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1-June-09
BMW
The engines on some 2008 M Roadsters and M Coupes may vibrate at certain speeds.
In T.S.B. 220109 issued on Feb. 1, BMW said a problem during assembly might
cause the right-side engine
mount bracket to come loose. All four bracket bolts must be replaced to resolve
the issue.
Also, the warranty on fuel pumps
on certain models is being extended.
In T.S.B. 130309 issued on April 1, BMW said the “service engine soon” light
might come on and the engine
starting time might be delayed on some 2007-8 cars with N54 engines.
Because of this, 2007 and 2008 535i, 535xi, 335i and 335xi, and 2008 135is
models with BMW’s twin-turbo
6 will now have a 10-year, 120,000-mile warranty on the pump, up from the
standard four-year, 50,000-mile warranty.
CHEVROLET
There may be a flickering oil light at idle on the Aveo. In T.S.B. 09-06-04-020
issued on March 25, General Motors
said the problem was showing up in some 2005-8 models. A new oil pressure
sensor or oil sending unit is needed.
FORD
Some 2008 Taurus and Taurus X models may have uneven power steering assist
at low speeds.
In T.S.B. 09-5-7 issued on March 23, Ford said some cars might need a new
power steering gear
to remedy the situation.
Also, some 2008 and 2009 F-250
through F-550 vehicles with 6.4-liter diesel engines may need new fuel injectors.
In T.S.B. 09B08 issued on Feb. 19, Ford announced a campaign to replace the
injectors without charge, saying the
o-rings might wear prematurely, causing fuel to leak into the crankcase,
ruining the engine.
Owners should receive letters explaining the problem.
HONDA
There may be a clanking noise coming from the front suspension on the Element
while going over bumps.
In T.S.B. 09-023 issued on April 11, Honda said the clank from some 2003-8
Elements came from cracked bushings
in the lower front control arms. Replacing the bushings should resolve the
problem.
In addition, some 2007 Civics
may leak oil from the timing chain cover. In T.S.B. 09-021 issued on March
25,
Honda said the culprit was improper cleaning of the timing chain case cover
and oil pump housing sealing surface
during assembly. Cleaning the sealing should stop the leak. In all three
cases, Honda noted in the bulletins that
out-of-warranty work may be eligible for a price reduction.
HYUNDAI
Some Santa Fes may overheat and also have inoperative air conditioning. In
T.S.B. 09-EE-001 issued on April 2,
Hyundai said a problem with the radiator fan motor connection in 2004-6 models
was the probable cause.
Replacing the connection should cool things down.
INFINITI
Some 2008 EX models may emit a buzzing noise from the fuel pump. In T.S.B.
09-013 issued on April 16, Infiniti
said that while the noise was unlikely to affect performance, the company
would replace the fuel pumps at no charge.
JAGUAR
A problem with rear differential contamination may affect some XF and XK
models. In T.S.B. K035 issued on March 18,
Jaguar said an excess of silicon carbide might have been left in the units
in 2009 models, causing premature wear.
Jaguar will replace affected differentials without charge through March 31,
2011.
22-May-09
Volkswagen has announced that it will recall some 25,594 examples of
its 2006-2009 Jetta over a potential driveshaft issue.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, cars with
the company's 2.0-liter inline-four may have
driveshaft cover plates that weren't manufactured properly, with the consequence
that their screws may not be torqued
correctly. If the screws back out, drivers may experience a knocking sound
while in motion. In the extreme, the driveshaft
could conceivably detach from the gearbox, which could cause all kinds of
problems that might lead to a crash.
Owners of 2006-2009 Jettas with the 2.0-liter engine should contact their
VW dealer for a free inspection and/or replacement
of the screws. The recall is set to officially begin on June 19, 2009. T
Nissan has announced that they are recalling some 360,000 first generation
Murano CUVs because of an engine stall risk.
Apparently, the material they used for their air intake ducts is prematurely
aging and shrinking, causing a separation risk in the
system. That separation can cause an engine stall, "increasing the risk
of a crash." The affected models are the 2003 through
2007 Nissan Muranos.
Anyone with one of those models should contact their Nissan service rep
to arrange a free inspection and/or repair.
The parts for the recall should be available in great enough quantity by
July 6, when the recall officially begins.
This is just the latest in a string of recalls for the popular first-gen
Nissan Murano, following seat belt, fuel tank,
and electrical problems.
17-April-09
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING 42,469 MY 2002-2003 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY
SOLD IN
OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE SALT BELT STATES AND CANADA. THE FRONT
SUSPENSION
UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT MAY EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF LUBRICATION WHICH
COULD
LEAD TO CORROSION, ACCELERATED WEAR, AND POSSIBLE SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING.
Consequence:
FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINT COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITY,
INCREASING
THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE.
THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE.
13-April 2009 The possibility of engine fires has prompted
General Motors to recall nearly 1.5 million passenger sedans manufactured
between 1997 and 2003, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
announced Monday.
The recall involves certain GM vehicles
in which oil apparently can leak and ignite.
The recall covers certain mid-
and full-size passenger sedans under GM's Chevrolet, Buick, Oldsmobile and
Pontiac brands.
The affected vehicles have naturally
aspirated 3.8 liter V6 engines -- that is, engines that use atmospheric pressure
rather than a mechanical blower to bring in air for combustion -- according
to documents that GM filed with federal
regulators.On Friday, the federal government acknowledged the filing
and agreed to the plan.
The problem involves a potential
for oil to leak on the exhaust manifold during hard braking.
When a car operates under normal conditions, the manifold can get very
hot.
Oil that runs below the manifold's
heat shield could ignite and spread to plastic channels that hold spark plug
wires.
As a solution, the company recommends
a change in the bracket that holds spark plug wires, which will be done free
of charge.
Owners and dealers affected
by the recall will be notified by letter next month with details.
The vehicles involved are:
• 1997-2003 Buick Regals.
• 1998-2003 Chevrolet Luminas, Monte Carlos and Impalas.
• 1998-1999 Oldsmobile Intrigues.
• 1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix.
GM issued
a recall on a similar engine in 2008, according to the company's filing with
the government.
That problem was traced to a faulty gasket on the engine rocker cover.
22-March-09
ACURA
Some 2007-9 MDX models may make thudding noises when traveling over rough
roads. In T.S.B. 08-038 issued on Feb. 6,
Acura said the cause in some vehicles was faulty rear shock absorbers,
which should be replaced.
Vehicles out of warranty may be eligible for free or reduced-cost repair.
CHRYSLER
Some 2008 Town & Country minivans may have a loss of power steering
assist at low speeds (and the Dodge Caravan
may have the same problem). In T.S.B. H16 issued on Jan. 28, Chrysler
said about 46,000 of the vans may have a leak
in the low-pressure power steering hose. The hose needs to be replaced,
which Chrysler will do without charge.
HONDA
Some Civics may make a clunking noise at the rear when driving over bumps.
In T.S.B. 09-005 issued on Feb. 6,
Honda said a rear shock absorber may have come loose on some 2006-9 Civics.
Replacing the assembly should
quiet things down. Honda will consider full or partial reimbursement
for the repair on vehicles out of warranty at the
discretion of the district manager.
Honda has added Odyssey models
to an earlier bulletin regarding soft brake pedals. In T.S.B. 07-045 issued
on Jan. 14,
Honda said the antilock brake modulator assembly may need to be replaced
on some 2007-8 Odysseys.
Honda will consider full or partial reimbursement for the repair on vehicles
out of warranty, at the discretion of the
district manager.
Also, the drive belt routing
on some 2006 Civics may put pressure on the belt’s tensioner, potentially
breaking the
tensioner pivot bolt and causing a loss of power steering. In T.S.B.
09-007 issued on Jan. 30, Honda said owners
should receive a letter stating that their vehicles will need a drive
belt tensioner pivot bolt and a rerouted drive belt.
The repair is free.
INFINITI
Some 2007-8 G35 sport sedans and 2008-9 G37 coupes may have a squeal
from the front brakes. In T.S.B. 09-009
issued on Feb. 10, Infiniti said the front brake pads and hardware may
need to be replaced.
LEXUS
Some 2007 and 2008 ES 350s may have trouble with the front side windows.
In T.S.B. SB-0003-09 issued on Jan. 26,
Lexus said the windows may give a popping noise and then stop operating.
The cars need a new window glass assembly.
Also, some 2006-8 RX 400h crossovers
may leak a small amount of oil at the rear of the engine. In T.S.B. SB-0014-09
issued on Feb. 11, Lexus said the vehicles may require a new oil galley
plug and gasket.
MAZDA
Some 2004-9 RX-8s may need a new coolant reservoir tank. In T.S.B. 0100609
issued on Feb. 10, Mazda said the
low coolant light may illuminate even though the coolant level appears
fine. The coolant float sensor is deteriorating,
absorbing fluid and sinking, causing the improper reading. Replacing
the reservoir tank assembly should solve the problem.
