5 NHTSA Recalls that Should Be on Your Radar

From automotive glass issues to windshield wiper malfunctions and flickering headlights, here are five new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) recalls you should know.

1) Keystone RV Co. is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Keystone Avalanche recreational vehicles, model 355RK, manufactured from May 6, 2013 through April 24, 2014.

The affected vehicles may be equipped with a rear window that has a sticker labeling it as an emergency exit sticker. However, a rear ladder may be partially blocking the window and it was not intended to be a secondary emergency exit.

“In the event of an emergency, occupants could try to escape through the rear window, but would not be able to,” according to NHTSA documents. “This delay in their escape may increase the risk of injury.”

2) Turtle Top is recalling certain model year 2012 Van Terra XL transit bus manufactured October 13, 2012 to February 7, 2013, and 2012 Odyssey XL MPV transit bus manufactured May 2, 2011 to October 4, 2011. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 217, “Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release.” The windows may not meet minimum loading requirements.

“Windows that do not meet minimum loading requirements are at an increased risk of breaking and falling onto a passenger when pushed by passengers or objects,” according to NHTSA documents.

3) Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2014 Jeep Cherokee vehicles manufactured January 4, 2013, to July 11, 2014. Use of the front windshield wipers on dry glass may cause damage to the body control module (BCM).

“BCM damage may result in the failure of the windshield wipers, impairing the driver’s vision and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash,” according to NHTSA documents.

Dealers will install a ground strap to protect the BCM from damage.

4) Mercedes-Benz USA is recalling certain model year 2016 Mercedes Benz E350, E400, E400 4Matic, E63 4M S AMG, E350 4Matic, E63-4M S AMG, 2015 CLS400, CLS400 4Matic, CLS550, CLS63-4M “P” AMG, and CLS550 4Matic vehicles manufactured April 16, 2015 to April 22, 2015. The integral steel cable that secures the rubber seal to the bulkhead may have been damaged “due to the supplier rework of the rubber seal.” If the rubber seal is not properly secured around the engine compartment, it is possible for the rubber seal to temporarily stick to the hood when it is opened and then may fall into the engine bay when the hood is closed, according to NHTSA.

“If the rubber seal falls into the engine compartment, it may contact parts of the engine or exhaust system, increasing the risk of a fire,” according to NHTSA documents.

5) Pierce Manufacturing is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Velocity and Quantum vehicles manufactured from February 10, 2014 through January 8, 2015 that are equipped with LED headlamp assemblies. The headlamps on the affected vehicles may flicker when the vehicle is operated in extremely cold temperatures. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.”

“If the headlights flicker and do not provide steady illumination, other drivers may be confused and the driver may have reduced visibility, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash,” according to NHTSA documents.