Major carmaker recalls 177,000 SUVs over fire risk as drivers warned to hand theirs in for urgent checks

A MAJOR car manufacturer is recalling thousands of SUVs over a fire risk with drivers urged to hand their motor in for a check.

Volkswagen is recalling 177,493 crossover SUVs, including certain Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles.

The motors recalled range from model years 2024 to 2025 and may possibly have loose engine covers.

The engine cover may have been improperly installed after vehicle service, allowing it to come loose and contact hot engine surfaces, said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Officials warn a loose engine cover could potentially increase the risk of a fire.

Volkswagen dealers will remove the engine cover, free of charge, to remedy the issue, the NHTSA said.

It comes after another huge car name recalled 9,000 motors over fears they pose a fire risk.

Hyundai bosses are concerned that brake fluid could leak into the affected cars, potentially sparking engine fires.

The company is urging drivers to park vehicles in open spaces and away from flammable materials.

Meanwhile, five major carmakers are set to recall thousands of motors over safety fears relating to various faults with air bags and other components.

Drivers in the UK can find out if a manufacturer has recalled any vehicle, part, or accessory due to a serious safety problem by using the GOV.UK website.

An investigation last year revealed that vehicle recalls have surged over the past 30 years.

To that end, almost 1.2 million vehicles were recalled by the DVSA in the first eight months of 2024.

A RISE IN RECALLS

Newer figures show that nearly 250 car recalls were issued by the end of the year – affecting up to 2.3 million vehicles in total.

In contrast, 30 years previously in 1994, just 27 passenger car recalls were issued.

Cars make up the vast majority of UK vehicle recalls, although other vehicles, such as vans, trucks, buses, motorcycles, motorhomes, trailers, and even individual parts like seats, are also included.

CarVertical’s Matas Buzelis said: “As cars become increasingly modern and incorporate more electrical components, recalls are becoming more common.

“Fortunately, these issues are usually resolved during regular vehicle maintenance, causing minimal inconvenience to drivers.”

CarVertical claims that 3.1% of cars on the road are recalled at least once in the UK – the lowest recall rate among the 26 European countries analysed.

The highest recall rates were seen in Portugal, Greece, and Spain.

One of the biggest issues surrounding recalls arises when a vehicle is sold on and the owner’s records are not updated.

Manufacturers always contact owners to inform them of a recall, but this becomes difficult when car firms cannot track down the vehicle’s current keeper.

In the eyes of the law, it is the legal responsibility of vehicle owners to ensure their cars are safe to drive and do not have outstanding safety recall notices.

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