Recall wrap: Audi coolant pump a fire hazard

Audi is notifying owners of 2252 cars sold in Australia that a possible blockage in each car's engine coolant pump may result in the pump overheating and possibly catching fire.

The vehicles involved are A4, A5 and A6 models built between 2011 and the end of 2016.

According to the importer, 'foreign particles' in the coolant could cluster and form the blockage.

Vehicle owners, who will be contacted individually by mail, are asked to arrange an inspection through the nearest authorised Audi dealer.

Ateco Automotive has issued a recall notice for 73 units of the Levante SUV sold in Australia. The recall addresses a flawed section of rubber hose for the intercooler. This hose section could break, resulting in a 'Check engine light' warning and reduced performance, the importer advises.

Tesla is recalling 324 examples of the Model S and Model X for an electric parking brake defect. The vehicles affected are built between February 22, 2016 and October 7, 2016. According to the importer, a gear within the parking brake mechanism may prevent the brake from releasing. If the gear should fracture prior to full engagement, the parking brake may not hold the car in place on an incline. Tesla will contact vehicle owners by mail to have the car repaired.

BMW is mailing owners for a fault in the dashboard of the X1 SUV. The vehicle subject to the recall notice is the current F48 generation, and 2318 vehicles are affected in Australia. 'Deployment points' on the passenger side of the dash have not been milled during the production process for those cars, the importer advises, and this will possibly result in the front-passenger airbag deploying incorrectly during a collision. Owners are to have the fault rectified at the nearest BMW servicing dealer.

Owners of the Peugeot 508 are being contacted in regard to an electrical relay that might disrupt the starter motor control and overheat. Left unattended it could catch fire. Only 45 cars are affected, and the recall has been announced just days prior to the handover of Peugeot distribution from Sime Darby to Subaru importer Inchcape.

Mercedes-Benz has announced a recall notice for 11 unspecified vehicles that were repaired or serviced between December 3 and December 5, 2016. According to the importer, the wrong software was uploaded and may be detrimental to vehicle emissions and airbag deployment. In the case of the latter, a collision could lead to a higher risk of passenger injury.