Category Archives: recalls

Fisker Recalls 2012 Model Karma Cars because of Fires

Posted on 27 August 2012 by Ken Zino

Fisker Automotive is recalling 1,377 Finnish-built Karma passenger cars because of a defect in a low temperature cooling fan may result in a short circuit. The short can ignite the fan housing, shroud and surrounding components, causing a vehicle fire. At least one Karma fire has been reported and one cooling fan has burnt, according to Fisker in the required defect filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NHTSA Investigation Prompts GM Recalls of SUVs for Fires

Posted on 20 August 2012 by Ken Zino

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has prompted recalls of more than 249,000 GM SUVs because of fires in the driver’s door caused by a defective electric window motor. Affected are 2006-2007 model year Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Isuzu Ascender and Saab 9-7x models, all from the GMT360 platform. NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation has received a total of 83 complaints, 66 alleging the door module had melted or burned, and the remaining 17 stating that the window switches acted erratically or were inoperative. Twenty-eight of the reports received have led to driver door fires, some of which allege the vehicle was keyed off and unattended. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mercedes-Benz Recalls ML Class Floor Mats for Pedal Interference

Posted on 14 August 2012 by Ken Zino

Unlike the infamous floor mat recalls on Toyota and Lexus models starting in 2010, which had associated deaths, Mercedes-Benz uses an electronic brake-override that is standard equipment across the line. Drivers can bring any Mercedes to a stop by depressing the brake pedal, even if the gas pedal is fully depressed or jammed at the floor. When both the brake pedal and gas pedal are depressed at the same time, vehicle electronics override the gas pedal signal and bring the engine to idle as long as the driver keeps the brake pedal depressed. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Stops Sale on Transit Connect Due to Defective Wipers

Posted on 13 August 2012 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor has told U.S. dealers to stop deliveries of Transit Connect models because the Turkish built vehicle has defective windshield wipers that are now subject to a safety recall. More than 16,000 of the delivery vans from the 2011 and 1012 model years are affected. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chevrolet Recalls Impala Police Cars for Suspension Failures

Posted on 13 August 2012 by Ken Zino

When General Motors changed suppliers in the 2008 model year for front lower control arms, the critical suspension piece from Iroquois Industries did not meet specifications and is now the cause of a recall on all Chevrolet Impala police cars built during the last four years. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in auto news, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in auto news, engineering, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford Recalls 2013 Escapes for Fires; Honda Recalls CRVs

Posted on 19 July 2012 by Ken Zino

This is the second recall on the new Escape, an earlier one was conducted to repair carpeting that interfered with accelerator and brake pedal movement, and it raises concerns about Ford’s ability to launch new models without quality concerns. Honda recalled more vehicles in 2011 than any other automaker operating in the U.S. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, manufacturing, new vehicle, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Unintended Acceleration on 730,000 Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute SUVs under NHTSA Scrutiny in New Preliminary Investigation

Posted on 18 July 2012 by Ken Zino

The Center for Auto Safety had petitioned NHTSA last week to open defect investigations on the V6 Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute models equipped with cruise control. NHTSA opened its own investigation instead, in a move that was required given the seriousness of the allegations that were about to become public.

In a defensive bureaucratic move, NHTSA also denied a CAS request for potentially embarrassing public hearings about the safety agency’s, as well as Ford Motor’s and Mazda’s lack of corrective action thus far. To make matters more complicated and potentially more image damaging for all involved, it is possible that an earlier safety recall resulted in more unintended acceleration accidents on the models involved. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, litigation, news analysis, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NHTSA Prompted Latest Lexus Recall after Web Complaints

Posted on 17 July 2012 by Ken Zino

The latest Lexus floor mat recall is the result of ongoing complaints filed by owners on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website. It took another NHTSA inquiry to Toyota back in May to prompt Toyota to action. With virtually instant feedback available at the world’s largest auto safety agency, automakers are increasingly under pressure to fix defects and institute recalls within five business days. NHTSA confirmed this summary in a statement that said in part, “NHTSA requested that Toyota conduct an immediate recall of model year 2010 Lexus RX 350 and RX 450 H vehicles for a serious safety issue involving potential pedal entrapment by the floor mat.” So NHTSA asked Toyota once again to conduct a recall. NHTSA is also requesting additional documentation from Toyota and is considering opening another investigation into whether Toyota met its obligation to notify the agency and conduct a recall in a timely manner.
Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, news analysis, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Volvo Fined $1.5 Million for Not Reporting Safety Defects

Posted on 6 July 2012 by Ken Zino

Volvo – once known for its safety reputation – now has the dubious distinction of joining Toyota Motor and BMW Group in paying penalties for not reporting defects or violations of U.S. regulations. Volvo will pay the fines into the General Fund of the U.S. Treasury; they will not go toward enforcement of U.S. Safety regulations. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, litigation, recalls, results, safety | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in auto news, litigation, news analysis, quality, recalls, results, safety | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in auto news, quality, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Honda Recalls 50,000 2012 Civic Models for Bad Driveshafts

Posted on 12 June 2012 by Ken Zino

American Honda will recall approximately 50,000 model-year 2012 Civic vehicles in the United States to inspect and, if necessary, replace the left driveshaft in its latest quality gaff. The driver’s side driveshaft may not have been properly assembled, potentially allowing it to separate from the outer CV joint (constant velocity) while in operation, Honda said in a statement today. The compact Civic is one of the best selling cars in the U.S. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, manufacturing, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kia Recalls Rio for Defective Airbag Sensor

Posted on 11 June 2012 by Ken Zino

Kia Motors is recalling more than 72,000 Rio subcompact cars because the passenger side occupant sensor can fail with the possibility that a child could be hurt if the airbag deploys. Model year 2006-2008 cars are affected by the safety defect although no injuries have been reported. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, engineering, recalls, safety | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment