Category Archives: quality

Toyota Recalls 780,000 RAV4 and Lexus HS 250h Models

Posted on 2 August 2012 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Sales is recalling 2006 to early 2011 model year RAV4 and 2010 model year Lexus HS 250h vehicles sold in the U.S. because the rear suspension can fail, leading to loss of control. In a statement notable for its lack of detail about accidents, injuries and fatalities, TMS said that about 760,000 Toyota RAV4 and 18,000 Lexus HS 250h models are involved in this latest quality problem Continue reading →

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More than 640,000 Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute SUVs Recalled for Unintended Acceleration after NHTSA Opens Defect Probe

Posted on 31 July 2012 by Ken Zino

Ford and Mazda are recalling Escape and Tribute SUVs from the 2001 up to the 2008 model year because a cruise control cable can stick and cause unintended acceleration. Since repair parts are not available, dealers will disconnect the cruise control as an interim measure for the safety defect.

The recall was forced when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration two weeks ago opened an unintended acceleration investigation on 2001 through 2004 Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute SUVs after receiving 99 reports of unintended acceleration from owners. At least one fatality and nine injures are alleged in multiple accidents. Sixty-eight stuck throttle reports are from Ford Escape owners; thirty-one reports are from owners of Mazda Tributes. Continue reading →

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Toyota Adds 150,000 Lexus Models to Deadly Floor Mat Recall. NHTSA Says Filing Lacks Required Info. Another Cover-up?

Posted on 2 July 2012 by Ken Zino

In Toyota’s carefully worded latest filing with NHTSA, Toyota U.S. said, “the accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver’s floor mat.” NHTSA in acknowledging this terse and incomplete notification said that it lacked much of the required information under U.S. safety regulations. The Toyota report is missing the required chronology of events that were the basis for its decision to conduct an expanded safety recall, including a summary of all warranty claims, field or service reports, and other information, with their dates of receipt. Continue reading →

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Massive Recall on Chevrolet Cruze for Fires Caused by Leaks

Posted on 26 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Chevrolet is recalling more than 410,000 Cruze models because oil and fuel leaks can cause fires. Model year 2011 and 2012 Cruze compact sedans are affected by the safety defect. In required filings with NHTSA, GM said that it would modify the engine shield under the vehicle. This change will help prevent any liquids from being trapped in the engine compartment, where a fire could start and spread. The GM safety action was prompted by customer complaints to NHTSA about smoke or fires in the engine compartment. It appears that careless oil changes are responsible for the oil leaks Continue reading →

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Acura Recalls TL Sedans for a Bad Power Steering Hose

Posted on 17 May 2012 by Ken Zino

Acura will recall 52,615 model-year 2007-2008 TL sedans in the United States to replace the power steering hose. The power steering hose form an unidentified supplier may deteriorate and develop a fluid leak. Leaking power steering fluid could lead to loss of power steering assistance or, if it leaks onto a catalytic converter, it can result in smoke, or in the worst case, a fire. Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls Focus for Defective Windshield Wipers

Posted on 10 April 2012 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company is recalling more than 140,000 Focus compact cars because the windshield wipers can fail. Model year 2012 Focus cars were built at the Michigan Assembly Plant without a proper seal on the wiring harness for the passenger-side windshield wiper motor. Continue reading →

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Honda Recalls 554,000 CR-V and Pilot SUVs for Bad Headlights

Posted on 30 March 2012 by Ken Zino

This headlight recall apparently mirrors an earlier Honda headlight recall on 143,083 model year 2007 and 2008 Fit vehicles because of a bad headlight switch, which caused the low-beams to fail and possibly start a fire. Continue reading →

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Nissan Recalls Infiniti M45 for Bad Electronic Gas Gauges

Posted on 19 March 2012 by Ken Zino

In the pre-Toyota cover-up fines from NHTSA, it appears that Nissan ignored the safety problem and warranty data. In the post Toyota fine era at NHTSA, the number of recalls from Japanese makers, not coincidentally, has accelerated dramatically.

This is the sixth major Nissan recall since the fall. Earlier recalls involved Nissan and Infiniti gasoline leaks, oil leaks, sudden stalling on Sentra models, Juke turbocharger boost sensors, and defective Rogue electric power steering control computers. Continue reading →

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Corrosion Recall Covers More than 265,000 Jeep Liberty SUVs

Posted on 8 March 2012 by Ken Zino

The suspension failure investigation was upgraded by NHTSA to a more serious engineering analysis covering 2004 and 2005 models last September. It appears from publicly available documents that Chrysler resisted the recall, doing so only after a meeting with safety regulators in February. The recall to replace all the suspension arms is expected to begin in April. Continue reading →

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Toyota Recalls Almost 700,000 Vehicles in U.S. for Camry, Venza and Tacoma Electronic Faults

Posted on 7 March 2012 by Ken Zino

The latest quality gaffs can cause vehicle no-starts, failed stoplights, stuck transmission gear levers as well as warning lights going off, and airbags not going off in three separate high-volume vehicle lines. Continue reading →

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Ford, Lincoln Change Touch Screens after Quality Ratings Dive

Posted on 6 March 2012 by Ken Zino

While Ford keeps claiming its customers want electronic features such as MyFord Touch, saying 56% of them rate the technology as an “important” part of the buying decision, its quality and customer satisfaction ratings by users as measured from independent sources have plummeted during the three years since introduction. Continue reading →

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Toyota Leads 2012 Vehicle Dependability Report

Posted on 15 February 2012 by Ken Zino

The highest initial quality ratings of 2009 model year vehicles has now resulted in historically high levels of vehicle dependability in 2012. Overall vehicle dependability in 2012 averages 132 problems per 100 vehicles, an improvement of 13% from the 2011 … Continue reading →

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BMW Conducts Second Smallest Recall in NHTSA History

Posted on 30 January 2012 by Ken Zino

In third place with a Bronze medal resides Toyota, the reason for the renewed emphasis on following recall regulations to the letter, after Toyota was fined in 2010 millions of dollars for covering up safety effects. Continue reading →

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Hewlett-Packard Fined $425,000 for Not Reporting Defective Lithium Ion Batteries that Seriously Injured Consumers

Posted on 24 January 2012 by Ken Zino

The controversy is of interest to the auto industry since its use of lithium ion batteries in electrical vehicles and hybrids is growing at exponential rate, with millions of battery packs soon to be on U.S. roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closed its investigation of fires in Chevrolet Volt EVs last week. Nevertheless many consumers remain wary of the emerging technology and it remains to be seen if the Volt brand is damaged. Continue reading →

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NHTSA Scolds Ford over Minivan Torque Converter Recall

Posted on 17 January 2012 by Ken Zino

In an unusual acknowledgement of the Ford recall (11S25 or 12V-006) just made public, NHTSA said Ford made assertions – also unusual in my experience – in its required defect filing that are untrue and violate federal safety regulations. Continue reading →

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