Hi everyone,
I called my local dealer about the A-pillar recall on my 2019 XLT. They scheduled an appointment but said they won’t replace the pillars unless they see a problem. I thought this recall was for safety since the pillars might fly off while driving. I did notice a small gap in one of mine.
Are dealers required to replace them, or do I need to push for it? Any advice would be great.
It really depends on the recall and the dealer. Most recalls cover more cars than actually need the fix. They inspect first, and only replace if there’s an issue.
If your A-pillars aren’t defective, they won’t replace them. If they are, then they’ll fix it. Some recalls, like Toyota’s engine recalls, replace the part no matter what. But I don’t think this is one of those.
@Wendell
Kind of like the toe link recall. If your car’s from a region without salt on the roads, the part doesn’t corrode. So they didn’t replace those for everyone either.
Madden said:
@Wendell
Kind of like the toe link recall. If your car’s from a region without salt on the roads, the part doesn’t corrode. So they didn’t replace those for everyone either.
What if someone buys the car and moves to a snowy area? Would the recall still cover it then?
@Pierce
If it starts rusting and the recall is still active, then yes, they should replace it.
@Wendell
Thanks for explaining this!
Micah said:
@Wendell
Thanks for explaining this!
Always happy to help!
We had ours inspected, and the tech said they needed replacing. Three days later, one of them flew off while I was driving on the highway at 70 mph. Unfortunately, there are no replacements available right now unless you buy cheap ones off Amazon, but those will probably fly off too.
Good luck! My dealer told me to check back in January 
.
Did anyone find a way to fix this themselves?
Can I just glue it down somehow? What’s the DIY option here?
Someone suggested using 5200 quick-drying marine caulk. My driver-side pillar is coming loose too, but the passenger side is fine. I’ve bought the caulk but haven’t used it yet. From what I hear, the recall replacements aren’t much better, so you might end up fixing it yourself anyway.
@Valen
Let me know how the caulk works for you!
Micah said:
@Valen
Let me know how the caulk works for you!
Will do! I just need to remember to take the caulk and gloves with me next time I go out. It’s a five-minute fix, but I keep forgetting.
When I went, they checked how much movement the pillar had. If it was too loose, they removed the shiny plastic cover and left the weatherstrip and mounting bracket. Once they got the replacement parts, they called me back, but they only replaced the shiny cover—not the bracket.
We just had ours replaced. A tech came to our house to inspect them. One was definitely bad, and the other was borderline, but the tech said, ‘Might as well replace both.’ It took two months for the parts to come in. When they did, the mobile tech replaced the covers and clips. They said if the bracket was bad, it would need to be ordered separately, which could delay the process again. Apparently, more cars needed repairs than expected, causing part shortages.
Most recalls are ‘inspect and replace if needed.’ The main thing is getting the free inspection.