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Door Latch Problems Reason for New Ford Recalls

September 19, 2016 admin Ford Recalls

Dearborn, Mich. — September 19, 2016 — According to The Associated Press, new Ford recalls target several different vehicle brands due to an issue with door latches. The source said that some of its autos have door-latch problems that could open unexpectedly, especially in hotter climates.

The AP also said that the recall takes place in 16 states as well as Mexico. The target states will take the priority during the recall, with dealers replacing all of the latches in vehicles in these areas, while other states will simply see dealers replace latches as needed. Affected model years range from 2012 to 2016, and vehicle types include C-Max and Focus cars as well as various vans and SUVs.

Altogether, the recall reportedly concerns around 830,000 vehicles across all countries. Some of the vehicles involved in this action have been subject to other Ford recalls in recent years, such as the 2015 C-MAX and Ford Focus.

Both of these were part of a 2015 recall concerning Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 114. This standard targets “Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention.” In this case, vehicle owners were warned that the engine could run even if the ignition was stopped. This would have left the 374,781 potentially affected units at greater risk of a crash.

The 2013 C-MAX was part of an even earlier effort in 2014 meant to draw attention to Restraint Control Modules that could short-circuit, setting off the air bag warning lamp. The C-MAX autos included in this recall were produced between Jan. 9, 2012 and Nov. 21, 2013. Multiple systems were thought to be hurt by this defect.

Nissan Recalls Hybrid Vehicles for Powertrain Module Problems

September 16, 2016 admin Nissan Recalls

Franklin, Tenn. — September 16, 2016 — A group of 1,140 Nissan vehicles may experience engine shutdown in some circumstances. According to the Part 573 Safety Recall Support, submitted July 8, the recall affects both 2012 and 2013 Infiniti M35 Hybrid models. The ones concerned were specifically produced between March 23, 2010 and September 9, 2013.

As the report described, the cooling systems in these vehicles could malfunction, leading them to possibly overheat. While this would set off the warning lamp, the source said that occupants could ignore this sign, putting themselves in potential danger. This would not affect the brakes, but it would possibly stop the engine, leaving passengers and drivers at risk of an accident.

Nissan has investigated the issue since April and is having dealers reprogram software in affected vehicles free of charge for owners. The campaign’s Aftersales Retailer Support document went into further detail about this action, describing exactly how the vehicles in question are distributed: The majority (1,130 units) are in the U.S., with 94 in Canada, six in Puerto Rico and four in Guam.

This notice also said that the affected vehicles were manufactured in Tochigi, Japan. No parts are apparently necessary for the repair other than the software, already available through ASIST. Though the advisory said that dealer repair times could vary, it also estimated that the repair process would take “approximately 1 hour.”

All authorized Infiniti dealers are supposedly able to conduct this service, but they are cautioned to update their software and turn off external devices before preparing to fix the issue.

Earlier this year, other Infiniti vehicles, including different years of the QX60 and Q50 models, were part of a different recall for possible Occupant Classification System issues. All together, 3,177,645 were potentially affected.

Chance of Fire Prompts General Motors Recalls

September 13, 2016 admin GM Recalls

Warren, Mich. — September 13, 2016 — Wiring issues may make a fire more likely to break out in one Buick model. Although there is no remedy scheduled as of this writing, one of the more recent General Motors recalls addresses this problem. The component manufacturer in this recall is Lear Corporation, based in Germany.

The official Part 573 Safety Recall Report on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website said that the recall potentially involves 42,984 2011 Buick Regals. A full 100 percent of these are thought to have a wiring harness problem that could wear down the wires themselves.

This chafing could potentially lead to a short circuit, which in turn could start a fire within the vehicle. In addition, the report cited other possible side effects, such as smoke, sparks and flickering instrument-panel lights. Despite this, it did not list any signs to be taken as “identification” of the defect.

The fix requires dealers to repair faulty wiring, if needed, after inspecting and securing the harness. There is also no apparent danger of wire chafing in similar vehicles manufactured after 2011 in Russelheim.

Though the decision to conduct the recall only came June 29, it dates back to Dec. 21, 2015. On that date, the source said, customer reports of fire led to a a Speak Up for Safety report.

A July 7 notice for dealers said that the parts necessary to conduct this recall fix were not currently available: dealers can only proceed once they are. This statement also announced that the Global Warranty Management system would update to reflect the new recall, as a way for dealers to prepare to address owner concerns.

Multiple Vehicles Part of Volkswagen Recalls

September 9, 2016 admin Volkswagen Recalls

Auburn Hills, Mich. — September 9, 2016 — A new Volkswagen recall will address problems with child locks in four different brands of vehicles released in 2016. Official information filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that just 1 percent of the 5,658 potentially involved vehicles was estimated to have the defect. The Part 573 Safety Recall Report was submitted on June 22.