MITSUBISHI
All 2001-2 Monteros will get an extended warranty on the hydraulic brake
booster accumulator. In. T.S.B. 09-35-002 issued
in January, Mistubishi said the parts would be warranted for 10 years
or 150,000 miles, instead of the original three years
or 36,000 miles. Mitsubishi said a faulty part will leak nitrogen, causing
a firm brake pedal at startup and a chirping noise
from the dash.
TOYOTA
Some 2006-9 Highlanders may leak a small amount of oil at the rear of
the engine (some Lexus RX 400h crossovers have
the same problem). In T.S.B. SB0062-09 issued on Feb. 11, Toyota said
the leak in four-wheel-drive models requires a
new oil galley plug and gasket.
1-Feb-09
TOYOTA and its Lexus division
are having problems with vehicles that leak oil and transmission fluid, leaks
that
were noted in the latest batch of technical service bulletins.
ACURA
Some new TLs may need front suspension parts replaced. In T.S.B. 08-055
issued on Nov. 25, Acura said
some 2009 TLs and TL SH-AWD models could have front lower arm bolts
that do not have enough anticorrosion coating.
The company will replace the bolts on both sides of the vehicle free
until Nov. 25, 2011.
AUDI
Some 2007 A3 and A4 models may have faulty crankcase ventilation hoses
or valves. In T.S.B. 170819 issued on
Oct. 15, Audi said the faulty parts may cause a loss of throttle pressure,
a lean fuel mixture or an air intake leak.
The parts will be replaced free on vehicles under warranty though Jan.
15, 2010.
Also, some vehicles may have
a leak from the coolant flange. In T.S.B. 190807 issued on Oct. 27, Audi
officials said
some 2005-6 A3 and A4 models may need a new sealing O-ring for the flange,
which holds the coolant temperature
sensor and connects to the engine cylinder head. And some Q7s that won’t
start in the extreme cold could have a
problem with their exhaust plumbing.
In T.S.B. 210802 issued on Nov.
7, Audi said some 2007-9 models used for frequent short trips in the cold
may build
up excess moisture in the muffler. The moisture could back up into the
exhaust pipe, freeze and keep the engine from
starting. If so, the vehicle needs a new exhaust system, which has been
redesigned.
HONDA
Some Honda Elements may have been shipped from the factory with contaminated
coolant. In T.S.B. 08-097
issued on Dec. 18, Honda said the heaters on 2003-5 models may not work
properly; the engines could also overheat.
A letter has been sent to owners of affected vehicles. Some vehicles
may merely need the coolant replaced, while others
could need a new radiator, bypass hoses, heater breather hose and heater
core. Owners who have already paid for the
repair may be eligible for reimbursement.
Also, Honda updated an earlier
T.S.B., adding 2008 Civics to T.S.B 08-044. The company had previously said
that
2006-7 models might have engine blocks that are cracked at the cooling
passages. Replacing the engine block is
the only cure. Owners whose vehicles are out of warranty may be eligible
for reimbursement for the repairs.
JAGUAR
Some 2009 XFs may have the wipers stuck in the on position. In T.S.B. K032
issued on Oct. 31, the
company said the windshield wipers may have a 20-amp fuse where a 30
is needed, and others will need a new
wiper control switch. Dealers will replace the parts free until Sept.
30, 2010.
LEXUS
Some 2008-9 RX 350s may leak transmission fluid from the transfer case.
In T.S.B. SB0160-08 issued
on Nov. 5, Lexus said the leak from the vent on top of the transfer
case came from an O-ring damaged during
production, allowing transmission fluid to enter the transfer case.
The transfer case must be replaced.
Also, some 2008 LX 570s may
leak oil from the oil pan. In T.S.B. SB0165-08 issued on Dec. 4, the company
said
the leak may be caused by a faulty O-ring on the dipstick tube. The
O-ring needs to be replaced.
SUBARU
Some Subaru sunroofs may not close properly. In T.S.B. 15-134-08R issued
on Nov. 10, Subaru
said the sunroofs on some 2003-6 Foresters may reopen when the roof
is almost closed. In such cases, the resin
piece connected to the sunroof cable is broken and should be replaced,
along with the plastic spacers.
TOYOTA
As with the Lexus LX 570, some Toyota trucks may have leaking oil pans.
In T.S.B. SB0320-08 issued
on Oct. 21 and T.S.B. SB0384-08 issued on Dec. 8, Toyota said the leak
in 2007-8 Tundras, 2008 Sequoias
and 2008-9 Land Cruisers was from a faulty O-ring in the dipstick tube.
The O-ring needs to be replaced.
Also, some vehicles may leak
transmission fluid from the transfer case. In T.S.B. SB0335-08 issued on
Nov. 3,
the company said the leak in 4-wheel-drive versions of 2008-9 Highlanders
and 2009 Siennas is from damage
to the O-ring between the transmission and the transfer case. Replacing
the O-ring should solve the problem.
1- Dec- 08
BAD wheel bearings on Audis,
fuel tank problems on Jaguars and various troubles with General Motors
crossovers and S.U.V.’s are among the issues covered in recent technical
service bulletins.
The bulletins, or T.S.B.’s offer
automakers’ insights into recurring problems with various models.
The bulletins are not recalls; they are information provided by manufacturers
to mechanics and dealers’
service departments.
Unless otherwise noted, automakers do not pay for these repairs beyond
normal warranty coverage.
ACURA
Some 2003 CL headlights may flicker or stop working. In T.S.B. 08-044
issued on Oct. 9, the company said the
headlight inverter — part of the circuit that powers the headlight
— needed to be replaced.
For vehicles that are out of warranty, Acura may offer payment assistance
for the repair at the district manager’s
discretion.
Also, some 2007 MDXs have been
delivered with a wheel-nut wrench of poor quality. In T.S.B. 06-054 issued
on
Sept. 17, Acura said the socket portion might easily round off. Replacement
wrenches should arrive by mail.
AUDI
Owners of A8s may hear clicking noises from the front wheels when making
turns. In T.S.B. 40 08 04 issued on Sept. 11,
Audi noted that 2003-6 models might have surface rust between the wheel
bearings and bearing carriers.
Replacing the bearings and associated parts should stop the noise.
Also, some Q7s may leak transmission
fluid. In T.S.B. 38 08 06 issued on Sept. 23, the company said leaks might
occur from the transmission lines that run to the cooler, near the
oil temperature regulator.
The regulator and related seals should be replaced.
BMW
A clicking noise coming from the front wheels on turns may be heard
on some X5s. In T.S.B. 31 01 08 issued on Oct. 1,
BMW said the front outer CV joint boot might be torn. The joint and
the boot should be replaced.
GENERAL
MOTORS
Some new crossover vehicles may have leaky sunroofs. In T.S.B. 08207A
issued on Sept. 15, the company
said that 2007-8 GMC Acadias, Saturn Outlooks and 2008 Buick Enclaves
might not properly drain water around
the sunroof. Installing drain tube extensions should dry things out.
Also, a few of the company’s
2009 S.U.V.’s with in-line 6-cylinder engines may have a serous problem.
In T.S.B. 08328 issued on Sept. 23, the company said some Chevy TrailBlazers
and GMC Envoys might have a
cylinder bore machined too deeply, which could lead to a cracked engine
block.
About 800 vehicles may be involved, and the engine must be replaced.
In addition, some S.U.V.’s may
have corrosion in the fuel-tank modular reservoir assembly, which houses
the
fuel pump. This could lead to fuel spraying from the vehicle. In T.S.B.
07076 issued on Sept. 30, the company
said the parts in 2002-4 Chevy TrailBlazers, GMC Envoys and Oldsmobile
Bravadas and 2004 Buick Rainiers
and GMC Envoy X.U.V.’s would be warranted for 10 years or 120,000 miles,
up from the original 3-year/36,000-mile coverage.
Customers who already paid for this repair can be reimbursed.
HONDA
Some 2007 CR-Vs may have abnormal wear in the power steering pump.
In T.S.B. 08-070 issued on Sept. 9,
Honda said the power steering pump might seize in these vehicles, causing
hard steering.
The pump should be replaced.
JAGUAR
A problem with the fuel-tank wiring harness is causing some X-Types
to break down. In T.S.B. S947 issued on Sept. 18,
Jaguar said the harness might have been damaged at the fuel-pump connector
during production.
Water may enter the harness and corrode the connector, causing the
engine to stall. The harness should be replaced.
MAZDA
Owners of some Mazda 3s and Mazda 5s may notice a coolant leak by the
water outlet. In T.S.B. 01-047-08 issued on
Oct. 10, Mazda said the problem was from a poorly designed water-outlet
gasket on some 2003-8 3s and 2008 5s.
