Top recalls for the week of Sept. 16 include Jeeps, spa pumps

Stellantis, Bestway, Volkswagen, Refresco Beverages, FCA recalls overview:

• Who: Stellantis, Bestway, Volkswagen, Refresco Beverages and FCA recalled products last week.
• Why: The top recalls involve product safety and possible risk of harm. 
• Where: The recalls are effective in the United States; the Refresco Beverage recall is also effective in Puerto Rico.

Several popular companies, retailers and manufacturers announced recalls for products that may pose a risk of injury to consumers. Here are Top Class Actions’ top recalls for the week of Sept. 16.

Stellantis announces recall for Jeeps due to instrument panel defect

Stellantis North America recalled more than 30,000 model year 2018-2024 Jeep Gladiator and Wrangler vehicles due to concerns about a potential failure in their instrument panels.

The automaker says a short circuit in these panels may prevent the display of essential safety information, which could significantly increase the risk of a crash.

Stellantis is offering free replacements of the instrument panel clusters at authorized dealerships. Owners will receive notification letters by Oct. 3. Consumers with additional questions can contact Stellantis directly at 800-853-1403. 

Spa pumps recalled following death

About 866,000 spa pumps are being recalled following reports of at least three fires, including a fatal house fire in Kansas City, Missouri, in January 2024. 

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission published the recall Sept. 12. It affects AirJet and HydroJet spa pumps manufactured by Bestway. The pumps are prone to overheating, which can cause the plastic housing to ignite, according to the notice.

The CPSC confirmed three fires linked to these pumps, one of which resulted in a fatality and another that caused significant property damage.It is investigating seven additional incidents involving the spa pumps. Consumers should stop using the recalled pumps immediately and contact Bestway for a free replacement or a refund, depending on the model.

VW announces recall for ID.4 vehicles over door malfunction

Volkswagen recalled more than 98,000 of its 2021-2024 ID.4 electric vehicles due to a defect that may cause the doors to malfunction and potentially open while the vehicle is in motion. 

The issue stems from door handles that may not meet factory specifications, allowing water to enter and disrupt communication between the handle and the door control unit, the recall notice states.

Though Volkswagen has not reported any crashes or injuries related to this defect, the company says it is aware of 135 warranty claims between June 2023 and May 2024. Affected vehicles may make an audible clicking noise as if the doors are locking and unlocking. 

Volkswagen will inspect and replace faulty door handles at no cost and also provide a software update to adjust door handle parameters, according to the recall notice. It will notify customers of the recall by Nov. 1.

Apple juice recall expanded to include other brands

Refresco Beverages expanded its recall of apple juice products to include 133,500 cases sold under various brand names, including Great Value, Market Basket, Nature’s Nectar and Wellsley Farms. The recall initially affected 9,535 cases of Great Value apple juice due to potentially harmful levels of inorganic arsenic. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration upgraded the recall to a Class II Aug. 23, indicating that while the contaminated apple juice could cause temporary adverse health effects, it is unlikely to result in serious or irreversible damage.

As of Sept. 9, Refresco had not received any reports of incidents related to the recall. It sold the affected products in 25 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Consumers should avoid consuming the recalled apple juice, which can cause symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain and muscle cramping if ingested in high enough quantities, according to the recall notice. 

FCA recalls 1.2M Ram 1500 pickups

FCA recalled more than 1.2 million Ram 1500 pickup trucks due to a defect that could disable the electronic stability control system while the vehicle is in motion. 

The recall affects certain 2019 and 2021-2024 model year Ram 1500 vehicles produced between Oct. 31, 2017, and Feb. 14, 2024. 

A software malfunction within the antilock braking system can cause the ESC system to potentially fail, which could increase the risk of a crash, the recall notice states. FCA is addressing the issue by updating the ABS control module software on the affected vehicles. Those with questions can contact FCA 800-853-1403 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236. 

Have you purchased any of the products listed in our top recalls recently? Let us know in the comments. And be sure to check out other top recalls.

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