This document further described the four models subject to recall: the CC, e-Golf, Golf R and Tiguan. Although they all have the same model year, the collective production rates range from November 25, 2015 to February 3, 2016.

The rear-door child safety locks in these autos could disengage due to certain outside vibrations. Since the locks are supposed to prevent children from opening rear car doors, disabling them could inadvertently give children the chance to exit the vehicle.

Though the defect was officially determined June 15, the research goes back as far as January 25. Lock functionality was tested in a full production check after the issue was first discovered that same month. To fix the issue, the report said dealers will replace the locks. The production was reportedly remedied “by 100 percent inspection” by January 25, with certain molding cavities now prohibited.

Aston Martin also recently recalled several vehicles for door-lock issues. Last month, CNET reported on the 6,076 vehicles that did not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard #206. Model years ranged from 2010 to 2016, and encompassed a group of eight different models.

Although doors in these cars could potentially lock from the outside, trapping occupants, the problem was described as not a defect so much as an unexpected side effect of a double-sided safety system. The fix involved upgrading car software.

Porsche Recalls Spyder Vehicles

September 7, 2016 admin Porsche Recalls

Atlanta, Georg. — September 07, 2016 — A new recall concerns 306 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder vehicles. The official Part 573 Safety Recall Report on this issue said that the seat belt mount and reels in these vehicles may have been secured with the wrong screws. As such, occupants could be at a higher risk of crash than usual.

If the seat belts in these Porsches are removed, the report said, new screws are needed to put them back into place. Owners, drivers and passengers might notice “clicking noises,” the source said, as well as new stiffness with the seat belt, which won’t be able to swiftly move around as would normally be seen.

The report also said that the issue with the screws was first noticed May 30, 2016, though the recall itself wasn’t put into action until July 4. Though this document didn’t list the official recall schedule, it did state that the remedy would involve inspecting the screws and competing repairs depending on the situation.

Other Porsche recalls include a June action involving vehicles of the same make and model year, one which left vehicles at possible risk of fire. These were manufactured between February 25, 2014 and April 29, 2015, potentially affecting as many as 223 vehicles.

The danger came from the included wiring harnesses, which could possibly spark a fire if they make contact with the engine heat insulation plate. These harnesses, which connected the left radiator fans in targeted vehicles, were accessed through the vehicles’ engine compartments. The wire chafing issue was attributed to two 2015 field incidents, one in April and the other in May.

What the Chevrolet Cruze Recalls Mean

September 6, 2016 admin Chevrolet Recalls

Warren, Mich. — September 6, 2016 — A Part 573 Safety Recall report submitted June 29 concerned approximately 32,913 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles. In these autos, the source said, headlamp lenses do not come bearing the proper aiming identifier code. The report said that this represents noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, which could apply even though the units were properly aligned during production.

The larger cause of the issue was described as a headlamp supplier etching equipment programming error. Because of this issue, the lenses did not contain the right codes, potentially making it hard for services to adjust the headlamps properly.

This report came just over a month after the first notice of the issue, on May 25. General Motors’ official investigation opened June 2, with the voluntary recall action launching June 22. To address the problem, the manufacturer said it would mail both owners and dealers the necessary labels.

These labels contain four categories of information about the recalled component: the necessary name, description, part number and country of origin. The codes should appear on the headlamps in vehicles made after May 26, 2016.

Other Chevrolet recalls have included the Cruze model. A more recent one concerned a different FMVSS, number 114. This action included not just 2016 Cruzes but also other Chevrolet models, such as the Malibu and Equinox.

All of these cars could have a defect making it possible to roll away if the ignition key is removed while the transmission is in park. The component supplier involved in this case is Alps Electronics, another outfit based out of Warren, Michigan. New housings were used to remedy the problem. This safety recall officially began after June 23, 2016, on the decision of the Safety Field Action Decision Authority.

Engine Room Connections in Some Sentras Could be Faulty [Video]

August 30, 2016 admin Nissan Recalls, Video

Franklin, Tenn. — August 30, 2016 — Nissan has recalled more than fifteen hundred Sentra autos from the 2016 model year. These units could have control issues that affect engine performance. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statement said that the engine room harness could lead to terminal connection issues that would determine whether the engine functions normally, potentially stalling.

The official recall is scheduled to start August 26th. During an April investigation, Nissan both addressed the problem themselves and prompted the component supplier, Yazaki, to investigate as well.

Because terminal pins in these vehicles could be too large to fit, the remedy will see dealers replace the pin entirely.