The gasket should be replaced.
Also, some CX-7 crossovers are
getting insects in the taillights. In T.S.B. 09-036-08 issued on Oct.
17, Mazda said
the bugs were entering through a hole in the taillight housing. Either
a gasket can be put in the current assembly to
keep the bugs out or a new taillight assembly should be installed.
TOYOTA
Some Prius owners may notice a knock from the front of the vehicle,
especially when driving on rough roads.
In T.S.B 0300-08 issued on Sept. 18, Toyota said an engine mount attached
to the transaxle was the culprit.
Adding engine mount insulators should quiet things down.
Also, some Tacoma pickup
owners may notice a rough ride when their 2005-8 Double Cab trucks are
fully loaded.
In T.S.B. 0305-08 issued on Sept. 30, the company said that an improved
set of rear spring assemblies and front
and rear shocks would cure the problem.
27-Sept-08
AUDI
Owners of 2007-8 Audi Q7s may notice a leak from the transfer case.
In T.S.B. 390802 issued on June 2, company officials
said the input shaft seal might have been damaged during installation.
Replacing the seal, or the entire transfer case if another
seal is leaking, should stop the leak.
Also, an intermittent engine
rattle upon startup in 2007 Q7s requires a simple fix. In T.S.B. 170805
issued on July 22,
Audi officials said that if the noise lasted for more than two seconds
or if the engine oil light also came on, it could mean
oil pressure buildup was delayed. The oil filter flange should be
replaced.
BMW
Some 2008 all-wheel-drive 3 Series models may have loose front driveshaft
bolts. In bulletin 260108 issued on July 1,
company officials announced a campaign to inspect the bolts, and replace
them if necessary, the next time the vehicle
was at the dealer service center. The bolts secure the front driveshaft
to the front axle differential and the transfer case.
CHEVROLET/GMC
Some 2007-9 Chevrolet and GMC trucks may have an oil leak. In T.S.B.
08-06-02-003 issued on Sept. 10, General Motors
said a leak at the connection from the oil cooler to the oil pan might
be caused by a porous bolt assembly. Models affected
include the Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Silverado and Express, and
the GMC Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL and Savana.
Cleaning the bolt and assembly and applying pipe sealant is expected
to repair the problem.
CHRYSLER
The oil level may not show correctly on some 2008 Dodge Dakota pickups.
In T.S.B. 09-002-08 issued on June 20,
Chrysler said the wrong dipstick might have been placed in some 4.7-liter
engines.
Replacing the dipstick will fix the problem.
HONDA
The engine blocks of some Civics may be cracked. In T.S.B. 08-044
issued on July 25, Honda officials said some
2006-7 Civics — but not the GX, Hybrid or Si models — might be leaking
coolant and overheating as a result of the cracks.
A new engine block assembly is the only remedy. Honda noted that owners
whose vehicles were out of warranty might be
eligible for reimbursement for the repairs.
Also, Honda has begun a campaign
to replace water pump assemblies in some 2006 Civics. In bulletin 08-038
issued
on July 8, Honda noted that a manufacturing problem might lead the
water pump pulley flange to crack, which could
cause pump failure or a broken drive belt. Honda said owners could
have the service done at no charge.
JAGUAR
Some 2004-5 Jaguar S-Types may have a problem with the cooling system.
In T.S.B. S518 issued on May 19, Jaguar
said some vehicles might have an incorrect coolant pump outlet hose,
which could burst. The hose should be replaced.
NISSAN
A missing sill cover plate could lead to water problems in Nissan
Versas. In T.S.B. NTB08-084 issued on Sept. 13,
Nissan officials said the covers were needed along the floor inside
the right rear passenger door in 2008-9 models
to prevent water intrusion into the vehicle.
Dealers will install the covers at no charge. Nissan has sent letters
to owners of the affected vehicles.
SUZUKI
There have been knocking or thumping sounds from under the hood of
some XL7s. In T.S.B. TS 25 07028 issued on July 2,
Suzuki officials said the problem could be loose rivets in the engine
mount struts in 2007-8 models.
Replacing the affected struts with a new design employing bolts rather
than rivets should quiet things down.
TOYOTA
There is a fix available for a “bump from behind” sensation in some
Tundras and Land Cruisers. In bulletin 0115-08 issued
on June 23 and 0117-08 issued on June 24, Toyota officials said the
thump when stopping or pulling out in 2007-8 Tundras
and 2008 Land Cruisers might be caused by a problem in the rear driveshaft.
Replacing the driveshaft assembly should smooth things out.
VOLKSWAGEN
The company has begun a campaign to inspect and replace fuel pressure
sensors on many models. In T.S.B. 2408-01
issued on Aug. 27, the company said it would inspect these models
under warranty: the 2006-7 Jetta, GTI, Passat
and Passat wagon, and the 2007 Eos and Touareg.
26-Sept-08 Nissan is recalling 3,403 2009
Altima sedans equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels because one or more
of the
five lug nuts could become loose. "If the lug nuts become
loose, it could eventually result in a loss of control and a
crash without warning," said the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration in its recalls summary of the problem.
Nissan dealers will check a vehicle in question to determine if it
is equipped with the affected wheels.
If it is, the wheels will be replaced with new ones that have been
manufactured to the correct specification.
The Altimas involved in the recall were built at Nissan's Canton,
Mississippi, plant from July 24 to August 14, 2008. 30-Aug-2008 General Motors Corp. said Friday
it was recalling 944,000 vehicles because of a problem with a windshield
wiper
fluid system that could lead to a fire. More than 850,000 sport utility vehicles,
trucks and passenger cars in the United States
and nearly 100,000 vehicles in Canada, Mexico and the Middle East
are involved in the recall, the company said.
GM said it includes the 2008
Buick Enclave, 2006-2008 Buick Lucerne, 2006-2008 Cadillac DTS, 2007-2008
Cadillac Escalade,
2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade ESV, 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade EXT,
2007-2008 Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Tahoe
and Suburban, 2007-2008 GMC Acadia, Sierra, Yukon and Yukon XL,
2006-2008 Hummer H2 and 2007-2008 Saturn Outlook.
The recall involves vehicles
with a heated washer fluid system. A short circuit in the system could
cause electrical features to
malfunction, which could lead to an odor, smoke or potentially a
fire.
GM spokeswoman Carolyn Markey
said there have been nine reports of fires and three of them have been
linked to the system.
There have been no accidents or injuries connected to the defect,
she said.
The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration opened an investigation last February into 2007
Yukon and Tahoe vehicles
over potential engine compartment fires. In June, the highway safety
agency upgraded its investigation into about 2.7 million
2007-2008 GM trucks and SUVs and reported allegations of 41 engine
fires.
Dealers will install a wire harness
with an in-line fuse to fix the problem free of charge, GM said.
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.
08/10/07
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.
5/10/07
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.
21/09/07
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.
14/09/07
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.
3/08/07
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.
3/07/07
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.
29/06/07
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.
11/04/07
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.
And, speaking of fires:
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.
20/03/07
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.
9/03/07
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.
That recall affects 2006 and
2007 model-year Jeep Liberty vehicles.
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.
28/02/07
Heavyweights are being advised
against sitting in the rear of Honda's 2006 Civic Hybrid
until a potential electrical
problem is repaired. Transport Canada says weight on the
rear seat can compress a metal cover and rubber cap that
protect
an electrical terminal, causing a short
circuit in the car's motor assist system. The short circuit would cause a
fuse to blow,
which in turn would stall the engine.
Dealers will install a
plastic cover over the rubber cap that covers the electrical
cable.
Honda Accord seats could
trigger airbag unexpectedly: A seat with a different problem
is behind the recall of 2004-05
Honda Accords equipped with power seats.
Those cars have seat sensors
that control the power of the airbags and a
harness from the sensors was incorrectly
attached. That can lead to faulty information being sent to
the control module,
which means the airbags would be deployed
at full power all of the time. Dealers will replace the seat
position sensor
wiring harness.
Mercedes to replace faulty wipers:
Two versions of Mercedes Benzs' new compact car are
being recalled to allow
mechanics to replace a faulty wiper
switch. The 2006 B200 and B200T are affected. The insulation leading to the
combination switch might wear off, causing
the rear or front wiper to malfunction. Improper operation of the wiper
system in severe weather could reduce
the driver's visibility and potentially cause a crash.
26/02/07
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.
23/02/07
Land Rover is recalling 33,000
Freelander SUVs in the U.S. to fix a faulty brake light
switch.
All Freelanders built at the company's
Solihull, U.K., plant between September 2001 and May
2005 could be affected. In a posting on its
Web site, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
says the brake lights
on some 2002-'05 models stay illuminated
even when the brake pedal is not depressed. Warning lights
for hill descent control,
traction control and cruise control
could also light up. Land Rover dealers have been instructed
to install new switches of the
same design in March and then to replace
them in May when a re-engineered unit becomes available.
