Current Events in March 2021

Two telemarketers based in Texas have been slapped with a record $225 million fine from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for making approximately 1 billion robocalls to consumers across the U.S. 

The FCC said the telemarketers, who used business names including Rising Eagle and JSquared Telecom, operated at least two businesses that illegally spoofed well-known companies like Cigna in an attempt to sell short-term insurance plans. 

One of the telemarketers, John C. Spiller “admitted to the USTelecom Industry Traceback Group that he made millions of spoofed calls per day and knowingly called consumers on the Do Not Call list as he believed that it was more profitable to target these consumers,” according to the FCC. 

The number of spoofed robocalls transmitted by the two telemarketers snowballed to one billion in less than five months during 2019, the agency said. 

New anti-robocall efforts

Despite a number of new regulatory actions that have been taken in recent years to curb robocalls, they’re still a big problem for consumers. The agency said it’s aware of the issue and will continue ramping up its efforts to stop robocalls, especially since they could lead to consumers unwittingly sharing sensitive personal information with bad actors. 

In a separate announcement, acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said that the agency has established a new Robocall Response Team made up of 51 FCC members across six offices. 

The Robocall Response Team will “bring together Commission efforts to enforce the law against providers of illegal robocalls, develop new policies to authenticate calls and trace back illegal robocalls, and educate providers and other stakeholders about what they can do to Help,” Rosenworcel said. 

The FCC has also sent cease-and-desist letters to six companies in Canada, the U.K. and the U.S. that have consistently violated its guidelines on automated calls. Failure to comply with the requests in the letters may result in the agency permanently blocking all call traffic from their networks. 

AMC Theatres feels it’s safe to come out of the pandemic woods and reopen. 

A year after closing all of its locations due to COVID-19 concerns and six months after claiming it was on shaky ground financially, the movie theatre chain announced on Thursday that it will have 98 percent of its U.S. locations open by this Friday, March 19. By March 26, the company says it should have 99 percent of its theatres open to the public.

Moviegoer health is priority #1

At the top of its reopening checklist, the company is putting an emphasis on moviegoers’ health, and it feels like it has all the safety measures in place to meet that challenge. The company’s efforts in that regard include a slate of Safe & Clean policies and protocols developed in consultation with Clorox and with faculty at the Harvard University School of Public Health. 

One of the more important additions emphasized in the company’s announcement is the upgrade of its air filtration system. The upgrade includes MERV-13 air filters, which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says can trap smaller particles like viruses.

Here are some other health-conscious additions that returning moviegoers will find:

• Social distancing & automatic seat blocking in each auditorium

• Mandatory mask wearing

• Easy availability of disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer

AMC is also taking a hard line on employee health. Managers and crew members will have their temperatures checked before they begin their shift. If anyone has a fever or coronavirus-like symptoms, they will be required to self-quarantine until they are symptom-free for at least 72 hours.

Changes at the concession stand

AMC isn’t letting down its guard anywhere, including the concession stand. Moviegoers will have to verbally request condiments like ketchup, mustard, relish, buttery popcorn topping, and salt, but napkins, cup lids, and straws are available to grab and go.

The company is also changing how drink and popcorn refills are managed. Customers will have to ask the concessions crew for a new cup to refill their drink or a new tub to refill their popcorn. 

While reading may not be every consumer’s favorite hobby, findings from a new study may prompt more people to pick up their favorite books more often. 

According to researchers from Concordia University, reading for fun has even more benefits than previously thought. Findings from a new study showed that reading for pleasure, as opposed to reading to find specific information, was associated with stronger verbal and cognitive skills.

“It’s always very positive and heartening to give people permission to delve into the series that they like,” said researcher Sandra Martin-Chang. “I liken it to research that says chocolate is good for you: the guilty pleasure of reading fiction is associated with positive cognitive benefits and verbal outcomes.” 

Long-term benefits of reading for fun

To determine the benefits associated with reading for fun, the researchers had 200 undergraduate students complete a series of assessments that evaluated their reading habits and their general attitudes toward reading. Afterwards, they answered test-based questions that gauged their verbal and cognitive abilities. The researchers also developed a predictive scale -- Predictors of Leisure Reading (PoLR) -- to see how well they could identify which participants were most interested in reading for fun. 

