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Chrysler Recalls Ram Vehicles for Power Steering

May 4, 2016 admin RAM Recalls

Auburn Hills, MI — May 04, 2016 — Earlier this month, Fiat Chrysler announced a new recall centered around a series of Ram trucks. These vehicles were built between last January and September, and represent a possible threat to occupants due to power steering circuit contamination.

The investigations officially began in August 2015: A chronology document filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that was when electronic power steering systems appeared in user complaints. It started tracking possibly affected parts January 11, 2016.

The contamination issues could impact a total of 442 Ram 1500 DS or DX vehicles. The affected circuit boards may have been constructed during a single day at the production plant. A Part 573 Report listed with the NHTSA cited the Nexteer Automotive Corporation, also based in Michigan, as the supplier involved in this case. They helped the manufacturer trace suspicious EPS units.

Drivers that see a lit up Malfunction Indicator Lamp may want to proceed with caution, the report added. If the control circuit components suffer a short, the power steering function may permanently and suddenly shut off. Alternately, the power steering could fail intermittently, or the steering wheel could simply become more difficult to use. The remedy involves fully replacing the affected EPS.

This voluntary recall comes after no official notice of accidents or damage, although the manufacturer did receive three field reports as of March 11, the chronology stated. This source also noted that the suspect production period varies slightly depending on the plant location: The Saltillo plant’s suspect period begins on January 22, 2015, but only extends just under a month to February 17. The longer period belongs to the Warren plant, which is under suspicion from January 23 to September 13.

The New Nissan Recalls More than 1,550 Frontier Vehicles

May 3, 2016 admin Nissan Recalls

Franklin, TN — May 03, 2016 — According to a recent National Highway Traffic Administration report, March 7 found saw an accident at a Nissan plant that would later lead to a recall. Further investigations revealed that a starter wire harness terminal had been installed incorrectly on a 2016 Nissan Frontier. After further inspection, the manufacturer officially launched a voluntary recall action, including 1,554 Frontier pickup trucks.

Because of the way these harnesses were installed, the report states, affected Frontiers with a V6 engine could experience an electrical short, eventually causing a possible “thermal incident.” To fix the issue, dealers will reorient the harness to meet safety standards. Only 18 percent of the recalled vehicle population is believed to have the defect present. A short could lead to a possible fire in affected vehicles.

In a bulletin for dealers, the manufacturer provided more specific instructions on the repair procedure. The remedy does not require additional parts, but it does demand that dealer staff look closely at the motor wire area to improve harness alignment.

In particular, the wire eyelet needs to be facing the correct position: If not, the person conducting the repair has to reposition the wire so it’s at the right angle before reconnecting the battery. The original owner notification date was listed as some time in early April.

On the other hand, if the eyelet is already in the recommended position, no further action may be necessary. What’s more, mechanics only need to replace the heat shield if there are signs of damage. The same document also stated that the recall has expanded to now include 1,680 Nissan Frontier vehicles. Out of this number, the majority (1,543 vehicles) were in the United States. Other countries/territories included in the new action are Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam and Saipan.

Multiple Bugatti Recalls Issued at Once

May 2, 2016 admin Miscellaneous Recalls

Dorlisheim, France — May 02, 2016 — Three different issues have prompted multiple recalls for different Bugatti Veyron cars. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration listed two different recalls on April 7 for the same model, albeit for varying model years. Neither of these have any incidents or damage reports associated with them, and the manufacturer has not issued a set recall date for any of them to begin.

The first of these involves a group of 13 Veyron vehicles, produced between October and December 2006 for model years ranging between 2006 and 2008. The protection on the B+ Cable in these vehicles could corrode, leading to a possible fire if flammable material is present. The problem comes from water exposure to the cable, and the fix will prevent this from happening.

Bugatti’s second recall concerns 72 Veyron and Veyron Grand Sport recalls split into two groups: those produced between 2006 and 2010, and those produced between 2009 and 2010. Both of these sets have faulty sensors that may lead to incorrect fuel tank readings . This is dangerous for drivers, who could mistakenly believe they have more fuel than they actually do, based on this signal. The solution requires a replacement for the fuel tank control unit.

A press release on Autoblog mentions a third, slightly older Bugatti recall, this one impacting Veyron, Veyron Grand Sport and Veyron Super Sport autos. The oldest of these model years dates back to 2006, and the newest is 2013.

While this recall also concerns corrosion, this time the aluminum reference plates on the underside of the vehicle are the areas that could be affected. With enough wear, these plates could detach from the vehicle entirely, leaving the occupants at risk while also posing a road hazard. Dealers will solve this problem by riveting the plates to the body of the vehicles more securely.

