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FCA Recalls Dodge Darts Over Transmissions Concerns

October 2, 2015 admin Dodge Recalls

Auburn Hills, MI — October 2, 2015 — Approximately 23,688 Dodge Darts in the United States with model years between 2013 and 2015 are part of a new auto recall from Fiat Chrysler. According to documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), conditions within selected vehicles could lead to a problematic Transmission Control Module fault that forces cars into neutral.

The recall traces back to last May, when 12 claims related to clutch problems in these vehicles were discovered. In July, engineers noticed the solder joints within the transmission module related to the difficulty and the following April the Vehicle Safety and Regulatory Compliance department began monitoring the interim bracket design warranty. The recall was decided upon as of August 18, and the Part 573 Safety Recall Report was submitted to the NHTSA on August 26.

As this report describes, 15 percent of the total target vehicle population are thought to be affected. The report also listed some of the problems related to this issue that could harm drivers and passengers.

“If a transmission shift to neutral event occurs, the customer may experience a loss of motive power,” the source describes. “In the event of a transmission shift to neutral event, the engine does not shut off, and safety systems, like airbags continue to function.”

The Fiat Chrysler recall includes a corrective replacement of the module and the bracket in these vehicles. Dealers will be informed through the “established methods used in the past,” according to an announcement from the Customer Services Field Operations of FCA, also dated for August 26.

Nissan Recalls Vehicles for Door Latch Issues

October 1, 2015 Recall Masters Video

Kyushu, Japan — October 1, 2015 — A new safety recall from Nissan targets multiple models that might have door latch problems. According to the recall report, nearly 7,000 vehicles with the model year 2015 are potentially subject to this action. Of these, the majority are Nissan Sentras, which make up over 5,000 of the total. Also included are 1,200 Versa Notes and 41 Rogues.

In these autos, the door locks on the driver and rear left side doors may not latch properly. This is because of an error from the supplier, Magna Closures, and leaves passengers at risk if the doors open while the car is in motion. Nissan dealers will solve the problem by inspecting recalled vehicles and replacing affected door locks, a process that is both free and can take as little as one hour to complete.

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BMW Recalls Mini Coopers For Impact Risk

September 29, 2015 MotorSafety.org Mini Recalls, Video

Washington, D.C. — September 29, 2015 — More than 30,000 MINI Coopers will potentially be affected by a recent recall. Earlier this month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered that some MINI Coopers do not meet government structural regulations established by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. Specifically, the low side impact rating in these cars would put rear seat passengers in danger. The recall will officially start on September 12.

The affected vehicles have model years between 2014 and 2015. Fixing this problem will involve installing special material into the exterior of the vehicle to absorb the shock of collision. According to the NHTSA, some vehicles will also receive a small foam patch as part of the update.

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Second round of Nissan recalls could be forthcoming [Video]

September 24, 2015 admin Nissan Recalls, Video

According to the New York Times, 990,000 Nissan vehicles could be subject to a new round of recalls for an unresolved airbag deployment issue. Back in 2014, the manufacturer recalled several brands of vehicles, including Altima, Pathfinder and Infiniti JX35, to correct a systems defect that would prevent an airbag from releasing in the passenger seat during an accident.

While a Nissan spokesman stated that the vehicles have been fixed, more than 1,000 complaints have been sent to the federal government claiming that the problem persists. The source speculates that the company may have to respond more thoroughly with a new recall that permanently fixes the vehicles.

Nissan is also mitigating another recall at the same time which involves nearly 300,000 Versa and Versa note autos. This action pertains to a rare but concerning console trim panel problem that could catch the shoes of drivers in mid-operation.

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GM Issues Cadillac Recall For Defroster Risk

September 22, 2015 admin Cadillac Recalls

Detroit, MI — September 22, 2015 — A new recall action centers around more than 120,000 Cadillacs at risk of fire damage.

According to the Associated Press, there have been no reports of injuries connected to this issue, but four documented instances of a fire starting in these vehicles after a window defroster overheated.

The defect

In total, the recall concerns approximately 97,000 Cadillac ATS vehicles in the United States and 24,000 elsewhere. Fewer than 1 percent of the vehicle population are considered vulnerable, and the defect has been localized in the “driver’s side rear pillar,” as the source describes.

Timeline of events

Although the models span three years, the manufacturer said that vehicles produced before September 2 are the only ones at risk.

The article describes the source of the possible fires, which could occur after defroster units for the rear windows are used too much. Fortunately, the fix is described as being simple and will not interfere with standard operation once implemented.

The solution

“Dealers will update climate control software to remove a function that automatically turns the defroster on,” the article states. “Drivers will still be able to turn on the defroster manually.”

Automotive News provides additional context for this action, stating that ATS sales have dropped as of last month, down 13 percent when compared to the previous year.

This decline seems to parallel the growth in recall actions regarding the brand, since this most recent one also follows a pair of Cadillac recalls from the same manufacturer for problems with Cadillac sedan sunroofs.

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New GM recall targets more than 73,000 Chevrolets

September 19, 2015 admin GMC Recalls

Detroit, MI — September 19, 2015 — Owners of 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts need to be aware of possible defects that may prevent air bag deployment and pose a risk to drivers. According to the Associated Press, General Motors is recalling more than 73,000 vehicles because of this danger, after receiving word of an injury and crash that may be related to this fault. Most of the cars—59,474 to be exact— are in the United States, while 13,950 are in Canada, spreading out the regions where owners might be affected.