The researchers found that participants who scored higher on the reading questionnaires also scored higher on the verbal acuity exams. The opposite was also true; participants that scored lower on the general reading questionnaires had poorer scores on the verbal tests. 

The same associations emerged when the researchers looked at the PoLR. Participants who reported reading more often, specifically seeking out fiction or other novels, also had the highest test scores. Conversely, participants who reported only reading to seek out specific information scored poorer on the verbal acuity test. 

The researchers explained that these findings are interesting because of the population that they focused on. While most kids have to read for academic purposes, by the time they reach young adulthood, reading becomes voluntary. It’s important to know that picking up a book for enjoyment can leave consumers with long-term benefits. 

“This ingrained interest, wanting to read something over and over again, feeling compelled to read an entire series, feeling connected to characters and authors, these are all good things,” siad Martin-Chang. 

Amazon has launched a new initiative that moves the online retailer deeper into health care services, with an emphasis on digital services.

The company has announced that it is expanding its Amazon Care service to employees nationwide soon and to employees of all companies in Washington state immediately. 

It’s a major expansion of digital health care services that saw huge growth over the last 12 months of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The parts of the program going national are virtual consultations using the Amazon Care app as well as in-person office visits in some markets.

The service can also send health care professionals to the patient to provide blood work, additional primary health services, and prescription delivery.

Launched 18 months ago

Amazon launched Amazon Care 18 months ago, serving a limited number of employees and their families. Patients may connect with medical professionals via chat or video conference, eliminating the need for office visits that can take huge amounts of time from the workday.

“Amazon Care can dispatch a medical professional to a patient’s home for additional care, ranging from routine blood draws to listening to a patient’s lungs, and also offer prescription delivery right to a patient’s door,” the company said in a press release. 

The biggest change is in eligibility. Until this week Amazon Care has only served Amazon employees and their families in Washington state, where Amazon is based. 

Amazon is expanding the service to employees of other Washington-based companies immediately. This summer, the virtual service will be offered to all Amazon employees and other company employees, no matter where they are based.

Amazon Care’s in-person service will expand to Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and other cities later this year.

Slow expansion of services

The retailer has been edging toward health services for some time. In 2018, Amazon joined with JPMorgan Chase and Berkshire Hathaway to form a non-profit joint venture to manage and streamline their employee healthcare programs.

The CEOs of these giant companies -- Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Jamie Dimon of Chase, and Warren Buffet of Berkshire Hathaway -- said the new company would focus on technology solutions that will provide high-quality health benefits at a reasonable cost.

Amazon Care, meanwhile, is aimed at addressing a wide spectrum of patient needs through its primary care and urgent care offerings. Using the service, patients can access preventive care such as annual vaccinations, health screenings, and lifestyle advice. 

The service is also focused on wellness needs, with an emphasis on nutrition, pre-pregnancy planning, sexual health, smoking cessation, and other health-oriented services.

MG Foods of Charlotte, N.C., is recalling various turkey sandwiches.

The products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

A list of the recalled products sold from March 3 – 5, 202 in clear plastic wedges & paper bags at distributors in the Charlotte Douglas Airport and through vending machines and micro markets located in business locations in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and West Virginia, may be found here.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should discard any they have left.

Consumers with questions or who would like a refund may contact MG Foods at (855) 424-8390 Monday thru Friday. 7:00am – 7:00 pm (EST).

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling seven model year 2020 CLA45 AMGs with 4-cylinder gasoline engines.

incorrect spark plugs may have been installed, which could come apart over time and cause engine damage.

Engine damage may result in a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the spark plugs free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin April 27, 2021.

Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at (800) 367-6372.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 29,551,973 (29,445,075)

Total U.S. deaths: 536,978 (535,178)

Total global cases: 120,861,983 (120,002,856)

Total global deaths: 2,673,264 (2,675,102)

White House optimistic about vaccine progress

Week by week, the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine roll out has picked up speed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 37 percent of people in the U.S. over the age of 65 have been fully vaccinated.