19/02/07
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.
27/01/07
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.
19/01/07
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.
17/01/07
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.
24/12/06
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.
8/12/06
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A.,
Inc., will launch a voluntary Special Service Campaign
involving approximately 60,700
four-cylinder Highlander sport
utility vehicles from the 2001 through 2003 model year
and 159,100 RAV4 sport utility vehicles
from the 2001 and 2002 model
year. The Malfunction Indicator Light, also known as
the "check engine" light, on certain RAV4
and Highlander may inadvertently
illuminate due to an issue with the program logic in the
Engine Control Module (ECM).
This light does not affect
the operation of the vehicle. The affected RAV4 and
Highlander were produced from July 24, 2000
to August 22, 2003. There have been 80 cases of this
condition reported in the Highlander and RAV4. Toyota
will mail to
owners of the involved vehicles
a Service Campaign notification via first class mail
in mid-December. Owners
are requested
to contact their local Toyota
dealer for reprogramming of the ECM with improved logic.
Reprogramming will be done at no
charge to the owners of the
vehicle and will take approximately 30 minutes, depending
on the dealer's work schedule.
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.
22/11/06
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.
25/10/06
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.
12/10/06
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.
04/09/06
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.
02/08/06
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.
29/07/06
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.
18/07/06
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.
15/07/06
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.
29/06/06
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.
18/06/06
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
15/06/06
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.
31/05/06
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.
27/05/06
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.
12/05/06
Volvo is recalling some 250,000
of its vehicles worldwide. Affected models include the
S40 sedan, V50 wagon and the popular
XC90 SUV.
According to the manufacturer, fuel hoses in the
S40 and V50 could be damaged by engine heat while there
is a
potential
problem with the XC90's steering arm. There have been
no reported accidents by either problem.
The automaker
will repair all potentially affected vehicles free
of charge.
6/05/06
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.
1/05/06
General Motors is recalling about
400-thousand pickup trucks after federal
safety regulators got several complaints regarding
defective
brake lights. The affected vehicles are
the 2004-through-2006 Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon.
GM says
the brake lamps on some vehicles may stop working
or remain on. On vehicles with cruise control, that function
also becomes
inoperative. A spokesman says the company isn't
aware of any crashes as a result of the problem.
Dealers
will replace the brake lamp switch assembly at no
charge.
26/04/06
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.
14/04/06
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
8/03/06
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.
6/03/06
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.
28/02/06
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 software virus 13/02/06
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.
And another hot time. 8/01/06
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.
A hot time in the old town
tonight!! 4/01/06
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 Again 4/01/06
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.
Ranger and MazdaB Pick up
trucks. 10/12/05
The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration is scrutinising
Ford’s evergreen Ranger and Mazda B-Series
twin.
The crux of their preliminary investigation,
a wiring issue that reportedly disables the compact
pickup’s taillights, rally style.
Some 510,000 2003-2005 models are affected. The crux of the problem is a
short circuit in a wiring harness that can
blow
the fuse governing the taillamps. Both Ford
and Mazda have issued TSBs (Technical Service Bullitins)
to their dealership body,
alerting them of the concern.
Durango ABS gremlins. 10/12/05
In other recall news, Daimler-Chrysler
is set to recall some 19,000 2006 Dodge
Durangos, most of which probably have yet
to
find their way into customer’s hands. A kink
in the software has reportedly been found in the anti-lock
braking system, causing
rear brake lockup.
Ford recalls
nearly 224,000 vehicles to fix wipers
18/11/05
Ford said today it was recalling
nearly 224,000 vehicles because their
windshield wipers may malfunction. The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration said the windshield
wiper motor on the vehicles may have been produced
without grease being
applied to the output shaft gear. Inoperative windshield wipers
could cause a crash due to impaired visibility. Trucks, SUVs, pickups
and cars are all involved in the recall. Vehicles
affected, all from the 2006 model year and mostly
in the United States, include the
Escape, Expedition, Explorer, F-150, Ranger,
Taurus, Mark LT, Navigator, Mariner and Mountaineer, Ford E-150, E-250, E-350
and E-450.
Ford Recalling Cars for Fuel
Tanks 17/11/05
About 225,000 new Ford vehicles, including
the company's new Freestyle/Five Hundred/Montego
full-size sedans and crossover,
will be recalled. In the first recall, the vehicles
have fuel-tank straps that could break, causing
the fuel tank to rest on the vehicle's
driveshaft or exhaust system, which could in turn
result in a fire. In the second recall action are
the 2005 versions of the
Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis sedans and the Lincoln
Town Car.
Those vehicles will be recalled for a bad battery
cable that could be frayed by an attaching bolt,
leading to fire.
Volvo Extending Throttle
Warranties
Meanwhile, Ford's Volvo brand has reached
a deal with California transportation
officials to extend the warranty on more
than
350,000 vehicles with defective throttles. The
throttle on some Volvo models can become corroded,
leading to slowdown and
a loss of power. Volvo will warrant the part for
up to ten years or 200,000 miles. The action is
not an official recall, though a
Volvo spokesperson said up to 94 percent of affected
vehicles could experience the problem during the
warranty.
Here we go again! 11/11/05
Honda Motor
Co. recalled about 25,000
Civics on Thursday because the accelerator
pedal was improperly installed on some
2006 models, which could cause a crash. If the pedal is improperly
installed, it could come loose, cause the throttle
to stick and
raise the potential for a crash. Honda spokesman
Sage Marie said there have been no crashes or
injuries linked to the issue.
Most of the 25,298 vehicles under recall in the
United States have not yet been sold. A dealer inspecting
the vehicles discovered
the problem in late September and reported it
to the automaker, leading to an internal investigation.
Prius Recalled for Stalling
14/10/05
The newest generation of Toyota's Prius
will be recalled for a stalling problem
linked to the vehicle's complex engine-control
software.
About 75,000 copies of the 2004-05 Prius will
be brought back for reprogramming to cure the glitch,
which can cause warning lights to
come on and can cause the gas engine to shut
down, leaving the driver under only battery power
to slow down safely.
Chrysler Transmissions 10/10/05
Chrysler has announced a recall of nearly 600,000
vehicles. Around 300,000 Jeeps, Chrysler 300/Dodge
Magnum, Dodge Durango
and Dodge Dakota/Mitsubishi Raider models,
made in the 2005 model-year, are to be recalled
for an automatic transmission problem
which may prevent the selection of park mode.
A further 283,000 Dodge Ram pick-ups (2003-2005)
are being recalled for a similar
problem.
Roofs that rain glass at Cadillac
27/09/05
The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration said it was
investigating reports that the large sunroof
on Cadillac SRXs
has shattered while driving at highway speeds,
showering passengers with glass. It identified 10 reported
injuries consisting
of minor cuts and scrapes linked to four consumer
complaints. General
Motors Corp. spokesman Alan Adler said about
30,000 vehicles had the broad sunroof, which
became a standard feature on models with V8 engines
in 2005.
The sunroof exposes the second row of seats
when opened and is about 6 square feet. One owner, who was not identified,
told the government that the sunroof collapsed
in mid-August, injuring six people while the 2005
model was traveling at
60 m.p.h. to 65 m.p.h. The people were treated
at a hospital for cuts.
Mazda 5 production halted
after fires 22/09/05
Mazda has stopped production globally of its
new 5 MPV and recalled 2,700 units in North America
for exhaust system-related fires.
Three fires due to heat buildup in the system
have been reported, and that Mazda's North American
dealers have been ordered to stop
selling the car until the cause of the fires
has been found and a solution is in place.
US customers were told to return their vehicles
immediately and will be given replacement transport
at no cost. Mazda reportedly has told customers
they will be without their 5s for at least 30 days.
The production halt affects all 5s globally, but
Japan and Europe have not issued recalls or stop-sale
orders, as those countries' versions have different engine
specifications and engine management control units. The
spokesman said that the cause of the fires has not been determined.
The car went on sale in June, and has also been launched in
Europe
and some Asia-Pacific markets.
Ford trucks 10/09/05
Ford, in its massive action, will bring back
3.8 million trucks and SUVs for a problem with
cruise control switches that can lead to fires.
In the fifth-largest recall ever in U.S. auto
history, Ford will recall the 1994-2002 F-150,
Expedition, Bronco, and Lincoln Navigator because
cruise-control switches have been linked to fires
in some 550 complaints, three of which have been linked
to deaths.
The switches can be affected by leaky brake
fluid and can corrode, leading to fire. Ford
already had recalled 800,000 vehicles from the
2000 model year for a similar problem.
Toyota trucks
In the second recall, Toyota said it would
begin an action on 978,000 SUVs and trucks for a
problem with power steering systems.
A linkage from the steering unit to the wheels
can break, leading to a loss of steering, although
the problem presents itself when involved
vehicles are stopped. The Toyotas included
in the recall are the 1990-95 4Runner SUV, 1989-95
Truck 4WD, and 1993-98 T-100 pickup.
GM recalling 800,000 Pickups,
SUVs 2/09/05
General Motors said Tuesday that it is recalling
about 800,000 sport utility vehicles and
pickup trucks because corrosion is affecting
the antilock brake system. GM said the recall
involves 1999-2002 model years of the Chevrolet
Avalanche, Chevrolet Silverado,
Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon and
GMC Yukon XL.The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration opened an
investigation in late April of more than 1.2
million GM pickups and SUVs in 20 states because
of questions involving the antilock brakes.
The investigation is pending. Road grime
can wedge its way into a plastic piece that
covers the ABS sensor near the wheel hub,
resulting in salt corrosion. The corrosion
leads the sensors to activate the ABS system
at speeds of 3.7 miles an hour to 10 mph,
requiring a longer stopping distance. With
2003 models, the ABS system was changed so it
would start at speeds of 15 to 20 mph.
GM said there have been 228 crashes reported
through the end of May, including 10 minor injuries.
That is the most recent data available. No
fatalities have been reported. The company recalled
about 150,000 pickups in Eastern Canada in November 2004 from the same
model years because of the condition in
the antilock brakes.
2006 Hyundai
Sonata 24/07/05 An overly sensitive Electronic Stability
Control may activate unnecessarily, reducing
engine power and braking one of the wheels.
Dealers will reprogram the ESC Hydraulic
Electronic Control Unit.
2005 Hyundai
Tucson On some vehicles, the parking brake
lever ratchet pawl was not properly manufactured
and may damage the ratchet's teeth.
This may prevent the parking brake from
engaging or could allow it to release after
being engaged.
Dealers will replace the parking brake lever
assembly.
2003-2005
Nissan Murano On some models, equipped with a Continuously
Variable Transmission (CVT), an open circuit
in the alternator can occur due to wire
fatigue or higher engine compartment temperature
in the Murano compared to other Nissan models.
When an open circuit occurs, the charge warning
lamp comes on. If the driver continues to drive
in this condition,
the vehicle will operate normally for about
one hour. After that time, the battery voltage
will drop to a level that causes the engine control
module to go into a fail safe mode and reduce
the vehicle speed for about ten minutes. Then
the engine will stop running.
Dealers will replace the alternator with
an updated version.
Kia, ToyotaRecall Minivans 22/07/05
Kia Motors and Toyota Motor
Co. are recalling their popular
minivans.
At Kia, the Sedona is being recalled for
the second time in three months because of
a defect with the vehicle's throttle cable.
The 2003-05 Sedona may be subject to a sticky
throttle cable that could be especially problematic
in cold weather.
About 118,000 Sedonas could have the problem,
which results from water leaching in around
the cable and freezing.
Dealers will remedy the problem for free.
KIA COP OUTS 13/07/05
Kia will recall four models to fix steering
problems in some, fuel leaks in others, and
wheels and bearings that can crack in the remainder.
Of about 20,000 vehicles involved, more
than half are 2003-2005 Sedona vans equipped
with alloy wheels.
Transport Canada says moisture can enter
the rear hub and damage the wheel bearing.
Under certain conditions, this can result
in the failure of the bearings and loss of control.
Dealers will inspect, and if necessary,
replace the hub assemblies. Inspectors have
discovered a problem with some 2005 Kia Spectras
that were shipped to Canada, but not yet
distributed to dealers. Transport Canada
says sections of a steering tie rod could crack or
fail
because of a manufacturing flaw. New steering
racks will be installed. Possible fuel leaks
spurred the recall of about 2,100 new Sportage sport-utilities
that, like the Spectras, were shipped to
Canada but not distributed to dealers.
The safety agency says a faulty O-ring in
a vapour chamber would allow fuel to leak
from a full tank.
Kia corrected the problem before releasing
the vehicles. A manufacturing flaw could
cause wheels to crack on almost 6,000 Kia Rio
compacts from the 2001 year. A crack could
cause noise and vibration, and in a severe case,
could lead to a crash if the wheel separates
from the vehicle.
About 15,000 mid-size Saturn sedans and
wagons are being recalled so dealers can replace
rear light sockets and/or entire tail light assemblies.
Included are the 2000-2002 LS and 2000-2004 LW.
VW in the
hot seat. 8/07/05
Volkswagen AG
is recalling nearly 40,000 Jetta
sedans in the United States because fuel
could leak and start a fire,
federal safety regulators said Thursday. Jettas from the 2005 model year
are involved in the recall.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
said a fuel supply line clamp might not be
properly positioned,
which could lead to a leak. Volkswagen said it knows of no
deaths or injuries related to the
defect, which was reported to
the company by a small number of owners. "We don't know of any fires whatsoever
because of this, but we think it
is important
to act quickly and reassure new Jetta
owners about our commitment to their safety
and satisfaction,"
Len Hunt, Volkswagen's executive vice
president, said in a statement.
Ford Motor
Co. is recalling
the 2006 Ford Expedition and 2006 Lincoln
Navigator because the left-side tires could have
tread
damage caused by a sharp piece of steel
they might have encountered during manufacturing.
There are 10,061 vehicles involved in that
recall, NHTSA said.
Feds
Examine Expedition for Wipers
21/06/05
The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA)
says that it has begun investigating whether
the windshield wipers
on the Ford Expedition are defective.
About 650,000 vehicles could be affected if
the agency determines a recall is necessary.
In vehicles from the 1999-2001 model years,
there is a potential for water to leak into
the vehicle and damage the windshield
wiper mechanism.
The NHTSA has logged 20 complaints over
the issue.
Ford Recall Affects 260,000
Trucks 14/06/05
About 260,000 Ford vehicles
are being recalled for a stalling
problem. The vehicles in question are
full-size Ford F-Series pickups,
Excursion SUVs and Econoline vans, many
outfitted with Ford's 6.0-liter diesel engine.
In the affected vehicles - about 180,100 of
which have the diesel engine - a faulty
fuel-injection control module could lead
to stalling. The vehicles are from the 2004-05 model
years.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) says that two minor injuries have
been linked to the issue.
Ford is also investigating the 2003 F-Series
Super Duty with the diesel engine for other
engine-performance issues.
Additionally, Ford is recalling 78,675
Super Duty trucks for fuel lines that separate
from the main fuel bundle.
Kia to recall minivans26/05/05
Kia Motors
America Inc. said it's
recalling more than 37,000 minivans because
of possible damage to a rear wheel bearing that
could
cause a crash. Kia said a defect might exist
on 37,358 Kia Sedona minivans from the
2003-05 model years that have alloy wheels.
Company engineers found that moisture can accumulate
around the small steel cap that seals the rear hub and
bearing assembly on alloy wheels and lead to damage to
the wheel bearing. The
company said a failure can occur without warning and
cause a crash. The majority
of the vehicles, more than 26,000,
are from the 2004 model year. Owners are expected to be notified
in early June. They will be able to take their vehicles
to Kia dealers to have the rear hub seals
inspected and replaced, if necessary, at no charge.
Mercedes,
Kia and Chrysler vans. 24/05/05
Mercedes-Benz sedans as far
back as 2003 are being recalled to replace a pump that could result in
reduced braking power. A piston in the pump can be out
of tolerance and can cause the power-assist function to fail.
The recall affects 2003-2005 E-Class
and SL-Class vehicles and 2006 CLS-Class cars.
About 1,700 new 2005 Kia Sportages
need to be modified with updated
software to prevent an onboard computer
from
applying the brakes when not needed.
Volkswagen is recalling just
over 9,000 Golfs and GTIs
from the 1999 and 2000 model years because
of possible fuel leaks.
Power liftgates on 2003 Chrysler
minivans needs a new control
module, about 3,000 Grand Caravans equipped
with the
option are affected.
Toyota
will recall the U.S.-made Tacoma compact
pickup truck, the Sequoia sport-ute
and Tundra pickup, and the 4Runner sport-utility
vehicle, all the results of a flaw
in the vehicles' suspensions. The total of
recalled vehicles will be about 790,000. The defect
involves front suspension components that can
deteriorate if scratched. The problem
stems from a defective ball joint, which can make
the vehicles
difficult to steer. The recall includes
2001-2004 model year Tacoma trucks, 2001-2002
4Runners, and 2002-2004 models of the
Sequoia and Tundra. It is one of the
largest recalls in the company's history.
General
Motors Recalling More Than
2 Million Vehicles: 25/04/05
General
Motors Corp. said Monday it is recalling more than
2 million vehicles, including nearly 1.5 million sport
utility vans and
pickup trucks that have seat belt design
problems. The world's
largest automaker said there were only a few
minor injuries associated
with the six separate recalls and
said owners would be formally notified of the
problems by mail in the coming weeks.
Among the vehicles affected, the
company was recalling 1.48 million SUVs and pickups
from the 2003-2005 model years,
including the Chevrolet Silverado
Crew Cab, Suburban, Tahoe, Avalanche; Cadillac
Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT,
GMC Sierra Crew Cab, Yukon XL, Yukon,
and the Hummer H2s.
The center safety belt in the
second row of the SUVs and
pickups, typically used for child seats,
was riding high on the occupant's
stomach or abdomen. There could be
a reduced protection in that portion of the
body in the event of a crash.
The company also announced recalls
for the following vehicles:
-- More than 330,000 1500 Series
Chevrolet Suburban and Yukon
XL from the 2000-2001 model years for
potential overheating
of fuel pump wires that could lead
to engine stalling. There were no known crashes
or injuries related to the problem.
-- More than 142,000 1500 Series
Chevrolet Silverado and
GMC Sierra pickups from the 1999-2002 model
years and 2500/3500
Series pickups from the 2001-2004
model years with manual transmissions for
parking brake friction.
-- More than 69,000 Buick Lacrosse
and Buick Allure 2005 models
from Canada for a bent clip that holds
part of the brake.
If the clip comes off, it would lead
to brake loss and a crash, Adler said. There
has been one minor crash from the issue.
-- More than 39,000 Buick Rendezvous
and Pontiac Azteks from the
2004 model year for intermittent stalling
or failure to start
because of a faulty ignition relay.
GM said it was aware of one minor crash but no
injuries.
-- More than 22,000 Saturn L
Series Wagons from the 2002-2004
model year because they were built
with a center and passenger
side rear seat belt anchors that do
not comply with U.S. and Canadian safety standards.
Hyundai,
Kia Recalling SUVs 1/04/05
Hyundai and Kia will recall about 38,000
vehicles because their
stability-control systems could be flawed.
The vehicles involved in the recall
are 30,558 Hyundai Tucson and 7619
Kia Sportage SUVs; the vehicles share much
of their basic structures and powertrains. The
recall
affects 2005 models of the vehicles.
The stability control systems on the
affected vehicles could cause vehicles to slow through
reduced
engine power or application of a
brake on one of their wheels.
Mercedes-Benz
Recalls 1.3 Million Cars
1/04/05
The
largest single recall in its history will be launched soon by Mercedes-Benz,
just as the company is trying to right quality problems that have dragged
down its performance. DaimlerChrysler says it will recall about 1.3 million
vehicles because of problems with voltage regulators, battery-control software,
and braking systems. The recall includes Benz vehicles outfitted with gas
V-6 and V-8 engines, manufactured between June 2001 and November 2004, according
to wire reports, as well
as some E-Class and CLS-Class cars built
between January 2002 and January of this year,
and E-Class, CLS-Class, and SL-Class cars built from
June 2001 through January 2005. Several hundred thousand
vehicles sold in the U.S. are
included in the recall; a spokesperson told
the Wall Street Journal that no accidents,
nor any injuries, had resulted from the problems.
Toyota Echo - rusty floor pans. 28/03/05
Toyota is repairing or replacing
floors in every Echo sold in Canada after
the discovery of rust on some of the subcompacts in
high-salt, high-humidity regions,
such as Quebec and Ontario since 1999. The free
program will make necessary the removal of
carpets, descaling of metal and application
of a sealer, some asphalt sheeting and epoxy
bonding agent.
Toyota
Recalling Tacoma: 16/02/05
The 2005 Toyota Tacoma is being
recalled for problems
with its parking brake.
The Associated Press reports that
Toyota
will recall 22,228 Tacomas with automatic transmissions
because the parking brake
has a lock nut that may not be
tightened properly. It can loosen and fall
off, leading to a loss of braking.
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration has received eight complaints
on affected Tacomas, but no reports of injuries.
GM Trucks:
11/02/05
General Motors
Corp. is recalling
nearly 200,000 vehicles because of various
safety defects.
The largest recall is of 155,465
pickups, vans and SUVs-- including the
Hummer H2 -- because of possible brake malfunctions.
All of the affected
vehicles are from the 2004 and 2005 model
years and have Bosch hydro-boost
brake assemblies.
They are the Chevrolet Avalanche,
Express, Silverado and Suburban; the
GMC Savana, Sierra and Yukon XL; the GMC
Topkick and Chevrolet Kodiak
commercial trucks; and the Hummer H2.
Ford Recalls Focus 8/02/05
The Ford Focus is being recalled
for faulty rear-door
latches. The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration has initiated the recall
of 358,857 Foci, the Associated Press reports,
because the rear doors' latches could corrode and leave
them unable to close properly.
The recall involves Focus four-
and five-door models sold as 2000-2002
models in 20 states and the District of Columbia.
Thirty-three complaints concerning
the defect have been lodged with the NHTSA.
Honda Motor
Co. recalls Accord
sedans 2/02/05
And other cars to fix an ignition
flaw that can allow the vehicles to roll
after they are parked and the key is removed. The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration
said Tuesday that the recall covers some 1999-2002
Accords, as well as 1999-2000 Accord coupes,
all 1997 through 2001 Prelude coupes and some
1999-2000 Acura TLs. No accidents or injuries
were reported in connection with
the recall.
About 15 months ago, Honda recalled
more than 650,000 cars, minivans and
SUVs to fix the same problem. NHTSA received
complaints in October that additional vehicles
could have the problem and asked the automaker to investigate,
according to the recall letter.
There were 169 complaints, 28
incidents and three injuries in the prior
recall.
Ford Recalling 792,000
Pickups, SUVs: 27/01/05
Ford’s full-size pickups and
SUVs from the 2000 and
2001 model years will be recalled for a
potential fire hazard.
The recall includes the F-150
and SuperCrew pickups as well as the Expedition/Lincoln
Navigator sport-utes.
The vehicles have cruise-control
switches that could short-circuit, causing
a fire.
Owners can have the switches
deactivated free of charge until replacement
parts are available.
The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration has logged 36 reports
of fire in affected vehicles.
GM again:12/01/05
General Motors
Corp. is recalling
98,221 Chevrolet and GMC pickups, vans
and SUVs because the steering wheels and brakes
might not
work properly. All the vehicles involved
are from the 2000 model year. They are the Chevrolet C/K and Silverado
pickups and Suburban SUV
and the GMC Savana van, Sierra pickup and
Yukon XL SUV.
A hydraulic pump driveshaft can fracture
in the vehicles. That causes immediate loss of
power steering assist and can result in loss
of braking assist. Drivers still can steer and use
their brakes but with difficulty. GM plans to notify owners about
the recall next month. Dealers
will repair the vehicles for free.
There's no
Escape. 28/12/04
Ford Motor Co.
recalled 262,113
Escape sport-utility vehicles to repair
a defect in the rear gate, the second recall
of the vehicles in the last
two weeks. The latest recall
covers 2001 through 2005 models whose rear
lift gate could fly open during a crash, the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration said
on its Web site. Another 49,800 of Mazda
Motor Corp.'s Tribute SUVs, similar to
the Escape, were recalled for the identical defect.
On Dec. 13, Ford recalled 470,245 SUVs from the 2002
through 2004 model years because the accelerator might
get stuck. Ford also faces a U.S. safety investigation
of wheel cracks on 146,000 Crown Victoria sedans
used as police cars and taxis because earlier recall repairs
might not have eliminated the flaw.
GM Recalling Minivans for
Door Problem 24/12/04
The power sliding side doors
on General Motors' minivans are the focus
of a recall to be performed by the company,
wire reports indicated Thursday evening.
GM will recall 717,302 of its minivans sold from the
1997 model year to date because the power sliding
side doors feature a handle that could injure a
user's hands or wrists while in motion. Included in
the recall are the 1997-2005 Chevrolet Venture; the
1997-1999 Pontiac TranSport Montana; the 2000-2005
Pontiac Montana; and the 1997-2004 Olds Silhouette.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
has recorded 21 complaints about the handles on the doors.
Repairs will be available beginning in March.
Volkswagen Recalls Golf,
GTI, Jetta 24/12/04
More than 300,000 Volkswagen
compacts are on the recall list for problems
with lights, fuel pumps and airbags. The first
and widest recall applies to Golf, GTI and Jetta
cars sold in the 2000-2002 model years. VW says these
cars have hazard lights that could lose functionality
as they age, because of high electrical current in
the turn-signal bulbs. The second recall affects the
2004-2005 Golf, Jetta, New Beetle and Passats; some 19,284
of them have a leaking diesel fuel pump that could catch
fire, and require a new fastener that will contain the fuel
properly. In the final service action, the German automaker
will examine as many as 447,000 2001-2003 Golf, GTI and Jetta
cars because the NHTSA has received 107 complaints that side-impact
airbags were activated improperly. VW hasn't officially recalled
any vehicles for the latter issue.
