Honda, Subaru issue new Takata airbag recalls

Honda and Subaru have expanded recalls on their CR-V and Legacy and Outback models to replace defective Takata airbag inflators, the latest among millions of vehicles produced by a dozen or so manufacturers with faulty parts that can propel metal fragments toward vehicle occupants when the airbags deploy.

Honda’s recall of its CR-V now covers 18,000 vehicles from the 2003 and 2004 model years, and Subaru has added 23,000 Legacy and Outback models produced between 2005 and 2008.

Mercedes-Benz is recalling more than 3,000 examples of its redesigned 2015 C-Class sedan to reprogram power steering software that could unexpectedly deactivate the power assist system, increasing steering effort. Benz dealers will update the software controlling the power steering system.

A few hundred Ford F-150 pickups may have improperly manufactured seatbelt pretensioners that don’t meet Canadian safety standards, and may not properly retrain occupants during a crash. Ford dealers will replace front seatbelt retractors and pretensioners where necessary.

In a few thousand Jeep Compass and Patriot models, a power steering hose could detach, causing a significant fluid leak that would essentially disable the power steering system; as with the above C-Class recall, this would increase steering effort, and could lead to a crash. Dealers will inspect the power steering hose in question, and if necessary, reposition the clamp meant to hold it in place.

A faulty lighting control module in as many as 15,000 Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis sedans sold as 2003, 2004 and 2005 models could cause the headlights to turn off and instead activate the daytime running lights, reducing lighting output in nighttime driving. Dealers will replace the lighting control module.

There are 95 Ford Transit vans out there with dual rear wheels that may have been built with faulty rear axle shafts that could break without warning, resulting either in a truck that won’t go, or one that won’t stay put when shifted into ‘park.’ Dealers will replace both rear axle shafts.

More than 26,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durano SUVs from the 2011 and 2012 model years have lighted sunvisor-mounted vanity mirrors that could short circuit if the visors are removed during repairs to other areas of the car. This recall supercedes a previous campaign, but Jeep and Dodge’s parent company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, hasn’t come up with a fix yet.

And finally, Maserati has recalled three Granturismo models to replace a non-galvanized fuel lines that could corrode and eventually leak. Dealers will replace the fuel lines with the proper galvanized ones.