Despite a downward trend compared to the previous year, the UAE’s car recall figures remain substantial with over 34,000 vehicles from a range of manufacturers flagged for inspection due to potential safety defects.
In the initial five months of 2023, the Ministry of Economy issued 27 recall notices, necessitating the inspection of 34,386 cars across various models and manufacturers. These include, but are not limited to, household names such as Ford, Mercedes, GMC, Jeep, Kia, Mazda, Bentley, Dodge, and Land Rover.
This year’s recall figures demonstrate a significant 41% decrease compared to the same period in 2022, a promising trend in automobile safety. The monthly breakdown of recalls revealed that February had the highest number, with 17,791 vehicles recalled.
During the corresponding period last year, the ministry had issued a staggering 65 recall notices, involving nearly 59,000 cars, indicating the severity and widespread nature of manufacturing defects.
These recall actions were initiated to rectify a broad spectrum of issues including faulty windscreen wiper motors, door malfunctions, airbag defects, substandard rear-view cameras, and poor-quality welding between the steering column bracket and the cross-car beam. Such defects carry the risk of undermining the vehicles’ safety and performance, necessitating immediate corrective measures.
Vehicle dealerships have taken the initiative to contact all affected customers, inviting them to bring in their cars for a complimentary inspection and repair service.
A breakdown of the primary recall issues among manufacturers for the initial five months of 2023 is as follows:
Ford (17,603 vehicles): Problems with steering wheel clock springs, airbag, front wiper motor, door latch springs, and requiring reprogramming of the electronic parking brake and inspection of welding quality between the steering column bracket and the cross-car beam.
Mercedes (14,013 vehicles): Need for the installation of a water drain plug in the spare wheel well, glass-panel bonding, and replacement of the sliding roof and air-conditioning system drain hoses.
Jeep (1,772 vehicles): Defects with the eCall system, which alerts emergency services in an accident, and reprogramming needs of the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS).
GMC/Cadillac (309 vehicles): Issues with the rear-view camera and the fuel pump module.
Dodge (184 vehicles): Sensor problems with the tyre pressure monitor system.
Lincoln (133 vehicles): Door latch defects.
Isuzu (110 vehicles): Steering shaft lower second bolt tightening torque value issue.
Kia (92 vehicles): Side airbag malfunctions.
Land Rover (85 vehicles): Third-row seat back latch defects.
Mazda (49 vehicles): Airbag issues.
Bentley (36 vehicles): Sharp edge on airbag deflector.
The ongoing recall actions underscore the importance of stringent quality control in automobile manufacturing, highlighting the vital role of regulatory bodies in ensuring vehicular safety on the roads.
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