The White House is most optimistic about this age group’s willingness to take the vaccine. Andy Slavitt, a White House senior advisor for the virus response, told CNBC that the administration believes that nearly 90 percent of seniors will roll up their sleeves.

In many states, so many seniors have been vaccinated that eligibility is being expanded to other age groups. President Biden said he wants all American adults to be eligible for the vaccine by May 1.

Vaccine appears to help ‘long haulers’

Over the last year, doctors have expressed concern about some of their COVID-19 patients who recover from the virus but continue to suffer from some of its symptoms. They have been dubbed “long-haulers.”

But now there’s some good news. The Washington Post reports that some of these patients have overcome their lingering symptoms after getting a vaccination. 

One 34-year-old patient told the newspaper that her symptoms were gone thirty-six hours after her second shot of a coronavirus vaccine last month, and they haven’t returned. Doctors say they aren’t sure why.

Travel vouchers should be used soon

The clock is ticking for millions of consumers who bought airline tickets last year but had to cancel their trips because of the coronavirus. In cases where travelers were given vouchers for future tickets instead of refunds, many of those vouchers may expire soon.

The Wall Street Journal reports that “extensions on vouchers given to consumers for canceled trips instead of refunds are drying up, and complicated terms make them difficult to use.”

For example, United Airlines has two classes of credits. “Flight credits” are good for one flight, even if the value of the trip is less than what the passenger originally paid. “Travel credits” can be used for multiple trips until the original value has been reached.

Vaccinated travelers should be ready to prove they’ve had their shots

Surveys suggest that vaccinated consumers are eager to travel this spring and summer, and increasing airline, cruise, and hotel bookings are evidence of that trend. Travel experts say keeping your COVID-19 vaccination card handy might make travel go more smoothly.

The Wall Street Journal reports that British Airways and RyanAir have begun allowing passengers to provide vaccination proof, along with their other travel documents, when they make reservations in the U.K.

RyanAir has actually developed a digital wallet as part of its mobile app that will allow customers to store digital copies of their vaccination card, along with other documents. Travelers can also take a picture of their card and leave the image on their phone.

Trump urges people to get vaccinated

Some people have suggested that former President Trump could be helpful if he urged people to get the COVID-19 vaccine, saying it could help overcome “vaccine hesitancy” among some of his supporters. This week, he did so.

"I would recommend it and I would recommend it to a lot of people that don't want to get it and a lot of those people voted for me, frankly," Trump told Fox News.

Trump said he agrees with people who say it is a personal choice but also said there should be no concerns about the three approved vaccines, calling them “safe” and "something that works."

Around the nation

• Ohio: Residents as young as 40 will soon be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as state health officials report progress in vaccinating seniors. Gov. Mike DeWine announced that the new eligibility will take effect on Friday.

• Nevada: The state plans to turn over virus mitigation rules to its counties, but some state officials are concerned about local officials’ plans to be 100 percent open by May 1. “Opening at 100 percent makes me very nervous,” said Kyra Morgan, chief biostatistician for Nevada. “That could be really playing with fire.”

• Iowa: Litter is piling up on state highways, and officials are blaming COVID-19. They point out that prison inmates are usually employed to pick up the trash, but that program has been suspended this year because of the virus.

Several recent studies have highlighted the benefits associated with walking and staying active. Now, researchers from the University of Leicester have found that walking pace may be an indicator of COVID-19 mortality risk. 

According to the team, having a slower walking pace increased the risk of a more severe reaction -- and death -- from COVID-19. While earlier studies have found that a higher body mass index (BMI) increases the risks associated with the coronavirus, the researchers found that fitness played a larger role than weight in this report. 

“We know already that obesity and frailty are key risk factors for COVID-19 outcomes,” said researcher Tom Yates. “This is the first study to show that slow walkers have a much higher risk of contracting severe COVID-19 outcomes, irrespective of their weight.

“With the pandemic continuing to put unprecedented strain on health care services and communities, identifying individuals at greatest risk and taking preventative measures to protect them is crucial,” he added. 

