Several automakers have issued new recalls or updated existing ones in recent weeks, affecting thousands of vehicles in Canada. Common issues include malfunctioning headlamps, faulty rear view cameras, defective power transfer units, and corroding brakes.
Here is a look at some of the vehicles affected by recalls this year.
Ford
Ford on Jan. 9 updated a recall it issued on Dec. 20 last year affecting 24,495 vehicles. The recall says the vehicles may see a possible failure of their high-pressure fuel pump, potentially causing the engine to run rough and lose power, increasing the risk of an accident. If the vehicle detects those issues in the engine, it may turn on the “check engine” light, the company said.
Ford says the vehicle could also experience a sudden loss of engine power while driving if the issue goes unaddressed.
Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified by mail and advised to visit a dealership to update the powertrain control module software.
The recall affects ten models from the 2020 to 2022 model years: F-250 Super Duty; F-350, F-450, and F-550 Chassis Cab and Super Duty models; and the F-600, F-650, and F-750 models.
The following day, Ford updated another recall, also issued on Dec. 20, affecting 8,825 vehicles. In this case, the risk relates to the high-voltage battery on some units.
Related Stories
The company says a problem inside those batteries can cause a short circuit, which could result in a loss of power to the wheels and increase the risk of a crash. The battery could also overheat, creating a fire risk even while the vehicle is not in use.
The recall applies to 2020 to 2024 Ford Escape vehicles and 2021 to 2023 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. Only plug-in hybrid models with a 2.5-litre engine are affected.
The company said it will contact owners by mail and ask them to visit a dealership to update the battery energy control module software, which will serve to monitor the battery. If the software notifies owners of a problem, they should contact a dealership to replace the high-voltage battery pack.
Tesla
Tesla on Jan. 22 updated a recall it issued earlier this month, involving 24,733 vehicles whose rear view camera may malfunction.
A software problem may cause a short circuit on the computer circuit board, resulting in the rear view camera failing to display, the company said. The issue can increase the risk of a crash by limiting the driver’s visibility while backing up.
Tesla has released an “over-the-air software update” to address the issue and will notify owners by email. The company will also contact owners who need to replace the car computer.
The recall affects the 2024 and 2025 Model 3, Model S, Model X, and Model Y vehicles.
General Motors
General Motors updated on Jan. 22 a recall it had issued nearly a year ago, affecting 273,306 vehicles.
The recall has to do with a software problem that may cause lower beam headlamps to fail to come on after dark, making the vehicle less visible to others, reducing driver visibility, and increasing the risk of an accident. The company says the problem can occur if the multi-function switch is in the “off” or “parking lamp” position.
The software problem can also cause daytime running lamps to turn off while driving.
The company will notify owners via mail and advise them to visit a dealership to update the body control module software. The recall includes certain Brightdrop, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC vehicles, including model years 2020 to 2024.
General Motors on Jan. 22 also updated another recall it had issued six days earlier, affecting 5,599 Chevrolet Equinox EV vehicles from the 2025 model year.
A software problem can cause vehicles using adaptive cruise control to fail to slow down or stop, even if the system identifies the need to apply the brakes. To reduce the risk of an accident, the company advises drivers who activate the feature to be prepared to brake manually.
The recall affects certain all-wheel drive models that are not equipped with the Super Cruise feature, the company said.
General Motors will contact owners by mail and ask them to visit a dealership to update the brake system control module software.
Fiat Chrysler
Fiat Chrysler on Jan. 22 updated a recall it had issued the previous week, involving 19,733 Jeep Cherokee vehicles from model years 2017 to 2019.
The problem stems from faulty power transfer units (PTU) that can result in a loss of power to the wheels or cause a vehicle to move when parked, if the parking brake is not engaged.
The recall only affects vehicles with a two-speed PTU.
The company is still working on a plan to correct the fault and will notify drivers in writing, according to the recall.
Kia
Kia on Jan. 22 updated two recalls it had issued earlier this month. One of them applies to 7,404 Kia Sorento vehicles from model years 2024 and 2025, and the other affects 2,191 Kia Niro units from model years 2019 to 2022.
The issue identified among Kia Sorento vehicles relates to a software problem that can cause headlamps and tail lamps to turn off, thus reducing visibility and increasing the risk of an accident.
The company will contact drivers by mail and ask them to take their vehicles to a dealership to update the body domain control unit software.
The recall for Kia Niro vehicles is related to a reduced braking risk. The company says the integrated electronic brake system on certain units are prone to being exposed to water, increasing the chances of corrosion and brake failure.
The company will contact owners by mail and ask them to visit a dealership, where staff may repair the brake system or replace it.
Another recall updated by Kia this month affects 4,773 Kia EV9 vehicles from 2024 and 2025. The recall was first issued on Dec. 20, 2024.
The company says some of these vehicles may be missing bolts to secure the second or third row seats, which may result in seats moving or detaching in a crash.
Kia will notify drivers by mail and ask them to visit a dealer to inspect their vehicles and install the seat mounting bolts where they are missing.