A series of GM recalls for police vehicles with power steering problems also involved corrosion. The NHTSA recorded this action on March 28.

Some 2016 Hyundai Tucson trailers may have turn signal problems [Video]

April 29, 2016 admin Hyundai Recalls, Video

Fountain Valley, CA — April 29, 2016 — Some SUV trailer turn signal lights may be in trouble, according to a recent Hyundai recall. Last month, the manufacturer targeted thousands of Tucson vehicles produced within the last two years for issues that could affect drivers with trailers.

The problem comes from the trailer hitch wiring harnesses. These products, from Mobis Part America, may interfere with the turn signals used in trailers. Drivers could find that these signals either stay on for too long or turn off entirely. Either way, the problem could represent a safety violation.

Owners and dealers were both notified on March 6. Dealers were instructed to fix this difficulty by updating affected harnesses.

Read more about Hyundai recalls by visiting our blog, and thanks for watching.

FCA Recalls Vehicles with Bad Brake Calipers [Video]

April 27, 2016 admin Dodge Recalls, Jeep Recalls, Video

Detroit, MI — April 27, 2016 — Some Fiat Chrysler vehicles may have faulty brake calipers, according to a new recall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began this month with reports on this latest action.

The recall includes more than 14,700 SUVs from the 2015 and 2016 model years. The left front caliper in these vehicles can fracture, the source said, making it harder for drivers to stop quickly. This can also lead to loss of brake fluid.

The manufacturer did not include a recall schedule in the original March 23 report. However, it did state that the remedy will replace calipers that may be made of weak material. The recall affects both Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango vehicles.

You can read more about Jeep and Chrysler recalls on our blog. Check out out archives for other stories involving this manufacturer. Thanks for watching!

Volkswagen Passat Recalls Concern Possible Fires

April 26, 2016 admin Volkswagen Recalls

Auburn Hills, MI — April 26, 2016 — In an action unrelated to previous diesel emissions Volkswagen recalls, the manufacturer is focusing on vehicles with a potential underbody fire risk. Though the chances of this happening may be rare, the company addressed this problem in a statement published on Autoblog. This source stated that a group of 91,000 Passats could gradually suffer underbody sensor corrosion.

Over time, exposure to water could gradually wear down the sensor connectors, eventually triggering a short that overheats the sensor. The statement clarified that the affected autos bear the 2012, 2013 and 2014 model years. Corrosion would be possible due to bad wire seals. As of March 24, no notification schedule was given.

In addition, a Part 573 Safety Recall report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration listed the series of events that led to this recall. Last November, “the production plant reported events with overheated electrical connectors and isolated underbody vehicle fires to Volkswagen’s product safety committee. Additional analysis of detailed cause was assigned,” before further action was taken, the report stated.

Two months later,the company began a field survey before the defect was officially determined on March 16. The impacted vehicles do have diesel engines, even though this case does not involve the “cheats” established in other recalled Volkswagens that have triggered international concern.

To remedy this issue, dealers will inspect and replace the connector. Owners might see an MIL indicator if the issue is present in their vehicle, and could use this as a sign to take action. The engine associated with the possible seal failure has reportedly been discontinued, but the replacement connectors will have well-seated seals that prevent the potentially dangerous wear in the older ones. No component manufacturer was reported.

Steering Assist Failure Leads to Hyundai Sonata Recall

April 25, 2016 admin Hyundai Recalls

Fountain Valley, CA — April 25, 2016 — Hyundai Motor America is recalling 173,000 Sonata sedans produced between 2009 and 2010, all with the 2011 model year. The cause comes from power steering concerns which could alter the driver’s steering ability while the car is in motion. Though the issue won’t completely stop steering control, it will shut off the assist in some cases, forcing drivers to put more effort into manning the vehicle.

If the circuit board connected to the affected autos’ electronic power steering is damaged, drivers may unexpectedly have to work harder. The Part 573 Safety Recall Report for this problem described the way electronic power steering systems receive multiple inputs from the vehicle, including steering wheel torque and position data. Every owner of a potentially affected vehicle will be instructed to seek out a dealer for EPS replacement.

Drivers should pay attention to the instrument warning lights and specifically look for the red EPS signal. Although the report was submitted on March 31, the planned dealer and owner notification date isn’t until May 31. According to an accompanying vehicle recall chronology, the first investigations date back to last year.

“The investigation revealed the manufacturing process for the printed circuit board (PCB) in the EPS Control Unit was modified in October, 2010 by revising the protective coating to the circuit board to help improve the PCB’s resistance to potential environmental effects,” it said.

Last month, investigators from Korea came to the U.S. to observe possible steering problems in these vehicles: Mobis, the listed component supplier, is based in Korea. As the chronology stated, the recall grew out of these investigations. The power steering system has been a part of the Sonata since it was introduced to the U.S. market in 2009, seven years before the current Hyundai recalls.

Mercedes-Benz Recalls Unpredictable Vehicles

April 19, 2016 admin Mercedes-Benz Recalls

Montvale, NJ — April 19, 2016 — A single defect in hundreds of Mercedes-Benz vehicles could impact drivers in harmful ways. According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report, 888 Mercedes-Benz vehicles may have steering column wiring harness issues that could manifest in several different unwanted situations: the document lists turn signal failure, airbag deployment and engine stalling as possible consequences of this problem.

This same report noted that the early examples of this issue were noticed last August. The recall concerns Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 and GLC-300 4-matic vehicles produced between June, July and November 2015. While a driver might get warning indicators in the case of some of these issues , the notice specifically said that airbag deployment would not come with a warning.

“Authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers will check the wiring harnesses on the affected vehicles and repair it, if necessary, and the wiring harness will be correctly routed,” the notice asserted. It also stated that the component supplier, DR XLMAIER Group, began “immediate countermeasures” including “starting on-site training at the wiring harness manufacturing plant” and “conducting specific checks for correct assembly.” This took place in August 2015, a day after the defect was discovered at the plant itself.

Left Lane News reported on a different Mercedes-Benz recall in March, this one concerning the C300, which could accidentally eject its sunroof while the vehicle is in motion. This posed an obvious safety threat, but the recall only affected 53 vehicles in the United States, and the problem seemed to be easily remedied with the right bonding and glass panel attached. The source also said that the problem was caused by improper labeling, in which panels were installed in cars before they had received the right priming.

Three Toyota Brands Featured in Stability Recall

April 18, 2016 admin Toyota Recalls

Torrance, CA — April 18, 2016 — Toyota’s new recall will address problems in more than 12,800 vehicles, as the company looks to correct brake actuator assemblies in the affected units. Owners can expect a first-class mail notification, and dealers should be prepared to inspect the suspect vehicles for serial numbers. Because the possibly faulty system could affect multiple functions, solving the problem may restore multiple functions to drivers, including vehicle stability and traction control.

All of the recalled vehicles are from the 2016 model year: they include the RAV4, RX350 and ES350. According to a press release from the company, distributed through Autoblog, the affected vehicles might prove unstable to a hazardous extent. The actuator represents a major single point where multiple systems can be affected all at once.

“There is a possibility that a component inside the actuator could have been damaged during manufacturing, preventing the actuator from operating properly,” the statement read. “This could cause a loss of vehicle stability control, increasing the risk of crash.” A company representative quoted by the source denied the chance to explain whether or not there were any incidents connected to this recall.

Cars.com reported on a different recall from earlier this year also involving the RAV4. In this effort, the model years showed greater range, from 2006 to 2014. Car occupants were in danger from lap belts that could separate during a crash, due to a seat belt defect.

Although this earlier recall only included two models, the RAV4 and the RAV4EV, the volume of vehicles was greater, accounting for more than 1 million. The source stated that dealers would solve this issue by placing resin covers on the seat cushion frames.

Subaru Vehicles from 2015 and 2016 Could Suddenly Stall

April 15, 2016 admin Subaru Recalls

Cherry Hill, NJ — April 15, 2016 — Both Subaru Forester and WRX vehicles are part of a recent recall action. According to an official report, the automaker believes some of these units with the 2015 and 2016 model years were assembled with the wrong material in the “turbocharger air intake duct.” As a result, the company is recalling 18,200 vehicles which may contain components from the DaikyoNishikawa Corporation. A crack in this duct could possibly stall the vehicle.

The source traced the first report of a related stall to December 2015. Though this problem could lead to a sudden, unexpected loss of power, there are some possible warnings: drivers may want to look for the “Check Engine” light, as well as indicators of lower engine power or a “rough idle.”

As the report further described, the parts causing the recall contain a specific lot number that factors into the planned remedy.

“Subaru will inspect the lot number molded on the engine turbocharger air intake duct to determine if it was produced with incorrect material,” the source said. “If a specific lot number is found, the duct will be replaced. If a different lot number is found, replacement is not necessary.”

A press release from the company republished in Autoblog stated that there was no official recall schedule released as of March 21. However, the March 17 Part 573 report claimed that the planned dealer recall date was March 21.

In a separate repair procedure document, the same company noted that only some of the vehicles in the Subaru recalls will require a full replacement. Specifically, the repair order only applies to ducts produced in April 2015. Those that were built on this date will require three separate parts: the air intake duct, gasket and O ring.