Subaru, FCA, Mercedes, Porsche, HSV issue recalls
BY ROBBIE WALLIS | 30th Jul 2018
SUBARU, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, HSV and a number of brands under the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) umbrella have issued recalls through the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) product safety website.
Subaru has recalled 21,870 examples of its Impreza small car built between 2008 and 2010, as well as 29,442 of its Liberty and 20,674 of the Outback built from 2004 to 2009, due to a defective fuel pump wiring harness.
The fault stems from the fuel pump harness connector, which may deteriorate over time and lead to non-operation of the fuel pump, potentially leading to extended engine cranking time on start up, no engine start or even engine stalling.
Mercedes-Benz has called back 11 examples of its Sprinter large van sold between October and November last year, due to spot welds on the front side wall joining the door frame with the hinge reinforcements, which may not have been applied.
The fault, which can affect either the driver’s or passenger’s side door, can compromise the crash safety of the car, therefore increasing the chance of injury in an accident.
Also recalled were 77 examples of the brand’s V-Class people-mover, due to the wiring loom fasteners under the front seats potentially coming undone from swivelling.
This can cause the wiring loom to detach, increasing the risk of an accidental side airbag inflation, which will lead to the airbag not deploying properly in the event of an accident.
Additionally, 53 examples of the GLE250 large SUV built between May and July 2017 have been called back due to the incorrect manufacture of transmission oil lines.
This can lead to both power loss for the vehicle and oil leakage onto the road, which which can increase the risk of an accident for other road users. If the leaked oil comes into contact with hot parts of the exhaust system, it can also result in a fire.
FCA has recalled a number of vehicles due to a fault in the power control module, which can affect the cruise control and cause unexpected acceleration or the set speed being locked.
If the driver fails to brake or shift the car to neutral, it can lead to a crash without warning.
Affected vehicles include 6234 examples of the Dodge Journey/Fiat Freemont built from 2014 to 2016, 1941 of the Chrysler 300 sedan from 2014 to 2018 and 24,712 Jeep Grand Cherokees built from 2014 to 2018.
Porsche Cars Australia has issued a callback for 17 examples of its second-generation Panamera sedan, due to faulty connecting links on the rear anti-roll bar, which the manufacturer says cannot be guaranteed over the service life of the vehicle.
If the faulty parts break, it can lead to suspension damage and a reduction in vehicle handling.
And finally, HSV has recalled six examples of the new imported Chevrolet Silverado pick-up, due to incorrectly torqued seatbelt buckles for the rear right and centre seats.
This may lead to incorrect seatbelt operation in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Owners of all vehicles will be contacted by the manufacturer, where they can arrange a fix at their nearest dealer, free of charge.
Customers looking for additional information including affected VIN numbers can go to the ACCC’s product safety website.
