Ford has recalled nearly 135,000 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner SUVs without optional side-impact airbags because in a side crash, the driver’s head could hit the B-pillar hard enough to exceed federal standards. In other Ford recall news, 19,140 Mustang Cobras from 2003 and 2004 must head back to the dealer because the accelerator can stick to the carpeting under hard acceleration, and 8,585 Ford Explorer Sports from the 2001 and 2002 model years are equipped with front seatback recliners that could fail and cause the seat to collapse without warning. Ford-controlled Mazda is also experiencing recall woes. The 2006 MX5 roadster’s horn assembly could come loose and injure the driver in the event that the driver airbag deploys in low temperatures, and 23,100 Mazda Tribute SUVs without side-impact airbags are being called back for the same side crash protection problem as its corporate siblings, the Escape and Mariner.

Don’t think that spending extra money guarantees that your shiny new car won’t be recalled. About 7,000 examples of the new Mercedes-Benz R-Class are heading back to dealerships for an electrical problem associated with the starter assembly, and 2,500 R-Class models need to have the rear seatbelt buckle assemblies examined. General Motors is also asking for nearly 13,000 Buick Lucernes and Cadillac DTS’ equipped with a V8 engine to come back to replace a power steering hose that doesn’t meet specifications.