Protective benefits of a faster pace

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 412,000 participants enrolled in the U.K. Biobank dataset. This allowed the team to look at the participants’ health outcomes related to COVID-19, their BMIs, and their walking paces based on self reports. 

The study revealed that having a slower walking pace, regardless of weight, impacted the severity of COVID-19 and increased the risk of death. 

Participants with obesity and a faster pace had a lower mortality risk and were less likely to contract severe cases of COVID-19. Conversely, the risk of death was nearly four times higher for participants of normal weight but slower walking pace; this group was also nearly three times as likely to experience more severe viral symptoms. 

“Fast walkers have been shown to generally have good cardiovascular health, making them more resilient to external stressors, including viral infection but this hypothesis has not yet been established for infectious diseases,” said Yates. 

Based on these findings, the researchers recommend that walking pace be considered as one of the risk factors associated with COVID-19 mortality risk. 

“It is my view that ongoing public health and research surveillance studies should consider incorporating simple measures of physical fitness such as self-reported walking pace in addition to BMI, as potential risk predictors of COVID-19 outcomes that could ultimately enable better prevention methods that save lives,” Yates said. 

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is trying to moderate a recently discovered loophole that allows debt collectors to take Economic Impact Payment (EIP) funds from consumers’ bank accounts. On Wednesday, the agency said it was encouraging both creditors and financial institutions to allow the stimulus checks distributed through the American Rescue Plan to reach consumers before taking any over-the-top actions.

“The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is squarely focused on addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on economically vulnerable consumers and is looking carefully at the stimulus payments that millions are now receiving through the American Rescue Plan,” said CFPB Acting Director Dave Uejio. 

“The Bureau is concerned that some of those desperately needed funds will not reach consumers, and will instead be intercepted by financial institutions or debt collectors to cover overdraft fees, past-due debts, or other liabilities.”

Financial institutions say they want to help consumers

Uejio said that his agency has had discussions with financial industry trade associations that want to work with consumers who are struggling during the pandemic. 

Many of those organizations went as far as saying that they have already begun -- or will soon begin -- taking proactive measures to make sure that consumers can access the full value of their stimulus payments. 

“If payments are seized, many financial institutions have pledged to promptly restore the funds to the people who should receive them, Uejio said.

Advice for consumers

The CFPB says consumers should monitor their bank accounts or use the IRS’ Get My Payment tool to confirm that EIP funds have been deposited into their accounts. The agency has also launched a new consumer advisory that offers advice on the steps consumers can take if they believe their bank or credit union has withheld their stimulus payment to cover an overdrawn account balance. 

In overdrawn account balance situations, the CFPB says banks and credit unions may employ a variety of methods to ensure that their customers have access to the full value of their EIP funds.

Frequently, financial institutions have issued temporary provisional credits in the amount of the overdrawn account balance. However, it’s important to note that provisional relief credit may only be temporary, and the credit might be taken back after a specified period of time. It’s rare, but the CFPB says that some banks and credit unions have gone as far as permanently forgiving overdrawn account balances or issuing paper checks for the full EIP amount to consumers with overdrawn accounts. 

“If you think your bank or credit union will take or has taken a portion of your EIP to cover money you owe to the bank or credit union -- call them. If you legitimately do not owe the money, you should make them aware,” advises the CFPB’s Valentin Mihalache.

“Each financial institution has its own policies, but many are willing to work with customers who have been financially impacted by COVID-19. If they offer you a temporary credit, ask them to explain how it works and when you’ll have to pay it back. You can use our guiding questions to talk to your bank or credit union about this issue.”

Mihalache says consumers should also be aware of potential scams and avoid giving personal or banking information to unsolicited callers who claim to help with relief payments. Consumers can submit complaints to the CFPB online or by calling (855) 411-2372.

Honda said Tuesday that it’s pausing production at its factories due to a supply-chain issue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The automaker said most plants in the U.S. and Canada will stop production while some will operate at reduced levels. Workers won’t be laid off and will have the opportunity to continue working at affected factories. 

