Surge of recalls impact Toyota, Land Rover, Nissan, Volvo, Lamborghini and Mercedes vehicles
Toyota Australia has recalled 1295 examples of the new 2020 Toyota Yaris and Yaris Cross due to a problem with the hybrid powertrain that could cause it to stop working – and dealers have been told not to hand over any models in stock to customers until the problem is rectified.
At the same time, Toyota has issued a separate recall for 2341 versions of the Toyota Yaris Cross due to a manufacturing defect with a rear seat belt anchor bracket.
According to the car-maker, the problem with the hybrid powertrain on the new Toyota Yaris light hatch and Yaris Cross light SUV relates to the “improper application of anti-corrosion oil on the transmission input damper” which is a component installed between the engine and transmission designed to reduce engine vibration and “supresses excessive input to the transmission”.
Toyota says the oil misapplication may cause abnormal slippage during rapid acceleration, which in turn could trigger a malfunction warning and force the hybrid system to shut down.
It relates to vehicles produced between October 2019 and September 2020 (inclusive) and requires the car to be left with the dealer for more than eight hours to replace the input damper free of charge.
The separate seat belt recall affects the Toyota Yaris Cross built between April 2020 and October 2020 (inclusive) and relates to improper manufacturing of the metal seat belt anchor bracket, leaving a sharp edge that could weaken the belt and cause it to break or fail to restrain the occupant in the event of a collision.
Toyota dealers will add a protective material on the bracket free of charge in a relatively quick fix that takes about 30 minutes.
In a more exclusive recall, Toyota has also called back three MY20 Toyota GR Supra sports cars that could have a manufacturing fault which causes the fuel tank to leak. You can click here for VIN numbers of affected models.
And in case you missed it, 24,000 examples of the top-selling Toyota HiLux and the related Toyota Fortuner were recalled earlier this month due to a potential fault with the brake booster that could increase vehicle stopping distances.
Full details for all Toyota recalls are available from the company’s helpline on 1800 987 366 (Mon-Fri 8:00am-7:00pm AEDT).
Land Rover, Nissan, Volvo and Lamborghini
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Australia has announced a recall for MY19 and MY20 versions of its Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque over potential electrical faults.
The recall affects 1729 vehicles across the two SUV model lines, all of which use mild-hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) technology.
According to the recall notice, an electrical overload in the 48V system may cause another component to short out, causing a battery warning on the instrument cluster. Occupants may notice a burning smell and/or smoke, and if enough oxygen is available it could cause a fire.
JLR says consumers will be contacted to organise a free repair. Click here to see if your model is affected.
Meanwhile, Nissan is recalling 11 examples of its hybrid-powered 2019 Nissan Pathfinder (R52), due to a potentially leaky CVT oil hose.
The Japanese manufacturer says that if oil leaks onto the exhaust manifold of the large SUV, a fire could occur. Nissan will contact owners to organise an inspection and replacement of the hose, if necessary. Click here for a list of vehicles affected.
Volvo hasn’t skipped this round of recalls either, calling back 958 examples of its Volvo V40 and V40 Cross Country models over potential cooling problems. The recall affects models built between 2015-2017 and fitted with Volvo’s four-cylinder diesel engine, with the fault likely to occur when the cooling system is refilled.
Volvo says air could become trapped in the cooling system, which may result in damage to engine components as well as being a fire risk. A VIN list of affected models can be found here, however the Swedish manufacturer says it will contact affected owners.
In another exclusive recall impacting 147 vehicles, Lamborghini is calling back the high-performance Lamborghini Urus SUV (MY2019-2020) over a fuel line connector clip.
The ‘quick connector’ may not meet the operating temperatures within the engine bay, which could cause it to soften and leak fuel. Lamborghini will contact owners for a free repair. Click here for a VIN list.
Mercedes-Benz
In other news, Mercedes-Benz has issued six recalls for seven different models this month, spanning the German brand’s A-Class small car to examples of its Sprinter large van.
The rear centre seat belt buckle in a total of 1564 MY19 and MY20 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class models may be buried too far into the seat cushion for passengers to reach it, meaning the passenger wouldn’t be properly fastened.
A total of 31 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class vehicles are also being recalled, due to potentially incorrect fastening of a control unit box within the engine bay. If the nuts come loose and the unit moves, connectors inside the box may cause the engine to cut out and/or safety systems could fail.
Similarly, seven examples of the Mercedes-Benz C 300e and GLC 300e (MY2019-2020) could also be left with electrical faults. Benz says shielding of a wiring harness may not be able to prevent electrical overload, meaning the vehicle could stall unexpectedly.
In a separate recall, rear spoilers could detach from 348 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class (MY20) vehicles, as the car-maker says the spoilers might not have been manufactured to the correct specification.
Elsewhere, the 2019-built Mercedes-Benz A-Class is being called in due to potentially overfilled dual-clutch transmissions.
The recall affects a total of 277 A-Class models, with Benz saying if the oil level is too high, it may foam up and cause the engine to stall or leak. It could also cause vehicles to exceed the maximum levels of CO2 and exhaust gas emissions.
Finally, 127 examples of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van (VS30) are being called in for a check of their brake hoses.
Mercedes-Benz says brake hoses at the front and rear axles may have been damaged during the production process and, if affected, could leak brake fluid, reducing the vehicle’s braking power.
Owners of Mercedes-Benz models affected by the above recalls are asked to contact their local retailer to have their vehicle inspected and/or repaired free of charge.
Keyword: Recall wrap: New Toyota Yaris and Yaris Cross recalled