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GM Recalls Malibu Vehicles for Air Bag Stud Concerns

April 11, 2016 admin Chevrolet Recalls

Warren, MI — April 11, 2016 — Approximately 3,137 vehicles are subject to a possible fault that would leave occupants in danger during a collision. According to an official report submitted on March 11, this new recall applies to 2016 Chevrolet Malibu autos, which may feature fracturing on the side air bag weld studs. This could destabilize the airbag and reduce its effectiveness. Though the cause of the defect is currently unknown, the Part 573 report for this issue stated that the weak weld bonding in affected vehicles may be responsible.

The first weld fractures connected to this recall were observed earlier this year, in February. The report clarified that the manufacturer announced the recall after its Safety and Field Action Decision Authority received studies on the studs’ torque and angle. Dealers are expected to fix this issue, when it exists, by replacing all of the affected side airbag modules.

“Vehicles built after March 5, 2016 are manufactured with side airbag modules produced after additional lot acceptance testing and process check criteria were implemented at the supplier,” the source stated. Without these repairs, the offending models could violate Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 214.

A Stop Delivery Notice, also distributed on March 11, warned dealers that the Global Warranty Management system won’t display the correct status or release date until the repair is ready. Dealers were also instructed to keep all potentially affected vehicles out of circulation, which included “new or used vehicle inventory, GM Certified Used, courtesy transportation vehicles, dealer shuttle vehicles” and others.

None of these vehicles were asked to be used for any purpose, which not only means sale to customers, but other purposes, such as demonstration and auction. The side airbags in need of replacement could be located in the rear, left, right and front.

Power-steering in Police Vehicles Leads to GM Recalls

April 4, 2016 admin Chevrolet Recalls, GMC Recalls

Warren, MI — April 04, 2016 — Though no accidents have yet been detected, General Motors will recall 6,280 Chevrolet Caprice Police Pursuit vehicles, with production dates ranging between 2013 and 2014. The official Part 573 Safety Recall Report, submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on March 16, noted that these vehicles could be subject to a power steering assist failure that could leave drivers struggling to properly steer.

This source stated that the components associated with this recall come from the Mando corporation, based in the Republic of Korea. This specific hazard comes as the result of normal police work, as systems within these vehicles are affected during use.

“Subject to the extended idling times and elevated temperatures experienced in typical police applications, these vehicles may experience loss of electric power steering (EPS) assistance while driving or idling as a result of fretting corrosion on the connector between the EPS module and the torque sensor,” the report asserted.

The repair instructions address both those vehicles already in the field and those en route: the latter will get epoxy to support the connector, while dealers replace the steering gear assemblies in the former. The newer gears will better resist corrosion.

The Associated Press mentioned the 20 hour periods that police cars often run in its coverage of this recall. Drivers in affected cars won’t lose control of steering completely, and the NHTSA Report noted that drivers will see a malfunction indicator light and hear a warning chime if the issue is present.

General Motors first detected this issue through complaints submitted as part of the Speak Up for Safety program in 2015. The vehicles were assembled in Holden, Australia, and impacted cars with model years between 2014 and 2016.

New VW Recall Concerns Brake Pedals

April 1, 2016 admin Volkswagen Recalls

Herndon, VA — April 01, 2016 — Currently, the most well-known Volkswagen recalls concern the many vehicles affected by the diesel emissions scandal. However, the manufacturer has another issue on its hands involving non-secured brake pedal pivot pins.

According to a statement from Volkswagen, included in a post on Autoblog, 46,700 Volkswagen Touaregs are included in this action. A similar issue also affected 409,477 North American Porsche Cayenne vehicles, with the majority (88,300) in the United States.

With both manufacturers, the suspect vehicles could be missing a vital securing clip that will affect braking performance. No accidents in North America have yet been connected to this issue, but eventually the brake pedal itself could be displaced if users and car dealers don’t take further action.

“If the clip is missing, the pedal pivot pin could start to move and the pedal could lose guidance,” the statement read. “If this remains undiscovered, the pedal hinge could fracture after continued operation, allowing the pedal to dislodge. A customer may not be able to properly actuate the brakes with a dislodged brake pedal.” Dealers can replace the clip to fix the problem.

Last year, 91,800 Volkswagen vehicles were involved in a different recall concerning braking issues, as a Part 573 Report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. These vehicles, which included Passat Golf and Beetle models, among others, were potentially subject to “unexpected, reduced engine power.”

This was because of the way camshafts could deteriorate, leading to a greater difficulty in braking. The first reports of camshaft failures related to this recall were detected in February 2015, the report said, and the decision to recall came after several months of analysis, with October 16, 2015 the official “date of determination.”Drivers may have noticed an increased effort in braking with this issue.

Nissan Recalls Vehicles for Fuel Pump Plating [Video]

March 31, 2016 admin Nissan Recalls, 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.

New Recall Looming for Ford F-150

March 30, 2016 admin Ford Recalls

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.

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

March 29, 2016 admin Hyundai Recalls, 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.

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

March 15, 2016 admin Nissan Recalls, 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.

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

March 14, 2016 admin Ford Recalls, 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!

Floor Mats May Make Maserati Vehicles Unsafe

March 10, 2016 admin Maserati Recalls

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.

Two Hyundai Models Recalled Due to Wiper Concerns

March 8, 2016 admin Hyundai Recalls

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.