On certain vehicles, the castellated nut and cotter pin on the steer axle may not have been tightened to specification. This could cause the tie rod to become loose in the steer axle, which would result in audible noise and/or looseness in steering. If the vehicle were continued to be operated in this condition, the tie rod could disconnect from the knuckle, resulting in a complete loss of control of a vehicle wheel, which would increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the torque of the castellated nuts on the tie rod, and replace the tie rod stud and knuckle as necessary.
On certain vehicles, the steering gear heat shield fasteners may have an incorrect coating that could cause the heat shield to corrode and detach. This could expose the steering gear system to higher temperatures and could cause the steering gear to overheat, which could result in a reduction of steering assist until the gear cools. If the steering gear electrical connectors were to melt, it would result in a sudden loss of steering assist. A loss of power steering assist could unexpectedly increase steering effort, which would increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the fasteners and replace as required.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Explorer, Taurus and Police Interceptor Utility and Sedan vehicles. The steering gear heat shield fasteners may corrode, allowing the heat shield to detach.
Safety Risk
If the heat shield detaches, the steering gear may overheat, increasing the steering effort required by the driver, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers to inspect and replace the heat shield fasteners as needed, free of charge. The recall began on September 13, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S23.
On certain vehicles, the left front axle steering knuckle may have some casting imperfections that could reduce the strength of the knuckle. This could potentially cause the left front steering knuckle to fracture under load, which would increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the front left steering knuckle for the affected batch number and replace it as necessary.
Mercedes-Benz USA LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 smart fortwo and smart fortwo Cabriolet vehicles. Casting imperfections may result in the failure of the left front axle steering knuckle.
Safety Risk
Failure of the left front axle steering knuckle could affect vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left front axle steering knuckle, replacing any from the affected batch, free of charge. The recall October 13, 2017. Owners may contact smart customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
Certain vehicles may experience a temporary loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist followed by a sudden return of EPS assist, particularly during low-speed turning manoeuvres due to an electrical/software issue. If EPS assist is lost and suddenly returned, the unexpected change in steering effort could affect vehicle control, which would increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
On certain vehicles, a lock nut that secures the right-hand side tie rod assembly to the steering gear assembly may not have been tightened properly during the assembly process. Over time, this could cause the lock nut to loosen which could cause the vehicle to drift left and right and eventually cause the tie rod to separate for the steering gear assembly, resulting in a loss of steering control. This situation could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the right hand side tie rod lock nut. If the nut is found to be loose, Dealer will replace the lock nut, steering gear assembly and the tie rod assembly.
Mercedes-Benz USA LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2014 C250, C300 4MATIC, GLK250 4MATIC BLUETEC and GLK350 vehicles, 2013 C250 Coupe, C350, C350 4MATIC Coupe, C350 Coupe and C63 AMG Coupe vehicles, and 2013-2015 GLK350 4MATIC vehicles. The steering coupling connecting bolt may have been insufficiently tightened, possibly resulting in a loss of steering.
Safety Risk
A loss of steering can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering coupling connecting bolt, tightening it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
On certain vehicles, the steering coupling bolt connection may have been incorrectly torqued. The vibrations during vehicle operation could allow the nut to loosen and come off the retaining bolt. This could lead to a separation of the steering coupling from the steering shaft causing the vehicle to lose the ability to steer which would increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and torque the steering coupling bolt, as necessary.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.(MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2016 G550 and G63 AMG vehicles and 2016 G65 AMG vehicles. The steering coupling may have been insufficiently tightened, resulting in the steering connection wearing.
Safety Risk
The steering coupling wear may cause a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering coupling, free of charge. The remedy is currently unavailable. Interim notifications informing owners of the safety risk were mailed May 27, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
On certain vehicles, the electric power steering connector may not be properly sealed against water entry. This could allow moisture to enter the power steering control unit which could interrupt the signal and cause the electric steering assist to deactivate. A loss of power steering assist could unexpectedly increase steering effort which would increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction dealers will replace the connector and, if necessary, replace the steering rack.
On certain vehicles, the splines of the steering coupling interlock could excessively wear due to insufficient tightening torque of the steering coupling. This could cause the connection between the coupling and shaft to be compromised, which could result in a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
On certain vehicles, a connection at the electric power steering (EPS) motor may have been damaged at time of assembly. This could lead to a loss of the steering assist. A loss of power steering assist could unexpectedly increase steering effort which would increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
On certain vehicles, a connection at the electric power steering (EPS) motor may have been damaged at time of assembly. This could lead to a loss of the steering assist. A loss of power steering assist could unexpectedly increase steering effort which would increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
On certain vehicles, the high pressure power steering hose could separate due to an incorrect clamp. If the hose were to separate, it could cause a power steering fluid leak, resulting in increased steering effort and potential for a fire in the presence of an ignition source. This could increase the risk of injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will install a power steering high pressure hose kit.
On certain vehicles, the cable seal of one or both of the electric power steering (EPS) connectors may not be properly seated which could allow water to enter and corrode the connections. This could lead to increased resistance in the EPS circuit which could result in intermittent or permanent loss of the steering assist. A loss of power steering assist could unexpectedly increase steering effort which would increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will ensure the connector is fully seated and secure it in place.
On certain vehicles, the connections between the upper control arms and the axle stubs may not have been tightened properly during assembly. This could affect steering and directional control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or property damage.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will check the bolt torque connections between the upper control arms and axle stubs and replace the upper control arms if necessary.
On certain vehicles, the front hubs do not support the gross axle weight rating of the front axle. Specifically, 5,987 Kg (13,200 lbs.) rated front hubs were used on trucks requiring a 6,622 Kg (14,600 lbs.) rated front axle. If the axle load exceeds the maximum weight capacity of the hub, there is an increased risk of hub and bearing failure, which could cause a complete separation of the wheel(s) and a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the front hub assemblies with hub assemblies rated for 6,622 Kg (14,600 lbs).
On certain vehicles, the electric power steering control unit may have been manufactured with improperly soldered contacts. If the pins of the control unit were to lose complete contact, it could lead to a short circuit within the control unit, increasing the risk of a fire causing injury and/or damage to property. In addition, the condition could result in a loss of power steering assist, which would increase steering effort and increase the risk of a crash resulting in injury and/or damage to property.
Safety Risk
No risk description available.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the electric power steering control module.
On certain vehicles, the axle bolts on the front and/or rear axle may not have been correctly assembled. This could cause the bolts to fracture, which could affect vehicle handling and stability, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.
