SC174 – Engine Oil Pan Leak – 2011-2012 Kia Sportage

February 15, 2019 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V101000

Engine Oil Leak May Cause Stall or Fire

A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V101

Manufacturer Kia Motors America

Components ENGINE

Potential Number of Units Affected 32,296

 

Summary

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2012 Kia Sportage vehicles. The engine oil pan may leak and, if not addressed, the loss of oil may result in engine damage.

 

Remedy

Kia has notified owners, and dealers will replace the oil pressure switch with an improved one, free of charge. In addition, dealers will inspect the oil pan for any oil leaks, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 3, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia’s number for this recall is SC174.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov

 

Check if your Kia has a Recall

 

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GROUP Safety Recall Campaign	MODEL 2011-2012MY Sportage (SL)
NUMBER SC174	DATE July 2019
SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN
SUBJECT: SL THETA II 2.4 MPI ENGINE OIL PAN INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT

 

This bulletin provides the service procedure, on some 2011-2012 MY Sportage (SL) vehicles produced from June 11, 2010 through February 13, 2012 equipped with Theta II 2.4 MPI engines, to replace the Oil Pressure Switch (“OPS”) with an improved one that will detect the early onset of oil leakage.  In addition, dealers will inspect the oil pan for any oil leaks according to the procedure described in this TSB and, if an oil leak is found, the oil pan will be replaced. The oil pan may have been improperly sealed during engine production. As a result, engine oil may leak from the oil pan. If the vehicle is continued to be driven with an unrepaired oil leak, damage to the engine can occur and the vehicle could stall while in motion. An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that a fire could occur, increasing the risk of injury.

Should a customer bring his/her vehicle to the dealer with the check engine (malfunction indicator) light and/or the oil pressure warning light illuminated and the cause is determined to be oil leaking from the oil pan, verify that the vehicle is included in this safety recall campaign.

NOTE: The updated oil pressure switch is designed to detect low oil volume and prevent potential engine damage or failure due to an engine oil leak. The engine oil should be changed if the oil pressure light comes on after the updated oil pressure switch is installed.

 

NOTICE                                       

There is no charge to the vehicle owner for this repair. Under applicable law, you may not sell or otherwise deliver any affected vehicle until it has been repaired pursuant to the procedures set forth in this bulletin.

 

NOTICE 

To assure complete customer satisfaction, always remember to refer to WebDCS Warranty Coverage (validation) Inquiry Screen (Service → Warranty Coverage → Warranty Coverage Inquiry) for a list of any additional campaigns that may need to be performed on the vehicle before returning it to the customer.

 

Flowchart:

 

Engine Oil Leak Inspection Procedure: 

1. Raise vehicle on a lift and then remove the engine under cover (A).
2. Inspect the oil pan area for any oil leak. Sample photos are shown on the right.

Follow the table below for the recommended procedure:

Inspection Result	Action
No oil leaking	Replace the OPS only (page 3)
Oil leak visible	Replace both the  OPS and Oil Pan. (pages 3 and 4)

 

Oil Pressure Switch (OPS) Replacement Procedure:

1. Disconnect the OPS connector (A).

 

IMPORTANT

Be careful not to damage the connector when disconnecting.

2. Using a 24mm wrench or deep socket, remove the existing OPS (B).
3. Install the new OPS and torque to specification and ensure the OPS connector is properly connected.

Note: The improved OPS, if ordered before August 1, 2019, may have a blue marking (C).

Tightening torque for OPS: 5.8 – 8.7 lb.ft (7.8 – 11.8 N.m, 0.8 – 1.2 kgf.m)

4. If the oil pan does not require replacement, reinstall all removed components in the reverse order of removal. Verify no leak exists and ensure engine oil is at the proper level.

If the oil pan requires replacement as a result of the Engine Oil Leak Inspection procedure on page 2, proceed to the oil pan replacement procedure on page 4.

 

NOTICE 

If the oil pressure light comes on after the new OPS is installed, the engine oil should be changed. Open a Techline case if the oil pressure light remains on after the oil is changed.

 

Oil Pan Replacement Procedure:

1. Drain the engine oil.
2. Loosen and remove the four (4) A/C compressor bracket retaining bolts (A) and then remove the A/C compressor bracket (B).

Tightening torque for bolts (A): 14.5 – 17.4 lb.ft (19.6 – 23.5 N.m, 2.0 – 2.4 kgf.m)

3. Carefully loosen and remove the oil pan retaining bolts (C) and (D). Save one (1) retaining bolt (D) to be reused and discard the rest.

