched wires, correcting the vehicles as necessary, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Mercedes customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Mercedes' number for this recall is 2015030004; owners may also refer to NHTSA campaign number 15V138000.

2015 Toyota Camry, Camry Hybrid

2015 Toyota Highlander, Highlander Hybrid

2014-2015 Toyota RAV4

Toyota Motor (Toyota) is recalling a total of 110,085 model-year 2015 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, and 2014-2015 RAV4 vehicles. A component of the electric power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. Over time, this damage may result in failure of the electric power steering system.

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number of the EPS ECU or steering column assembly. If the number is within the affected range, the EPS ECU will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in April 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, and may refer to NHTSA campaign number 15V144000.

2012-2014 Toyota RAV4 EV

Toyota is recalling 2,497 model-year 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. Due to a software issue within a component of the Electric Vehicle Traction Motor Assembly, the electric propulsion motor may shift to "neutral," resulting in a possible loss of drive power, which could increase the risk of a crash.

Toyota will notify owners beginning in April 2015. The remedy is still under development, but will be provided free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, and may refer to NHTSA campaign number 15V143000.

2012-2015 Toyota Yaris

Toyota is recalling 16,582 model-year 2012-2015 Yaris vehicles manufactured August 31, 2011, to February 9, 2015, and sold in Puerto Rico. The affected vehicles may have been manufactured with a roof headliner that does not provide the proper occupant protection in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS No. 201: Occupant Protection in Interior Impact.

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the headliner free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in mid-April 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, and may refer to NHTSA campaign number 15V134000.