Daimler Vans USA, LLC (DVUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz Metris vehicles. An internal sensor within the electric power steering unit may have been improperly manufactured, possibly resulting in the deactivation of the electric power steering assist.
Safety Risk
An unexpected loss of power steering assist can increase the risk of crash.
Remedy
DVUSA will notify owners, and Metris dealers will replace the steering unit, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2019. Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2LENKEPS.
On certain vehicles, the jam nut for the steering stopper bolt on the left-front knuckle may loosen and allow the bolt to back away from the knuckle. This could result in an increase in the turning radius of the vehicle in left turns. A change in turning radius could make it difficult to make sharp turns.
Safety Risk
If a vehicle's turning radius is increased, there could be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy
The company will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a dealer to replace the jam nuts on the steering stopper bolts. The nuts will be tightened and Loctite will be applied to the nut and bolt. If a bolt is found damaged or missing, the assembly will be replaced.
Isuzu Technical Center of America, Inc. (Isuzu) is recalling certain 2018-2020 FTR and Chevrolet 6500XD vehicles. The jam nut for the steering stopper bolt on the left front knuckle may loosen and allow the bolt to back away from the steering knuckle, increasing the turning radius of the vehicle in a left turn.
Safety Risk
If the vehicle's turning radius is increased, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy
Isuzu will notify owners, and dealers will replace the existing left and right jam nuts with a Grade 8 jam nut, torque the nut to a new torque specification and apply Loctite to the nut and bolt, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2019. Owners may contact Isuzu customer service at 1-866-441-9638, GM owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-862-4389. Isuzu's number for this recall is V1902.
On certain vehicles equipped with an engine stop/start system, a loose battery connection could cause an intermittent loss of power steering assist and/or a loss of engine power. An intermittent loss of power steering assist could result in sudden changes in steering effort.
Safety Risk
Sudden changes in steering effort and/or a loss of engine power could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
The company will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a dealer to inspect and clean the battery ground connection.
On certain vehicles, the bolts that attach the electric power steering assist motor to the steering gear may corrode and break. This could cause a loss of power steering assist.
Safety Risk
A loss of power steering assist would result in a sudden increase in steering effort, especially at low vehicle speeds. This could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
The company will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to replace the aluminum bolts with steel ones.
On certain vehicles, the steering shaft may not have been properly manufactured. This could cause it to separate and cause a loss of steering control.
Safety Risk
A loss of steering control could create the risk of a crash.
Remedy
The company will notify owners by mail. Owners will be instructed to take their vehicle to a dealer to inspect, and if necessary, replace the steering column assembly.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Wrangler and 2019 Ram 1500 vehicles. These vehicles have improperly machined steering column stub shafts that may break, possibly causing the steering wheel to detach from the steering column.
Safety Risk
If the steering wheel detaches from the steering column, the driver may lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy
Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering column, replacing it, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 5, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V29.
On certain vehicles, the right-front lower control arm ball joint could separate from the steering knuckle. This could cause a loss of steering control.
Safety Risk
A loss of steering control could create the risk of a crash.
Remedy
The company will notify owners by mail. Owners will be instructed to take their vehicle to a dealer to have the right-front steering knuckle and lower control arm inspected for damage. The parts will be replaced as needed. Dealers will also replace the right-front steering knuckle pinch bolt with a larger-diameter bolt.
A problem with the power steering system could cause it to turn off while driving. The power steering assist may return when the vehicle is restarted.
Safety Risk
A loss of power steering assist would result in a sudden increase in steering effort, especially at low vehicle speeds. This could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
The company will notify owners by mail. Owners will be instructed to take their vehicle to a dealer to have the power steering gear assembly replaced.
On certain trucks, a nut in the steering system could loosen and cause a loss of steering control. This problem affects trucks equipped with a 4x4 style steering system.
Safety Risk
A loss of steering control would increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
The company will notify owners by mail. Owners will be instructed to take their vehicle to a dealer to inspect the outboard steering linkage jam nut. If the nut is properly tightened, it will be welded to the adjuster sleeve. If the nut is not properly tightened, the drag link assembly will be replaced.
The power steering system may have a loose electrical connection. This could cause intermittent loss of power steering assist while driving/steering the truck. This may make the truck difficult to steer and could cause both oversteer and understeer conditions.
Safety Risk
Sudden changes in steering force may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
The company will notify owners by mail. Owners will be instructed to take their vehicle to inspect and repair the electrical connection as needed.
Certain vehicles may not detect when the driver removes their hands from the steering wheel while using adaptive cruise control with lane centering. If this occurs, the driver may not be alerted by warnings to hold the steering wheel. This system is not designed for hands-free operation.
Safety Risk
A driver may not be warned to put their hands back on the steering wheel, which could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
The company will notify owners by mail. Owners will be instructed to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer for an update of the software for the Power Steering Control Module.
On certain vehicles originally sold or currently registered in areas of heavy road salt usage during winter months (Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador), the bolts that attach the electric power steering assist motor to the steering gear housing may corrode and break. This could cause a loss of power steering assist. The resulting increase in steering effort could create the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the mounting bolts and apply a corrosion protection coating to the gear housing and bolts. If the bolts bolt cannot be removed, a replacement steering gear will be installed.
On certain vehicles, a fault in the power steering system may cause an intermittent loss of steering assist without warning. A loss of power assist would result in a sudden, unexpected increase in steering effort, especially at low vehicle speeds. This could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or property damage.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will reprogram the power steering control unit software.
On certain S-Class, AMG S 63 and Maybach S 560 models, the steering boot may not be positioned correctly. When the steering assistant is active, this could cause the Hands-off Detection feature not to detect when the driver removes their hands from the steering wheel. This may create a situation where dash warnings prompting the driver to grasp the steering wheel are not displayed as well as a failure to initiate a system function which brings the vehicle to a complete stop. This could create an increased risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will check the position of the steering boot and correct it, if necessary.
On certain S-Class, AMG S 63 and Maybach S 560 models, when the steering assistant is active, the Hands-off Detection feature may not detect a situation where the driver removes their hands from the steering wheel. This could create a situation where dash warnings prompting the driver to grasp the steering wheel are not displayed as well as a failure to initiate a system function which brings the vehicle to a complete stop. This could create an increased risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will update software for the steering control unit.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling one 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 Coupe and one C300 4Matic Coupe. The steering coupling may not have been correctly locked during manufacturing.
Safety Risk
If the steering connection was not properly locked, the mechanical connection between the steering wheel and steering rack may come loose, reducing steering ability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering coupling and lock it correctly if necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018120010.
On certain vehicles, the locking status of the steering coupling may not have been verified during assembly. If not correctly locked, the mechanical connection between the steering wheel and steering rack could loosen while driving, potentially resulting in complete loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the steering coupling and lock it, if necessary.
On certain C 63 models, a locknut in the steering rack may be defective. If the nut fails, the steering could become stuck, which would increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
On certain vehicles, a defect in the power steering pump could cause it to seize after a long period of vehicle non-operation (such as overnight parking) during cold ambient temperatures. This would unexpectedly increase the steering effort force necessary to steer the vehicle at lower vehicle speeds, which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