"We continue to manage a number of supply chain issues related to the impact from COVID-19, congestion at various ports, the microchip shortage and severe winter weather over the past several weeks,” the automaker said. “Our purchasing and production teams are working to limit the impact of this situation and are adjusting production as necessary in order to carefully manage the available supply of parts and meet the needs of our customers.” 

Last summer, Honda halted production at some of its U.S. factories due to a cyberattack that impacted the company’s customer service center. The carmaker noted that the “timing and length of production adjustments could change” as it works to mitigate the current issue. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating a crash in Detroit involving a Tesla vehicle that may have been in Autopilot mode. The vehicle reportedly drove beneath a semitrailer, critically injuring two people. Local police say they’re still investigating whether the driver was using the Autopilot feature or not.

The agency called the incident a “violent crash,” one eerily similar to two previous crashes in Florida in which Teslas drove beneath tractor-trailers, causing two fatalities. In one of those, the regulators found that the Tesla Autopilot was not at fault.

In both Florida crashes, the vehicles were being driven with the assistance of Tesla’s Autopilot feature, which is a partially automated driving software. When the company first released Autopilot, it said the feature was designed to “give you more confidence behind the wheel, increase your safety on the road, and make highway driving more enjoyable.”

However, that was six years and several accidents ago. Now, the company has scaled back its language to say that Autopilot is “a hands-on driver assistance system that is intended to be used only with a fully attentive driver,” adding that it “does not turn a Tesla into a self-driving car nor does it make a car autonomous.”

No such thing as a “self-driving car” 

In its investigation of previous Tesla Autopilot-related crashes, the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) cited the shortcomings of these new automotive technologies. “This tragic crash clearly demonstrates the limitations of advanced driver assistance systems available to consumers today,” said NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt. 

“There is not a vehicle currently available to U.S. consumers that is self-driving. Period. Every vehicle sold to US consumers still requires the driver to be actively engaged in the driving task, even when advanced driver assistance systems are activated. If you are selling a car with an advanced driver assistance system, you’re not selling a self-driving car. If you are driving a car with an advanced driver assistance system, you don’t own a self-driving car,” Sumwalt said.

Sumwalt recently went after the NHTSA for its “continued failure to recognize the importance of ensuring that acceptable safeguards are in place” when it comes to testing advanced driver assistance systems. He said conditions like roadway type, geographic location, clear roadway markings, weather conditions, speed range, and lighting conditions can all hinder the ability of these systems to operate safely. 

Despite these limitations, Sumwalt pointed out in a February 1 letter to the Department of Transportation that vehicle manufacturers can operate and test vehicles virtually anywhere. He said that’s only possible because the NHTSA has no requirements in place.

Sumwalt cited Tesla’s recent beta version of its Level 2 Autopilot system, which is described as having full self-driving capability, as an example. 

“By releasing the system, Tesla is testing on public roads a highly [automated vehicle] technology but with limited oversight or reporting requirements. Although Tesla includes a disclaimer that ‘currently enabled features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous,’ NHTSA’s hands-off approach to oversight of AV testing poses a potential risk to motorists and other road users,” he said.

Texas officials say the massive electric bills consumers were hit with in the wake of unprecedented frigid temperatures will be forgiven. 

On Tuesday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said residents in the state will collectively see $29 million in unpaid electric bills forgiven now that electricity provider Griddy has filed for bankruptcy. 

“My office sued Griddy Energy, under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, to hold them accountable for their escalation of last month’s winter storm disaster by debiting enormous amounts from customer accounts as Texans struggled to survive the storm,” Paxton said in a statement. “I ensured that Griddy’s proposed bankruptcy plan takes an important step forward by offering releases to approximately 24,000 former customers who owe $29.1 million in unpaid electric bills. 

Paxton added that consumers who already paid high bills connected to the winter storm could see additional relief. 

“Griddy and my office are engaged in ongoing good faith negotiations to attempt to address additional relief for those Griddy customers who have already paid their storm-related energy bills,” he said. 

Griddy powering down

According to Griddy Energy’s bankruptcy filing, the company will “release all outstanding payment obligations for those Texas consumers who were unable to pay their energy bills due to the high prices charged during the storm.” 