Tightening torque for bolts (C) (x2): 19.5 – 22.4 lb.ft (26.5 – 30.4 N.m, 2.7 – 3.1 kgf.m)

Tightening torque for bolts (D) (x17): 7.2 – 8.7 lb.ft (9.8 – 11.8 N.m, 1.0 – 1.2 kgf.m)

4. Using SST 09215 3C000 (E) and a mallet, carefully separate the oil pan from the ladder frame. Work around the oil pan along the arrow direction for more than 2/3 of the oil pan adhesive face and then remove it from the ladder frame.

Be careful not to tap hard or twist the SST when removing as it may damage SST.

 

NOTICE

Use an old oil pan retaining bolt to hold up the pan during the sealant separation to prevent the pan from falling. Be sure to work around the retaining bolt.

5. Remove any remaining silicone from the engine block and timing chain cover surface where the oil pan was sealed and clean up any oil residue.

 

NOTICE

Thoroughly clean the surface using a clean shop towel and degreaser to remove any contaminants such as oil and ensure a clean surface for proper sealing of the oil pan.

6a. Apply sealant (UM016 CH123) to the new oil pan. Sealant bead width: 0.08 -0.12in. (2.5 – 3.0mm)

 

NOTICE

When applying sealant, the sealant must not protrude into the inside of the oil pan. Photo shown on the right provides the recommended distance of the sealant bead placement from the inner edge of the oil pan rim.

6b. Apply 2 sealant lines as wide as 0.08in (2.5mm wide) to the area where the engine block and timing cover meet as shown below. Note: The oil pan must be installed within five (5) minutes after application of sealant.

 

IMPORTANT

Oil leakage may reoccur if the oil pan is not sealed properly.

7. Carefully align and install the new oil pan with sealant applied. *Sixteen (16) new retaining bolts (D) and two (2) new retaining bolts (C) are supplied with the oil pan kit and must be used. Uniformly tighten the bolts in several passes before torqueing them to specifications.

 

Tightening torque for bolts (C) (x2): 19.5 – 22.4 lb.ft (26.5 – 30.4 N.m, 2.7 – 3.1 kgf.m)

Tightening torque for bolts (D) (x16): 7.2 – 8.7 lb.ft (9.8 – 11.8 N.m, 1.0 – 1.2 kgf.m)

 

NOTICE 

*The oil pan kit only comes with 16 new oil pan bolts (D). Oil pan bolt hole (E) can be secured with an old retaining bolt saved in step 3 of this procedure. Note: Note: A previously replaced engine may have a 17th bolt hole. If so, reuse one of the old bolts (D) to complete the set needed to reseal the oil pan. 

8. Install the A/C bracket (B) and secure with the four (4) new A/C bracket retaining bolts (A), supplied with the oil pan kit.

Tightening torque for bolts: 14.5 – 17.4 lb.ft (19.6 – 23.5 N.m, 2.0 – 2.4 kgf.m)

 

NOTICE

Reuse the A/C bracket but do not reuse the A/C bracket bolts. New bolts are supplied with kit.

9. Ensure the oil drain plug (F) is torqued to specification.

 

Tightening torque for plug: 25.3 – 32.5 lb.ft (34.3 – 44.1 N.m, 3.5 – 4.5 kgf.m)

 

10. Reinstall all removed components in the  reverse order of removal.
11. Refill the engine oil to specification and ensure proper installation of the engine oil filler cap.

 

Capacity – Oil Pan: 4.65 U.S. Qt., (1.16 U.S. Gal., 4.4 Liters, 3.87 lmp. Qt.)

12. Start the engine and allow it to warm up. After engine warm up, turn engine off and wait five (5) minutes to check the engine oil level.

 

NOTICE 

Oil level should be between the “L” and “F” marks on the dipstick. If oil level is still low, add oil up to the “F” mark.

13. Verify no leaks exist at the oil pan area and ensure proper operation of the vehicle.

 

AFFECTED VEHICLE RANGE:

Model	Production Date Range
Sportage (SL)	June 11, 2010 through February 13, 2012

 

REQUIRED TOOL:

Tool Name	Part Number	Figure
Oil Pan Remover (SST)	09215 3C000

 

REQUIRED PART:

Part Name	Part Number	Figure	Notes
Engine Oil Pan Kit	21510-2G500QQK		Kit includes: 1  Oil Pan (with drain plug) 2  Large Oil Pan Bolts 16 Small Oil Pan Bolts 4 A/C Comp. Bracket Bolts
Oil Pressure Switch (OPS)	94750-37200QQK		Will have a blue mark if  ordered before  August 1, 2019.
RTV Silicone Gasket  Maker	UM016-CH123		Order through Kia Chemicals 1 tube covers 3 vehicles.