The Detroit News has additional details about the recall, including the mechanics behind the wiring problem that keeps the airbag from being released. As this source describes it, the sensor wire harness in the driver side door is to blame. Fortunately, drivers can rely on the vehicle alert system for warning when the air bag isn’t working properly.

“When improperly routed, the window regulator could contact the harness when the window is fully lowered and over time chafe the harness insulation,” the source says. “That could result in a short circuit preventing the driver side roof rail air bag from deploying during a crash. Dealers will inspect all suspect vehicles and any found with the condition will be repaired.”

As the source goes on to note, this is similar to other recent air bag system recalls, some of which have involved wiring problems. This comes in addition to the Takata recall, which, even though it concerns a completely different type of fault and danger to the driver, also concerns problems that will limit airbag effectiveness.

New Fiat Chrysler recall affects more than 85,000 vehicles

September 18, 2015 admin Chrysler Recalls

Detroit, Michigan — September 18, 2015 — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles may be facing more than $100 million in fines from the government, but that hasn’t stopped newer issues from being discovered and further recalls from being issued. According to the Associated Press, the manufacturer has begun a new campaign targeting Chrysler 200 vehicles with the model year 2015 and is beginning to notify customers.

This recall was launched after discovery of a problem with damaged electrical connectors. A statement from a company included on Autoblog describes the effects of the fault, which could force a vehicle to stall unexpectedly. The connectors were reportedly damaged by the supplier but have not been linked to any accidents yet, although it could theoretically pose a danger to drivers.

Of the 85,816 sedans recalled as part of this campaign, 77,834 are from the United States. Comparatively, 7,115 are in Canada, 848 in Mexico and 19 outside of North America. Despite the possible risk posed by this fault, the company said that air-bag function, a major subject of recent recalls, is not affected by this issue.

The specific remedy was not listed, but the company did say that service for those affected by this action will be performed free of charge on the later date. Owners can also look for dashboard warning lights as a possible sign of the problem, although this isn’t a guarantee that the issue is present.

Owners are also encouraged to contact Fiat Chrysler directly through its Customer Care line. The announcement comes as other manufacturers have issued warnings for electrical problems that may affect airbag deployment or effectiveness.

Cybersecurity risks lead to new Jeep recalls [Video]

September 15, 2015 admin Jeep Recalls, Video

Cybersecurity concerns are a new frontier for car safety. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is recalling more than 7,800 vehicles to prevent them from unauthorized remote access.

According to a press release from the company, the manufacturer has already taken steps to patch software flaws that might cause problems, and has no report of any injuries or complaints. All the same, it is urging owners to implements new software updates using a USB drive. The affected 2015 Jeep Renegades contain 6.5-inch touchscreens and radios.

In addition, the company is clearly trying to distinguish this action from a previous recall for a similar issue discovered over the summer. That action, which involved vulnerabilities in the in-car internet that stoked fears of remote takeover, involved more than 1 million vehicles, including Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durango SUVs.

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Toyota recalls 4Runners for burn risk

September 9, 2015 admin Toyota Recalls

Jacksonville, FL — September 9, 2015 — Several thousand Toyota 4Runner vehicles with production years between 2010 and 2015 are part of a new recall based on possible burn risk for consumers. According to the Part 573 Safety Recall Report published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2,530 vehicles are potentially affected and all 100 percent of these are estimated to have the defect.

In the targeted 4Runners, the exhaust tips may burn anyone reaching for it while standing behind the vehicle. This is because these tips are meant to be out of reach for people, even though they are recessed behind the bumper, as it should be.

The recall officially comes from Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC, which is responding to reports of a burn traced back to this fault earlier this summer. The report details the remedy this action requires, as well as the qualities that will separate the replacement parts from the exhaust tip currently used in these vehicles.

“The exhaust tip will be replaced with a new, re-designed exhaust tip that is smaller in diameter and is recessed a greater distance behind the bumper,” the source says. “The new exhaust tip is smaller in diameter and will be recessed a greater distance behind the bumper.”

As the report document, dated August 17, describes, the planned dealer notification date was schedule for some time between August 11 and 12, while the owner notification will happen on September 21. The manufacturer is also encouraging owners to respond to its recall communications by calling its customer service line.

Faulty start buttons lead to Nissan recall action

September 4, 2015 admin Nissan Recalls

Detroit, MI — September 4, 2015 — The Associated Press (AP) recently reported on a recall effort from Nissan that concerns hundreds of thousands of vehicles around the world because of an issue with the vehicle engine start buttons. Though the models involved vary, all of these vehicles have the potential for the button to stick inside its housing, should it be exposed to extremely hot temperatures.

The real problem arises when the vehicle with the stuck switch travels and disturbs the switches with what the AP describes as “road vibrations.” Internationally, the manufacturer is recalling around 270,000, but within the United States the number is 14,595.

Most of the model names mentioned by the source are sedans built between 2013 and 2014, including Versa, Pulsar, Sunny and Almera. Once the button is stuck in one position, the driver of an affected vehicle may find themselves more vulnerable to a crash. To solve this problem, dealers will modify the switch housing.

The Recall Report on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website goes into further detail about the conditions leading to this potential hazard. It takes pains to emphasize that the stuck button is “extremely rare” and only poses a problem if the vehicle encounters vibrations while the button is in this position.

“Due to manufacturing issues that have since been corrected, the casting of the immobilizer antenna housing did not meet design specification,” it reads “As a result, on some of the affected vehicles, the antenna housing can shrink due to environmental exposure to hot temperatures which cause the engine start/stop button to potentially stick inside its housing.”

With sufficient recall reporting techniques, possible dangers can be addressed in a timely manner, with a clear path laid out for dealers and owners alike to follow.