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22/04/08
Honda recalls 353K Accords over windshield wiper motor

Honda said Wednesday the recall involves Accords from the 2003 model year.
The automaker says water could enter an area near the windshield wiper motor and cause corrosion.

The corrosion could cause the electrical circuit breaker inside the motor area to fail and could prevent the
motor from working, potentially leading to a crash.

No injuries or crashes have been attributed to the wiper problem.

Dealers will inspect the windshield wiper motor and install a cover over the motor if no signs of corrosion
are present. If there is corrosion, they will replace the motor.

5/04/08

If you are one of the nearly half-million people driving a 1999-2005 Volkswagen Passat, note that every gasoline-powered
Passat (the list includes the 1.8-liter I4, 2.0-liter I4, 2.8-liter V6, and 4.0-liter W8) is being recalled for a heat shield issue.
Apparently, the shield near the catalytic converter on some automatic-equipped cars may be damaged, so VW wants the
dealers to check them out and add additional shielding if necessary.
While it has your attention, Volkswagen has also found some faulty fuel lines on cars with the 1.8-liter turbocharged engine,
and some of the all-wheel-drive equipped cars may have damaged fuel tank ventilation valves.
No accidents or injuries have been reported from any of the problems.
VW will begin notifying owners on May 30 08.

ALSO ON THIS DATE:

Anyone who's rolling in a 2007-2008 Chrysler Sebring or Dodge Avenger, take note.
Chryslerberus is recalling all 181,000 of those vehicles sold during that time to fix an electrical defect that affects unused
connectors on the tire pressure monitoring system. Apparently, corrosion can cause a short, and owners could experience
their vehicles failing to start, stalling once underway, or some other affectations of the electrical components, including the
cruise control. Formal notices are going to be sent out later this month, and dealers have been instructed to locate the
problem and seal the affected circuits.

16/03/08

GENERAL MOTORS
Some small G.M. cars may have an oil leak behind the starter. In T.S.B. 08-06-01-002 issued on Feb. 5,
the company said 2007 Chevrolet Cobalts and HHRs, Pontiac G5s and Saturn Ions and Vues with 2.2-liter engines
may leak oil from the oil pressure switch. The switch should be replaced.

Also, the warranty for 2002-5 Vues and 2003-4 Ions with continuously variable transmissions has been extended.
In T.S.B. 04020A issued on Jan. 22, G.M. said the transmissions are now warranted for five years or 75,000 miles,
from three years or 36,000 miles. Customers who already paid for eligible repairs may be reimbursed.
Steve Janisse, a Saturn spokesman, said the transmissions had “exhibited a high failure rate.”

HONDA
Some Civics may have uneven or rapid tire wear, a roaring noise from the rear or a shake at highway speeds.
In T.S.B. 08-001 issued on Feb. 8, Honda said some 2006-7 Civics may need an upper control arm kit added to the rear
suspension and a four-wheel alignment.

Also, the inner front fender may rub the tire on some Pilots. In T.S.B. 08-005 issued on Jan. 29, Honda said that after the
engine warmed up, the front inner fender on some 2006-7 Pilots could became deformed and make contact with the tire.
Honda recommends replacing the inner front fender and securing it to the bumper with an additional screw.

For vehicles out of warranty, Honda may offer, at the discretion of the district service manager, some help paying for
the fixes.

HYUNDAI
Some 2003-8 Tiburons are pulling or drifting to one side. In T.S.B. 08-SS-001 issued Jan. 25, Hyundai said angle
adjusting bolts in the suspension may be needed.

JAGUAR
Some 2008 X-types are stalling. In T.S.B. K016 issued on Feb. 1, Jaguar said this may be from low-resistor
spark plugs in some vehicles. The plugs should be replaced.

MAZDA
There may be rust on the windshield-wiper arms on some 2004-7 Mazda 3s. In T.S.B. 0900508 issued on Feb. 7,
Mazda said the rust on the hinges of the wiper arms might be caused by too-thin paint film on the retainer hinge.
Replacing the arm should fix the problem.

TOYOTA
In T.S.B. EL005R-06 issued on Jan. 25, Toyota said the temperature gauge on some 2005-6 Camrys could read hot even
when the temperature was normal, especially when the vehicle was restarted while the engine was still warm from being
previously driven. The cars need an updated temperature gauge.

15/03/08

Subject: Upcoming Safety Recall 07035 Potential Under hood Fire - 3.8 L Supercharged Engine

Models: 1997-2003 Buick Regal GS
1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
With 3.8 L V6 Supercharged Engine

General Motors will be announcing a safety recall involving certain 1997-2003 model year Buick Regal GS
and Pontiac Grand Prix GTP vehicles equipped with a 3.8 L supercharged engine.

These vehicles may experience an under hood fire. The fires may be caused by drops of engine oil being deposited on the
exhaust manifold through hard braking. If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs below the heat shield, it may ignite into
a small flame in and in some instances the fire may spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel.
Most cases have occurred five to ten minutes after the vehicle has been turned off.

If a fire occurs, it may cascade through the engine compartment causing vehicle damage and in some cases, the fire may
spread to structures where the vehicle was parked.

A total of 207,542 U.S. vehicles are involved. We are currently working with our suppliers to obtain parts required to launch
a safety recall in the near future. However, in the interim, a customer advisory letter is being sent to all customers of record to
inform them of this situation. This letter will also provide three important precautions the customer should take:
1) Do not park the vehicle in a garage, car port or other structure.
2) If a burning odor is detected, the customer should take their vehicle to a dealer for inspection.
3) Customers should use premium fuel (91 octane or higher) as recommended in their vehicle owner's manual.

Use Technical Service Bulletin 08-06-04-019 to service their vehicle.

