Nissan Recalls Vehicles for Fuel Pump Plating [Video]

Franklin, TN — March 31, 2016 — Last December, Nissan recalled more than 30,000 Nissan Rogues for transmission issues that could see the vehicle shift gears unexpectedly. A new recall for the same model concerns a totally different issue involving faulty fuel pump materials.

A safety recall report notes that some of the cars included in this recall may lose nickel fuel pump plating, putting engine functionality at risk. The vehicles involved were produced between February and June of 2014, and could suffer serious fuel pump problems if plating particles get into the wrong area.

The company decided a recall would be necessary on March 3, after processing warranty data. To fix this problem, the manufacturer will include a new component that uses a different kind of coating for the pump.

Check out our blog for more information on Nissan recalls.

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New Recall Looming for Ford F-150

Dearborn, MI — March 30, 2016 — On March 8, Equipment World reported on a government investigation that could lead to a new series of Ford recalls in the future. According to the source, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating 420,000 Ford F-150s.

A document from this agency denoted four collisions traced back to a brake failure issue, with 33 complaints registered in total, 20 of which occurred within seven months. The main issue concerns brake fluid leaks within the master cylinders of these vehicles.

As of February 29, the Office of Defects Investigation had opened a preliminary evaluation. The loss of brake fluid means the drivers could find it more difficult to stop successfully during an emergency. According to this report, the complaints included a “complete loss of brake effectiveness” as well as low levels of brake fluid in the master cylinder reservoir. The vehicles included in this investigation make up 36 percent of the 2013 and 2014 model year F-150s sold, all of which may possibly signal the brake issue with a warning light indicator.

The Kansas City Business Journal received an email from Safety and Sustainability Communications Manager John Cangany. He affirmed the manufacturer’s commitment to working with the government as the matter develops.

“We take the safety of our customers very seriously, and we will cooperate with NHTSA on this investigation, as we always do,” he said.

The source also stated that Ford has until April 20 to respond to the Administration’s requests for vehicle and warranty information, or risk a multimillion dollar fine. Furthermore, the NHTSA is interested in mechanical design data that could inform their investigation, since this might give them greater insight into the way the brake systems in these vehicles worked.

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No Seat Belt Warning for Some Hyundai Santa Fe Vehicles [Video]

Fountain Valley, CA — March 29, 2016 — In most Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles, passengers get a warning chime when their seat belts aren’t buckled. However, the manufacturer has issued a new recall for models in which a faulty alarm could leave passengers at risk. This action affects approximately 34,200 vehicles produced this year.

According to an official report, vehicles with damaged wiring could fail to alert occupants to undone seat belt buckles. On the other hand, the same defect could leave the alarm on after a seat belt is buckled. Each of these could represent a serious safety violation.

The defect was first discovered through an audit this February. Dealers will replace seat belt buckle harnesses if they detect damage.

Learn more about the latest Hyundai recalls by visiting our blog. Be sure to check out our March 8 story about another recent Hyundai action involving windshield wipers.

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Some Buick Regals Subject to Power Steering Recall

Warren, MI — March 23, 2016 — One of the most recent GM recalls in February concerns steering assembly faults in the 2016 Buick Regal.

Although the first signs of this failure were discovered in another car during vehicle tests last November, the recall only began on February 12, with dealers notified a week later.

According to a report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the affected vehicles may have been manufactured as recently as the date the recall started.

The defect

This report noted that bad circuit boards in these vehicles could lead to power steering failure, which could put additional steering pressure on the driver.

The defect was only thought to be in 74 units, signaled by a noticeable malfunction alert when present. The replacement circuit boards include stronger circuit boards.

Timeline of events

The NHTSA also featured a recall bulletin released this month, which explained that the recall parts needed would start shipping on the week of March 14. The bulletin lists 12 parts, including steering knuckle nuts, knuckle bolts and gear nuts.

“Some of these vehicles have a condition in which the power-steering assist system can fail while driving,” the bulletin stated. “If this occurs, the vehicle will lose power-steering assist.”

It also added that “Steering control can still be maintained, but will require increased steering effort, particularly at lower speeds, which could increase the risk of a crash.”

Automotive News grouped this recall in with several other GM recalls issued around the same time. These include actions for other vehicles with the 2016 model year, including Chevrolet Malibu, Colorado and Camaro autos.

The source said that these recalls included nearly 2,000 vehicles total, with the highest coming from a 1,750 unit group of Colorado, Malibu and GMC Canyon vehicles in Canada and the United States.

Check your car’s recall status using MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

MotorSafety.orgSome Buick Regals Subject to Power Steering Recall

Some Nissan Vehicle Brakes Could be Harder to Use in cold Weather [Video]

Franklin, TN — March 15, 2016 — Though spring is approaching, cold weather-sensitive vehicle issues may still affect Nissan owners and dealers alike.

A Safety Recall Report noted that the manufacturer recalled 47,000 Nissan LEAF hybrid cars last month in the United States. If the brake relays freeze, these vehicles could be more difficult to stop in cold temperatures, even if the braking system itself stays functional.

In a special bulletin, Nissan stated that affected owners have already been notified, and that dealers can fix this issue by updating vehicle software.

Last October, the same company recalled thousands of Sentras for a door latch issue. Learn more about this and other Nissan recalls by visiting our blog.

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Investigators Looking into Ford F-150 Brake Problems [Video]

Dearborn, MI — March 14, 2016 — Hundreds of thousands of Ford F-150 trucks are currently under investigation for brake system issues. According to the Associated Press, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received more than 30 complaints about this issue, most of which have come with the last 12 months. None of the complaints have involved any injuries so far.

The effort does not include an official recall yet, but does show the manufacturer reacting seriously to customer problems. Currently, the investigation includes approximately 420,000 units with model years ranging from between 2013 and 2014. Affected vehicles have leaked brake fluid, leading to difficulties using the brakes at all.

Since this just an investigation, there is no suggested remedy action from the source if a recall is required.

Visit our blog for more information on the latest Ford recalls and related actions. Thanks for watching!

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Floor Mats May Make Maserati Vehicles Unsafe

Eaglewood Cliffs, NJ — March, 10, 2016 — In some Maserati vehicles, loose floor mats can leave a car’s gas pedal pressed down, posing a major crashing hazard to occupants. A Part 573 Safety Recall report has the details on the issue, which appears in autos produced between February 1, 2013, and November 30, 2015. Maserati first started investigating the problem last February. Dealers and owners will both be notified on April 29, and the dealer inspection is expected to take an hour to complete.

As the report stated, these Maserati recalls involve 28,235 vehicles of two different model types: the Quattroporte and Ghibli. Model years for both of these vehicles range between 2014 and 2016. If the floor mat anchors in any of these vehicles breaks, the mat could get stuck under the accelerator pedal.

Although the source notes that the brake override system can help prevent this, there’s still the risk that it would, at the very least, “startle the vehicle operator.” The mat could potentially trap the pedal in any position, not just the “wide open throttle.”

Toyota recalls in the past have concerned a similar issue. In 2010, Consumer Reports Auto Test Center senior engineer Jake Fisher spoke to Scientific American about some of the factors that might lead to a gas pedal being pressed down. One of these include “the electronic throttle control – the digital fly-by-wire unit that links the gas pedal to the fuel delivery unit.”

He also noted that buyers that purchase floor mats as an extra or from an outside source both risk encountering the same issue. “In the first case the dealer typically throws them into the car or the trunk, so the mats don’t necessarily get hooked into the floor correctly,” Fisher said. “In the second, the mats may not fit or be installed properly.”

The remedy and recalled components will have different part numbers.

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Two Hyundai Models Recalled Due to Wiper Concerns

Fountain Valley, CA — March 8, 2016 — On February 29, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received a report of a pair of Hyundai recalls based on the same issue. According to this document, 18,700 Genesis and Equus vehicles, both of them four-door light vehicles with gas powertrains, may be subject to an issue that affects windshield wiper functions.

The majority of the autos in this recall are Genesis models manufactured between 2011 and 2012. The source notes that the cover seal for wiper motors is at risk of corroding, potentially slowing the wiper or preventing it from functioning at all. For the Equus vehicles included, model years range between 2011 and 2013. VALEO Wiper Systems, a German company, was listed as the component manufacturer.

“If the windshield wipers become inoperative during inclement weather, driver visibility could be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash,” the report said. Though no recall timeline was listed, dealers and owners are scheduled for notification on April 22.

Dealers will solve the problem by resealing the cover of the wiper motor to lower chance of circuit board corrosion. Hyundai officially decided to conduct this recall on February 16, six years after it first learned of possible delays in wiper performance for the Genesis vehicles.

In October 2015, General Motors also launched a recall based on difficulties with windshield wiper motors. That action involved concern over a possible fire risk from overheating systems. Unlike this Hyundai recall, the GM order concerned three different 2016 models: the Buick Enclave, the Chevrolet Traverse and the GMC Acadia.

As a Car and Driver article from that time described, 31,00 vehicles were part of the recall, although only 6,400 were with customers at the time of the recall.

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Some Chrysler Windshields Could Dislodge in Crash [Video]

Detroit, MI — March 07, 2016 — Starting next month, a Chrysler recall will affect hundreds of vehicles manufactured with expired urethane primer. This chemical may make it more likely for the windshields in these vehicles to dislodge.

This action comes from tests that revealed the possible effects of using primer past its expiration date. Older coats of primer were found to ineffectively bond on the windshield. There have currently been no reports of injuries from this problem, though the dislocated windshields could potentially hurt a vehicle’s occupants.

The recall extends to two models: the Town and Country and the Dodge Grand Caravan. Manufacture dates range from August 2014 to December 2015. Dealers will remedy the issue by replacing the windshields as needed

Be sure to visit our blog often for the latest news on Chrysler recalls. Thank you for watching!

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Some Ford Transit Seat Belt Buckles Might Fail to Latch

Dearborn, MI — March 3, 2016 — As part of a pair of recent recalls, Ford Motor Company recently announced possible safety risks connected to Transit vehicles produced between 2014 and 2016, with the 2015 and 2016 model years.

“No injuries have been connected to this issue.”

Across the entire North American continent, approximately 51,470 of these vehicles may contain vulnerable seat belt buckles. The vehicles were manufactured at the same assembly plant in Kansas City. In a press release on the new Ford recalls, the manufacturer stated that dealers will inspect and repair the faulty buckles, replacing them if needed.

While no injuries have been connected to this issue, the press release did explain the possible danger to occupants posed by this defect.

“The rear seat belt buckles are being damaged when heavy objects are placed on top of them, which could cause the buckle not to latch completely, increasing the risk of injury in a crash,” the release said. The same statement also referenced a recall for 3,700 Ford F-150 trucks, most of which are in the United States as well. A seat massage function could disable the airbag system in the passenger seat. Dealers will address this issue by updating the module software to fix the vehicle’s classification systems.

These recent Ford recalls come after a previous action targeting 2015 Transits for a seat belt assembly issue. The belts required a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard violation because they didn’t bear the correct labels, which normally list the belt model and model year.

This represented a risk to owner safety because it made it potentially difficult for users to read crucial model information on the belt itself. The manufacturer officially launched this earlier recall on June 12, 2015 for fewer than 50 units.

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