Recall Alert: 2012 Subaru Legacy, Outback

Subaru is recalling 381 Legacy and Outback vehicles from the 2012 model year because the side curtain airbags may not inflate, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles, which were built from Dec. 1 to Dec. 23, 2011, the airbags contain the incorrect propellant mixture. As a result, there may be an insufficient output of compressed gas, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Subaru will notify owners in early April, and dealers will replace one or both side curtain airbag modules for free. Owners can call Subaru at 800-782-2783 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Recall Alert: 2012 Nissan Versa

Nissan is recalling 36,608 Versa compact cars from the 2012 model year that are equipped with an automatic transmission because they can be shifted out of Park without depressing the brake pedal. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an interference between the shifter rod and the shifter knob is causing the problem.

If the driver shifts out of Park without intending to a crash could result. The affected vehicles were made between June 9, 2011, and January 13, 2012. You can find the vehicle's build date on a label affixed to the driver-side doorjamb.

Nissan will begin notifying owners on Feb. 20. Dealers will inspect and replace the affected parts free of charge. Owners can call Nissan at 800-647-7261 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Recall Alert: 2012 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator

Ford is recalling 569 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs from the 2012 model year because the head restraints may have inadequate welds, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles, which were built from Nov. 19 to Dec. 2, 2011, the welds on the second-row head restraint’s support brackets in the right-hand seat may not provide enough strength, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. You can find the vehicle's build date on a label affixed to the driver-side doorjamb.

The recall is expected to begin around Feb. 20, and dealers will replace the head restraint if necessary at no charge. Owners can call Ford at 866-436-7332 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Recall Alert: 2011 Toyota RAV4

Toyota is recalling 427 Toyota RAV4s from the 2011 model year because of a defect involving the side curtain airbags, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The affected vehicles, which were manufactured from Nov. 24 through Dec. 19, 2011, do not use the correct propellant that helps to initiate the expansion of the airbag. As a result, one or both side curtain airbags might not deploy in an accident, increasing the risk of injury.

Toyota will start notifying owners in March, and dealerships will replace one or each of the side curtain airbags, if necessary, free of charge. Owners can call Toyota at 800-331-4331 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Recall Alert: 2008-10 Maserati GranTurismo and GranTurismo Convertible

Maserati has issued a recall for 1,768 GranTurismos and GranTurismo convertibles from the 2008-10 model years because of a faulty lamp assembly, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles, which were manufactured from June 2008 to March 2010, both the taillights and brake light could fail because of the faulty lamp assembly. This could lead to reduced vehicle visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Maserati will notify owners this month, and dealers will inspect and replace affected rear taillamp assemblies free of charge.

For more info, owners can call Maserati at 201-816-2600 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 2012 Honda Accord and Crosstour

Honda is recalling 347 Accord sedans and Crosstour hatchbacks to address airbag issues, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports.

In certain vehicles, the side curtain airbags for the driver and front passenger may have a faulty inflator. In the event of an accident, the affected airbags will not deploy, increasing the risk of passenger injury.

Honda will begin notifying owners on Feb. 10, and the affected airbags will be replaced for free. Owners can call Honda at 800-999-1009 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Recall Alert: 2011-12 Honda Ridgeline

Honda is recalling 206 Ridgeline pickup trucks because they may be equipped with the wrong type of spare tire, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles, which were manufactured from Aug. 25 through Nov. 29, 2011, the pickup may be equipped with a full-size tire instead of a temporary spare tire. In these cases, the tire specifications listed on a placard affixed to the vehicle — listing the size and recommended cold inflation pressure for a temporary tire — are not correctly displayed. An improperly inflated tire could cause tire failure and increase the risk of a crash.

Honda has already started to notify owners, and dealers will exchange the spare tire assembly or replace the information placard for free. Owners can call Honda at 800-999-1009 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Recall Alert: 2001-2002 Mazda Tribute

Mazda is recalling more than 50,000 Tribute compact SUVs to address a brake fluid leak, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The master brake cylinder reservoir could leak, leading to the corrosion of the antilock braking system’s electrical components, and a fire could result, NHTSA says.

Mazda says the recall affects 52,390 vehicles. They were built from April 20, 2000, to July 19, 2002. You can find the vehicle's build date on a label affixed to the driver-side doorjamb.

Mazda has already begun the process to notify owners. Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder reservoir cap and assess any damage to the ABS. Dealers will perform the services for free. As a precaution, Mazda directs owners of affected vehicles to park outside until the fix can be made. For more info, owners can call Mazda at 800-222-5500 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

Recall Alert: 14,220 Chaperone/Britax Infant Car Seats

Britax Child Safety is recalling 14,220 Chaperone infant car seats because of a faulty harness adjuster, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A defective rivet could cause the harness adjuster to pull away from the seat. No related injuries or deaths have been reported, but a defective harness means the car seat won’t properly secure the infant in an accident.

The affected car seats were manufactured from Sept. 1, 2010, through April 30, 2011, and have the following model numbers: E9L692J (black/silver), E9L692K (red), E9L692L (cow pattern) and E9L692M (green). The manufacture date and model number are listed on a label on the car seat. 

Britax will begin notifying owners and sending repair kits on Feb. 6. If the harness adjuster has already detached from the seat, stop using the seat immediately; the company will replace the entire car seat. Owners can find the harness adjuster at the base of the car seat and can contact Britax at 888-427-4829 for more info.

Recall Alert: 2012 BMW X5

BMW is recalling just six model-year 2012 X5 SUVs to address a problem with the transmission's parking lock mechanism, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The lock may not engage when the vehicle is in Park and the SUV could roll away from the driver.

Only all-wheel-drive X5s manufactured from Dec. 19 through Dec. 21, 2011, are affected. The vehicle's build date is on a label affixed to the driver-side doorjamb. Concerned owners should override the transmission's park mode by using the parking brake as an added safety measure.

Dealers will replace the automatic transmission free of charge. BMW will start notifying owners this month. For more info, owners can call BMW at 800-525-7417 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.