1/03/08

Honda Motor Co. issued two separate recalls for its Acura TL sedan today to address potential fires under the hood and fix
problems with the windshield wiper motor. Honda said it was recalling 273,000 2004-2008 TLs because prolonged high
temperatures underneath the engine hood could cause the power steering hose to deteriorate, causing the hose to crack
and leak power steering fluid.The automaker said the fluid could leak onto a hot catalytic converter and lead to smoke
and a possible fire. Acura said there had been no fires or injuries reported. In the second action, Honda said it was recalling
129,600 TLs from the 2004-05 model year to address a potential failure of the circuit breaker inside the windshield wiper motor.
If the circuit breaker fails, it could prevent the wiper from working and increase the likelihood of a crash.
There have been no reports of crashes or injuries tied to the windshield wiper issue. For the first recall, dealers will install a
new heat-resistant power steering hose free of charge. For the second, dealers will inspect the windshield wiper motor and
replace the motor if they find signs of corrosion.

1/02/08

FoMoCo sent out a directive today that approximately 225,000 vehicles are being re-recalled after it was discovered
that the wiring harness used during the original recall wasn't quite up to snuff. The second round of recalls involves a faulty
fuse that doesn't offer enough protection if a short circuit occurs. Ford won't be notifying owners until the middle of next month.

The full list of vehicles* includes...

1992-2003 Econoline
1992-98 Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis
1993 Bronco
1995-97 F-series stripped chassis
1993-95 Taurus SHO
1992-95 Town Car
1993 F series

*Only gasoline-powered models are affected.

19/01/08

Up to 34,000 Honda Fits from 2007 and 2008 are being recalled for a faulty sensor that detects child seats or out-of-position
passengers. In states that use road salt, the salt-infused water from melting snow on the driver's shoes can leak beneath the
carpet and corrode the wires for the Occupant Detection System (ODS). Severing that connection means that the passenger's
front and side airbags will go off even if a child is in the front seat.

21/12/07

General Motors Corp. said Friday it was recalling about 313,000 passenger cars and crossover vehicles to fix a fluid leak
that could lead to the driver losing control of the vehicle.

The recall involves 275,936 vehicles in the United States, including the 2005-2007 Cadillac CTS and STS sedans,
2005-2007 Cadillac SRX crossovers, and 2006-2007 Pontiac Solstice and the 2007 Saturn Sky convertibles.
About 38,000 additional vehicles are under recall in Mexico, Canada, the Middle East and Asia, GM said.

GM said the seal on the rear axle pinion, which provides power to the wheels, does not meet all specifications and
could leak fluid. GM spokeswoman Carolyn Markey said the leak could lead to the drivewheel jamming up and locking
while the vehicle is being driven, possibly causing the driver to lose control.

There has been one crash reported in which the rear wheels locked because of the leak and hit another car.
In a separate incident, a driver reported an injury after moving around in the car as the vehicle lost control.

Markey said there have been "a higher than normal" number of warranty claims because of the problem.

17/12/07

Honda has issued a recall for the power steering hose on Acura RLs. The high temperatures created by the V6 under the
RL's hood are apparently causing some cracks to form in the power steering hose that can lead to fluid leaking onto the
catalytic converter, resulting in a fire. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration issued the
recall, but no injuries or fires have been reported as of yet. Approximately 43,200 Acura RLs are affected by the recall.

29/11/07

Toyota announced today that it's issuing a worldwide recall of about 250,000 vehicles, including 34,400 Lexus models in the U.S.,
for potential cracks in their fuel pipes. The Japanese domestic market was hit hardest by the recall, with some 215,020 cars affected
including the Crown, Mark X and a few Lexus models built between December 2003 and December 2005.
In the U.S., only particular 2006 Lexus GS300, IS 250 and IS 350 models are being recalled. No accidents have been reported
due to the cracked fuel pipes that could leak, but Toyota will be replacing the old ones with newly designed fuel pipes when the
recall begins next month. Another recall is the last thing that Toyota needs right now.
Already saddled with a high number of recalls this year and reeling from being knocked by Consumer Reports, the Japanese
automaker is struggling to maintain its reputation for high quality while chasing General Motors to become the world's largest
automaker.

27/11/07
Drivers of the Chevrolet Uplander, Saturn Relay, Buick Terraza, and Pontiac Montana are complaining about a serious
sliding door problem, where the doors will open while the vehicle is in motion. More than two dozen complaints have been
received by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, yet there have been no recalls.

Consumers have complained of having the door pop open at speeds exceeding 45mph and most complaints filed have
dealt with 2005-2006 models. In the past, service managers from GM dealerships have previously said there is a quick fix for
the problem and they have issued a preliminary report on how to fix the issue, blaming it on doors sensors being affected by debris.
However, there are plenty of consumers who are returning to the dealer time and time again, only to hear that the service manager
can't diagnose and/or fix the problem.

If you find that you are dealing with an intermittent sliding door problem, be specific as to when the problem is happening.
How fast are you traveling?
What are the road conditions?
What are the weather conditions?
Do you have problems closing the doors?
Does the door lock?
All of this information is very important to the service department when it comes to diagnosing the problem.

Make sure that each time you pick up your vehicle, you receive a repair invoice which clearly outlines your complaints
and the repairs.

23/11/07

Nissan recalling 650,000 Altimas and Sentras

NIssan has issued a recall for over 650,000 2002 and 2005-06 Altimas and Sentras sold with the company's 2.5L four-cylinder
engine, which may suddenly stop running. The problem lies with the crankshaft position sensor, which can overheat and stop
sending signals to the car's computer brain. If the signal break is too quick for the ECU to diagnose the problem, it stops the
engine, which obviously could be extremely inconvenient depending on what the driver's doing at the time.
All it takes to fix the problem, however, is for Nissan dealers to reprogram the ECU, which they'll do free of charge, of course.
If you've got an affected vehicle, expect a notification from Nissan around December 10th.

