Chrysler Recall Should Make Changing Tires Safer [Video]

Detroit, MI — February 24, 2016 — A new recall focuses on more than 441,000 Dodge Chargers. According to official recall documents, this action concerns vehicles produced between August 2010 and January 2016.

Fiat Chrysler is recalling these vehicles because they may accidentally fall off their jacks and possibly hurt owners trying to change a tire. The body-side sill assembly could possibly fail if owners don’t use wheel chocks. Because of this, the manufacturer will supply chocks to owners as part of the remedy.

Once they are installed, these will reduce the chance of injury during a tire change. The company released an official statement on this recall earlier this month. There are three minor injuries connected to this issue.

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Volkswagen Contributes More Vehicles to Takata Recall

Berlin, Germany — February 23, 2016 — While Volkswagen contends with its defeat device scandal, it is also involved in the ongoing Takata airbag recalls. Car and Driver reports that the manufacturer is recalling 680,000 vehicles that contain Takata side airbag inflators. These include CC, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, Golf and Eos vehicles with model years ranging between 2006 and 2014. Some of the Passats are only recalled on the German production side.

“The driver-side airbag is the only source of concern for most of the Volkswagen models.”

The new action is notable because it includes more recently manufactured vehicles than some of the other Takata airbag recalls. The source said that the driver-side airbag is the only source of concern for most of the models included.

In addition to Volkswagen’s efforts, fellow German automakers Audi, Daimler and BMW are recalling hundreds of thousands of vehicles apiece. Reuters states that the combined numbers add up to 2.5 million vehicles, adding to the 24 million vehicles involved in the Takata airbag recalls.

Volkswagen referenced the possible danger from this defect in a press release, while also acknowledging the steps it is taking to address owner safety.

“Volkswagen is not aware of any ruptured SDI or PSDI-5 inflator in any Volkswagen Group vehicle worldwide,” the statement read. “Once affected VINs and the recall remedy have been identified, Volkswagen will notify all owners of affected vehicles and will instruct them to arrange for an appointment with an authorized Volkswagen dealer.”

Faulty inflators from Takata could burst, potentially injuring occupants with metal shrapnel. To date, nine deaths have been connected to the airbag faults in the United States, and Takata has announced its plan to work with regulators to make its vehicles safer.

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Possible Engine Damage Prompts Honda to Stop Civic Sales [Video]

Washington, DC — February 22, 2016 — In addition to a recall, Honda is halting sales to prevent possible engine damage. According to AutoBlog, the issue comes from faulty piston pin snap rings in assorted two-liter engines and will impact around 34,000 vehicles.

In addition, a factory spokesperson told the source that Civics with 1.5-liter engines will not be impacted by this action. Currently, the official website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that engine failure could occur because of these faulty parts.

While more details on this situation are still forthcoming, the manufacturer is already planning to contact owners some time in the middle of next month. This information comes from data posted on a Civic forum before the actual recall announcement has been made.

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For GM SUVs, Faulty Brake Pedal Means Recall

Warren, MI — February 19, 2016 — According to Reuters, a new recall across North America will target vehicles with potentially loose brake pedal pivot systems. Currently, there are no reports of injuries stemming from this fault, which could be present in Chevrolet Silverado HD and Tahoe vehicles, as well as the GMC Sierra. Dealers will inspect and tighten the loose pivot nuts, using adhesive to keep them in place. This will reduce the chance of a brake pedal failure.

“Recall numbers exceed 473,000 across all of the endangered brands.”

Though the bulk of the recalled units are in the United States, 46,837 of these vehicles are in Canada. As of this writing, there are no reports on these new GM recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

In the United States, recall numbers exceed 473,000 across all of the endangered brands. Multiple sources note that the targeted vehicles include those used for police action.

Last month, General Motors issued a statement expressing support for “proactive safety principles” as that organization works with major automakers.

“At GM, we are focused on the customer, and we put safety at the forefront of everything we do,” this release said. “We welcome the opportunity to continue to work with experts in government and industry on the vital issues of automotive safety and cybersecurity.” It also singled out Anthony Foxx of the Department of Transportation and Mark Rosekind of NHTSA for particular praise.

While owners wait for more information, the Associated Press reports that the brake pedal failure could trigger the brake lights to stay on unusually long periods of time, as Canadian regulators note.

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Hood Latches in Subaru Recalls Could Fail

Cherry Hill, NJ — February 18, 2016 — A new Subaru recall meant to address problems with hood latches includes vehicles with the model years between . A Recall Acknowledgement from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that affected vehicles could include hoods that might accidentally open without warning.

The recall population contains a total of 77,000 Subaru Tribeca light vehicles, with manufacture dates ranging from 2004 to 2014 . As the official Part 573 Recall Report notes, this single recall actually centers around two possible causes, both of which could compromise the hood.

This is due to malfunctioning front hood safety and lock assemblies, both manufactured by Johnan America, Inc. The former system could cause a hook to seize up over time and cease functioning correctly: the latter may rust and leave the hood unlocked. Both of these problems have to occur simultaneously to cause an issue. Earlier this year, Subaru became aware of a lawsuit involving a 2006 vehicle in which the hood opened suddenly during use.

In a message to dealers, the manufacturer described the two-phase remedy process, which won’t be possible until the countermeasure parts are available “later this year.” Phase one will consist of an inspection and “interim repair.”

“Retailers will inspect, clean and lubricate the hood safety system and hood lock system,” the message reads. “After this is performed, they will check for proper operation. If it does not work properly, the hood safety system will be replaced with the current style part.”

This February 2 document also announced that owners would be informed within 60 days, with retailers notified as the Subaru recalls continue.

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Two Recalls Affect Mazda CX-5

Irvine, CA — February 16, 2016 — A pair of recent recalls bring consequences for the Mazda CX-5 vehicles. Most recently, Automotive News reports that more than 264,463 vehicles are subject to a possible fuel pipe issue. No injuries have been reported due to this problem, but the manufacturer still asserts that a possible fuel leak after a collision could lead to danger for occupants.

In addition to a recall, Mazda is also stopping the sale of all CX-5s with the model years between 2014 and 2016. Since repair parts aren’t yet available, dealers can provide a “loaner, demo or rental” to relieve the customer until repairs begin. The recall reportedly comes after testing revealed a lack of compliance.

Another recall announced last month also has ties to the CX-5, although this one comes not from the manufacturer but from supplier Pilkington North America. A Part 573 Safety Recall Report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that replacement windshields may have defective brackets.

“On a small number of parts, a bracket installed on the inside of the windshield may have been affixed improperly,” the report reads. “This bracket is used to hold a separate laser sensor or LIDAR device that is linked to the vehicle’s Smart City Brake Support System.” The brackets in 305 units may potentially break under pressure, posing problems for the CX-5 brake system. There may not be any warning signs for owners other than possible shaking.

The new brackets “will be firmly affixed with urethane” rather than the tape used in the old ones.

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Volkswagen Moving Forward with Recall Plans in California

Sacramento, CA — February 15, 2016 — With the revelation that Volkswagen vehicles were deliberately engineered to fool emissions tests, pressure has been on the manufacturer to correct this fault. Although the scandal involved hundreds of thousands of cars with 2.0 liter engines, Reuters reports that the auto company recently proposed to adjust the emissions levels of vehicles with 3.0 liter engines.

The source says that Volkswagen’s plan will address the high emissions generated by 80,000 units, including VW, Porsche and Audi models dating as far back as the 2009 model year. The engines in these vehicles reportedly produce pollution “nine times” higher than regulations allow, while emissions from the 2.0 liter engines were as high as 40 times the acceptable amount.

Both the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) are reviewing the proposal. The latter organization published a press release announcing its intent to do so.

“VW has stated this plan is intended to remedy the presence of one or more defeat devices in 2009-2015 model year 3.0 liter diesel vehicles,” it said. “CARB will respond following a thorough and complete review to make sure the plan addresses the presence of the illegal defeat device and follows the necessary environmental, vehicle and public health and safety regulations,” the statement adds.

The Federal Transport Authority in Germany recently approved Volkswagen recalls for its 2.0-liter engine vehicles in Europe. Altogether, the company will need to recall 11 million vehicles from around the world, with the majority in Europe.The Wall Street Journal reports that this action is scheduled to conclude by the end of this year.

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New Nissan Recall Addresses Hood Latch Issues

Franklin, TN — February 11, 2016 — Because of issues with the hood latches in hundreds of thousands of Altimas, Nissan has issued a recall, set to take effect sometime later this month. The Part 573 Safety Recall Report, submitted through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on January 21, states that 846,000 vehicles manufactured at plants in Tennessee and Missouri are at possible risk in this action.

“The new remedy replaces the latch entirely.”

The report further describes the latch problem as the result of improper plating at the supplier, Ontario-based Intier Automotive, Inc. Paint can flake off of the affected latches, potentially leading to corrosion that leaves the secondary hood latch in a vulnerable open position.

The hood could then open while the vehicle is moving, causing a visual hazard for the driver. Model years for these 4-door light vehicles range from 2013 to 2015.

This issue was the subject of previous recalls, in which the solution involved lubricating the latch joint after a sufficient inspection. The new remedy replaces the latch entirely, and should be taken by owners that were part of the earlier recall actions.

“The hood latch in the subject vehicles will be replaced with a new one, even if the customer received a new latch as part of the repair for the previous recall,” the report reads.

While there are no crashes currently connected to this problem, Reuters notes that the manufacturer has received complaints regarding hoods that unlatch and open unexpectedly, and that the two other similar Nissan recalls happened within the past two years. The new recall also reportedly concerns 58,644 vehicles outside of North America.

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More than 300,000 Vehicles Recalled in New Toyota Action

Tokyo, Japan — February 10, 2016 — Toyota’s new recall involves roof-mounted side airbags in a variety of models. The Associated Press featured a list of the affected vehicles, which include Tundras, Sequoias, Land Cruisers, 4-Runners and Lexus LX and GX 470s with model years ranging from 2003 to 2006. According to this source, occupants of these vehicles are at risk due to badly programmed air bag control computers.

“Occupants of these vehicles are at risk due to badly programmed air bag control computers.”

Altogether, the recall will involve 320,000 vehicles, which will be inspected by the appropriate dealers. Although no official notification date was listed, a press release from the manufacturer said that owners will be notified “by first class mail” as part of the recall.

This statement also added that the replacement airbag control module will have “improved programming” that unnecessarily triggers the Curtain-Shield-Airbags (CSAs), which could actually cause more danger. Earlier this month, a similar recall concerned thousands of Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h vehicles for knee airbag modules: in that case, the modules were said to be improperly manufactured.

“Due to improper programming in the airbag control modules, there is a possibility that, under certain specific and limited conditions shortly after startup, the CSAs and seat belt pretensioners could activate when not necessary,” the statement said. “Unexpected activation of the CSAs could increase the risk of injury to the occupant,” it added.

As Automotive News stated, neither of these Toyota recalls are connected to the Takata airbag inflator concerns that have affected millions of units. However, 2015 Toyota vehicles are reportedly part of the ongoing investigations.

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BMW i8 Vehicles Recalled for Stability Issues [Video]

Westwood, NJ — February 22, 2016 — Just 16 vehicles are part of a BMW recall expected this February. However, a recall acknowledgement document suggests that this issue could lead to serious operator risks.

This action affects i8 vehicles with improper Dynamic Stability Control systems. These affected cars could have holes that were incorrectly drilled, which could keep the brakes from functioning. This action specifically affects i8’s produced between May 29 and June 5 with the model year 2015. Fixing this may require the entire DSC unit to be replaced after inspection.

The manufacturer decided to conduct a recall on December 17, although it isn’t scheduled to take place until next month. There are no reports of accidents traced to this defect, and the supplier first informed BMW of the possible problem this past November.

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