Recalls for Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Peugeot, Land Rover

A NUMBER of European manufacturers including Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot and Jaguar Land Rover have recalled their vehicles for various manufacturing and software faults.

The largest number of affected vehicles belongs to Audi and its first-generation Q5 SUV, with 9098 examples of the popular crossover built between May, 2010 and August, 2016 called back for a potentially broken water drain area in the panoramic sunroof.

If faulty, moisture could seep into the headliner and, in extreme situations, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) warns that the foam situated next to the gas generator of the curtain airbag could get wet, causing corrosion and the pressure cylinder of the airbag to burst.

Audi is also recalling 2191 examples of its second-generation A3 – manufactured from May, 2008 to May, 2009 – for a fault in the earth connection in the vehicle’s electronic stability control (ESC) unit.

The crucial safety component, which can detect a loss of traction and apply braking force to individual wheels, can wear down from excessive strain and could lead to a failure in ESC and anti-lock braking systems (ABS).

With the electronic safety systems malfunctioning, vehicles would lose the ability to stabilise in dangerous situations including oversteer, understeer and hard emergency braking, with Audi advising all affected owners not to drive in hazardous conditions until the software fix can be applied.

On the other hand, BMW is recalling 2318 examples of its X1 small SUV which were sold from June 1, 2016 to April 30, 2017, for the possibility of an incorrectly deploying passenger airbag.

The fault is a result of an improperly produced dashboard panel, with the passenger side “weak points” omitted in the manufacturing process, but BMW Australia confirmed to GoAuto that there are no reported cases of a passenger airbag not deploying due to the error.

If the ability for the passenger side airbag to deploy were compromised, it could lead to an increased risk of injury in the event of a collision.

Meanwhile, Peugeot has called back 45 examples of its 508 sedan and wagon sold between June 1 and September 30, 2016 due to a non-compliant electrical relay which could disrupt the starter motor, causing overheating and in a worst case scenario, a fire.

Mercedes-Benz is also recalling just 11 examples of its vehicles for an incorrect software application, which was installed in vehicles serviced between December 3 and December 5 of last year.

According to the ACCC, “the upload may affect various control units and affect numerous systems, including vehicle emissions and the airbag deployment”.

Issues with the airbag deployment system could lead to an increased risk of injury in the event of collision.

Finally, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is once again calling back its Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models – 132 examples of the former and 1718 of the latter – sold between May 12 and December 31, 2016.

Affected vehicles have their emergency seatbelt locking retractors compromised, which could, in the event of a crash, result in occupants not being restrained properly, but JLR Australia confirmed there were no instances of this part failing in Australia.

Owners of all affected vehicles will be contacted via mail by their respective car manufacturers to organise repair work at a dealership free of charge.