Category Archives: quality

Massive Recall on Chevrolet Cruze for Fires Caused by Leaks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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Porsche Recalls Cayenne SUVs for Headlights Falling Out

Porsche is recalling more than 20,000 four-door Cayenne SUV models in the U.S. because the headlights can become loose and possibly fall out. Globally 100,000 Cayenne SUVs are affected. Letters are now being sent to owners of the affected vehicles, Porsche said in a required filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The repair takes approximately 45 minutes. Continue reading

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Toyota Leads 2012 Vehicle Dependability Report

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

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

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

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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Ford Employees to Beta Test Latest My Ford Touch Patch

Ford Motor Company will beta test new software designed to ease myriad consumer complaints about the My Ford Touch infotainment system, which caused Ford and Lincoln vehicles to sink to below average in Consumer Reports quality ratings.

Ford’s overall reliability rank among 28 major car makes slipped from the 10th to the 20th spot this year—the biggest drop for any major nameplate in Consumer Reports 2011 Annual Auto Survey. The badly needed software upgrade is coming for 2013 models – and to owners of existing My Ford Touch equipped vehicles. Continue reading

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MaxiGuard Super Premium Motor Oil Consumer Alert Issued

PQIA says there are labeling issues, as e well. The label claims API service SA, SC. These are obsolete Service Categories the API cautions can cause harm to engines built after 1967. The label does not warn consumers of this limited use. Continue reading

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