More recalls plague Ford, Tesla and Toyota

Hundreds of thousands of vehicles are being recalled as three major automakers tackle issues ranging from moderate to severe.

Here are three big recalls going on right now:

Ford 

• Ford is recalling 550,000 2014 F-150 pickups, citing a transmission issue that can cause the vehicle to downshift into first gear unexpectedly. 

• The automaker has issued recalls over similar issues before from other model years, with the most recent coming in 2019. 

• Sudden downshifts can increase the risk of an accident. Despite that, Ford is only aware of two injuries and one crash, although it received notice of 482 instances where drivers lost control.

Tesla

• Tesla is recalling the Cybertruck yet again, this time to fix two separate issues, one related to the windshield wipers and the related to a trim piece. 

• According to the brand’s filing wit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the motor responsible for moving the windshield wiper may fail due to “overstress to the gate driver component,” leaving the arm stuck in place, potentially obstructing the driver’s view. 

• Meanwhile, a trim piece attached via an adhesive along the truck bed can also come loose, posing a risk to other drivers. 

• This represents the fourth recall of the Cybertruck since its release last year, each one affecting the total 11,000 units produced.

Toyota

• Toyota is recalling 145,254 vehicles over airbag issues in some 2024 models. 

• Airbags remain some of the most frequently recalled components, despite the critical role they play in keeping drivers safe. 

• The automaker now says that side airbags in a variety of current model year SUVs and hybrids, including the Grand Highlander and Lexus TX350, can deploy improperly in the event of a crash, potentially going out the window.

Bottom line: In a market where automakers must push out model after model to stay competitive, quantity often takes priority over quality. This trend appears to be more true than ever, with manufacturers spending millions on costly repairs. While that’s more business for dealers and technicians, it’s more hassle for drivers, weakening trust in the brand.

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