 

Note: Parts orders will be limited to a quantity above filed warranty claim quantity (variable by dealer based on impacted units). Please file warranty claims timely to ensure parts orders are not impacted.

 

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

N Code: N99   C Code: C99

Claim Type	Causal P/N	Qty.	Repair Description	Labor Op Code	Op Time	Replacement P/N	Qty.
R	21510 25051	0	(SC174) Engine Oil Leak Inspection & OPS Replacement	191022R0	0.6 M/H	94750-37200QQK	1
			(SC174) Engine Oil Leak Inspection & OPS and Oil Pan Replacement	191022R1	1.3 M/H	21510-2G500QQK	1
						94750-37200QQK	1

 

Note: Use sublet code ‘X3’ for engine oil with a maximum allowed amount of $16.50 for labor op 191022R1. Use sublet code ‘X1’ with a maximum allowed amount of $5.33 for RTV Silicone Gasket Maker. Use sublet code ‘X2’ for rental expense with a maximum of 1 day for labor op 191022R0 and 2 days for labor op 191022R1.

 

NOTICE 

VIN inquiry data for this repair is provided for tracking purposes only. Kia retailers should reference SC174 when accessing the WebDCS system.

 

TSB: SC174 Sportage (SL) July 2019

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SC174 – 2011-2012 MY SPORTAGE ENGINE OIL PAN LEAK
SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN
Q & A

April 5, 2019

Q1.	What type of campaign is Kia conducting?
A1.	Kia is conducting a safety recall campaign on certain 2011-2012 MY Kia Sportage vehicles. Note: Kia is currently working on the repair remedy.
Q2.	What vehicles are affected by the recall?
A2.	Certain 2011-2012 MY Kia Sportage vehicles manufactured from June 11, 2010 through February 13, 2012.
Q3.	How many customer vehicles are affected by this recall?
A3.	Approximately 31,645 Kia Sportage vehicles are affected by this recall campaign.
Q4.	What is the condition?
A4.	The oil pan may have been improperly sealed during engine production.  As a result, if the vehicle is continued to be driven with an oil leak, damage to the engine can occur and the vehicle could stall while in motion, increasing the risk of a crash.  There is also the possibility that a fire could occur, increasing the risk of injury.
Q5.	Are there any warnings associated with the recall condition?
A5.	The following warnings may identify that the recall condition is present.  These include 1) oil on the ground after the vehicle is parked, 2) oil traces or residue on underbody surfaces of the vehicle, 3) smell and/or smoke associated with oil on hot surfaces, 4) the illumination of the Check Engine (Malfunction Indicator) Light and/or the Engine Oil Pressure Warning Light in the Instrument Panel; and 5) reduced power/hesitation. If the owner notices any of the warnings described above, he or she should not wait for a follow-up letter and instead contact Kia’s Roadside Assistance to have the vehicle towed to the nearest authorized Kia dealer to have the vehicle inspected.  The owner will not be charged for this inspection if the dealer confirms oil is leaking from the oil pan.
Q6.	Can you describe the recall campaign and fix?
A6.	Kia is currently working on a remedy. Once the remedy is determined, Kia will notify the vehicle owners.
Q7.	How will owners of the affected vehicles be notified?
A7.	Kia will send an interim letter notifying owners of the affected vehicles by first-class mail beginning on April 10, 2019. The purpose of the letter is to inform owners of Kia’s recall implementation plan.  Kia will send a follow-up notification letter as soon as a remedy is available.
Q8.	What should vehicle owners do when they receive the notification?
A8.	No immediate action is necessary unless the customer is or becomes aware of any of the warnings described under A5 above. Upon receipt of the follow-up notification letter, owners are to contact their Kia dealer to arrange for the repair to be performed.
Q9.	How was the issue discovered?
A9.	Through the regular monitoring of field information.
Q10.	Have there been any deaths, injuries or accidents as a result of this condition?
A10.	No.
Q11.	Will this cost vehicle owners any money?
A11.	No. The inspection, and if necessary, any repair will be at no cost to the customer.
Q12.	What about customers who may have already paid to have engine oil pan leak related repairs done?
A12.	If a customer has incurred expense to remedy this issue prior to the date of this notice, the customer may have the opportunity to obtain reimbursement for that expense.  Customer may submit their receipts online to Kia via the Owners section (Contact Kia) of www.kia.com OR mail their documentation with the completed Request for Reimbursement Form included with this letter directly to Kia for review and consideration at the following address: Consumer Assistance Center Kia Motors America, Inc. P.O. Box 52410 Irvine, CA  92619-2410 1-800-333-4542
Q13.	How long will the repair take?
A13.	No information is available at this time.
Q14.	Are there any restrictions on an owner’s eligibility?
A14.	No.
Q15.	If a customer has an immediate question, where can they get further information?
A15.	The customer can contact their local Kia dealership or call Kia’s Consumer Assistance Center at 1-800-333-4KIA (4542), Monday through Friday, 5 AM to 6 PM Pacific Standard Time, or via the internet @ www.kia.com (Owner’s Section).