Read more about recent Nissan recalls in our blog.

Volvo Truck Recall Addresses Axle Issues

August 29, 2016 admin Volvo Recalls

Greensboro, N.C. — August 29, 2016 — A new recall concerns several Volvo truck models that leave drivers potentially at risk of losing control during operation. The official 473 Safety Recall Report explained that 1 percent of the 129 recalled vehicles in the U.S. were estimated to have the defect. While the action affects certain VNL and VNM models, both stem from the same range of production dates: April 16 to May 4 in 2012.

The recall addresses a problem associated with an axle from the manufacturer Meritor. The report said that some of the axles were “improperly heat-treated.” As a result, a beam included in the car could fracture. While it didn’t explain specifics, the report said that the fracture areas “could indicate some level of warning,” showing the driver that the fault exists.

A Safety Recall Alert from June 27, 2016 said that the recall affects 19 trucks outside of the country: 16 in Canada and three in Mexico. The dealers were instructed to increase awareness of the recall among their staff, correcting these issues in affected trucks before they were sold.

Meritor is a U.S. company based in Troy, Michigan. The original planned dealer notification date was June 24, with owners notified just five days later. However, owner notices and repair instructions were said to ship at July 29 at the very latest.

Before this recall, the 2013 VNL was also part of a different recall announced in October, 2015. In this action, 101 units were said to have electrical system defects. The metal housing mounting points in the electric auxiliary power units in these trucks were said to potentially “crack and tear,” according to the NHTSA-filed report.

Small Number of 2016 Vehicles Part of Volkswagen Recalls

August 19, 2016 admin Volkswagen Recalls

Auburn Hills, Mich. — August 19, 2016 — Some 2016 Volkswagen Golf R vehicles could bear incorrect information on the Safety Certification Label, one recent recall stated. According to a Part 573 Safety Recall Report from May 20, 11 vehicles are potentially involved in this action, and a full 100 percent of them are thought to have the defect.

The Report, available through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said that these vehicles could contain an incorrect rear-axle weight limit. The displayed weight could be more than 1000 pounds off from the actual maximum amount of 2227 pounds.

The concerned vehicles were produced between May 17 and 23, 2016. The inaccurate labels were discovered April 13 this year and were reportedly caused by “”new printer installation,” the source said. As a result, the printers accidentally produced labels with default weight values. Assuming this number is correct, numerous owners could misjudge their vehicles’ weight capacity and potentially overload them.

All 11 of the Golf R vehicles involved in this action are located in the United States, a dealership communication from May 24 said. The document stated that “parts were allocated to address affected dealer inventory vehicles” because of the small number of vehicles involved.

This issue has led to recent Toyota recalls as well. Last month, Car Complaints reported on a series of Toyota and Scion models recalled for weight label discrepancies. Model years ranged between 2015 and 2016, and included 2,520 total vehicles.

Due to inaccurate load-carrying-capacity modification labels, a report filed with the NHTSA said that these vehicles could fail to comply with federal standards. The problem was discovered in May, and owner notification is planned for July 14 and 15. While it was making calculations, the manufacturer halted production on the impacted vehicles.

New Round of Ford Recalls Start Off July 2016

August 18, 2016 admin Ford Recalls

Dearborn, Mich. — August 18, 2016 — Ford ended June 2016 by announcing three new recalls in a single press release. All of the vehicles involved in these efforts are from either the 2015 and 2016 model years. While each of these cases extend outside of the United States, the majority of vehicles in all three recalls are in the U.S.

According to the source, only one of these is a safety recall, while the other two are safety compliance recalls. The manufacturer is not aware of any injuries or accidents connected to any of these issues. All together, the three Ford recalls concern approximately 8,218 vehicles.

The safety recall concerns transmission assembly problems in both 2015 and 2016 Ford Focus Electric autos produced at either the Michigan or Saarlouis assembly plants. A certain coating could lead to fractures in the differential pinion shaft of these vehicles, so dealers will replace the assembly completely with a setup that includes the right friction-reducing coating.

One of the safety compliance recalls addresses 6,661 Ford F-150 and Ford Explorer units, both from model year 2016 and possibly containing improperly welded driver seat backs. The other involves 608 2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles that may have a brake hydraulic control unit.

Before this, the most recent recall-related Ford press release involved the Takata air bag inflator recall. In that statement, the manufacturer said that it was adding several brands to the existing recall numbers for issues with nondesiccated passenger-side frontal airbag inflators. Model years for these vehicles collectively ranged from 2005 and 2011.

As of June 17, Ford had completed 20.2 percent of passenger-side air bag repairs, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. On a larger scale, Ford has finished just 7.1 percent of its total air bag repairs.