The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall for approximately 45,500 Volkswagen cars and SUVs due to a seat belt locking retractor malfunction. The recall primarily affects vehicles in the automaker’s Audi sub-brand, but it also covers the new ID.4 electric compact SUV.
The NHTSA said the rear seat belt automatic locking retractors could deactivate early. An “unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash,” the agency noted.
Affected vehicles include model-year 2021 Audi A4, S4, A6, S6, RS 6, A8 and S8 sedans; A6 Allroad wagons; A5, S5, RS 5, A7, S7, and RS 7 hatchbacks; e-Tron, Q3, Q5, SQ5, Q7, SQ7, Q8, SQ8 and RS Q8 SUVs; model-year 2021-22 S3 sedans; and model-year 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 SUVs.
These vehicles will be inspected by dealers, and the flaw will be fixed at no cost to owners. Volkwagen said it will begin notifying owners on October 1.
Ford to replace Bronco hardtops
Elsewhere in the automotive industry, Ford announced that it will replace every “molded-in color” hardtop roof for 2021 Bronco vehicles. The company said the existing hardtops aren’t up to its standards cosmetically, but the problems don’t affect their safety or functionality.
Owners already in possession of their Bronco will receive a new roof later this year. These owners will receive a letter from Ford in the coming weeks with details on how the company will install the new roof. Consumers still awaiting delivery of their SUV will have to wait a little longer for it to arrive. Alternatively, they can choose to switch to a soft-top model instead.
Frozen breaded chicken products recalled
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recalled several frozen chicken products this week after 28 cases of salmonella were reported across eight states.
Recalled products include Dutch Farms Chicken with Broccoli & Cheese, Milford Valley Chicken with Broccoli & Cheese, and Kirkwood Raw Stuffed Chicken Cordon Bleu. Consumers with any of these products at home are advised to throw them away or return them to their place of purchase.
Health officials said 11 people in eight states have been hospitalized for salmonella infections after consuming breaded frozen chicken products. Twenty-eight illnesses have been reported in total, but the CDC says the actual number of infected people is likely higher.
Locksets recalled because they can fail to open
The Consumer Product Safety Commission on Wednesday issued a recall of dormakaba Delayed Egress Locks.
The agency said the lockset “can fail to open, posing an entrapment hazard and inability to vacate a location in an emergency.” The recalled locks have been cited in 56 incident reports, although no injuries have been reported.
The locks were installed by contractors across the U.S. from October 2019 through March 2021. Consumers can check to see if they have a recalled lock by looking for the model number DE8310 inside of the wiring cavity cover plate.
Wavy Lays chips recalled over undeclared milk
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced this week that Frito-Lay issued a “limited” recall of Wavy Lay’s Original Potato Chips distributed in three states. The company said the products may contain undeclared milk ingredients.
“Those with an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume product contained inside the recalled bags,” the FDA said. “If consumers have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk, they are encouraged not to consume the product and discard it immediately.”
Frito-Lay products that may contain milk ingredients were stocked in retail stores in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The FDA said consumers would have been able to purchase them as early as July 23, 2021.