 

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2011-2012MY Sportage
Engine Oil Pan Leak
Basis of Safety Defect Determination 573.6(c)(6)

 

January 29, 2019	Kia Motors Corporation (KMC) notified by Hyundai Motor Company’s (HMC) Ulsan plant that there may be production issues relating to the assembly of the oil pan seal which could result in stalling and in rare cases, a fire.
January 29—February 7, 2019	KMC conducts review of engine oil pan replacement warranty claims caused by leaking.  KMC advises Kia Motors America, Inc. (KMA) to conduct a review of its data.
February 8—12, 2019	KMA conducts review of warranty claim data and identifies 11 claims with complaints of stalling, some of which may be related to engine oil pan leaking.  KMA advises KMC of review results.
February 13, 2019	KMC makes decision to conduct a recall as a precautionary measure based on information provided by HMC’s Ulsan plant and the potential risk for stalling.  No reported accidents or injuries.

 

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IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

(Follow-Up)
(NHTSA Recall Number: 19V101)
This notice applies to your vehicle: (Insert VIN)

 

THE REMEDY IS NOW AVAILABLE

 

July 3, 2019

Dear Kia Sportage Owner:

 

Kia has identified a defect in your vehicle which relates to motor vehicle safety. 

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Kia Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2011-2012 MY Kia Sportage vehicles. The defect may cause oil to leak from the oil pan. If a vehicle is continued to be driven with an unrepaired oil leak, damage to the engine can occur and the vehicle could stall while in motion. An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. There is also a possibility that a fire could occur, increasing the risk of injury. You were previously advised that Kia was working on a repair remedy for this defect.  The remedy to repair your vehicle is now available.

 

What Is The Problem?

The oil pan may have been improperly sealed during engine production. As a result, if the vehicle is continued to be driven with an oil leak, damage to the engine can occur and the vehicle could stall while in motion, increasing the risk of a crash.  There is also the possibility that a fire can occur, increasing the risk of injury.

Please note that the following warnings may identify that the above condition is present. These include 1) oil on the ground after the vehicle is parked, 2) oil on underbody surfaces of the vehicle, 3) smell and/or smoke associated with oil on hot surfaces, 4) the illumination of the Check Engine (Malfunction Indicator)

Light and/or the Engine Oil Pressure Warning  Light in the Instrument Panel; and 5) reduced power/hesitation.

 

Kia Will Replace the Oil Pressure Switch, and, if an Oil Leak is Detected, Will Replace the Oil Pan at  No Cost for Parts and Labor to You.

Kia has advised its authorized dealers to replace the Oil Pressure Switch (OPS) with an improved one that will detect the early onset of oil leaking.  In addition, dealers will inspect the oil pan for any oil leaks. If an oil leak is found, the oil pan will be replaced at no cost for parts or labor to you.

 

What Should You Do?

• In the interest of the safety of your passengers, as well as your own safety, please immediately contact your Kia dealer to arrange for the recall repair to be conducted. The estimated time required to inspect and perform necessary repairs will be approximately two (2) to three (3) hours. However, the vehicle may be needed longer; therefore, we recommend scheduling a service appointment to minimize any inconvenience.

To find your nearest dealer, visit www.kia.com and click the “Find Dealer” button in the upper right corner (“Dealers” on a mobile device). You can also use the QR code below with your mobile device to access this information (see the bottom of this letter for more information about QR code use):

 

What If You Have Already Paid To Have This Situation Corrected?

