Major car brand to recall almost 200,000 vehicles over 'trapped' fears

Thousands of passengers risk being 'trapped' in their car due to a common fault, experts have warned.

Some of the world's most popular car brands including Honda, Ford, and Mercedes recently announced the recall of hundreds of thousands of vehicles due to a range of serious safety concerns. All of the recalls have been issued in the United States, collectively affecting more than 850,000 vehicles in total, with a variety of mechanical and electronic issues identified that increase the likelihood of crashes and other hazardous situations — but only if they remain on the road without being repaired.

It is always of the utmost importance to address potential safety defects in vehicles promptly to protect not just yourself, but everyone on the road. If you're concerned your car may be impacted, it's best to contact your local dealership.

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Honda

The American Honda Motor Company is recalling around 260,000 vehicles in the States due to concerns that a brake pedal could shift out of position, which would prevent the driver from being able to apply the brakes. If this were to happen, the vehicles would fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards related to lighting and brake systems.

The recall affects certain Acura TLX (2021-2025), Acura MDX (2023-2025) and Honda Pilot (2023-2025) models. Honda plans to notify owners by mail around July 28, 2025, with instructions on how to have their vehicles inspected and repaired as needed.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz has also issued a significant recall, affecting almost 92,000 vehicles. The issue centres on the C-pillar, which may not absorb enough impact in the event of a crash. In the event of an accident, the rear occupant's head could come into contact with the C-pillar, potentially causing catastrophic harm.

The recall covers certain 2023-2025 GLC 300, GLC 300 4MATIC, 2024-2025 AMG GLC 43 4MATIC, 2025 GLC 350E 4MATIC and AMG GLC 63 S E vehicles equipped with a panoramic sunroof. Mercedes-Benz has instructed dealers to modify the roof lining of affected vehicles to address the problem.

Ford

Ford has registered documents with the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicating that over 500,000 of its vehicles are being recalled for various issues. The largest of these recalls involves certain Aviator and Explorer models manufactured between 2020 and 2025, with 304,662 units affected.

The main concern is that the second-row seats in these vehicles could move unexpectedly, which may prevent them from properly restraining occupants during a crash. This could significantly increase the risk of injury. Ford dealers will inspect the second-row seat switch and, if necessary, replace the bezel around the switch.

Another major issue for Ford involves nearly 200,000 Mustang Mach E vehicles produced between 2021 and 2025. If these vehicles have a low battery charge, the electronic door latches may remain locked after the driver or front passenger exits and shuts the door. This could result in a situation where a person in the back seat is unable to use the inside door release handles to exit the vehicle.

The NHTSA warned that this defect could 'possibly trap someone who is unable to use the inside door release handles, such as a child in the back seat'. Ford has therefore advised owners to bring their vehicles to dealerships, where the necessary software updates will be provided free of charge.

Notification letters were scheduled to be sent to owners by June 23, 2025, with a follow-up letter planned when the fix becomes available, which is expected by September 29. Although Ford has not received any reports of accidents or injuries related to this problem, the company has provided guidance for drivers to recognise warning signs.

These include a 'system off to save power' alert or a blank SYNC screen after turning off the vehicle. In these cases, drivers may need to pull the inside release handles more forcefully than usual to exit through the front door.

These recalls highlight ongoing safety concerns in the automotive industry and the importance of prompt action by manufacturers to address potential risks to drivers and passengers. All repairs related to these recalls will be carried out free of charge.

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