23/11/07
Some owners of General Motors trucks and sport utility vehicles said they are frustrated with the company's offer to help with broken speedometers. Hundreds of GM truck owners have complained about broken speedometers in full-size GM pickups and SUVs built in
2003 and 2004. The company said as many as 3.5 million vehicles could be affected. GM recently offered to fix the speedometers
for free, but only on trucks with less than 70,000 miles.

GM declined to talk about the issue The company said it decided against a recall because it doesn't view a broken speedometer
as a safety issue.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration agrees with GM. The agency says a broken speedometer is a
customer-satisfaction issue, not a safety concern.

GM says dealers have the discretion to authorize free repairs in cases where the mileage is close to the limit.

People with broken speedometers should contact the dealer to see if their vehicles are covered.

23/11/07

General Motors Corp. recalled 20,000 Saturn cars for repairs including fixing a timing chain.
In 2.2-liter, four-cylinder versions of the Saturn cars, Detroit-based GM will replace the engine's timing chain, which could
separate while the motor is running and boost the chance of a crash. For 8.1-liter, eight-cylinder versions of the Silverado and Sierra,
GM will replace the crankshaft position sensor, which can fail and stall the engine.

The recalls cover 11,97420 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks and 20,514 Saturn L-Series cars from the20 2001
model year.

26/10/07

Toyota Motor Co. said Tuesday it would cover the costs of repairing doors on up to 600,000 Sienna minivans, after learning
from consumers that a part can fail, causing doors to shut unexpectedly.The letters will be mailed Nov. 2
The problem is with the front doors on the driver's and passenger's sides, rather than the van's sliding doors.
When the door is open, it's supposed to be held in place by the door check mounting panel.
When the part fails, the door swings freely. It's difficult to say whether the Sienna door problem is widespread, partly because
it might not surface for years on some vehicles.
But Toyota now says it will pay for the repairs on Siennas up to five years old with 100,000 or fewer miles on them.
The defect was caused by bad spot welds. Siennas are built at the company's factory in Princeton, Ind. Toyota doesn't
consider the defect a safety issue, although a door that closes unexpectedly could be hazardous to small children.

"Most of the time, people are just annoyed by a 'popping noise' they hear" when the welds are weak.

Toyota is offering to reimburse consumers who have already paid up to several thousand dollars to have their Sienna doors fixed.

If the bad welds are broken or cracked, the entire door assembly has to be replaced at a cost of several thousand dollars.

Due to insufficient coating on the fuel filler tube, Nissan is recalling 372,250 Pathfinders and Infiniti QX4's.
The model years in question are 1997-2001, and it's mainly for vehicles in the Northeast where there are large amounts
of road salt in the winter. According to the NHTSA, if an opening develops at the lower mounting bracket of the metal fuel
filler tube, the salt and water can corrode the it. If that gets so bad that holes develop in the tube, gas will leak from the vehicle
and become a fire hazard. A hole in the pipe also allows water to enter the fuel tank and may make it necessary to clean
the whole fuel system and replace the fuel injectors.

All you owners of Chrysler's 2007-2008 Sebring convertibles and Dodge Avengers will soon be getting a recall notices
from Chrysler. The letters will warn owners of those cars of a door latch problem that could potentially lead to unbelted
passengers being dumped into the road during a crash.
Dealers are instructed to fix both front doors with a "secondary retention feature."
You lucky 2008 AWD Avenger owners will either get longer letters or another letter entirely, to inform you of another problem
with your cars. While your door latches are being worked on, your dealer's mechanics will be replacing faulty fuel tank retention
straps that could break and cause fuel to leak out, which you would then roll around in after being dumped in the road when
your door opens -- something few drivers consider a good thing.
Both recall campaigns are expected to begin sometime this month.

Chrysler LLC recalled 28,755 Jeep Commander and Grand Cherokee sport-utility vehicles to replace front-brake
parts that could fail because they may be made of the wrong type of metal. The recall affects 2007 and 2008 models.
Some brake calipers may have been made with gray iron instead of ductile iron and could fracture, increasing stopping
distance and possibly causing an accident, the Washington-based agency said. Chrysler found the defect during internal
testing. The recall covers vehicles built from May 17 to July 13. Repairs to the recalled models will be done at no cost to
owners, who will be notified in October. Chrysler declined to say how much the recall will cost the automaker.

Honda Motor Co. is recalling 182,756 Civic sedans, the automaker's second-best selling U.S. model, to fix an O-ring
on the wheel bearing that may leak and cause the wheel to fall off. The recall, affecting 2006 and 2007 model-year Civics,
was reported on the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Web site. The O-ring may not seal properly,
allowing water to seep into the wheel bearing and damage it, Honda said in a letter on the NHTSA Web site.
"This could cause a wheel to fall off of the vehicle, possibly resulting in a crash," Tokyo-based Honda said.
Honda said it will notify owners by mail and replace any damaged parts for free.

Ford announced a big recall today, involving 3.6 million vehicles with a faulty cruise control switch that could potentially
cause a fire.
This is essentially a follow-up to the January recall involving 6 mil light trucks for basically the same concern.
This newest recall affects about a dozen different Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models from model years 1992-2007.
Ford is apparently undertaking this latest recall in response to complaints that the speed control deactivation
switch is always on.

According to Ford, "Customers remain concerned about the long-term durability of the speed control system and about
the safety of their vehicles." Ford admitted that the company had received "a few reports of fires" in Crown Vics already,
but no deaths, injuries or accidents from this problem.

The full list of vehicles being recalled is a long one:
1998-2002 Ford Ranger, 1992-1997 Lincoln Town Car, 1992-1997 Ford Crown Victoria, 1992-1997 Mercury Grand Marquis,
1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII, 1993-1995 Taurus SHO, 1999-2001 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer,
2001-2002 Ford Explorer Sport, 2001-2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, 1992-1993 E150-350 vans, 1997-2002 E150-350 vans,
1993 Ford F-Series pickups, 1993 Ford Bronco, 1994 Mercury Capri, 2003-2004 Ford F-150 Lightning,
and 1995-2002 Ford F53 motor homes.

This is sixth recall for speed control system concerns by Ford since 1999.
Altogether there have been 10.4 million vehicles involved.

Chrysler recalls more than 80,000 Wranglers and Nitros
Chrysler said Tuesday it was recalling more than 80,000 new Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Nitro models in the USA to correct
a defect that could cause the engine stall. Chrysler Group, a unit of DaimlerChrysler, said the recall would allow dealers to
reprogram a power module to remove the potential for a brief interruption of electrical power to the instrument panel and the engine.
The automaker said the power interruption could lead to a short engine stall, but said the engine would immediately restart if the
vehicle was in motion. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into the Wrangler in May after
receiving reports of engine stalling. Chrysler said the agency has received about 180 complaints of engine stalling in Wrangler
and Nitro vehicles.
There has been one accident linked to the issue, the company said, but no injuries have been reported.
Chrysler, in the process of being sold by DaimlerChrysler, said it will notify owners about the recall later this week and the
work will be completed at no cost to consumers.
Under the recall, Chrysler said it would reprogram a power-control module in 80,894 of the vehicles.
The new Jeep Wrangler has been a sell-out hit for Chrysler, which is being taken private by Cerberus Capital Management
in a $7.4 billion deal expected to close this month. Chrysler credited the Wrangler with driving a 19% gain in its Jeep brand
sales in June in monthly sales results released Tuesday.

Burn baby, burn.
Do you own a GM car equipped with a supercharger?
If so, don't park it in your garage until it's cooled off for awhile.

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION HAS RECEIVED EIGHT COMPLAINTS ON FORD ESCAPE VEHICLES
THAT ALLEGE A NON-CRASH RELATED FIRE ORIGINATING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT OR NEAR THE
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE.

IN ADDITION, ODI HAS RECEIVED TWO REPORTS ON FORD ESCAPE SUBJECT VEHICLES THAT ALLEGE THERMAL
EVENTS OR OTHER FIRE-RELATED PHENOMENA ORIGINATING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT OR NEAR THE ABS
CONTROL MODULE, AS EVIDENCED BY SMOKE, ARCING AND/OR MELTED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS AND ASSOCIATED
WIRING. TO DATE, ODI HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT ON MAZDA TRIBUTE
SUBJECT VEHICLES DESPITE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THE FORD ESCAPE SUBJECT VEHICLES.

THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS AN ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC AND CONTROL COMPUTER CONSISTING OF TWO
MICROPROCESSORS AND THE NECESSARY CIRCUITRY FOR THEIR OPERATION THAT MONITORS SYSTEM OPERATION
DURING NORMAL DRIVING AS WELL AS DURING ANTI-LOCK BRAKING EVENTS. IT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY BENEATH THE
BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR AND IS AFFIXED TO THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT
WHICH CONTAINS THE BRAKE PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE BLOCK AND PUMP MOTOR.

THE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS LOCATED IN A CIRCUIT THAT IS POWERED AT ALL TIMES REGARDLESS OF WHETHER
THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH OR NOT. FIVE COMPLAINANTS HAVE ALLEGED KEY OFF ENGINE COMPARTMENT
FIRES THAT OCCURRED SOME TIME AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THREE OF WHICH HAVE OCCURRED SINCE
JULY 2006.

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION
SWITCH THAT WAS THE SUBJECT OF PREVIOUS ODI INVESTIGATIONS EA02-025 AND EA05-005.

A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN OPENED TO ASSESS THE FREQUENCY, SCOPE AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES
OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.

2007 Volvo S60, V70, V70XC, CX90.

On certain vehicles, the electric cooling fan control unit's metal cover may not have received the specific corrosion protection
during the manufacturing process. Moisture ingress as a result of cover corrosion could lead to an electrical short that may
initiate a fire. Dealers will replace the cooling fan.

Honda Motor Corp. said today that it was recalling about 165,000 vehicles from the 2005-06 model years to deal with potential
engine problems. Honda said the recall affected 2005 models of the Acura RL, TL and TSX sedans, 2005 Honda Accord coupes,
sedans and hybrids, 2005 Odyssey minivans and 2006 Ridgeline trucks.

The move is part of a global recall because of similar problems, said Honda. Details on the total number of vehicles and the
number of countries where the vehicles were sold were not immediately available.

Honda discovered that sealer material leaked onto a coil wire inside the fuel pump relay on some of the vehicles.
The wire can become brittle and snap, causing the engine to stall or fail to start.

Honda has received "multiple complaints" of vehicles stalling or failing to start.
There have been no injuries or crashes linked to the defect.

Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pump relay free of charge.
The recall is expected to begin in early April.

Chrysler Group says it will recall over 489,000 vehicles, including recent models of the Jeep Liberty, Dodge Durango and its
new Dodge Avenger sedan. The recall was the second by Chrysler in weeks. In late February, the No. 4 U.S. automaker recalled
almost 51,000 vehicles to reprogram software for anti-lock brakes. (See below). Chrysler said it was recalling 328,424 Durango
SUVs because of the risk of overheating linked to an integrated circuit in the instrument cluster of the vehicles.
The recall covers 2004 to 2006 model year SUVs, Chrysler said.

Chrysler also said it was recalling 10,994 of its recently released 2008 model Dodge Avenger sedans because of a problem
with the door latches.

In a third recall, the automaker said it would service up to 149,605 Jeep Liberty vehicles because of a problem with the
blower motor in the air-conditioning system. Chrysler said in some cases the motors could fail, particularly in hot weather.

Unfortunately for Tom LaSorda and crew, these recent recalls are not exactly the best foot the Chrysler Group would like to
put forward for potential bidders that are considering purchasing the automaker.

Volkswagen of America Inc. said Monday it will recall 790,000 vehicles in Canada and the United States because of problems
with the brake light switch. The recall involves several vehicles: 1999-2006 model years of the Golf and GTI; 2001-2005 Jettas;
2001-2007 New Beetles; and the 2004 R32. It expands upon a recall announced last year of some Jettas and New Beetles
because of the same defect. Volkswagen told the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that brake light switches
in the vehicles could malfunction if they were improperly installed. The automaker said the light could either remain on or not
function, which would fail to provide other motorists with the proper braking signal and potentially lead to a crash.
In some vehicles with automatic transmissions, a faulty brake light could work in tandem with the shift interlock to immobilize
the vehicle and require towing. Last year, VW recalled 362,000 Jetta and New Beetle sedans because of similar problems
with the brake lights.
That recall affected Jettas from the 1999-2002 model years and New Beetles from the 1998-2002 model years.

Honda Motor Co. is notifying 6 million owners of Hondas and Acuras that they are entitled to warranty extensions and
in some cases, payments because their odometers rolled up miles too quickly. That made warranties expire too soon and hit
some lease customers with excess-mileage penalties. A lawyer in the lawsuit that resulted in Honda's moves now is aiming at
Nissan Motor Co., alleging that its Altima sedans back to 2002 roll up miles 2.5% to 3% too fast.

Nissan has filed a motion to dismiss the case, but wouldn't say more because it doesn't comment on pending litigation.

The lawyer, James Holmes of Henderson, Texas, says he's tested Toyotas and, oddly, found them to routinely register slightly
fewer miles than actually driven. Detroit brands, he says, "by and large are perfect." Holmes suspects odometers deliberately
are set fast to help automakers trim warranty costs. But the car companies say they're just following an industrywide standard
that allows a variation of a few percentage points in odometer accuracy. The Society of Automotive Engineers' voluntary
standard is plus or minus 4%, no more than 4 miles high or low in every 100 miles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it doesn't regulate odometer accuracy.

Honda says its odometers were accurate to within 3.75% on the high side and 1% on the low side, within the SAE standard.
But it says it will extend the warranty mileage 5% and will pay lease-mileage penalties because of fast odometers, at least $6
million just for overcharges on vehicles leased directly from Honda.

Starting with 2007 models, Honda tightened its odometer accuracy and centered in on 0% variation. Vehicles covered in the deal:
2002 to 2006 Hondas and Acuras bought from April 13, 2002, to Nov. 7, 2006.
Some 2007 Honda Fits also are included.

If you have a Chevy Cobalt built between 2005 and 2006 that does NOT have the optional roof-mounted side impact airbags,
you could be getting a recall notice in the mail soon. Apparently Chevy (and presumably the NHTSA) discovered that there isn't
sufficient padding to meet federal requirements in these vehicles, and unacceptable head injuries could result in a collision.
Scary to think there's an acceptable amount of injury that would be tolerated, but anyway.
As a fix, dealers will add "energy absorbing plastic" to the headliner trim to help soften the blow should your head strike the
headliner in a crash. The recall affects 98,000 Cobalts on the road.

Once again, Toyota is performing a voluntary recall of its Tundra pickup and Sequoia full-size SUV for ball joints that may
wear out too quickly. In May of 2005 see below) Toyota recalled 775,000 Tacomas, 4Runners, Tundras and Sequoias
for the same issue, and the NHTSA has been investigating the issue since then.
This time around, Toyota is recalling 553,000 Tundras and Sequoias built from 2004 through 2007.
Anyone who has had a bad ball joint knows not only the irritation they cause, but also the potential for something dangerous
to happen. The front suspension where these ball joints are located will make terrible knocking sounds, but in some instances,
owners have reported that their worn ball joints have lead to losing control of the vehicle, rollovers and even the trucks
collapsing on their front wheels! Toyota blamed the first recall in 2005 on the ball joints potentially being scratched
during their assembly. Toyota has given no such reason for the recent recall, but it is acting in cooperation with the
NHTSA to correct these issues that could be very dangerous for owners of the potentially affected vehicles.
Toyota will be notifying those owners in February of the recall, and will replace both the left and right front ball joints at no charge.

If you drive a 2004 or 2005 Honda Accord, you might want to be a little more careful than usual.
The sensor on these vehicles that detects the drivers height and weight in the seat , may have been attached in the wrong
place and also over tightened, as well. The real issue is that the wiring to the sensor could break and cause the sensor to fail,
illuminating the airbag warning light and causing the bag, in a crash, to inflate at full pressure.
This could increase the risk of injury from the airbag for smaller drivers in a frontal crash. If your airbag warning light is currently
illuminated, on these model years only, you should take it to your local Honda dealer ASAP.

DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group will recall over 68,000 of its newest vehicles, including the just-released Dodge Nitro
sport utility vehicle and the Jeep Compass. Chrysler said that 62,339 vehicles from its 2007 model-year line-up would be
recalled to fix a brake system problem it said could cause drivers to lose control. Chrysler said 11 models across all three
of its brands were affected by the recall with notices scheduled to go out to registered owners in February. In addition to the
Nitro and the Compass, 2007 models covered by the recall are the Chrysler Sebring, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger,
Dodge Magnum, Dodge Caliber, Jeep Commander, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Liberty, the company said.
Chrysler said some of the vehicles could suffer a failure of a computer that controls the brakes, causing a loss of anti-lock
and brake distribution systems, traction control and speedometer functions.
The automaker said no accidents or injuries had been reported as a result of the brake glitch. The company said owners
of the models covered by the recall should take their vehicles to Chrysler Group dealers for inspection if the instrument
panel ABS warning light is illuminated.
Separately, Chrysler said it would recall 6,086 of its Sebring sedans to reprogram the heating and cooling systems
because of a problem with windshield defrosting.

Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced safety recalls to address two issues in some 2006 and 2007 model year Passat
sedans, and in some 2007 model year Passat wagons. Some of the affected 2006 model year Passat vehicles have a wiper
motor that may fail during heavy rain due to excessive moisture entering the wiper motor.
If this happens, reduced visibility could result. Also, some 2.0T engine-equipped 2006 and 2007 Passat sedans and some
2007 Passat wagons may have a power brake vacuum line that may fracture and become disconnected at low ambient
temperatures. If this happens, the brake power assist can become inoperative, and the driver will experience increased
effort to apply the brake and therefore possible increased vehicle stopping distance.
Approximately 62,000 vehicles in the United States and Canada could be potentially affected.

Nissan is recalling four models to allow for repairs to headlights, stoplights and ignition locks.

A steering wheel lock that can engage when the automatic transmission is not placed in park has prompted
the company to recall 2007 Maximas and 2005-2006 Muranos.
Dealers will inspect and, if required, replace the steering wheel lock assembly.

Nissan is also recalling 2004-06 Infiniti Q45s because they were made with stoplights that don't meet standards.
Dealers will install updated rear combination lamp assemblies.

Ford: More than 13,600 Fords have door latches that are prone to freezing because water can get into the mechanism.
Transport Canada says the problem has been discovered on the 2005 Five Hundred and 2005-2006 Freestyle.

Water might eventually wash out grease in the latches, leaving them to freeze in winter. If that happens, the door latch
pawl might not return to the latched position when the door is closed, allowing the door to open while the vehicle is in motion.

Ford is also recalling the 2006 Escape Hybrid: an intermediate shaft in the driveline can fracture because of improper heat
treatment prior to the part being installed in the vehicles.

Kia: The 2006 Kia Sedona needs a little realigning done to a wiring harness to prevent it from contacting the steering column.
The problem is limited to cars with adjustable brake pedals.

General Motors: Crash testing has revealed that 2007 Chevrolet Aveos and Pontiac Waves are prone to fuel leakage
during a front-end collision. Transport Canada says crashes not only rupture the fuel lines, they caused four short circuits
in the fuse block, the combination of which allowed the fuel pump to continue running, allowing fuel to be pumped onto the
ground.

The NHTSA says Ford, Volvo and Chrysler are recalling a total of about 300,600 vehicles.

Ford gets off relatively light and is bringing in 422 Crown Vics and Mercury Grand Marquis to replace improperly
secured windshields.

Volvo, however, will install new software to fix speed controls on more than 170,000 cars.
Models affected include the 1999-2000 C70 coupes and convertibles, S60, S70, S80, V70, V70XC and XC70.

And just as Chrysler is getting rid of the Pacifica, it'll be seeing 127,928 of them coming back for new fuel pumps and powertrain
control module software. The affected crossovers were built from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30, 2004. DaimlerChrysler is also sending
Jeep Compass owners updates to their cars' manuals. NHTSA said the books omitted a required rollover warning.

Loose carpets and leaking engine oil are two problems Toyota wants to fix in nearly 30,000 vehicles sold since 2000.
Oil can leak into the wiring of an improperly moulded crankshaft sensor on about 15,000 Prius and Echo models from
2001-2002 and cause their engines to stall. If that happens, the engine will not restart.
Dealers will replace the crankshaft position sensor. A second Toyota recall, this one involving 14,500 vehicles, was
made necessary after investigators discovered that clips designed to hold a carpet in place don't work and can allow
the carpet to interfere with operation of the accelerator. The problem can be found on the 2004-2006 Lexus RX 330
and RX 400H, and Highlander and Highlander HV models. Dealers will install new clips.

Nissan also has a problem with a crank sensor that can lead to stalling in the engines of the 2003 Altima and Sentra.
Dealers have been instructed to reprogram the sensor. The Nissan Versa hasn't been on dealers' lots long, but it faces
its first recall - to calibrate its odometer in kilometres instead of miles. The American measurement can be found in
about 1,000 vehicles equipped with a continuously variable transmission. Dealers will recalibrate the device or replace
it with one meant for the Canadian market.

Audi: Side-curtain airbags might need replacing in the 2006 A3 because of a malfunctioning part. In certain vehicles,
either the left or the right side curtain airbag inflation module might leak. In the event of an accident, the airbag may not
inflate as designed.

Cadillac's 2004-05 XLR roadster is being recalled by General Motors because the turn signal and parking light bulbs
are defective and can burn out prematurely. Dealers will replace the bulbs and their sockets.

20/10/06

Nissan Motor Co. has begun recalling about 132,000 vehicles globally, including 80,000 in North America, because of an
ignition key defect.There have been no reports of injuries related to the defect InJapan, Nissan is recalling about 51,000 X-Trail
and Murano sport utility vehicles produced from August 2004 to July 2006.Overseas, the Tokyo-based manufacturer is recalling
about 70,000 Muranos in North America, 300 in Taiwan and 800 in Singapore, she said. No X-Trails have been sold overseas.
Also being recalled for the same defect are 10,000 Maxima sedans in North America.Some of the rods connecting the ignition
part with parts that start the engine are too long, so the cars sometimes don’t start properly. Occasionally, the engines start even
when the ignition is turned off and the driver moves the steering wheel.

Ford will recall close to 140,000 Five Hundreds and Mercury Montegos, along with over six thousand Hybrid Escapes.
The cause of the recall on the Five Hundred and its Mercury stable mate is a faulty door latch that may allow water to enter
the mechanism and, if the water freezes, could cause the door to open while the sedan is in motion.
The recall will affect 2005-2006 model year vehicles. On 2006 Escape Hybrids, Ford has found that the drivetrain shaft could
fracture and, in turn, may cause the vehicle to move even if the 'ute is in the 'Park' position.
Ford dealers are instructed to inspect and replace the part if it's necessary.