Framed!! 10/12/04
Federal regulators have asked
the Chrysler Group to voluntarily recall
about 600,000 Dodge Durango and Dakota pickup
trucks, the company said Thursday. At least 100 of the trucks
from the model years 2000 to 2003
have had failures of an important suspension
joint. In most cases, the failure causes the truck's
frame to collapse. In a few cases it has led to a
wheel coming off. There has been one report of an injury,
which the company said was not life-threatening. The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration has been investigating
the problem for several months. Earlier
this week, the agency sent a letter to Chrysler,
requesting that it recall the trucks.
Ford Looking Over Explorers/Mountaineers
23/11/04
As many as 740,000 owners of
Ford Explorers and
Mercury Mountaineers will be examined by
the company's dealers to ensure that their
automatic transmissions are performing as
expected, Ford said on Tuesday. Some 2004 Explorers
and Mountaineers are noisy when
shifted from park to reverse,
the AP reports. The problem comes from
being filled with the wrong transmission fluid.
Ford will pay for the
repairs to the vehicles,
most of which still are under warranty.
The AP notes the problem is not technically a recall
since the safety of the
drivers and passengers is
not at risk.
ION Recalled for Headlights
21/11/04
GM says it's recalling about
200,000 Saturn IONs
in the U.S.
and Canada
due to problems with the headlights and turn signals.
GM says the cars' daytime
running lights and front turn signals
could have bulbs that lose contact and fail
to light.
The recall involves 178,798
IONs sold in the United
States and 18,513 sold in Canada.
The Saturns will be repaired
free of charge.
Toyota Recalling Prius 19/11/04
Toyota will recall twelve vehicle lines
and a total of 544,172 cars worldwide, according to a late report from Reuters.
Among the vehicles included
in the recall is the hybrid Prius. The
vehicles have brake lights that could fail
as a result of faulty switches.
The vehicles affected by
the recall include those manufactured from
January 1999 to August of 2004.
GM Recalling 1.5 Million
Vehicles 5/11/04
General Motors will recall
its mid-size sport-utility vehicles for a defect in taillamps. GM says its
2002-2004 Chevy TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, Oldsmobile Bravada and 2004 Buick
Rainier models have taillamps that could fail, leaving drivers vulnerable
to accidents.
The vehicles involved
include 946,817 SUVs. In addition to the
SUV recall, GM will recall the '03 Cavalier/Sunfire
twins for taillamp and
turn-signal problems,
for another 339,008 vehicles; the 2003
Chevy Malibu, Pontiac Grand Am and Olds
Alero for sticky accelerator pedals, adding another
204,317 vehicles; and a final recall of the
new Cadillac XLR and 2005 Corvette for brake-fluid
leaks in a total of 5914 vehicles.
All told, the recalls
add up to another 1.5 million recalled
vehicles at a time when GM is trying to reduce
warranty costs and improve the quality
image of its vehicles.
Chrysler Recalls Minivans
2/11/04
DaimlerChrysler's American arm
said on Monday that it would recall about 240,000 minivans because of a problem
with the vehicles' radios.
The problem, an electrical
short caused by water leaking into the
radios, has resulted in nine reported fires
in the speakers of the affected vehicles.
Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans
from the 2001-2002 model years are affected;
repairs will be completed
for free. Chrysler also
is recalling about 11,100 Chrysler Sebring
and Dodge Stratus vehicles from the 2005
model year because the
seatbelts in the rear
are not fastened properly. Dealers will
tighten the bolts that fasten the left
and right rear passenger safety belts to
the car's structure.
Misaligned Jeeps: 11/10/04
Jeeps that tend to drift onto
the shoulder don't
exactly fit the company's idea of "off-road"
vehicles. Owners
of some 2001-2005 Wranglers,
2001-2004 Grand Cherokees and 2001 Cherokees may
complain about vehicles that like to loll about
when traveling on the highway. When repeated adjustments
don't correct the problem or alignments can't
be performed at all, company officials say
replacing one or both upper front ball joints may
be required. No coverage outside the warranty
is offered, which is shameful because a part so integral
to the safety of the vehicle should remain intact long
after the rest of the thing has rotted in the junkyard.
Excursion jerk:
Some of you may look at the Ford
Excursion behemoth and think "Excursion jerk" refers to the drivers. Well,
not this time. (Hey, they're only selling 5,000 units a year, so I can afford
to be offensive.) It seems
that some 2004 Super Duty models of this Grand Behemoth with the 6.0-liter
engine may experience a jerking motion, a miss or a stumble after deceleration
down a long grade in cruise control. Recalibrating the powertrain control
module should smooth things out.
Rattled timing:
Like ball joints, the timing
chain would be another
part one would rather not hear from.
Ever. But
owners of some 1999-2002 Ford Explorers,
and 2001-2002 Explorer
Sport Tracs, Explorer Sports and Rangers
with the 4.0 single overhead-cam engine are
complaining about a rattle noise from the timing
chain. Replacing
the chain, primary timing tensioner,
chain guide, jackshaft and crankshaft sprockets
and some accessory parts should quiet things down.
But expect to kiss your baby goodbye for a little
while; there are a lot of things to take out to get
at the timing chain. And don't expect any help outside the
warranty coverage.
Noisy pillar:
Another part that ought to keep
quiet and do its
job would be the A-pillar, which is the piece
of metal that runs from the hood to the roof.
Owners of some 2004 Honda
Odyssey minivans are complaining of a
squeak from just below this part. Honda officials
say increasing the clearance between the
two pieces of sheet metal below the A-pillar should
quiet things down. But here's where we separate
the automakers
from the autofakers:
Honda says in the TSB that it will evaluate
outside warranty coverage case by case.
Intermittent unstable idle:
This is a problem with Hyundai
engines, both the
2.4-liter and the 3.5-liter, dating from
1999. An intermittently stuck EGR solenoid
valve is the culprit. No word of coverage outside
the warranty.
Trunk thump:
Owners of some 2003-2004 Jaguar
S-Type vehicles
may notice a thump from the rear, when shifting
a manual or accelerating an automatic.
Bushing inserts on the differential mount bushings
should stop the noise. No mention of coverage outside
the warranty.
No control:
I try not to delight too much
in the misfortune
of drivers of big, beastly vehicles like
the 2004 Nissan Titan and Armada. (I drive
an old Volkswagen Bug, so I need these guys to
be happy and paying attention to the road.) So
I'll not gloat about the cruise control on these
things being inoperative. It's just jealousy talking.
Adjusting the
cruise control- cancel switch should
get these tanks moving at a steady pace. No mention
of coverage outside the warranty.
RPM fluctuation:
Owners of some 2004 Plymouth
Neons may complain
about a revolution-per-minute "bump" with
the air conditioner on or an rpm sag when
changing the accelerator position. The fix involves
reprogramming the vehicle's computer. No
mention of extra warranty coverage.
Frozen throttles 10/10/04
Audi of America, Inc.
today announced
that it is voluntarily recalling 28,363
A6s in the U.S.
from model years 1998 and 1999.
All 1998-1999 model
year Audi A6 vehicles equipped with a 2.8-liter V-6
five-valve engine and automatic transmission
that are
registered in cold weather
states are included. Audi has determined
that, in rare cases while driving at a steady
rate of speed for a
considerable period
of time and during extremely low ambient
temperatures (below +5 degrees F), the throttle
on affected vehicles may
not return to idle position
due to ice accumulating in the throttle
body. In this instance the driver can apply
additional brake force or take
other actions (such
as shifting into Neutral, turning off
the ignition, etc.) to positively stop the vehicle.
In the absence of such action,
the vehicle may maintain
speed when the driver expects the vehicle
to slow.
Ford There With Recalls, Too 08/10/04
Ford's revamped Freestar/Monterey
minivans will
be recalled because of issues with wheel
hubs.
Ford says the first
recall will affect 35,401 Ford Freestar
minivans and 4630 Mercury Montereys.
The 2004 model year
vehicles can suffer wheel hub cracks.
The vehicles were recalled
last November, because power steering
lines were found to be defective.
Ford also announced
a recall of about 1700 F-Series trucks
from the 2004 model year; that recall involves
the
seams of the truck's
fuel tanks.
TSX Among the Recalled 08/09/04
The Acura TSX is one of the
vehicles involved
in a recall issued by Honda. Honda says
it will recall 158,187 cars sold in Japan,
the United States,
and 39 other countries to fix problems
with lights: in the TSX recall, tape
used to seal wiring leading to the
vehicle's rear lights
fails, as do the lights themselves as a
result. About 40,060 Acura TSXs could be affected
by the problem.
VW, Chrysler Have Sludge Problems
01/09/04
AsToyota did in the past two years, Volkswagen
and Chrysler are
now facing sludge problems in their most
popular models.
