Moisture Buildup Leads To Honda Ridgeline Stability Problems

Torrance, Calif. – Jan. 12, 2017 – Honda will conduct a recall of nearly 10,000 Ridgeline AWD vehicles after it became apparent that a particular defect allows moisture to build up and corrode rear-wheel sensors, ultimately threatening vehicle stability.

The Defect

The problem affects model year 2017 Ridgeline vehicles manufactured between April 1, 2016 and Aug. 11, 2016, according to documents compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. An error in a wiring connection joint underneath a drain hole in the truck bed allows moisture to seep in. This can come into contact with connection terminals, including speed terminals located at the rear wheels. If these cannot function, drivers may experience loss of control and could be at higher risk of crashing during operation.

Timeline of Events

  • July 6, 2016 – Honda received its first warranty claim of a Ridgeline with a Malfunction Indicator Lamp Illumination.
  • August. – October 2016 – Further investigation of the claim revealed that the problem may have been corroded wiring harnesses. Honda reached out to suppliers and confirmed that the design of the wiring connection did not match specifications. This was corrected in the production line. Meanwhile, additional review of the problem showed that an all-wheel drive system failure would initiate a fail-safe mode for safe operation.
  • November 2016 – Honda later discovered that specific corrosion scenarios could cause sensor terminals to report nonexistent wheel slippage, resulting in stability problems. Honda determined that this merited a safety recall.

Resolution

Owners of all affected vehicles will be notified of the recall by mail, and will be asked to bring their vehicles to their nearest dealer for inspection. If necessary, all repairs will be completed, free of charge.

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Takata Prepares For $1 Billion Settlement [Video]

After a massive recall involving 19 automakers and 42 million vehicles, air bag manufacturer Takata may be preparing to settle with federal prosecutors over the faulty components that killed 11 and injured 184 in the U.S.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Takata may plead guilty to criminal misconduct and pay a $1 billion settlement over the next few years. Despite the steep cost, the news source added that this may be the best way for the manufacturer to stem losses related to continuous recalls.

Even so, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the saga has come to an end. Prosecutors are reportedly still considering charging the company with wire fraud. They argue that Takata purposefully withheld information about the dangers associated with the faulty air bags.

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Brake, Axel Defects Lead To Mercedes Recalls

Montvale, N.J. – Jan. 10, 2017 – Mercedes-Benz USA has just announced a series of recalls related to assembly problems. In one instance, an improperly fitted connection threatens to make brake pedals less effective over time. In another, faulty axle bolts risk fracture, possibly causing vehicles to lose control during operation.

These issues affect a range of vehicles and will be addressed early in the year.

Description of Defects

The first defect affects model year 2014 CLA250 vehicles that are equipped with gasoline engines and were manufactured between Dec. 14, 2012 and April 24, 2013. According to documents compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these vehicles contain fittings that connect vacuum lines to brake boosters. These may be poorly fitted and can break during use. If that happens, the brake booster would no longer exist in a vacuum, causing brake force to steadily decrease over time.

Eventually, as drivers use the brake pedal, brake force would diminish to nothing, severely increasing the risk of control loss and crashes.

The second defect affects the following seven vehicles models:

  • The model year 2015 GL350 4MATIC BLUETEC with diesel power train.
  • The model year 2015 GL450 4MATIC with gas power train.
  • The model year 2015 GL550 4MATIC with gas power train.
  • The model year 2015 and 2016 GL63 AMG 4MATIC with gas power train.
  • The model year 2015 ML250 BLUETEC with diesel power train.
  • The model year 2015 ML350 with gas power train.
  • The model year 2015 ML350 4MATIC with gas power train.

All of these vehicle models were manufactured between Sept. 29, 2014 and March 27, 2015.

According to NHTSA documents, they all have improperly assembled front and/or rear axle bolts, which risk fracturing during operation. This could leave the vehicles in unstable condition and increase the risk of a serious crash.

Timeline of Events

Brake Defect

  • 2014: Mercedes-Benz manufacturer Daimler AG initially received field reports of customers experiencing sudden, unexplained brake failure. The manufacturer conducted an initial investigation to determine the source of the problem. It identified the broken connection piece of the brake booster vacuum line in affected vehicles. Months later, Daimler AG had analyzed the break, as well as the production process, but could not determine a cause of the problem.
  • 2015: The company initiated a Six Sigma Black Belt project late in the year to make another attempt at discovering a cause. This time, the search revealed that there were certain material deficiencies along specific portions of the assembly line, which lead to the defect. Specifically, the application of high levels of force during the assembly process led to weakened components.
  • December 2016: Daimler AG determined that a safety risk existed as a result of the defect.

Axle Bolt Defect

  • April 2016: Two vehicles with weak axle carrier bolts were reported in the Chinese market. Daimler AG launched an investigation and determined that the problem was not the result of an initial production error, but rather that it occurred during a rework. Further review of other reworks led to the identification of all other affected models.
  • December 2016: Daimler AG determined that a serious safety risk existed and recommended a recall.

Resolution

Owners will be notified of all defects and asked to bring their vehicles to authorized dealers, who will repair or replace the affected components at no cost to the owner.

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Hyundai Faces Transmission Lawsuit [Video]

Plaintiffs in a recent lawsuit are alleging that Hyundai vehicle models with 7-speed automatic transmissions have defects that can cause them to stop moving.

