🚗 Airbag scam: If your airbags go off, shady garages will replace ‘em with cheap ones (or none at all). You won’t know until it’s too late, and those airbags can injure or kill you. If you have a used car or are thinking about buying one, go to Carfax and plug in the vehicle identification number (VIN). They’ll tell you for free if your car’s airbags have ever gone off.
Over 160K vehicles from Volkswagen and Mercedes have been recalled
When a manufacturer releases a product to the public, they’re responsible for any defects or overlooked issues. These problems can range from a minor inconvenience to a deadly flaw and could affect thousands or even millions of units.
We’ve been covering car recalls for years at Komando.com and found that over 5 million vehicles were recalled between April and November last year. The list includes heavy hitters like Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Ford and GM. Tap or click here to see if your car made the list.
It doesn’t look like things will get better in the new year. We already have reports of recalls from Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen. Here’s what’s happening and what you can do about it.
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is recalling certain 2001 to 2011 model year cars for glass sunroof panels that may detach due to not being adequately secured. This can, of course, lead to a crash. The problem is with the glass panel bonding, which may not have been given sufficient time to dry.
123,696 vehicles are affected. Check the following list for your model:
- 2001-2005 Mercedes-Benz C320.
- 2001-2005 Mercedes-Benz C240.
- 2002-2004 Mercedes-Benz AMG C32.
- 2002-2007 Mercedes-Benz C230.
- 2003-2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK320.
- 2003-2005 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK55.
- 2003-2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK500.
- 2003-2006 Mercedes-Benz E500.
- 2003-2006 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55.
- 2005-2006 Mercedes-Benz AMG C55.
- 2005-2009 Mercedes-Benz E320.
- 2006 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS55.
- 2006-2007 Mercedes-Benz C280.
- 2006-2007 Mercedes-Benz C350.
- 2006-2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK350.
- 2006-2009 Mercedes-Benz E350.
- 2006-2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS550.
- 2007-2009 Mercedes-Benz CLK550.
- 2007-2009 Mercedes-Benz E550.
- 2007-2009 Mercedes-Benz AMG E63.
- 2007-2011 Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS63.
Owners will be notified of the voluntary recall campaign by mail by Feb. 21, 2023. Authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers will check the glass panel bonding on the affected vehicles and replace the sliding roof if necessary.
To see if your Mercedes is part of this recall (or any other), enter your 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) at mbusa.com/en/recall or nhtsa.gov/recalls. You can find your VIN at your dashboard’s lower driver’s side corner. You can also find it on the driver-side door jamb or your vehicle papers.
RELATED: Millions of vehicles are currently recalled – How to check if yours is safe to drive
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is recalling a couple of model years of its iconic Beetle due to defective driver’s side airbags, which may explode, releasing sharp metal fragments.
Considering an electric car? Chevy is warning of a dangerous fire risk
Electric vehicles might be somewhat better for the environment, but several models have proven to be a danger to owners. Over the last few years, a variety of EV cars have been recalled over different issues.
Earlier this year, a Tesla S Plaid caught fire while the driver was still in the car. The owner had to force his way out of the vehicle, as the blaze seemingly caused the door locks to malfunction. The exact cause of the fire hasn’t been determined yet.
20% of crashed cars
Are totaled out. One in five seen by an adjuster is deemed too expensive to fix. That’s five times higher than in the 1980s. Why? Today’s high-tech lighting and sensors, pricey airbags, and fancy materials add up fast.
10M more vehicles added to the biggest auto recall in history
Cars are essential tools for daily life, but they can also be deadly weapons in the wrong hands. That’s why you have to jump through so many hoops to be allowed to drive, and why insurance is a must for any driver, regardless of experience.