Category Archives: recalls

NHTSA Blasts FCA Recalls – Big Fines, Maybe Criminal Charges Coming for Italian Automaker? Litigation Ongoing.

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation, aka ODI, has outlined problems associated with 23 different Fiat Chrysler recalls involving millions of vehicles. These recalls are for serious safety defects and “non-compliances.” Including recalls for fuel systems that can catch fire in rear crashes, defective ignition switches that can disable a vehicle’s air bags and defective air bags that can unexpectedly explode. These defects have caused deaths and serious injuries. Continue reading

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432k Focus, C-MAX, Escape Recalls for Bad Ignition Switch

In these defective vehicles, among the best sellers at Ford, it is possible for the engine to continue running after turning the ignition key to the “off” position and removing the key. Continue reading

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More Ford, Subaru and Lexus Safety Recalls

There are now more safety recalls coming from Ford Motor, Subaru of America and Toyota Motor because of defective antilock brakes and pre-collision systems, power steering that suddenly fails and potential vehicle fires as major makers – some with excellent quality records – continue to struggle with supplier procedures and a newly vigilant NHTSA. Continue reading

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Porsche Recalls its $845,000 Spyder for Fires

Porsche said the root cause was in the production process, which means this will likely be a global recall for all 918 of the 918 Spyder nodes produced starting for the 2014 model year. Dealers will inspect the harness and provide additional tie-downs for it, if necessary. Continue reading

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GM and GM Financial Now Investment Grade at Fitch

GM earnings have been pommeled during the last several years because of billions in charges taken for safety recalls. Moreover GM still potentially faces billions in charges for the legal liability and government fines in the ignition switch cover-up, including possible criminal charges from the Department of Justice. Continue reading

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Honda Stops Sale, Recalls Acura MDX, RLX for Sudden Braking

American Honda Motor is recalling model year 2014-2015 Acura MDX 2wd and AWD, and 2014 RLX and RLX Hybrid vehicles. for sudden braking. In the latest example of bogus computer programming, a growing automaker safety defect problem, Honda’s so-called Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) can incorrectly interpret as obstacles roadside metal fences or guardrails and unexpectedly apply the brakes with full force. Continue reading

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Akebono Knowingly Ships Defective Parts to GM

The long delayed recall is problematic since GM knew of the safety defect when its Wentzville assembly plant found brake fluid under a completed vehicle on October 9. Continue reading

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445,000 Takata Airbag Inflators Recalled – Mazda6 and RX8

In the event of a crash with deployment of the driver’s frontal air bag, the inflator send metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Continue reading

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NHTSA Changing after Flubbing GM Ignition Switch Recall

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today released two internal reports from the Department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, aka NHTSA, that outline the changes NHTSA has adopted or will make in the wake of its embarrassing delayed handling of what became the deadly General Motors ignition switch recall. Continue reading

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Takata Takedown – NHTSA to Direct Airbag Inflator Recall

The Takata inflators were made with a propellant that can degrade over time and has led to ruptures that have been blamed for at least six deaths worldwide. This expands the number of vehicles to be recalled for defective Takata inflators to nearly 34 million. Continue reading

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Honda, Toyota, Nissan Expand Takata Airbag Recalls Yet Again

NHTSA is fining Takata $14,000 a day for what it says is Takata’s slow response to the deadly problem. Former NHTSA Acting Administrator David Kelly is now serving as project manager for ten automakers that have hired Orbital ATK to conduct independent testing on Takata airbag inflators. Continue reading

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Ford Recalls its Best Selling 2015 F-150 Pickup Truck

Ford Motor Company has announced a safety recall for 12,300 2015-model Ford F-150 pickup trucks in North America because an upper I-shaft may have been riveted improperly, potentially causing it to separate. Continue reading

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NHTSA Warns Ford Fiesta, Fusion, Lincoln MKZ Owners of Sudden Door Openings

NHTSA is taking the unusual step off issuing a public warning after Ford Motor recall of almost 400,00 cars where the doors can suddenly pop open during driving. Continue reading

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Latest Ford Motor Safety Defect Recalls affect 600,000 Vehicles

Ford Motor Company announced this morning that it is conducting safety defect recalls on Fiesta, Focus, Edge, Escape, F-Series, and Lincoln MKZ, models with ~600,000 vehicles involved. Ford claimed it is aware of one accident, but no injuries or fires because of the latest quality lapses. Continue reading

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Toyota Recalls 110,000 Vehicles for Power Steering Failure

Toyota is recalling more than 110,000 current production Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, and Rav4 vehicles because the power steering can fail. The electric power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. Continue reading

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