It's the not-liquid
leftovers from used engine oil that accumulates
in piston cylinders, creating sluggish
performance and even
damaging engines
severely enough to require replacement.
In Volkswagen's case, the sludge allegations
are levied against its
1.8-liter, turbocharged
four-cylinders found in many 1997-2004
Audis and VWs, including the Passat and A4.
Volkswagen is
notifying owners
of more than 400,000 vehicles in the U.S.
of the problem and has even offered to replace some
engines.
The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
has logged less than 16 complaints of the
VW problem thus far.
In Chrysler's case,
the company has been petitioned by the
Center for Auto Safety to extend warranties
on the 2.7-liter V-6
it used in much of
its 1998-2002 lineup, including its popular
minivans. Toyota
in 2002 said it would extend warranties
and
pay for engine replacements
in sludge complaints, provided owners
could prove they had changed their oil as recommended
by the company.
Federal
regulators are
investigating reports of failing rear
door latches on the 2000 Ford Focus. 26/08/04
NHTSA has received
17 complaints that one or both rear doors
opened while the Focus was moving, usually
while
the driver was turning
a corner. In some of those cases, drivers
reported that the back doors opened even
though
they should have
been locked. Ford Motor Co. said it is
cooperating with the investigation.
The company has received 16
additional complaints and
28 warranty claims regarding rear door latches.
No injuries from
the alleged defect have been reported.
There are approximately 261,000
Focus vehicles
from the 2000 model year on the road.
NHTSA said Tuesday it has upgraded
its investigation,
a step that often comes before a vehicle
recall.
Lincoln Navigator
liftgates don't like hot weather 13/08/04
Delayed engagement:
A whole slew of Chrysler owners are finding their transmissions just don't
want to move them.
The list
of vehicles affected
includes the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica;
2003-04 Chrysler 300M and Concorde, and
Dodge Stratus and Intrepid;
2003 Jeep Liberty,
Cherokee and Wrangler, Chrysler PT Cruiser,
Town and Country, Voyager; and 2003 Dodge
Neon and Caravan.
The fix involves
replacing the transmission's front pump assembly and checking the transmission
control module for the latest software revision. The bulletin says repair
is reimbursable only within provisions of the normal warranty.
A hot reversal:
Owners of some
2003-04 Lincoln Navigators are enjoying
an optional built-in thermometer
with their new $40,000 SUV.
They know it's more
than 90 degrees outside when the power
liftgate stops closing and reverses direction
before it's halfway shut.
This option,
however, is not
pleasing all the owners, who say they would
rather have the liftgate shut completely
on the first try, thank you.
Ford officials
say the left
side motor encoder needs to be replaced.
That is, unless the liftgate reverses direction
just as it's about ready
to latch. Then the
problem most likely is a misaligned door.
No extra coverage outside the warranty
is mentioned.
Oil on the
badge: General
Motors says it's facing oil leaks from 2003
Chevrolet Impalas with the police package.
If the oil
leaks from the
right side of the engine, it may be coming
from the oil cooler adaptor. The company will
replace the slip-on oil lines with threaded
fittings. This is covered only under the warranty.
More delays:
While Chrysler
owners wait for their transmissions to
catch up with them, some GM SUV owners are
hoping their vehicles will switch into four-wheel
drive sometime before sliding off the road.
Owners of
some 2002-04
Chevrolet Trailblazer and Trailblazer EXT;
GMC Envoy, Envoy XL and XUV; Oldsmobile Bravada;
and 2004 Buick Rainier models complain
their front wheels are not coming to the rescue
quickly enough after they start to slip and slide.
Models from
2002 will need
a new transfer case module, and all the
model years need the module reprogrammed.
No extra
warranty coverage
is indicated.
Squeaky turns:
Owners of some 2001-03 Toyota Highlanders are complaining of a squeak or
shudder noise when turning.
A new steering column
hole cover should quiet things. No coverage
outside warranty is mentioned.
Leaky Nissans:
Oil on the driveways
of owners of 2003 Nissan Frontiers and
2003-04 Nis san Xterras is probably coming
from the
transfer case front
cover.
To stop the
leak, Nissan says, replace the main gear and front cover oil seal. No coverage
outside the warranty period is mentioned.
The car of
the open door: Some 2003 Mazda6 models won't let the doors close in extremely
cold weather.
Mazda says new grease
and rubber stoppers are being used in
production to stop this problem before it
starts now.
Owners who faced
this problem last winter may need new door
latches.
There is no mention of coverage outside
the warranty.
GM Recalling 200,000 Buicks
13/08/04
The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration
(NHTSA) says that some recent Buick
sedans have low-beam headlamps that don't
meet minimum safety requirements. Thus, some
199,793 Buick Century and Regal sedans from the 1999
model year will be recalled, because the inadequate
low beams would make it difficult to read road
signs. Reuters reports that GM has had more recalls
thus far in 2004 than in all of 2003.
Some 1.2 Million GM SUVs May
Get Recalled 11/08/04
The NHTSA threatens
to recall as many as 1.2 million GM SUVs due to potentially
faulty brake lights. The federal safety watchdog
says it is furthering its investigation into the 2002-04
Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, and Oldsmobile
Bravada, in addition to the new 2004 Buick Rainier.
GM has received more than 600 complaints concerning rear
brake lights that didn't light up when the brake pedal was
activated. No injuries are reported and the automaker
started correcting the potential snafu on vehicles made starting
last October.
CHRYSLER MINIVANS
and DODGE RAMS. 5/08/04
DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler
Group plans
to recall 831,000 minivans that may have
weak power steering hoses that could pose
a fire hazard, the company said Wednesday. Owners of the 2002, 2003 and 2004 minivans
with V-6 engines
will receive letters informing them
of the problem in September. The recall will
apply to Dodge Caravans and Grand Caravans,
and Chrysler's Voyager and Town & Country
models. A hose that
carries power steering fluid may
become weak with age and leak fluid, which could
start a fire under the hood. Cold weather is believed
to aggravate the problem. replacement parts will be
available in early September. About 681,000
of the vans are in the United States and 150,000
in Canada. Twenty-three
fires have been reported in recent months
in the minivans, mostly in Canada, but none have
led to injuries or accidents.
The company also is recalling
immediately
2,000 Dodge Rams from 2004 with 4.7-litre
engines. An alternator wire can hit
a valve, causing a short circuit and possibly a
fire. No incidents have been reported in the Rams.
VUE in NHTSA Study 27/07/04
The VUE could also be the target
of a safety
recall if an investigation finds that suspension
problems are causing the vehicle to
roll over. The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) is studying complaints
that the VUE has a flaw in the left-rear suspension
that arises in emergency maneuvers; the suspension
pieces can fail, as the NHTSA observed when it tested
two VUEs on its own. An investigation can turn into
a full recall if the NHTSA determines there is an engineering
defect.
BMW Recalls V-8, V-12 Cars
15/07/04
BMW says some of its
V-8 and V-12-engined vehicles have defects in their
engine-control units. The Bavarian automaker will
recall about 4000 vehicles equipped
with the faulty controls as a result. "Due to a temporary
production fault of a supplier, deficient
parts were supplied and installed in new 5,
6 and 7-series and X5 models with V-8 or V-12 cylinder
petrol engines," BMW explained in a release. Vehicles
included in the recall were built between May 12 and
July 6.
Ford
recalls more
than 170,000 defective vehicles 8/07/04
Ford Motor
Co. said Wednesday
it has voluntarily recalled about 171,000
of 2003 and 2004 model vehicles for a
variety of defects.
The largest
group includes
92,000 of 2003 F-Series Super Duty pickup
trucks and Excursion sport utility vehicles.
There may
be a problem
with the battery ground connection to the
engine block on models with six-liter diesel
engines.
In the worst
case, a smoldering fire could result
from a loose ground connection.
There have been
35 reports of alleged fires related
to the problem, but no accidents or injuries.
Ford also
has recalled
25,800 of 2004-model Ford Taurus, Thunderbird
and Mercury Sable vehicles due to defective
welding
on the frame
of the power front seat. The car seats
may become loose and squeak or rattle.
Honda Recalls More Vehicles 1/07/04
Honda Motor Co., said
Wednesday it plans to widen a previously
announced recall to include 1.14 million
vehicles, among its largest,
covering Accord
and Acura cars that have the same transmission
fault that triggered a light-truck
recall this year.
The recall
will cost Honda about $63 million, in addition
to the $153 million being spent on
the light-truck portion of the recall.
The cars affected
are 2003-2004 Honda Accords, 2000-2004
Acura TL, and 2001-2003 Acura RLs.
In April, the
company recalled 600,000 U.S.
and Canadian Odyssey minivans, and Pilot
and Acura MDX sport-utility vehicles with
the same transmission.