Thule annually launches load carrier solutions for over 100 new vehicles, covering a total number of over 1500 car models on a global scale. Recently we learned that a series of our fit kits are not safe enough for usage as an included bolt does not deliver the required hardness. Due to the serious safety risk for consumers Thule has initiated an immediate product recall.
Internal tests have shown that a bolt in this foot pack doesn’t live up to the company’s safety standards. The incorrect hardness of the bolt makes it brittle and causes it to potentially break under stress. The potential danger is that the fixation bolt snaps off during use (with or without load) which in the worst case can lead to that the rack and load come loose while driving. “So far we haven’t had any incidents yet. However in order to prevent any harm for consumers we have decided to recall the kits from all countries where we have sold the product”, says Business Area President Magnus Welander.
1. Is your vehicle included in the list below?
HONDA CR-V, 5-dr SUV, 02-06
CITROEN C4 Picasso, 5-dr MPV, 07 (with fixpoint)
CITROEN C4 Grand Picasso, 5-dr MPV, 07 (with fixpoint)
HYUNDAI i30, 5-dr Hatchback, 07-
KIA Cee'd, 3-dr Hatchback, 07-
KIA Cee'd, 5-dr Hatchback, 07-
KIA Pro cee'd 3-dr Hatchback 08-
MERCEDES A-Klasse (C169), 3-dr Hatchback, 05-
MERCEDES A-Klasse (W169), 5-dr Hatchback, 05-
MERCEDES B-Klasse (W245), 5-dr Hatchback, 05-
SUBARU Impreza (Mk.III.), 5-dr Hatchback, 07-
SUBARU Impreza (Mk.III.), 4-dr Sedan, 07-
FORD Mondeo, (MK.II) 5-dr Hatchback, 01-03, 04-07
FORD Mondeo,(MK.II) 4-dr Sedan, 01-03, 04-07
MAZDA 3, 4-dr Sedan, 04-
MAZDA 3, 5-dr Hatchback, 04-
MAZDA Axela, 4-dr Sedan, 04- (JPN)
MAZDA Axela, 5-dr Hatchback, 04- (JPN)
MAZDA 6 (Mk I), 4-dr Sedan, 02-04, 05-07
MAZDA 6 (Mk I), 5-dr Hatchback, 02-04, 05-07
MAZDA Atenza (Mk I), 4-dr Sedan, 02-07(JPN)
MAZDA Atenza (Mk I), 5-dr Hatchback, 02-07 (JPN)
MAZDA CX7, 5-dr SUV, 06-
MAZDA CX9, 5-dr SUV, 07-
MAZDA Demio, 5-dr Hatchback, 07-
MAZDA Mazda 2, 5-dr Hatchback, 07-
MAZDA CX7, 5-dr SUV, 06-
MAZDA 6 (Mk.II.), 5-dr Hatchback, 08-
MAZDA 6 (Mk.II.), 4-dr Sedan, 08-
MAZDA Atenza (Mk II.), 5-dr Hatchback, 08-
MAZDA Atenza (Mk II), 4-dr Sedan, 08-
MITSUBISHI Lancer, 4-dr sedan 07-
MITSUBISHI Lancer, 5-dr Hatchback, 08-
MITSUBISHI Lancer EVO X , 4-dr sedan 08-
FORD Territory, 5-dr SUV, 03-
MAZDA 5, 5-dr MPV, with fixpoint, 04-
MAZDA Premacy, 5-dr MPV, 04-
If Yes, continue to step 2.
If No, your Thule load carrier is still very safe to use.
2. Is your Thule load carrier of the types Thule Rapid Fixpoint XT 751 or Thule Rapid Fixpoint XT Low 753, using one of the affected Rapid Fixpoint Fitting Kits?
Thule makes load carriers for all types of car roofs and for the cars listed there may exist several possible alternatives. To identify if your load carrier is of the affected type see the following descriptions:
3. Did you buy your Rapid Fixpoint XT load carrier any time after 1 January 2008?
If Yes, continue to step 4.
If No, your Thule load carrier is still very safe to use
4. Which component of my load carrier is the faulty one?
A Thule Rapid Fixpoint XT 751 or 753 load carrier consists of three components:
5. How shall I proceed if I have the defected bolt?
Please stop using your load carrier immediately. You can double check the bolts revision with its color: “Problem” bolt = black & Correct bolt = silver. Use the contact form on this web site to retrieve replacement bolts directly from our customer service department in Germany.
If you have further questions, read more under FAQ or use the Contact form
How to replace the bolts
On this page you find a visual animation for how to identify and replace the bolts and an instruction manual ready for downloading.
In the animation you can also see where on the packaging the manufacturing date is located and how to visually identify the faulty and the new, correct bolts.
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Download and follow this instruction manual (PDF)
FAQ
Q: How dangerous is it to use the product?
A: The product is dangerous to use due to the fact that the bolt can snap off during use.
Q: How do I know that the product I have bought is affected?
A: If you have the packaging left you will find a code at the bottom of the packaging label stating Year(200x)/Month(XX)/Date(YY). If this code says anything between 2008-01-01 (January 1st 2008) to 2009-02-28 (February 28th 2009) your product is affected. If not the product is safe. Please check also the introduction section on this web site for further information.
Q: Where shall I turn to exchange the product?
A: Please stop using your load carrier immediately. You can double check the bolts revision with its color: “Problem” bolt = black & Correct bolt = silver. Please use the Contact form on this web site to retrieve replacement bolts directly from our customer service department in Germany.
Q: Who reimburses me as the product has damaged my car/equipment already?
A: Contact Thule consumer claim department and follow the specified consumer claim specification. Responsible contact person at Thule: David Martinez, Thule GmbH in Germany,
mailto: david.martinez@thule.com
Q: Whose fault was it?
A: It’s of course the responsibility of Thule to deliver safe products, but the root cause of the problem is the defect bolt delivered by a Swedish sub supplier. We have taken necessary actions that this will not be repeated.
Q: Are there more dangerous kits from Thule out in the market place?
A. All our kits go through thorough test procedures before they are released to the markets. We have a very strong track record regarding product safety, the recent reported incident is an exception. Should we come across similar a product failure in the future we will react as forcefully as we did this time
Q: Have there been any accidents due to the damaged footpack?
A: So far we have had a handful consumer claims but no reported accidents. However we take consumers’ safety serious, that’s why we have decided to implement the global recall and have contacted all legal consumer authorities in the countries where the product has been sold.
Contact Form