Jaguar dealers throughout the world are being asked to cease sales of 2006 and 2007 XJ sedans, due to a fuel leak that
has left many new owners with gasoline on their garage floors and a bad smell in the house. Apparently, the leak is from
the fuel tank itself, not the filler pipe or fuel lines running to the engine. Although there is no estimate of how many sedans
are currently on the road, dealers have been asked to suspend the sale of vehicles with VINs G49701 through H13209.
Jaguars' spokesperson was unable to elaborate on whether the problem is a manufacturer issue or a supplier issue,
but at this time, Jag is not ruling out a recall of the XJ.

DaimlerChrysler has issued a recall on all 2002-2006 Liberty SUVs, affecting more than 800,000 of the manufacturers
"Trail Rated" SUVs. According to the automaker, a front suspension lower ball joint can separate under excessive use.
The problem has already received over a 100 complaints with three injuries possibly attributed to the problem.
This is not the first time Chrysler has issued a recall on the Liberty or its ball joints.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation this year on the 2004 Liberty after receiving
complaints. And, in 2003, the automaker recalled over 300,000 Liberty SUVs with, you guessed it, problems with the ball joint.
That issue, though, was attributed to shipping and installation problems and not the part itself.
Chrysler will repair the recalled part at no cost.

DaimlerChrysler is recalling more than 260,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees because of breaking cooling fan blades
and seat fires. The hot seats can be found in 112,000 Grand Cherokees from the 2003 and 2004 model years,
equipped with seat heaters.
Apparently the passenger-side seat can overheat, a problem which led to at least 32 vehicle fires.
The cooling fan recall affects about 150,000 Grand Cherokees equipped with the 4-liter six-cylinder engine and sold in the
2000 and 2002 model years. Blades can break off the fan while it's running, potentially injuring anyone within range if the
hood is open. The NHTSA has received nearly 200 complaints about the problem.

Toyota has issued a voluntary recall) for the crankshaft position sensor on some 2001-2002 Toyota Echo and Prius models.
The sensor may become disconnected due to an improper seal allowing engine oil to seep into the sensor's connector.
Worst case scenario is the sensor becomes disconnected while driving and the engine stalls without being able to start back
up again. The recall affects 26,200 Echo and 8,500 Prius models. No accidents have occurred resulting from the problem
and no instances of the sensor becoming disconnected have so far been reported.

BMWs' most recent recall includes 46,000 5-, 6-, and 7-Series models built between January 9th and April 18th of this year
and sold throughout the world. The problem apparently involves defective rubber bushings in the rear shocks that could loosen
and lead to handling problems and loss of vehicle control. BMW blames its supplier for the issue that was caught before anyone
was injured as a result, but the recall will cost the German automaker an estimated 16 million euro.

Volkswagen took another hit today in its push to improve quality in its core brand, announcing a recall of 34,000
Passats worldwide because of clutch problems. The recall affects Passats built between April and May 2005
equipped with 2-liter TDI engines and six-speed manual transmissions.
The company had previously announced recalls for the Golf, and Jetta gas engined cars with the same problem.

Four types of the Audi A6 from the 1998 to the 2000 model years are being recalled again because a previous recall to fix
the head light switch may have been improperly performed. The improper installation could lead to an electrical short and fire
under the dashboard on the driver's side of the car. On some Audi A6, A6 Avant, S6 and S6 Avant cars, while attempting
the remedial repair for the previous recall a plastic cover may not have been securely installed by the Audi technician.
If the cover is not properly installed to the drivers side support crossmember, the headlight switch wiring harness could
contact the crossmember and cause an electrical short. Audi has not yet provided a remedy or an owner notification schedule

Honda Motor Co. will recall and repair a combined 561,594 units of the Odyssey, CR-V and Step Wgn models globally
to fix a faulty ignition switch that could cause the engine to stop. The recall and repairs would cost the company around
$23.70 million. Of the total, most units are in Japan and were built between October 1994 and May 1997. Most of the recalls
outside Japan cover the Odyssey minivan sold in North America. No accidents were reported overseas, while five people
in Japan suffered burns from contact with melted ignition switches.

Toyota to Recall 320,000 Priuses

Toyota Motor Corp. will begin a global voluntary recall of nearly 320,000 of its hot-selling Prius gasoline-electric hybrid sedans
to repair a potentially faulty steering system component. The campaign will involve about 170,000 vehicles sold in the U.S.
That represents about two-thirds of the 268,000 sold since the hybrids introduction here in July 2000.
Toyota, noting that no accidents or injuries had been reported, said it would begin sending letters in mid-June to owners of 2004
through early 2006 models of the popular hybrid. The company asked that owners wait to make service appointments until they
received notices because not all Priuses were involved.
Priuses built after November 2005 and sold as 2006 models will not be affected by the recall because Toyota changed suppliers
and the later models don't have the faulty component.
The Prius recall does not involve any of the car's propulsion system components but a potentially understrength piece of the steering
shaft assembly that could loosen or crack.

Volkswagen AG is recalling 362,000 cars in the United States because a brake light switch may malfunction. The models involved
include the Jetta sedan from 1999-2002 model years, Jetta III from 1999-2000 model years and the New Beetle from 1998-2002
model years. The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on if installed incorrectly during a previous recall.

Separately, General Motors Corp. is recalling 30,793 Chevrolet Corvette cars from the 2005-2006 model years as the adhesive
between the roof panel and the frame may separate and the roofs could fly off. If there is a complete separation, the roof panel
may detach from the vehicle and it could strike another vehicle and cause injury and property damage.

