The older generation Kia Cerato has been implicated in the latest vehicle recall involving 18 600 of the Korean brand’s products. Image: Kia The National Consumer Commission has initiated another recall of 19 000 vehicles, this time involving products from Jeep and Kia. In a statement, the commission says the first part of the callback involves dust potentially causing a false reading or setting off the airbags in 363 Jeep Wranglers made between 2016 and 2018.
“The dust inside the clock spring could compromise airbag circuit(s), causing illumination of the airbag warning light and or a non-deployment of the driver’s airbag during a crash,” the statement reads. Taking prominence is the recall of 18 600 Kia Ceratos, Optiams, Sorentos, Sportages and Souls made between 2009 and 2015 over a fuse issue related to the anti-lock braking system (ABS). “The defect may result in the malfunction of the ABS system, which could increase the vehicle’s stopping distance to a standstill and, in some cases, lead to engine bay damage,” the commission said.
It added, “consumers who are affected by these recalls are urged to take these recalls seriously and arrange for the necessary inspections and repairs at any authorised dealership without delay to ensure their safety. “The necessary repair work will be carried out at no cost to the consumer”. In a related statement, the Automobile Association (AA) said the recall of nearly 50 000 vehicles this year shows a “systemic failure and weakness in vehicle pre-market quality assurance, manufacturing oversight and regulatory verification”.
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“Although vehicle recalls currently serve an essential role in addressing latent safety defects, they are inherently reactive in their nature and therefore inadequate as a safeguard,” the association said. “What this system has proved is that recall notices often arrive too late, when defective vehicles are already in circulation, driven by unsuspecting motorists.
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