If you have incurred expense to remedy this issue prior to the date of this notice, you may have the opportunity to obtain reimbursement for that expense. You may submit your receipts online to Kia via the Owners section of www.kia.com or mail your receipts with the attached Request for Reimbursement Form directly to Kia for review and consideration:

Consumer Assistance Center
Kia Motors America, Inc
P.O. Box 52410
Irvine, CA  92619-2410
1-800-333-4542

 

The Kia Consumer Assistance Center is available at the number listed above if you have any questions or require assistance in submitting your claim.

Pursuant to the General Reimbursement Plan issued by Kia pursuant to Federal Regulation 49 CFR 573.13, Kia will use its best efforts to respond to your claim within sixty (60) days of receipt and at that time Kia may either accept or reject that claim or it may request more information to evaluate the claim.

 

Have You Changed Your Address Or Sold Your Kia?

If you have changed your home address, sold your Kia vehicle, or no longer own your vehicle, please complete the attached prepaid “Change of Address/Ownership” card and mail it to us. You can also contact the Consumer Assistance Center phone number listed above.

 

What If You Are A Vehicle Lessor? 

Federal regulation requires that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten days.

 

What If You Have Other Questions?

If your dealer does not respond to your service request in a timely manner, we suggest that you call Kia’s Consumer Assistance Center at 1-800-333-4542. This number has TTY capability. If you still are not satisfied that we have remedied this situation without charge and within a reasonable amount of time, you may submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington, DC 20590; or call the toll free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY:  1-800-424-9153); or go to https://www.safercar.gov.

This action has been taken in the interest of your safety, and we regret any inconvenience this situation may cause you.

 

Sincerely,

Consumer Affairs Department

 

QR Code Use: A QR Code is a square, 2-dimensional barcode that can be read by mobile devices loaded with an appropriate barcode or QR Code Reader App. The app reads the barcode image and then launches/uploads the specific information the code contains, such as URLs, text, photos, videos. With a mobile device, download a QR Code Reader App. With many devices, you can do this through an app store or marketplace. Open the QR Code Reader App on your mobile device. The app will utilize your device’s camera. Center the code in the camera viewing area. With some apps, the URL or other information will automatically load when the code is recognized. For others, you may have to snap or take a picture of the QR code. Refer to the QR Reader Code App instructions.

 

SC174

 

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2 Affected Products

Vehicle

KIA

SPORTAGE

2011-2012

 

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16 Associated Documents

Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)- INTERIM NOTICE April 5, 2019 Attention: All Dealer Principals

RCMN-19V101-2180.pdf 28.353KB

 

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Miscellaneous Document – SC174 – 2011-2012 MY SPORTAGE ENGINE OIL PAN LEAK SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN Q & A April 5, 2019

RMISC-19V101-1178.pdf 54.733KB

 

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Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-19V101-1869.pdf 245.456KB

 

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Chronology

RMISC-19V101-5877.pdf 83.367KB

 

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-19V101-2477.PDF 213.012KB

 

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ISSUED Interim Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RIONL-19V101-5727.pdf 83.597KB

 

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-19V101-5937.PDF 213.012KB

 

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)- INTERIM NOTICE April 5, 2019 Attention: All Kia Parts & Service Managers

RCMN-19V101-7606.pdf 32.809KB

 

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Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-19V101-5200.pdf 779.235KB

 

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Miscellaneous Document – SC174 – 2011-2012 MY SPORTAGE ENGINE OIL PAN LEAK SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN Q & A June 28, 2019

RMISC-19V101-4543.pdf 56.187KB

 

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers, etc.) FOLLOW-UP NOTICE for All Kia Parts & Service Managers. REMEDY IS NOW AVAILABLE.

RCMN-19V101-1347.pdf 31.12KB

 

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers, etc.) FOLLOW-UP NOTICE for All Dealer Principals. REMEDY IS NOW AVAILABLE for this campaign.

RCMN-19V101-9201.pdf 25.947KB

 

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-19V101-0000.pdf 63.902KB

 

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Recall 573 Report – AMENDMENT 1

RCLRPT-19V101-8629.PDF 213.733KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2019-3

RCLQRT-19V101-9182.PDF 211.142KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2019-4

RCLQRT-19V101-5527.PDF 211.254KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=19V101&docType=RCL

 

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Last update on 2026-05-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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