After a major winter storm swept through Texas, many customers received sky-high electric bills. One customer who received a bill of nearly $10,000 sued Griddy and argued that the company "failed to shield consumers from excessive electrical bills.” 

In the wake of the storm, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott took steps to address the outrageous utility bills. “We have a responsibility to protect Texans from spikes in their energy bills that are a result of the severe winter weather and power outages,” he said at the time. 

Abbott celebrated Griddy’s recent action and said he “will continue working with the legislature to resolve remaining claims.”

The average transaction price (ATP) of a new car or truck is near an all-time high, hitting more than $41,000 in February, according to Kelley Blue Book. So families in the market for a new vehicle should choose carefully.

To help with that, U.S. News and World Report has just issued its annual list of Best New Cars for Families in 2021. The cars, SUVs, and vans were judged on a combination of safety, reliability, space, convenience, and connectivity.

Judges evaluated a total of 86 vehicles and named winners across nine categories.

Toyota was the biggest winner for the 2021 model year, driving off with four awards. Honda was close behind with three.

Eight-time winner

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid was named Best Hybrid SUV for Families for the eighth time. The gas-only RAV4 won Best Compact SUV for Families, and the Avalon Hybrid won Best Hybrid and Electric Car for Families for the second straight year. The gas-only Avalon won Best Large Car for Families, its third award in that category. 

The Honda Passport placed first in the category of 2-Row SUV for Families, the second time it has earned that distinction. The Honda Accord was also a second-time winner in the category of Best Midsize Sedan for Families. The Honda Odyssey won Best Minivan for Families for the 11th consecutive year – marking the longest winning streak in the history of the awards.

Kia and Chevrolet each collected an award. The Kia Telluride was named the Best 3-Row SUV for Families, the second straight year for that honor. The Chevrolet Suburban was named Best Large SUV for Families, finding its way back to the winner’s circle for the first time since 2015.

"Families come in many forms, and with nine different categories to choose from, there's a Best Cars for Families award winner that will work for any family," said Jamie Page Deaton, executive editor of U.S. News Best Cars. "The award winners have the space, safety, and features to satisfy any family, from new parents to parents with new drivers to households that may be welcoming grandparents."

Used vehicles may be a lot less

Families that don’t have a budget for one of these 2021 models might find good value if they consider a recent model of the same brand from the used car lot. The Honda Accord, for example, has a four out of five-star rating from ConsumerAffairs readers.

“Very good overall family sedan,” Ralph, of Pittsburgh wrote in a December 2019 post. “A few defects but overall quality is good except seats are not exactly designed for comfort. Ride is fair but road noise heard. Could be better by adding more insulation. Honda engines last forever.”

Previously-owned Toyota Highlanders also get a four-star rating from our readers. David, of Randolph, Mass., purchased a 2019 Highlander last year and is pretty pleased with his ride.

“No defects or mechanical issues,” David wrote in his post. “Very smooth ride. I find the seats comfortable. They do not hurt as others say after long rides. Maybe because everyone's body is different. I have no rattle or wind noises in the cabin.”

Nissan North America is recalling 807,376 model year 2016-2019 Nissan Sentras.

The brake light switch may become contaminated, preventing the circuit from closing and the brake lights from illuminating.

Failure of the brake lights tot illuminate can increase the risk of a crash.

What to do

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake light switch and install a protective grommet free of charge. Remedy parts are expected to become available Fall 2021.

Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed beginning April 7, 2021. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy becomes available.

Owners may contact Nissan customer service at (800) 867-7769. Nissan's number for this recall is PM971.

Daimler Vans USA (DVUSA) is recalling three model year 2021 Mercedes-Benz Metris vans with an adjustable front passenger seat.

The front passenger seat frame base may not have been welded properly.

An improperly welded seat frame base may have reduced stability, which can increase the risk of injury to the occupant in a crash.

What to do

DVUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat frame base free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin March 29, 2021.

Owners may contact DVUSA customer service at (877) 762-8267. DVUSA's number for this recall is VS2SITZNAT.