Recall Round-Up: April 6, 2018
Every week we scour the internet and bring you the latest information on product and automotive recalls in this recurring series: Recall Round-Up.
This week Tesla and Toyota announce manufacturing defects for over 70,000 vehicles, Vornado issues a recall for one of its most popular space heaters and Carfax announces a new online tool to check for open recalls on used vehicles.
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2012-2016 Tesla Model S
Approximately 70,000 2012-2016 Tesla Model S vehicles were recalled this week due to a power steering flaw. Bolts for the power-steering gear assist motor may corrode and fracture which could lead to a loss of power steering assist. This increases the risk of a crash—especially when driving at lower speeds. Tesla dealers will replace the bolts at no charge to consumers. Visit NHTSA for more information.
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2018 Toyota Camry and Highlander, 2017 Sienna, Tacoma & Lexus RX 350 SUX
Toyota announced a small recall of 6000 vehicles across several model lines this week. The 2018 Toyota Camry sedan and Highlander SUV, 2017 Toyota Sienna minivan and Tacoma pick-up truck, and 2017 Lexus RX 350 SUV were all included in the recall. The manufacturer believes the vacuum pump may have been assembled incorrectly on those model vehicles which could result in the sudden loss of braking assist. This manufacturer defect increases the risk of crash. Toyota will notify consumers at the end of May. Visit NHTSA for more information.
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Vornado Electric Space Heater
A popular manufacturer of personal space heaters issued a recall of over 350,000 units due to a fire hazard. The Vornado VH101 was sold at several retailers including Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target and Home Depot both in stores and online. Owners should immediately stop using the space heater and contact Vornado.com for refund and replacement options.
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Carfax to show open recalls
Carfax has partnered with the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers to provide an online search tool for open recalls on vehicles. Other than NHTSA, consumers are usually only notified of active recalls by mail. When shopping for used cars, consumers are encouraged to pull a Carfax report to show a vehicle history. According to the company, more than 57 million vehicles on the US roads have open recalls. This partnership should help increase driver awareness of recalls that are repairable at no charge by the manufacturers.
If you’ve been injured as a result of a recalled product, please contact us today. We also encourage anyone to visit the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration websites to file formal complaints about potential safety hazards.