Subaru, Nissan, Audi, VW recalls underway

SUBARU, Nissan, Audi and Volkswagen have separately recalled a combined 23,283 vehicles over the past eight days – the vast majority of them SUVs.

More than 4300 MY19 Subaru Foresters are subject to a recall to replace a potentially faulty positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve.

According to the recall notice issued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the part in question may fracture over time and allow the engine to draw oil.

Subaru Australia corporate affairs manager David Rowley said excessive smoke and a loss in power could be a result of the defect, which has prompted the call-back to dealerships where repairs are expected to take just 15 minutes.

“The likelihood of these symptoms occurring is extremely low,” he said.

“The recall rectification procedure consists of replacing the PCV valve from an aluminium type to steel.

"Potentially affected customers will be contacted in the near future by Subaru Australia ... all work will be conducted free of charge by any authorised Subaru dealer.”

Nissan Australia, meanwhile, has extended its recall of 6076 MY17 and MY18 V6 Pathfinders to replace a faulty actuator in the anti-lock braking system (ABS).

The ACCC notice explains that an oil seal inside the actuator may leak brake fluid and has the potential to create an electrical short in the actuator circuit, potentially starting a fire while driving.

Replacement parts will not be available until the middle of next year – the telltale sign being the constant illumination of an ABS warning light on the instrument cluster.

In a statement released this week, Nissan said it was committed to the safety, security and satisfaction of its customers and their passengers.

“Once parts availability is confirmed, owners will receive a notification letter asking them to bring their vehicle to an authorised Nissan dealer to have the remedy work completed at no cost for parts or labour,” the company said.

The lion’s share of the recent recalls belong to Audi, with the German prestige brand recalling 11,140 Q5 SUVs manufactured between 2016 and 2019 to rectify “incorrectly fastened wheelarch covers”.

According to the ACCC notice, the wheelarch covers could work loose over time and “may detach from the vehicle and pose an accident risk to road users”.

Audi Australia is currently contacting owners of the affected vehicles and encouraging others to contact their nearest dealership to arrange an inspection and subsequent repair – the defective clips will be replaced with improved versions.

Volkswagen Group Australia is also recalling 1765 Tiguans and Passat CCs to replace a condenser inside the airbag control unit.

The units fitted to the affected MY16-17 Tiguans and MY15 Passat CCs have the potential to deactivate the airbags or inadvertently activate them and/or the seatbelt pretensioners, mistaking the faulty condenser as a crash signal.

Volkswagen is currently contacting the affected owners and will replace the defected parts free of charge.