The cars named in the lawsuit include the Hyundai’s Electra Eco, Sonata Eco, Tucson and Veloster Turbo. Plaintiffs claim that shortly after they purchased their Veloster Turbo, they lost the ability to accelerate while driving on the highway.

The problem may be related to a dual-clutch transmission control module, which determines the best gear-shifting option for optimal fuel efficiency. A malfunction could cause acceleration problems or stalling without warning.

Hyundai has conducted related vehicle recalls for transmission issues in the past, but the plaintiffs state that nothing has been done to solve this particular problem.

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Chrysler Recalls Vans Over Airbag Defect

Auburn Hills, Mich. – Jan. 06, 2017 – Chrysler recently announced that it will be recalling certain model year 2017 RAM ProMaster cargo vans as a result of a defect that may affect the ability of the side air bags to function properly.

The Defect

Some vehicles appear to have been manufactured with faulty airbag inflator initiators, according to documents compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In the event of an accident, these inflators may fail to ignite when the car senses a collision, even if it sends the correct voltage. These inflators govern side air bags, and if those do not deploy properly, vehicle occupants could be at higher risk of injury or death during crashes.

Initial reports suggested that the affected vehicles were manufactured between June 6, 2016 and December 7, 2016. However, updated documents filed with the NHTSA have narrowed that gap to Oct. 1, 2016 and Dec. 7, 2016.

Timeline of Events

On Dec. 7, Autoliv Group, the makers of the inflator component, discovered a potential defect and informed Chrysler of the problem. Further investigation allowed the manufacturer to narrow down the specific serial numbers of the parts that were affected, allowing Chrysler to pinpoint the relevant manufacturing dates. The automaker then opted to conduct a recall.

Resolution

Chrysler will begin notifying owners of affected vehicles Jan. 28, 2017. The airbags on these vehicles will be replaced, and owners will be reimbursed for any costs they have incurred as a result of the defect or the subsequent recall.

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Nissan Announces Recall Over Mislabeled Seat Component

Franklin, Tenn. – Jan. 05, 2017 – Nissan has announced that it must recall several vehicle models due to labeling errors on crucial components that may result in improper configurations and malfunctions.

The Defect

The problem appears to stem from a supplier error. Calsonic Kansei, a Tier 2 supplier, incorrectly labeled boxes of occupant classification system electronic control units. As a result, these parts were incorrectly installed into car seats, which meant that they may not have received the correct software. The purpose of these sensors is to determine whether a seat is occupied so air bag deployment can be governed. Any error could inadvertently prevent air bag deployment in the event of an accident, which could lead to injury or death.

Specifically, the defect affected model year 2013-2015 Altima vehicles manufactured between Jan. 3, 2013 and July 29, 2013, model year 2015-2016 Rogue vehicles manufactured between Oct. 14, 2014 and Aug. 12, 2016, and model year 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured between June 4, 2015 and Aug. 19, 2015.

Timeline of Events

  • August 2016 – A Nissan dealer reported to the manufacturer that it had experienced an error while reprogramming the electronic control units.
  • October 2016 – Further analysis revealed that the wrong components had been installed, due to the mislabeling.
  • November 2016 – Nissan reviewed millions of production records to identify all vehicles that may have received a mislabeled component.
  • December 2016 – Nissan announced a voluntary recall of the vehicles.

Resolution

Nissan will replace the affected components and reprogram them with the latest software. This will be done free of charge.

adminNissan Announces Recall Over Mislabeled Seat Component

Ford Contends With Oil Leak

Dearborn, Mich – Jan. 04, 2017 – Ford has announced a recall of multiple vehicle models as a result of oil supply tubes that may leak oil onto engine components, according to documents compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Defect

The problem stems from improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes that can leak oil on engine components, which could potentially start fires during operation.

The automaker will be recalling the following vehicles:

  • Model year 2016 Ford Taurus manufactured at the Chicago plant and between Oct. 18, 2016 to Nov. 2, 2016.
  • Model year 2016-2017 Ford Flex made at the Oakville plant and between Oct. 18, 2016 to Nov. 10, 2016.
  • Model year 2017 Explorer made at the Chicago plant and between Oct. 15, 2016 to Nov. 12, 2016.
  • Model year 2017 Explorer Police Interceptor Utility made at the Chicago plant on Nov. 2, 2016.
  • Model year 2016-2017 Flex made at the Oakville plant and between Oct. 18, 2016 and Nov. 10, 2016.

Timeline of Events

  • Oct. 28, 2016 – Ford plant operators discovered an oil leak during a routine inspection, prompting further review.
  • Nov. 1, 2016 – Additional inspections revealed that of nearly 15,000 oil supply tubes, 38 had leaks.
  • Dec. 12, 2016 – Ford approved a recall of the affected models.

Resolution

Ford will notify vehicle owners by mail if they have an affected model. Dealers will inspect the vehicles and provide replacement parts, free of charge, if necessary. The recall process is scheduled to begin Jan. 23, 2017, though owners may contact Ford earlier if they wish.

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NHTSA Speeds Takata Recall Process [Video]

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is attempting to speed up the recall of Takata air bags, which so far are believed to have been responsible for 180 injuries and 11 deaths in the U.S.

Though automakers have already recalled 46 Takata air bag inflators in 26 million vehicles across the U.S., the NHTSA just issued an amended order that will set a timetable for when repairs must be carried out. Under the rule, automakers will have to notify the agency when they have enough replacement parts to begin making repairs.

This will still be a lengthy process. The NHTSA’s most recent timeline calls for the final batch of repairs to begin by September 2020.

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