vw tiguan 140tdi r 001 uvh3
Carsales Staff18 Feb 2019
NEWS

Recall wrap: Fire risk strikes almost 10,000 VW Tiguan SUVs

Mazda MX-5, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Volvo XC60 also recalled, as BMW X5 and Toyota Yaris added to Takata airbag recall

Just under 10,000 Volkswagen Tiguan owners are being contacted by the German car-maker as part of a recall to fix a potential fire risk.

Volkswagen’s ACCC safety recall notice says that in “unfavourable conditions” an LED module within the interior lighting system can short circuit via 'humidity ingress' and result in a vehicle fire.

The recall affects a total of 8879 Volkswagen Tiguan vehicles and 907 seven-seat Tiguan Allspace vehicles sold between 2015 and 2018, owners of which will be contacted directly to arrange inspection and repair.

Meantime a range of vehicles have been recently added to the compulsory Takata airbag recall, including more than 3000 BMW X5s sold between 2000 and 2003, 1214 Toyota Yaris sedans and 327 Toyota Rukus cars sold between 2014 and 2016.

Owners will be contacted to get their vehicles inspected and the airbags replaced. Alternatively, they can go to www.recall.bmw.com.au or www.ismyairbagsafe.com.au.

The Takata airbag recall scandal has affected approximately one in four vehicles in Australia and resulted in one death in this country. Globally around 100 million cars are affected, resulting in at least two dozen deaths.

The issue is with airbag inflators that degrade over time. If one of the more dangerous 'alpha' Takata airbags is triggered in the event of major (or minor) car collision, the metal inflator housing can explode and shower car occupants with high-velocity metal shrapnel.

Separately, BMW is also recalling 2016 versions of the high-performance M3, M4 and M4 Convertible.

A total of 178 vehicles are affected by a potential issue with the carbon-fibre driveshaft, which may result in a torque being incorrectly transmitted to the rear wheels. Owners will be contacted by BMW to arrange for an inspection and fix.

A total of 2442 Mercedes-Benz C-Class vehicles sold in 2018 are being recalled due to electronic stability control (ESP) software that "may not meet the specifications".

The ACCC recall notice states that the brake lights can malfunction and become permanently activated, which can lead to the deactivation of ESP and park brake issues. Owners will be contacted by Mercedes-Benz to rectify the fault.

A small recall of 78 Mercedes-Benz CLA- and B-Class vehicles sold in 2018 has been issued after it was discovered that backward-facing child seats fitted in the front passenger seat may not force the airbag to switch off. Customers with affected vehicles will be contacted to organise a fix.

Another small batch of Mercedes-Benz vehicles – this time 80 Sprinter vans sold in 2018 – are subject to a recall to fix electronically unlocking doors, which in a worst-case scenario can make it impossible to open the doors from the inside or outside. Owners of affected vehicles will be contacted by Benz.

ND-series Mazda MX-5 sports cars sold between 2015 and early 2019 are affected by a recent recall that can negatively influence vehicles with an automatic gearbox.

The transmission control module can “incorrectly interpret an electrical signal from the gear selector lever”, which may force an unexpected gear downshift. The result is abrupt wheel speed reduction and potential loss of vehicle control. Affected owners will be contacted by Mazda.

Just under 1900 Volvo XC60 SUVs sold between 2018 and 2019 have been recalled due to potentially faulty tailgate lifting arms – or, as the recall notice puts it, “Under certain conditions in cold climates, the tailgate lifting arms may freeze”.

In a worst-case scenario, which is unlikely to occur in an Australian summer, an internal spring can detach with 'significant force' and propel rearwards, which could cause personal injury. Owners will be contacted to organise a inspection and repair work.

Finally, owners of Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models sold between 2018 and 2019 will be contacted by the company over concerns the indicator lights may fail.

This in turn could lead to an increased risk of an accident, according the recall notice, as “other road users will not be alerted to an intended change of direction of the vehicle”.

Share this article
Written byCarsales Staff
See all articles
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Stay up to dateBecome a carsales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Looking for a family car?Get the latest advice and reviews on family car that's right for you.
Explore the Family Hub
Family
Disclaimer
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.

If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
Download the carsales app
    AppStoreDownloadGooglePlayDownload
    App Store and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
    © CAR Group Ltd 1999-2024
    In the spirit of reconciliation we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.