DaimlerChrysler's popular LX-platform vehicles, the 300, Dodge Magnum and Dodge Charger are being recalled over brake issues.
The automaker announced Friday that it will be sending notices to some 45,000 owners about a possible brake fluid leak that has
resulted in at least nine engine fires. Vehicles affected are all 2006 models using the 2.7-liter V6 engine.
In addition, DCX also announced that it is recalling almost 7,000 six-speed Jeep Wranglers due to clutch problems.
According to the automaker, the hydraulic clutch's master cylinder rod can fracture, inhibiting normal shifting.

Twenty-three-thousand 2005 Cadillac SRX and STS sedans and another 11-thousand 2001 Saab 9-3 passenger cars
are recalled for some pretty serious safety problems. The Cadillac's are in trouble because the rear suspension might not work.
The vehicle's toe links aren't welded correctly potentially causing a crash.
With the Saab it's the fuel pump giving owners headaches.
These cars have faulty fuel lines and fittings damaged when the cars were made.

GM is recalling almost 13,000 Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS sedans because of faulty power steering hoses.
The hoses on some of the 2006 models of those GM cars equipped with V8 engines are prone to separate and leak
steering fluid. That could cause drivers to loose steering power at low speeds or trigger engine fires.
GM will replace the defective parts

Owners of about 6,000 Audi and Volkswagen models will get new fuel pumps after the discovery that the old ones
can quit before their time. The premature failure could cause engines to stall or shut down unexpectedly and lead to an accident.
Models involved are the 2003 Audi A4 and A6 and the 2003 VW Passat.

Cadillac: A fuel problem is also behind the recall of 2005-2006 Cadillac CTS and STS models.
A control module fails to warn drivers of low fuel levels. Dealers will reprogram the module.

Mini Cooper: A handful of 2006 Mini Coopers will be checked for weak welds that could lock their transmissions in gear.
The Minis are equipped with continuously variable transmissions. Dealers will inspect laser-weld connections between the
gear selector rod and lock plate and replace transmissions where necessary.

Nissan is recalling some 466,000 of its X-Trail worldwide due to a potentially defective fuel inlet pipe. According to Nissans
recall, an 'inappropriate' pipe coating (probably none) could result in a rusty filler pipe (primarily in 2000-2004 models),
causing a gasoline leak.
Thus far, the automaker has received word of 49 defective pipes, but no injuries have resulted.Globally, the recall affects about
177,000 European and 142,000 Japanese X-Trails, with the rest being sold elsewhere.

Honda: Some 2006 Honda Civic Coupes may have a faulty electronic component used to sense weight on seats and deploy
airbags in a crash. The part might fail to suppress the passenger airbag deployment when the weight of an infant or small child
is detected in the front seat.

Nissan: Nissan has agreed to recall almost 21,000 Muranos after discovering their fuel tanks can be punctured by road debris.
Dealers will install a tank shield on 2003-2006 models.

Cadillac: A small number of 2006 Cadillac STSs with all-wheel drive and 3.6-litre engines have been recalled because an
electronic torque-monitoring device wasn't connected at the factory. The absence of this function could affect throttle control.

Saturn: Some 2006 Saturn Ion Quad Coupe Red Line cars have failed the lighting test. When the fog lamps are turned on,
the parking lamps, tail lamps, licence-plate lamp and side marker lamps do not automatically turn on as required.

Ford Motor is recalling 211,432 2006 Ford F-150 and Lincoln Mark LT pickup trucks to fix a software bug in the instrument cluster.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the software problem could prevent the Antilock Brake System
warning light from illuminating if an ABS failure occurs. The fix involves a dealer recalibration of the instrument module.

Chrysler Group said Friday it would recall about 265,000 sedans after receiving dozens of complaints of engine fires.
The recall involves 1999-2000 Dodge Stratus, Plymouth Breeze and Chrysler Cirrus sedans equipped with the 2.4-liter engine.
Chrysler has received 168 reports of fires through November 2005. The automaker said the high-pressure power steering hose
may experience premature aging because of heat and could leak power steering fluid, creating the potential of a fire in the engine
compartment. Gates said the company had received one report of minor smoke inhalation. Under the recall, the hose, which carries
coolant into the power steering system, will be replaced. Gates said temperatures inside the engines of the vehicles were higher
than normal, and the automaker was trying to figure out why. The replacement hoses will be more resistant to heat.
The recall involves about 210,000 vehicles in the United States and about 55,000 vehicles in Mexico and Canada.

Nissan is recalling nearly 11,000 Maxima sedans to fix a wiring problem that could cause a fire in the power seats.
An incorrectly routed wiring harness for the power lumbar support on the 2004-2006 models is susceptible to pinching or chafing.
This can cause an electrical short that could ignite the harness cover.

DaimlerChrysler is recalling about 3,500 Mercedes-Benz cars dating to 1998 after it was learned their brake lights may fail
due to heat from the bulbs that melts and deforms sockets.Dealers will replace the rear lamp assemblies on the 1998-2004
SLK-Class vehicles.

Subaru will ask owners to bring in 2006 Foresters and Imprezas to repair a wiring problem that can prevent the vehicles
from starting. A wire leading to a control module may be pinched by a security cover. It can also cause stalling.

Battery cables on three 2005 Ford models can contact the vehicle frame and cause a short circuit.
Dealers will reroute the positive cable on the 2005 Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car.

Mazda has issued a recall to owners of its 2003 Protégé. The issue involves screws used to mount the intake manifold
shutter valve that may loosen due to engine vibration or normal actions of the valve. Signs that the screws have become
undone include rough idling noise, a malfunction indicator or engine misfire. Mazda encourages all owners to bring their
vehicles in for inspection. The inspection takes approximately four hours to complete and the company states it will replace
the screws and gaskets or, if necessary, the entire intake manifold, all free of charge.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is scrutinising Ford’s evergreen Ranger and Mazda B-Series twin.